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I always quite liked "astromen" myself.
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> What's the Difference Between Cosmonauts and Astronauts?
About 400 degrees skin temperature on re-entry.It is much easier to be critical than to be correct. Benjamin DisraeliComment
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Both words are Greek so your answer lies once again in the Greek language.
On with the etymology:
Cosmos in Greek as you propably already know means the world, the universe (and also the people).
Astro(n) in Greek means star.
Nautis (=naute) in Greek means sailor.
So you have a slight different nuance between the two words.
Cosmonaut = sailor of the universe,
Astronaut = sailor of the stars.
Take your pick on which you prefer
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So, what does "Taikonaut" (the Chinese...) mean?You make my life and times
A book of bluesy SaturdaysComment
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I have no idea.
Naute is still sailor but I haven't heard "Taiko" before.
It's chinese to me
(The equivalant of "it's all Greek to me" in Greece)Comment
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Here's an explanation however.
What is taikonaut?
Taikonaut is the Chinese counterpart for astronaut and cosmonaut. If China become the third country to send men into space using its own rocket and spacecraft, what are they? Astronaut or cosmonaut? Both. Neither. It is reasonable to create a new word to reflect China's independent manned space capability, just like those for American and Russian.
How is it created?
"Taikong" is a Chinese word that means space or cosmos. The resulted prefix "taiko-" is similar to "astro-" and "cosmo-" that makes three words perfectly symmetric, both in meaning and in form. Removing "g" from "taikong" is to make the word short and easy to pronounce. On the other side, its pronounciation is also close to "taikong ren", the Chinese words "space men".
Who use this word first?
In May 1998, Mr. Chiew Lee Yih () from Malaysia used it first in newsgroups. Almost at the same time, I used it and announced it at this site. We created this word in parallel, which shows it is probably the best candidate for Chinese spacemen.
Why do you renamed the site to "Go Taikonauts!"?
The first reason is that the name "Dragon in Space" is too normal, and looks too long as a site name. "Go Taikonauts!" is short, special, and exotic. The second reason is to promote the word "taikonaut" :-) , which is actually the main motive.Comment
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Well, I'll be damned. It does make some sense.
But why mix Chinese and Greek together? That's a recipe for disaster!
I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891Comment
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I figure the '-naut' part would keep it a bit more familiar and tie it closer to the other -nauts. Besides, 'kosmo' is AFAIK also a Slavic word...Cake and grief counseling will be available at the conclusion of the test. Thank you for helping us help you help us all!Comment
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Quite propable. But it is a Greek word since it originates from Greek and is used in Greek (duh).
Like the word "Cosmos" in English...
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A very english word...
BTW the mixing of 2 words from 2 different languages, even if they are the most ancient around, does sound a bit cheap but kas got the reason why. Naut is easily recognizable.
oh and here:
Last edited by Bereta_Eder; November 4, 2002, 14:37.Comment
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Yeah, what I meant was that 'kosmo' has a meaning in Russian too. Hence 'kosmo-' <-> 'taiko-'. 'Astro-' is just a ripoff.
Cake and grief counseling will be available at the conclusion of the test. Thank you for helping us help you help us all!Comment
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So what? Everything is a ripoff from Greek
Cosmonaut and Astronaut are too.
At least the Chinese have a word of their own in there.
50% original
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What do the other nations call 'em?Visit First Cultural Industries
There are reasons why I believe mankind should live in cities and let nature reclaim all the villages with the exception of a few we keep on display as horrific reminders of rural life.-Starchild
Meat eating and the dominance and force projected over animals that is acompanies it is a gateway or parallel to other prejudiced beliefs such as classism, misogyny, and even racism. -General LuddComment
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That's just the thing, Smiley. I became curious about this because the Dutch spaceman sent to the Space Station was called an astronaut whereas his Russian co-worker was called a cosmonaut.I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891Comment
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A little late to think that isn't it?
Your guys are also called astronauts...
You had to wait for the Dutch to spark your intellect...
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