Proper Grammar: Tiki or Tikis?

Which is the correct phrase for plural?
I have seen both references used.

Maybe we should decide and then notify Merriam-Webster?

Mmmmmm... "tiki" is both a noun and an adjective... "tikis" is the plural noun...

Very easy: Since we here on TC are referring to the Western pop culture version of Tiki, the plural should be spelled in the Western idiom, too: "All the Tikis in the apartment courtyard were carved by Barney West..."

I also always spell them with a capital "T" too, out of respect for, and the fact that, the name stems from the ancestor god "Tiki". Though it might be argued that that is grammatically wrong, because we are referring to things, not a person or deity, I don't care. Technically these are all portraits of him, and I want "Tiki" to stand out from the sea of words on the page like its carvings do from the urban jungle.

What is really odd is that some places like Danny Balsz's "The Tikis" misspelled the plural as "The Tiki's", and though some might say that it can work in the posessive way, I don't buy it, I am sure it was just a mistake made from lack of understanding the subject.

Thanks, Bigbro, for that explanation. I like the capitalization of the "T" for Tiki, and wondered about the apostrophe. I have used both in my postings.

Now, how about "I had too many Mai Tai drinks". Are they Mai Tais, or Mai Tai's?

Aloha
Myke

Also, isn't it old school to see a carving and calling it a "Tiki God" instead of the informal "tiki", people of my parents generation do this all the time.

Much like more than one Elvis would be Elvi.

I am not sure about all languages in this classification, but in the Maori language it is my understanding the a noun remains the same in both the singular and plural form, that is, in teh singular one would say "tiki" or "one tiki" and for a greater number one would again say "tiki" or "two, three, four or many tiki." You might want to check out the following reference:

http://my.opera.com/DUBMASTER%20PhD/blog/maori-glossary-pronunciation-and-brief

Are their any real language experts out there who would like to weigh in on this?

I am no language specialist, but just as I said, the NATIVE languages like the Maori and Marquesan languages that actually use the term "Tiki", might use that non "S" plural, but we are mostly talking about the non-ethnologically correct POP version here on TC.
We are also not calling Hawaiian carvings Ki'i, or Tahitian ones Ti'i, which would be the correct form. Just as the Book of Tiki stated, they are all lumped together in one happy family, the TIKIS.

On 2007-11-02 11:01, naugatiki wrote:
Also, isn't it old school to see a carving and calling it a "Tiki God" instead of the informal "tiki", people of my parents generation do this all the time.

I hope not, I like using the phrase Tiki God myself.

Whilst we're on the subject of grammar, should one speak of 'a Hawaian shirt' or 'an Hawaian shirt'?

On 2007-11-05 03:32, Chrisc wrote:
Whilst we're on the subject of grammar, should one speak of 'a Hawaian shirt' or 'an Hawaian shirt'?

A Hawaiian shirt. (Because the h isn't silent.)

And, backing up a few posts, mai tais---no apostrophe.

Sorry---can't stop myself from replying!
Erika

It is so intellectually stimulating to come to TC and participate in discussions on such topics as proper grammar. Truly what joins us is our attraction to life's most sophisticated pursuits! (Well, that and tiki mugs, bikini babes, Mai Tais and wood carvings.) :wink:

On 2007-11-05 03:32, Chrisc wrote:
Whilst we're on the subject of grammar, should one speak of 'a Hawaian shirt' or 'an Hawaian shirt'?

[ Edited by: filslash 2008-09-20 20:15 ]

It is Tiki - plural and singular - in the Maori language.

[ Edited by: actonpark 2007-11-11 00:41 ]

A twist:

Moai or Moais?

Moai is correct. The moa-is a dead bird . . . now extinct.

how about archaeology vs archeology?

[ Edited by: Ojaitimo 2007-11-12 19:28 ]

On 2007-11-03 08:58, christiki295 wrote:

On 2007-11-02 11:01, naugatiki wrote:
Also, isn't it old school to see a carving and calling it a "Tiki God" instead of the informal "tiki", people of my parents generation do this all the time.

I hope not, I like using the phrase Tiki God myself.

We're talkin' current revival of Polynesian Pop as developed and celebrated during the most recent - last century, right?

... and you're implying that "old school" is a bad thing?!?

As an amateur linguist (it's my love, not my profession), I'm with Sven on this one:

1 Tiki, 2 Tikis.

However:

What do we call a group (the so-called "collective") of Tikis?

Thread on this topic is located at: http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=26357&forum=1&0

[ Edited by: Tiki Lion 2007-11-14 22:06 ]