Comments on: Jennifer Mather and octopus personality http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2009/02/06/jennifer-mather-and-octopus-personality/ EthanZ's musings on Africa, media and international development Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:45:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Random Dude http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2009/02/06/jennifer-mather-and-octopus-personality/comment-page-1/#comment-1859845 Random Dude Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:28:56 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=2653#comment-1859845 Dang, here we are getting all upset about root-based pluralization when we're supposed to be talkin' about the intelligence of these amazing eight-legged creatures... makes me question how we define intelligence... So, let's get down to our "Jacobian" business (that's a vector calculus pun... Jacobian = first order). And speaking of vector calculus, I wonder if the functional differences in cephalopod neurochemistry are such that comparing octopus intelligence to human intelligence is even a worthwhile endeavor? Dang, here we are getting all upset about root-based pluralization when we’re supposed to be talkin’ about the intelligence of these amazing eight-legged creatures… makes me question how we define intelligence…

So, let’s get down to our “Jacobian” business (that’s a vector calculus pun… Jacobian = first order). And speaking of vector calculus, I wonder if the functional differences in cephalopod neurochemistry are such that comparing octopus intelligence to human intelligence is even a worthwhile endeavor?

]]> By: Anne http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2009/02/06/jennifer-mather-and-octopus-personality/comment-page-1/#comment-1832800 Anne Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:35:09 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=2653#comment-1832800 Actually, the plural of octopus is octopuses. The reason is that Anglophones created the word by taking "octo" (meaning "eight") from Greek and "pus" (meaning "foot") from Latin and putting the root words together to create "octopus." The word is then subject to English pluralization and therefore is pluralized by adding "es" to octopus. Actually, the plural of octopus is octopuses. The reason is that Anglophones created the word by taking “octo” (meaning “eight”) from Greek and “pus” (meaning “foot”) from Latin and putting the root words together to create “octopus.” The word is then subject to English pluralization and therefore is pluralized by adding “es” to octopus.

]]> By: Jean http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2009/02/06/jennifer-mather-and-octopus-personality/comment-page-1/#comment-1711817 Jean Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:09:36 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=2653#comment-1711817 Actually Octopus is from the Greek therefore the correct plural is octopodes not octopi which implies Latin roots for the word. I think there are many acceptable plurals now, including octopi and octopuses, we speak a living language which allows for these changes!!! Actually Octopus is from the Greek therefore the correct plural is octopodes not octopi which implies Latin roots for the word. I think there are many acceptable plurals now, including octopi and octopuses, we speak a living language which allows for these changes!!!

]]> By: Ethan http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2009/02/06/jennifer-mather-and-octopus-personality/comment-page-1/#comment-1663727 Ethan Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:58:16 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=2653#comment-1663727 Oh, and by the way, <a HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia thinks octopuses is a valid plural</a>. Idiot. Oh, and by the way, Wikipedia thinks octopuses is a valid plural. Idiot.

]]> By: Ethan http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2009/02/06/jennifer-mather-and-octopus-personality/comment-page-1/#comment-1663724 Ethan Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:56:21 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=2653#comment-1663724 Yep. Blogging four talks an hour for three days straight. I make mispellings and occasionally blow a plural. Always best to insult me, not just offer a helpful criticism. Asshole. Yep. Blogging four talks an hour for three days straight. I make mispellings and occasionally blow a plural. Always best to insult me, not just offer a helpful criticism. Asshole.

]]> By: ASP Lichten http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2009/02/06/jennifer-mather-and-octopus-personality/comment-page-1/#comment-1663174 ASP Lichten Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:39:53 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=2653#comment-1663174 The plural of octopus is octopi, not octopuses. Idiot. The plural of octopus is octopi, not octopuses. Idiot.

]]> By: Animal Report » Octopus http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2009/02/06/jennifer-mather-and-octopus-personality/comment-page-1/#comment-1447017 Animal Report » Octopus Sun, 01 Mar 2009 07:45:27 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=2653#comment-1447017 [...] Jennifer Mather has been researching octopus intelligence for years. At a presentation at the TED conference earlier this month in Long Beach, CA, Dr. Mather noted that while standard definitions of [...] [...] Jennifer Mather has been researching octopus intelligence for years. At a presentation at the TED conference earlier this month in Long Beach, CA, Dr. Mather noted that while standard definitions of [...]

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