So, About the Title...

[mccrackey]

I don't know why I just now thought to post this, but what is up with the title? "Demon's Souls" would imply that the souls all come from one demon, but in the game, you're actually collecting the souls of several demons. Shouldn't it be called "Demons' Souls"? The placement of that apostrophe makes all the difference...

[sarshelyam]

Actually it's the simple possessive form of Demon (a singular noun) and is correctly displayed as Demon's!

It's like saying you need to get THAT Demon's Soul...and then THAT Demon's Soul...once you have them all you have many Demons' Souls. The context would vary greatly on the form of the word, but in regards to the title it is the plural form of a singular noun, not the plural possessive of a plural noun.

In this case, yes, EACH SOUL come from a SINGLE Demon...they aren't referring to the collective plural of ALL the Demons.

[mccrackey]

Hmm. If it was just the plural form of a singular noun, it'd just be "Demons Souls" without the apostrophe, which would still be incorrect. I'm just saying that it seems it should be Demons' Souls because you fight multiple demons and collect multiple souls.

But in a just-now kind of revelation, I've realized that maybe the term comes from the fact that each demon gives you multiple souls (anywhere from 3 to thousands). But then it still sort of implies that there's only one demon to fight...

Stupid semantics/translations.

[sarshelyam]

Wish I could agree mccrackey but my analysis is not just a guess...it's a grammatical fact!

The Souls belongs to a Demon...therefore it is the Demon's Souls.

Place an apostrophe before the "s" when you are indicating a singular possessive, unless the name or word ends in "s," in which case either is correct. (James's dog or James' dog, Dickens' novel or Dickens's novel)

* "Jacob's shoes are very cool." The shoes belong to Jacob (singular: one person).
* "I found the dog's old bone buried in the backyard." The bone belongs to the dog (singular: a single dog).

[mccrackey]

Yeah. So the way the title is written, it's just talking about one demon, then. I'm just arguing that, during the course of the game, you fight more than one demon, so it'd seem logical that the title would present that information.

But when you said this:
"In this case, yes, EACH SOUL come from a SINGLE Demon...they aren't referring to the collective plural of ALL the Demons," I think that indicates that we technically agree on what the title SAYS.

However, I think it'd be more precise if the apostrophe were moved so that the meaning would show that you are fighting many demons :)

[sarshelyam]

Perhaps, or the fact that EACH Demon would pose a significant challenge. Generalizing the group would, perhaps, trivialize them into some generic form.

[mccrackey]

I can buy into that ;) Well played, sir.

[jeremyjebz]

i would say that it is talking about the old one's (dont yell at me if i used the apostrophe wrong) souls. So it is saying the all of the demons are a form of the old ones evil, and it is all like 1 soul, the old ones. that probably does not make sense to anybody but me, because i dont think i worded that very well.

[Scarecrow]

It's all in how you "play it"

If the creator did indeed mean "all of the demons' specific souls" then "Demon's Souls" make sense

But if he meant "all of the demon souls in the game" then Demons' Souls makes more sense

[Likewise]

I believe it would get the point across as "Demon Souls".

[Septiego]

Perhaps I'm the odd one out, but I always just assumed the title just referred to the Old One. The demons are, of course, its minions collecting souls for it, thus all the souls are its: Demon's Souls.

Edit: Also, jeremyjebz has a similar thought: The Old One being the oldest (obviously) demon, and thus all other demons presumably coming from it, they all, in a way, represent the one omnipresent sense of evil and the soul of the Old One. At least, that's how I think of it.

[Scarecrow]

Perhaps I'm the odd one out, but I always just assumed the title just referred to the Old One. The demons are, of course, its minions collecting souls for it, thus all the souls are its: Demon's Souls.

Edit: Also, jeremyjebz has a similar thought: The Old One being the oldest (obviously) demon, and thus all other demons presumably coming from it, they all, in a way, represent the one omnipresent sense of evil and the soul of the Old One. At least, that's how I think of it.

I have to agree with this completely
You can sense it

Without the old one controlling its demons (and thus controlling their souls) is the source of it all. So yeah, "Demon's Souls" makes sense that way

[Gabranth]

I once considered it to belong to the Old One. As in his plague, his Demons, his souls.

But I'm starting to think it's referring to each indiviual dreadling. The souls you obtain belong to the demon... Demon's souls.


I like the Old one theory more though.
It's confusing. Once again the Japanese sit and laugh at America.

[HijiriOni]

It's really not a great title just cause it sounds weird coming out. But as has allready been pointed out it is grammatically correct.

Demon's (singular possesive) souls (more then one soul)
More then 1 demon who own's a soul.

[xlenneyx]

More than one demon who has more than one soul you mean...

[philtord]

i no speaky english's

[Thementhel]

I like to think of it as the Demon being the player, at the end of the game. Remember how The Maiden introduces you to the Old One as "your new demon"?

Demon's souls = The player's souls
More broadly that would refer to all the souls in the game/enemies you kill/basically everything in the game, i.e. the game. I think it's a beautiful argument, even if not necessarily the one the developers had in mind :p

The more ominous meaning ties in nicely with the little comments you get here and there, e.g. from the blue soul sitting at the steps of the Nexus in the beginning, and the various people you are encouraged to kill throughout the game.

[iceclimber]

iceclimber's souls

[SeikenZ]

The game focuses on obtaining demon souls and a power beyond knowledge(?). A Demon's Soul indicates it's revolving around the massive power you will gain for claiming one as your own.

[kaijura]

It was a good read, but the linguistics lesson was over half a year ago..

But I can toss my 2c in and say that english is one heckuv a failure at language especially when transliterating.

[iceclimber]

It was a good read, but the linguistics lesson was over half a year ago..

But I can toss my 2c in and say that english is one heckuv a failure at language especially when transliterating.

If your primary language is English, then you are forgiven for that statement. If not, watch it. Might be nicer to say it is hard to transliterate, but a failure?

[Scarecrow]

It's a great language

All languages have their pluses and minuses

[Byzantine]

Blood and souls for my Lord Arioch! :devil:

[xlenneyx]

edited

[kaijura]

If your primary language is English, then you are forgiven for that statement. If not, watch it. Might be nicer to say it is hard to transliterate, but a failure?

Yeah, my primary is english, and sadly tis' a truth.. check with any multilingual individuals and they will probably reiterate the same thing. I don't mean to start a random crap storm up on the forums at all.

[iceclimber]

yeah, I just would not call any language a failure.