why do we call them the toa "mata"?

[BionicleBean]

so, if "Mata nui" means "Great spirit", with "mata" meaning "spirit", and "nui" meaning "great"

why don't we call the toa mata the toa spirit?

it makes sense, seeing as they were like holy spirits when they arrived on the island.

[Black Six]

In 2001, there were only six Toa, and they were just 'the Toa.' Then in 2002, the Toa Nuva came out and we needed a way to distinguish the first group from the second, so we called them the 'Toa Olda.' Then in 2004 we went to Metru Nui and met the Toa Metru, and we collectively decided that 'Toa Mata,' as in 'Toa from Mata Nui,' sounded better than 'Toa Olda' and worked better in context with the Toa Metru. It has nothing to do with the actual meanings of the words.

[BionicleBean]

aaah ok.

thanks for clearing that up, black six!

though i like to call them the toa spirit because i think it sounds better.

[Bambi]

4 hours ago, Black Six said:

we called them the 'Toa Olda.'

Geez, I haven't heard that term in ages.

[Taria Pakari]

3 hours ago, Bambi said:

Geez, I haven't heard that term in ages.

I've never heard that term. Toa Olda would be a cool name for a team if there was an island called Olda I suppose. Maybe something for fanfic writers to consider.

[(-Kopaka Toa of Ice-)]

On 9/2/2021 at 11:55 AM, Black Six said:

In 2001, there were only six Toa, and they were just 'the Toa.' Then in 2002, the Toa Nuva came out and we needed a way to distinguish the first group from the second, so we called them the 'Toa Olda.' Then in 2004 we went to Metru Nui and met the Toa Metru, and we collectively decided that 'Toa Mata,' as in 'Toa from Mata Nui,' sounded better than 'Toa Olda' and worked better in context with the Toa Metru. It has nothing to do with the actual meanings of the words.

Haven't heard term spoken in so many years. Now i suddenly feel really nostalgic and old at the ripe age of 33. "Now where did my imaginary walking stick go?"

[Alucia]

Toa Mata is simply to distinguish them. In the story they were built by Artakha with the express purpose of protecting Mata Nui from harm. 

Granted they did a pretty poor job of that considering they were asleep when he was poisoned and he also died and got taken over by Teridax under their watch but that is in story the reason for the name anyway.

[Lorentz]

Toa Teams are often named after the land they operate in. Toa Metru, Toa Mahri, Toa Mata.

[BionicleBean]

46 minutes ago, Lorentz said:

Toa Teams are often named after the land they operate in. Toa Metru, Toa Mahri, Toa Mata.

then what about the toa cordak?

was there a place called cordak?

[Master Inika]

On 9/11/2021 at 5:10 AM, Heyzorks said:

then what about the toa cordak?

was there a place called cordak?

Potentially. Like real life languages, these terms seem to develop based more on connotation that strict etymology. The Toa Metru and Toa Mahri are both named after the lands where they were active (in-universe). The Nuva, Hordika, Hagah, Inika, Phantoka, Mistika and Mangai are all named after other traits (also in-universe). It is unknown where the name of the Toa Cordak originated from, but seeing as they were the first formal Toa team it may mean something like "originators." It is also unclear if the name "Toa Mata" exists in-universe, because those Toa were already the Toa Nuva when they first learned that other Toa existed.

The terms have a degree of flexibility. The Dark Hunters Spinner and Savage are Toa mutated by Hordika venom, so they could be called Toa Hordika, but they weren't part of the Toa Hordika team. Takanuva is considered an honorary Nuva despite not being an energized protodermis-enhanced Toa because of his personal connection to the team. Since Spinner and Savage are never called Toa Hordika in the story, it seems that experiential bonds are more important in this context than biological status.

[egodfrey72]

I always thought they were called the Toa Mata because they worked on the island of Mata Nui like what they did with the Toa Metru