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OK, you builders of mecha. I'm the first to admit I know nothing about them,
but I was just wanting to appease my enquiring mind. After reading quite a
few posts here, I've seen "mech" and "mecha" used almost interchangeably. I
always thought "mech" was singular, and "mecha" plural. Can someone please
enlighten me about the correct usage?
Thanks
ROSCO
(Just call me hoarder of useless grammar info)
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In lugnet.build.mecha, Ross Crawford writes:
> OK, you builders of mecha. I'm the first to admit I know nothing about them,
> but I was just wanting to appease my enquiring mind. After reading quite a
> few posts here, I've seen "mech" and "mecha" used almost interchangeably. I
> always thought "mech" was singular, and "mecha" plural. Can someone please
> enlighten me about the correct usage?
>
> Thanks
>
> ROSCO
>
> (Just call me hoarder of useless grammar info)
My understanding they mean the same thing, the usage depends on the story
context. In Patlabor, the mechs are actually called 'labors' (Patlabor is
short for 'Patrol Labor').
Since there are so many mech universes, I think just about anything is
acceptable, as long as it is consistent with the context e.g. I would not
use the term labor for Robotech mecha.
There are probably as many naming conventions as there are explanations of
faster than light travel. ;-)
Hope this helps,
Jude
BTW, if I am wrong and there is a standard that applies across the board, I
would like to know
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Mark Neumann has a very good explanation on his page:
http://home.attbi.com/~ravenswolfmk/mech/mech.htm
mech = anything here: http://www.legomc.com/
mecha = http://www3.sympatico.ca/mladenpejic/Mecha.htm
So a mech is more like Battletech, with a large, bulky profile while mecha
are usually more sleek in comparison.
I'm guessing that the plural form of "mech" would be "mechs", but I could be
wrong. The plural of "mecha" is "mecha".
HTH
-Geordan-
In lugnet.build.mecha, Ross Crawford writes:
> OK, you builders of mecha. I'm the first to admit I know nothing about them,
> but I was just wanting to appease my enquiring mind. After reading quite a
> few posts here, I've seen "mech" and "mecha" used almost interchangeably. I
> always thought "mech" was singular, and "mecha" plural. Can someone please
> enlighten me about the correct usage?
>
> Thanks
>
> ROSCO
>
> (Just call me hoarder of useless grammar info)
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Hey Rosco! I would say the the terms "Mech" and Mecha" are the same except
for the sytle of the Robot in question. Mark Nuemann put it best by saying :
Mechs are lumbering giant war machines with grease and oil stains.
Mecha are beautiful sculpted creations more ornate in design.
Also, Mech,Mechs, and Mecha are either plural or singluar and refer to a
single entity or class of Robots.
When you use the word "Mecha" as a singular, it not only refers to the
individual Robot but more over it makes reference to the overall type of
Robot being referred to in the convo, or to the mechanized breed.
I guess that's it.
Two (1/2) things to keep in mind if that's confusing.
Mech - Singular
Mechs - Plural - Traditional Battle Machines
Mecha - Plural - Singular - Refers to kind or type can be used for a single
or muliple reference.
Legomaster
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One would use the term 'mech' when one is refering to the design of another
builder. The term 'mecha' comes into usage when in reference to a specific
style that the 'mech' has (i.e. piloted, worker, assult, ect.)
Does that clear things up for you?
In lugnet.build.mecha, Ross Crawford writes:
> OK, you builders of mecha. I'm the first to admit I know nothing about them,
> but I was just wanting to appease my enquiring mind. After reading quite a
> few posts here, I've seen "mech" and "mecha" used almost interchangeably. I
> always thought "mech" was singular, and "mecha" plural. Can someone please
> enlighten me about the correct usage?
>
> Thanks
>
> ROSCO
>
> (Just call me hoarder of useless grammar info)
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For the best answer, look at Geordan's and Eric's replies.
The two terms really describe two different robot "camps".
MECH is almost always used to describe robots from U.S. games such as
Mechwarrior, and Battletech (made by FASA http://www.fasastudio.com/). The
singular form is MECH, and the plural form is MECHS.
LEGO example of MECH: http://www.legomc.com/madcat.htm (by Burkhard Schloemer)
non-LEGO equivalent: http://198.144.2.125/3DGraphics/Full/madcat.jpg
MECHA however is a much broader term used to describe Japanese robots (and
vehicles) from anime (animation) and manga (comics). The singular and plural
form is both MECHA.
LEGO example of MECHA: http://www.foundrydx.com/vf1s.html (by Sun Yun)
non-LEGO equivalent: http://www.3dgamedev.com/robotech/Veritech/Valkyrie.html
So to sum it up:
MECH - western, American, boxy, large, slow, dirty
MECHA - eastern, Japanese, curvy, small, quick, shiny
That's a generalization, but it'll help you remember better... ;-)
Oh, and don't feel the need to use either of the two terms. A lot of times, in
anime and manga (and games inspired by them), the creators don't even use the
word mecha. Here are the alternatives:
- SUIT (Gundam)
- TACTICAL ARMOR (Gasaraki)
- GYMELEF (Visions of Escaflowne)
- VERITECH (Macross/Robotech)
- ARMORED TROOPER (VOTOMS which is itself an acronym for Vertical One-man Tank
for Offense and Maneuvers)
- LABOR (Patlabor)
- GEAR (Heavy Gear)
- WANZER (Front Mission 3)
- EVA (Evangelion)
- ARMORED CORE (Armored Core II)
- MOBILE PLATFORM (Appleseed)
- FUCHIKOMA (Ghost in the Shell)
- MORTAR HEADD (Five Star Stories)
- AESTIVALIS (Martian Successor Nadesico)
- LANDMATE (Appleseed)
Note however, that the above exclusively describe MECHA from that
anime/manga/game.
As you can see, you can make up your own terms to describe robots. The
possibilities are endless.
There are also general terms to describe small robots "worn" by soldiers:
HARDSUIT
POWERSUIT
Hope this post helps.
Mladen Pejic, over and out!
http://www3.sympatico.ca/mladenpejic/
In lugnet.build.mecha, Ross Crawford writes:
> OK, you builders of mecha. I'm the first to admit I know nothing about them,
> but I was just wanting to appease my enquiring mind. After reading quite a
> few posts here, I've seen "mech" and "mecha" used almost interchangeably. I
> always thought "mech" was singular, and "mecha" plural. Can someone please
> enlighten me about the correct usage?
>
> Thanks
>
> ROSCO
>
> (Just call me hoarder of useless grammar info)
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In lugnet.build.mecha, Mladen Pejic writes:
Hmmm, Mladen must have posted just as I was hiting the reply button.
Anyways, I think that this information is very good, makes a great
reference, and puts my post to shame.
Egad Mladen, where do you get all of this stuff? :o)
Rob
robo2705@hotmail.com
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There ya go, that is the best answer you could ask for.
-Geordan-
snips
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Of course there is also the term Herc.
Refering to a design concept found in the Earth Siege/Star Siege Universe.
They are more closely related to the Mech of Mechwarrior fame than to the
Mecha designs of the Japanese Anime series.
I specialize in designing Hercs and an offshoot called Titans
http://ancientgamers.net/starsiege/sslegos/ is my site.
Stop by and take a look.
You probably have not seen my work as i do not normally post to this group
as The group has become almost exclusivly MECHA... as the name implies.
Bill
Aka Bigs
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Eric and Geordan are right, according to my what I know. A mecha is pretty
much a Anime creation, something like a Mobile Suit or Gundam (MS Gundam) or
a Labor (Patlabor). A mecha is a term from Battletech/Mechwarrior, and is
short for a Battlemech or Omnimech. I remember seeing that the word mech
was derived from mecha, but I couldn't show you where I found it.
Is this something that should appear in the sidebar?
Rob
robo2705@hotmail.com
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Hmm...As far as I was aware Mech was singular and not indicative of a
specific style; with Mecha being the plural.
Ye Olde Merriam-Webster's dictionary lists Mech. as being the abbreviated
form of Mechanical or Mechanics.
Either way though, Lego or steel, American or Japanese, Blocky, Clunky,
Fluid, or Graceful...we all know what it means.
Its a term usually indicative of robots. Quite a few of which happen to be
very large with tendencies to make things go BOOM!!
Some of them even have funny names like BRAVE GOD KAISER KING MASTER-V!
That's my input, take it as you will =)
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Heheheheh,
Listen,
Mecha=Bloody wicked
Mech=Bitchin'
Call it what you will, as long as you think it's cool, it probably is.
Mark Neumann
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