@Zkaiser:
Considering that there are indications that haki is a hereditary ability it could just be that Teach can't do it.
It's more likely if he knows what it is, he simply was fated with no talent in any of the areas of application. Still, given his usage of the word (twice), and the technique's name, I think Oda is setting up some sort of ironic 'fate' for Blackbeard. Where, had he known of the ability, he might have been able to simply learn to use that and bypassed the whole issue of his lacking the ability. Then again, it could be that he has no talent or knack for it, and therefore sought out an ability that gives him what he wanted and more.
@Zkaiser:
True. It's just another assumption I'm making because if Mantra is tied to Haki then they most likely have the same roots and Mantra was hereditary.
I think if you reword that a little bit it would work better. It seems to me that everyone is born with the ability to use – I will just go with Ambition for now -- Ambition, but at the same time it has to be learned and everyone has different affinities with it. All of the CP9 had varying levels of tekkai, all the upper yard priests varying levels of Mantra, Sandersonia and Marigold certainly showed different abilities, Hancock and Luffy clearly have a different "type", and so on and so forth. While all or most of these techniques are likely accessible to everyone, the natural compatibility for them cannot be learned. Aisa would be an example of someone who's natural aptitude is so strong that she was able to use it from birth, without any training.
@Dan:
Brennen, if i'm reading you right, you seem to have the idea that when BB used the term haki in ID, you presume he wasn't referring to a technique? What makes you come to that conclusion?
Well, I explained why I believe so in one of my posts since then, but basically because of the way he used it and the way it has been identified. Oda doesn't leave us to assume Luffy has used it dozens of times without any of us knowing, and he hasn't hinted at Luffy having a leak of some sort. When Oda wants Luffy to use it, he makes it obvious. Therefore, Luffy has never used it in front of Blackbeard. Furthermore, Luffy has been emotional dozens of times around people who can use the ability, and yet noone has made a comment until Amazon Lily? How come when Luffy was emotional dozens of times on Amazon Lily nobody took notice until he actually used it? The simple answer would be that it isn't something you can see or naturally sense, but something that, when used, can be felt or identified. It goes without say that from there, of course an island of people who know all the ins and outs of the ability can identify it immediately when it is used. So, again, despite Blacky's usage of the word having no contextual significance were he referring to the ability, it simply wouldn't add up given…a good many things. Plus, that fate thing needs to bite him in the ass so to speak eventually.
@Demon:
Whatever it's translated as, it HAS to be a synonym for "Ambition". Also, Due to this little rather important bit of information (Luffy, King Ambition, Pirate King, etc) It N-E-E-D-S to be translated. There is absolutely NO REASON NOT TO!!
Well, assuming you read the reason that I bumped the thread, the whole point is to discuss a word that would keep the play on words intact. But, the more I think about it the more I think the word shouldn't just be synonymous, it should be the same for all uses. If the Japanese are getting confused with its use, not knowing when he (Oda) means 'ambitious' and when he means "Ambition", then we should be equally confused (to an extent). So perhaps "Ambition" is the best choice, and things like "power of" and such would help in certain cases.
PS: Do you still think that your ambitions = your "Ambition"? IE: Luffy wants to be Pirate King therefore "King's Ambition"?