EvaWiki:Standards and Conventions (Eva-Specific)
This page serves as the central hub for various standards, in matters specific to Evangelion, used by The NGE Fan-Geeks Project.
Rules governing the formal basics of how to edit with MediaWiki, and the internal policies for FGP Scribe-Minions, can be found at The NGE Fan-Geeks Project:Rules and Regulations.
General
- The original TV series is treated as the default for the entire site. The manga (and eventually the Rebuild and live-action movies, when there is substantial information on them) are to be mentioned in the context of being separate canons, by creating separate subsections on existing pages. For example, there will be one article for "Shinji Ikari" which focuses on Shinji from the TV series, although it would include subsections discussing his other incarnations. If any given subsection grows too large, it would be split off from the main page.
- The original Japanese version of Neon Genesis Evangelion is treated as the universal, "standard" version, superceding dubs into other languages on all matters.
- Pending the creation of "customized" FGC scripts for everything, the "standards" employed for citational purposes will be ADV's Platinum subtitles (for the TV series) and bochan_bird's EoE "screenplay". This policy will present certain issues, given these translations do not comply with conventions used by FGP, and there are some known inaccuracies (or "overbearing disagreements") -- something that needs to be addressed.
- Every episode of the TV series, and both EoE episodes, have two names each. The first is usually in Japanese (there are exceptions, such as Air); the second is always in English. (Occasionally, the titles mean the same thing, or are otherwise "equivalent".) To maintain consistency and avoid confusion, always reference the episodes by number, rather than title: e.g., "Episode 01", Episode 02", etc., with "Episode" capitalized and a zero in front of single-digit episodes. Shorthand can employ the form "##" (for example, 26’).
- The episode numbers for the two segments of EoE (Air / Love is destructive and Yours Sincerely / I Need You are 25’ and 26’, respectively. (Note the utilization of the special character ’; see the next section for elaboration.)
"Director's Cut" Episodes
Designation
Episodes 21 through 24 underwent dramatic expansions and makeovers when released to Japanese video and laser disc, way back when. In Japan, these are simply referred to as the "Video & LD Versions", as opposed to the "OA Versions" (OA = On Air, or televised). However, all of the episodes technically have a "Video & LD Version", due to minute edits that distinguish them from their televised counterparts. This essentially means that there is no known term that officially designates 21 through 24 as a group.
In the English-speaking domain, "Director's Cut" (alternatively, "Directors’") is the most commonly employed designation -- so FGP is going to just give in and use it, even though the term "Special Edition" is more accurate. (NOTE: Reichu plugged "New Production Cut", until she found out what the term really meant.)
Canonicity
The DCs are to be treated as the default versions of these episodes, superceding the OAs in canonicity. (See: What Is Canon?) As such, the episode pages for 21 through 24 are to be written "as if the OA versions do not exist", with differences between the DC and OA versions briefly summarized in a subsection. (Such differences will be explicated in excruciating detail in a separate page, that episode's entry in the Comparisons Guide series.)
Numerical Notation
When referring specifically to the Director's Cut version of an episode or information contained within, a prime symbol (’) will be appended to the episode number. For example:
- OA: Episode 21
- DC: Episode 21’
An apostrophe, ', is much easier to use (not being a special character and all), of course; however, apostrophes are utilized by MediaWiki code for various things. So, officially, we should be using primes after the episode numbers.
Japanese Language and Accessibility
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a Japanese work, and, as previously stated, this website is written with the original Japanese version in mind. But, since the majority of Eva fans do not know any Japanese (at least, any worth speaking of), providing information on the use of language within the show is one of our goals. Within our capabilities, of course: No one currently on the team is anything resembling "fluent".
On the more "formal" parts of the site, like the "Wiki" and whatnot, things are to be kept in an educational context. That is, y'know, explain this, that, and the other, but don't throw around Japanese terminology like a total Weeaboo and violate the "keep it basic" principle upon which those particular pages are founded. For instance, when writing or editing articles, you should not refer to Rei and Asuka as Shinji's "nakama", or to those responsible for creating Evangelion with the collective Anno-tachi. However, being a bit more geeky is perfectly legal in the "fan-geek" portions of the site, such as FGC and any others where text is ascribed to specific persons, and those that are informal in general. Within reason, meaning one can do things like call Eva-01 "Sho", slap honorifics onto character names ("Poor Sachi-chan..."), and hoot "Saabisu, saabisu!", but more intricate displays of nerdery will probably be out. 分かってる?
Character Names
The Westernized versions of the Japanese character names shall be used: i.e., "Shinji Ikari", never "Ikari Shinji". This is primarily because the Japanese themselves usually swap the name order when employing the Roman alphabet, a trend evident within NGE and its many supplemental materials.
The Romanizations used by FGP will be:
- Asuka Langley Soryu
- Gendo Ikari
- Hikari Horaki
- Kaworu Nagisa
- Keel Lorenz
- Kensuke Aida
- Kozo Fuyutsuki
- Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu
- Makoto Hyuga
- Maya Ibuki
- Misato Katsuragi
- Naoko Akagi
- Pen Pen
- Rei Ayanami
- Ritsuko Akagi
- Ryoji Kaji
- Shigeru Aoba
- Shinji Ikari
- Shiro Tokita
- Toji Suzuhara
- Yui Ikari
Notes
- "Keel" is used regardless of its technical inaccuracy (as a German name, it should be "Kiel") due to its proliferance in canonical materials.
- Even though the "name swap" custom is not extended to Asuka and Kyoko in the show¹ or elsewhere, we employ it here; hence, their common Japanese surname (Soryu) is placed after their respective European surnames.
- "Pen Pen" is used rather than "Pen²" out of convenience, and due to being (apparently) the most prevalent Romanization of ペンペン (PENPEN) in the English-speaking domain.
- Rei's three incarnations are to be called Rei 1, Rei 2, and Rei 3. Note the Arabic numerals.
- Shiro Tokita is the "JA Guy". Yes, he really does have a name.
¹: Asuka does not even do this while in "Euro Mode": She marked her packages from Germany with the initials "S.A.L.", and she writes her name as "Soryu Asuka Langley" at the end of 08.
Angel Names
The official spellings of the Angels' names are: Adam, Lilith, Sachiel, Shamshel, Ramiel, Gaghiel, Israfel, Sandalphon, Matarael, Sahaquiel, Ireul, Leliel, Bardiel, Zeruel, Arael, Armisael, and Tabris.
"Lilin" will be used as opposed to "Lilim". ("Lilin" is considered official because it appears in text in the Rebuild of Evangelion 2.0 trailer.)
Always spell the NGE term "Angel" with a capital "A".
Eva Designations
These come in two forms: extended and abbreviated.
Extended: "Evangelion Unit-##". In Japanese, this is エヴァンゲリオン～号機 (Evangelion ~gouki). The official English rendition can be heard in use by the First Branch in the Eva-03 start-up experiment [18], although no known Japanese publication shows it in print. ("Evangelion" can also be shortened to "Eva" here.)
Condensed: "Eva-##". The Japanese equivalent is ～号機 (~gouki). Although "~gouki" literally translates to "Unit ##", the "Unit" rendition, however prevalent in subtitles and dubs, will not be used for the condensed form. The show and all official materials known to us consistently (consistently) write "EVA" in all caps, but we decided not to do this on account of (A) it being "garish" and (B) "Eva" being an abbreviation of "Evangelion", WHICH WE ARE NOT WRITING IN ALL CAPS. At all times, a hyphen shall be used between "Eva" and the designation number "##" For instance, "Eva-01" and not "Eva 01".
Avoid using the extended designations in page titles. Typing "Evangelion Unit-##" over and over again in Wiki links is annoying.
Gender
The Seeds of Life Adam and Lilith, should always be referred to in the feminine ("she", "her", etc.) since they represent feminine/maternal beings within the context of NGE (Adam is a mother within the context of NGE. Not "progenitor" or "father". Mother.). Evangelions Eva-00, Eva-01 and Eva-02 may be referred to as either female or as neutral beings, although context is extremely important, and it must be made explicit and consistent when an Eva is referred to as a "she". Calling an Eva a "she" in one sentence and an "it" in the next one is a no-no. Whether or not they are technically female, in absolute scientific terms, is irrelevent here.
Evangelions from Evangelion Unit-03 onwards( Including the unseen Eva-04 and the Mass Production Eva series) cannot be considered to be representative of feminine/maternal beings, and therefore default to "it". Given the lack of information, and the sour limitations of the English language, the other Angels default to "it". (Although, if you are very clever, you can minimize how often Angels are referred to as "its" and make the world a much better place.)
Terminology
A.T. Field
Always "A.T. Field": not "AT Field", "AT-Field", "A.T. field", etc. "Anti A.T. Field" will be spelled without a dash.
Children
Since this site caters to extreme NGE geekery, we will not attempt to correct NGE's (potentially) bad English, and "Children", as a title, shall be left intact: First Children, Second Children, etc.
Dirac Sea
"Dirac Sea", as opposed to "Sea of Dirac", "Dirac's Sea", etc.
Interface Headset
The thingamabob that Eva pilots wear on their heads is called an Interface Headset -- not "A10 nerve connectors" or "hoo-hoos" or whatever, contrary to popular belief. Even though Asuka's are markedly different and look more like hair clips than anything else, we'll assume that they're an "Interface Headset", as well.
LCL
"LCL" is used in the script, and "L.C.L." appears in the actual show and the majority of supplemental materials. Now, ordinarily we would opt for the latter, but... annoying periods are annoying.
Magi
"Magi", not "MAGI". See the Nerv-Seele-Gehirn problem for the "why".
Organizations
Nerv, Seele, and Gehirn will be used, as opposed to their capitalized counterparts. Both within and outside of the show, "Nerv" is seen almost uniformily capitalized. This has probably resulted in the common (unofficial) practice of capitalizing "Seele" and "Gehirn", as well: NERV, SEELE, GEHIRN. However, there is no indication whatsoever that these are acronyms, which would be the only logical reason to capitalize them in normal English writing. Additionally, "Nerv" is occasionally spotted written just so (see image).
Seed of Life vs. Source of Life
There are a handful of terms used to reference Adam and Lilith collectively. Most prominent are "Source of Life" (after seimeitai no minamoto from 25’) and Seed of Life (seimei no tane, from the NGE2 Classified Information). Although its usage in canon materials is restricted to the CI, the latter shall be used, primarily because it is more of a specific designation than a generic description. And it conveniently shortens to "Seed".
Shoulder Pylons
You know those big things on the Evas' shoulders? Officially, these things are (most consistently) referred to as the rather bland "kata no pa-tsu", or "shoulder parts". This term isn't great for English-speaking fans, since the Japanese use the word "part(s)" somewhat differently from us. However, Ikuto Yamashita (who designed the Evas) refers to them as "shoulder pylons" in the book Sore o Nasumono: Neon Genesis Evangelion Concept Design Works -- so, for those not too eager to use "shoulder parts" (like us), this is the next best thing to "official".
Also, insert requisite "pylons" joke here.
Spear of Longinus
"Lance of Longinus" is heavily utilized by the English-speaking fan community, a habit reinforced by ADV and Manga Entertainment's localizations. In Japanese, the object is referred to as ロンギヌスの槍 (Longinus no yari), with yari being translatable as either "spear" or "lance". However, a computer display in 25’ indicates that the official English rendition in NGE is "Spear of Longinus"; ergo, that is what we will use.
The term we'll officially be using for the Spear copies' initial form (those clunky sword-things) seems to be currently unresolved, since the term used by the script( 重い槍 (omoi yari), or "Heavy Spear") is different from the term (大剣 (ooken), or "Giant Sword") used by most other publications. Edit the discussion page if you want to give your two cents on the (presently unresolved) issue.
