>It's an affectionate way of using somebody's given name; like how
>you'd call a Fred "Freddie", only since most Japanese names already
>end on a vowel sound, tacking another vowel sound on the back doesn't
>do anything (or might even turn it into a different name).

Hee. This combines with the previous note about Girls und Panzer to produce:

INT. DAY. Anglerfish Team's PANZER IV. They're getting thumped around quite a bit in there, and seem to be climbing a slope that is both steep and uneven; it's giving HANA quite a bit of trouble with the gunlaying.

MAJOR WHAT'S-HER-NAME
(on radio)
Anglerfish Team, watch your incline, you're getting close to gimbal lock.

MIHO
(testily, before HANA can interject)
Saorin, inform Central I am well aware of the God damn gimbals.

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Mod
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
zgryphon at that email service Google has
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.