Talk:Nest of Maggots

Given that several people have complained about the name (though for some reason they did not question it here), I have asked for clarification on the name from Adam Restling. His reply is below. In short, the current version (Nest of Maggots) is valid, as is Maggots' Nest. There is no pressing need to change it (or any real need at all for that matter). But over to you. -- Yyp (Talk) 18:41, January 23, 2010 (UTC)

Starkly literal, the Japanese Ujimushi no Su (蛆虫の巣) means something like "larva-worm(s) (genitive particle) nest" (since Japanese rarely need distinguish singular from plural). Mushi "worm(s)" is also used for "bug(s), insect(s) (in general)," the same way English vermin is used for various pests even though its Latin source, vermis, was originally "worm." However, the genitive case can be used for more than the strict usual "~ of ~" or "~'s ~." It can be used to turn nouns into adjectives, or at least to connect a noun acting as a (pseudo-)adjective to another noun. Thus, mirai no kuruma can exactly equal English "car of the future," but also "future's car," or even "future car," where the last has "future" (noun) implied as modifying, like an adjective, "car." English home-grown, where the first noun home modifies the second, grown, is another example. Thus, the final translation will be up to taste. Personally, I would translate it as the "Maggot Nest" (or, if you like it better, "Maggots' Nest") where the first noun modifies/qualifies the second and, though appearing singular, is really a kind of collective, the same way animal kingdom encompasses all animals as elliptical for "kingdom of the whole host of what we call animal." But, like I said above, "Nest of Maggots" etc. are valid (if, to me anyway, less elegant looking [dunno why]) possible translations. Adam Restling 10:33, January 23, 2010 (UTC)