Talk:Manaia (mythological creature)

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Any of these what you want? Adabow (talk · contribs) 10:13, 30 September 2010 (UTC)

Sources & Distort/Alter
The meaning of the three versus four fingers is an issue of debate. Some alternative sources are available for viewing via Google scholar. The maori.info source is very, very similar to | Te Ara, with the latter having a discussion on the meaning of three-fingered figures in Polynesian carving under the first section "The Human Figure". This section discounts the idea that the number of fingers has meaning. It maybe more academic sources will help improve this article. Further, this article describes manaia as "useful motif in carving, as it can be distorted to fit any shape and blended into many different designs". "Distort" has a specific meaning in Wikipedia; I am unsure the changes enacted in manaia could be termed "unwanted", and no attempts are made to "minimize it in practice". " Alter" denotes a change without identifying the motivation, thus presenting a more neutral verb. Unless there is a good reason not to, I intend to amend "distorted" to "altered".--Te Karere (talk) 20:24, 27 December 2011 (UTC)