Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Sumo/Conventions

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[edit] Makuuchi

I think this is one case where we're better off sticking with the Japanese, since we're talking about the proper name of the division and not just an expression like rikishi with an acceptably normal English equivalent. We don't, after all, plan to come up with English "code words" for every division, do we? So if we use some made-up English label for this one, it will be the only division for which we do this. I think it's less confusing to be consistent. I think the better course of action would be to see what they call it in, for example, the English-langauge sumo broadcasts of honbasho.

What I think we should do is to pick either "makuuchi" or "makunouchi" and stick with only one of them, to keep confusion to a minimum. I don't see this as a problem ATM, but we should probably set a standard for future reference. TCC (talk) (contribs) 20:43, 6 July 2007 (UTC)

In articles where someone has just written "the top division", it is not unclear at all what they mean to anyone, newcomer or no, is it? Having said this though, I have noticed that in practice, when I am writing an article, I tend to write something like "the top makuuchi division" and then in later uses, just makuuchi. I think as long as the word isn't used in complete isolation in the article, without an early clarification that it is the top division than it is okay to use makuuchi. I think the current wording of this "convention" is pretty good, and would keep anyone (who bothers to read it anyway) mindful of overusing Japanese terms like makuuchi in isolation, even if the rules aren't strictly adhered to. Malnova 22:59, 6 July 2007 (UTC)