So instead of Maori words, TLC is using Finnish now.

Kylma, the name of a new Ko-Matoran, means literally 'cold' in Finnish. Arktinen is 'of the Arctic'. Jaatikko means 'icy area'. (Accent marks are omitted.)

I demand an apology for this misappropriation of my culture! Actually, I think it's kind of cool that they use names of multiethnic origin. My only real gripe is that the sound of the new names doesn't fit the old ones. I suppose I will get used to them pretty quick, though.

So what do you think of this continued use of various languages? Do you prefer it to purely made-up names like Bohrok? Does it clash in your mind's ear when they change languages like this?

-BC

Wow! I didn't know that's what they were doing. It's good that you caught it, though. That's really amazing... I mean, I would have never even guessed that those names meant anything in another language... That's odd.

~Minun

Umm......since when did we know about new matoran and there names?

~PX~

It's right on the BZP front page, in the news piece about the MNOG2 update.

Yeah, but most European countries dont treat their language like the Maori do. It's sacred to them. For us, it's just words.

Thats interesting I know a lot of bionicle words have other meanings. I am stumped by Lhii at first I thought it was a kind of lava but that kind was called Pahoeho (I think I mispelled it) and Aa (pronounced Ah-Ah) If you have any info about that names origin please tell me because I swear I read it somewhere.

But as for playing with language I think its fine, english is just refined Latin anyway.

Well they don't sound weird to me. Probably because I only know english. (Well american) I mean you don't see any Matoran named Bob do you? Now if they used that then it would be just weird. and not fitting to Bionicle. Well I think that as long as people don't mind it Lego will continue to use other language names. I think it is fine. Foreign names sound better. Lego may be creative, but they still have to take things from here and there. I think I don't mind them using made up ones or real foreign words.

KS

Well normal names like Sarah or Darren, have meanings aswell, you know, like courageous or adventurous, so the matoran names must have meanings to!

One of the things we are trying to do is to use common names from other cultures that sound exotic. It is very, very hard to make up words that don't mean something, somewhere.

Greg

I must say that imagination can only be stretched so far before you are put in the mental ward.

i am finnish too... saw that too and made a topic and i thinking why did they take finnish words? why not swedish or norveigan becouse finland has made alot of popular stuff like nokia,bomfunc mcs,rasmus,kwan,linux

No! I have Swedish heritage, (half Swede actually) and if TLC started using Swedish words, that would just be cool! maybe it's Lego's way of introducing everyone to other cultures and customs and laguages and stuff! And would you say that's a bad thing? Especially considering that most of the world seems to regard us Americans as...well, you know. So this is their (TLC's) way of broadening our minds.
And is that BAD?
The Wanderer

Heh, I'm part finnish, I'm glad to say we beat our European neighbors at something..naming of fictional characters!