Linguistic pedantry

[learnedax]

A couple of days ago when some octopus-related matter was touched upon in conversation, a coworker commented that he'd always thought octopi the proper plural, but recently heard that it was incorrect, and one should say octopuses. Having heard similar and looked it up before, I said that my dictionary accepts either. However, I wondered what the reasoning was, and so I looked at a few sites (e.g. here and here) that claim octopi is incorrect. Their reasoning is that since octopus is the Latinized form of the Greek ὀκτώπους, and thus the plural should be ὀκτώποδες, rendered octopodes in English.

Is it just me, or is that an inherently flawed argument? I would think that if we use a Latinate singular, regardless of its root etymology, we are compelled to use a Latinate plural*. If you wish to use octopodes, the singular should then be oktopous, shouldn't it?

*Or arguably an English plural, if we consider the word to be sufficiently adopted into the language and the English plural flows more naturally with our standard practices. In this case not only is there a standard of Latinate -us in -i, but -uses is clumsy and jarring.

Comments

[laurion]

I know they're kissing cousins, as far as words go, and should be seated on the same side of the isle at a wedding, but for some reason I tend to platypi. As stated, it's just how I tend to go. Maybe platypodes just isn't cute enough.