Ask John: What’s the Etymology of “Mecha?”

Question:
I see the words “mecha,” “mech,” “mechas” and “mechs” all used in different ways. What is correct? I thought that “mecha” was singular and plural, but if that’s true, where and when and why did all of these other words come into play? Can you explain what is correct and how and why these other words were introduced?

Answer:
This is my own totally theoretical guess, but I’m going to say that the term “mecha” has a Japanese origin while “mech” is a Western corruption of the original Japanese term. In the Japanese sense “mecha” is an abbreviation of “mechanical” and can refer to anything from giant robots to handguns to cars to androids and cyborgs. In this sense, “mecha” is a simultaneously singular and plural term. One mecha or fifteen mecha, the term “mechas” is simply incorrect. On the other hand the term “mech,” is contextually only used to refer to giant robots, not simply mechanical objects, and does have distinct singular and plural spellings, “mech” and “mechs.” Although I have no firm basis for my suspicion, I’m inclined to guess that the term “mech” has its origins in an American adoption of the Japanese term introduced to America in the mid 1980s through 90s by American anime inspired table top role playing games including Battletech, Mekton and Mech Warrior. If this is true, than the common origin and similarity between “mecha,” “mech,” and “mechs” may have caused the common interchangeability and confusion between the terms that’s arisen in American anime fandom, especially in the wake of mainstream America’s introduction to Gundam.