Can someone translate?
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I'll just say this... and you decide if I am wrong. And note that I am basing this on what Wikipedia says, as well as import items stated.
You left out two factors, which honestly do not surprise me. Namely the more "hardcore fans" (the true hardcore fans know this factor) will blame the thought of the name use of "Android" on both Viz and FUNimation. But here is the factor...
One, Wikipedia stated that an android is both "a cyborg that closely resembles a human"
and "an artificially created, yet primarily organic, being that closely resembles a human." We'll ignore the robot part, as this is not an aspect to this factor.
This article is found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android
Two, the kanji spelling of 人造人間十八号 translates into "Android 18" (or "Android Number 18") and not "Cyborg 18" or "Artificial Human 18" (the last one was a belief of mine). And please note that I have translated this with Systran's translation program. This, opposed to seperating the letters as you have when detailing the meaning of the word.
The Android 18 article is found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_18
The Systran translation program is found here: http://www.systransoft.com/index.html
And please note that I have translated the word in it's entirety, and have even found out that Toriyama-sensei could not have used the word "cyborg," as it does not match up with the word he used. And the fact that "Artificial Human 18" would appear as this would add more explanation to the subject: 人工的な人間18
Plus, "Artificial Human Number 18" was translated as such: 人工的な人間の第18
And three, plus the final point, is the fact that the name "Android" was used on both Bandai products and posters that were published in english (even before FUNimation translated the names to this). The image below will prove this.
So the point I am making is this...
The word Android was used prior to what FUNimation and Viz Media has put out. And despite what many may say, translation will always beat out any claims. Plus also, true research also always beats out "I will say this, because 'we' hate the english translations."
Then again, creators such as Shirow Masamune have used the word "cyborg," when the word "android" would be appropriate. (S.A.C. had mentioned the term "full cyborg" in a few episodes.) Plus, also, the difference between a cyborg and an android is based on a fine-line. Namely, as implied by you, depends on what the culture believes. And if you look at many old novels that use the terms "android" and "cyborg," you would see what I mean. But, in this case, it's like this...
17 and 18 were given actual programs that allowed Dr. Gero to turn them on, shut them off, or even make them explode. A cyborg does not have these programs, and are mainly limited to programming that would allow them to enhance their "robotic" parts (examples include the factor the concept of turning off any functions that allow them to feel pain). Plus, the word "Articial Human" was a major aspect used in this (again, as they stated, Android is translated into that term). So, in many ways, the correct word would be either "Android" or "Artificial Human"... and both would be described as "An artificial human with cybernetic enhancements."
So yeah, that is what I found out through extensive research. Plus, also, please do not claim I am this or that. I say this because I am not a fan of what FUNimation has done to the series (used to, until I got sick of their music and saw how bad the RPG turned out). Plus, also, Viz is currently co-owned by the company that once published it in Japan. That, and this kind of compassion is what allowed me to write both "There's Something About Gohan" (Beckett DBZ Collector #19) and, to a degree of compassion, "There's Something About Majin Buu" (Best of DBZ #8). Plus, one fan of my first article told me that he liked it, and his friend from Japan said "It's far more accurate than the other stuff they published." (The second article, well, was edited and originally included hints to Beckett that I wanted to write about Vegeta. But $350 for an article made me not complain, until i found out that they misspelled my last name on the "Buu" article page.)
But anyway, this is what I got based on both words and other aspects. And further detailing on this makes me conclude that Toriyama-sensei used the word "Android" to detail the fact that they were no longer human, but "artificial human"... namely ones that "were once human, but were eventually either reconstructed in the same manner as Cell (aka #21)" or "were slowly enhanced with cybernetics, but eventually lost their humanity when Dr.Gero put in programming and devices that were meant for robots."
Myself, I am speculating the first one. Solely, as I may add, from the one brief scene that was shown in the intro sequence that was shown during the "Cell era." Plus, it makes more sense, as it adds more of the "Artificial Human" concept that is used. Along with the fact that it would allow the concept that they were re-created from the ones that Dr.Gero experimented on... and were redone with both the sheer fact that they were supposed to be controlled this way, and were embedded with programming that would make Cell evolve into his "Perfect Form." That, and if that is true, then Dr.Gero was Toriyama-sensei's answer to "Dr.Frankenstein." But, in the form of using the original two as prototypes, then replacing them "cybernetically enhanced clones," in hopes of making both his experiments a success (as well as making them as the testing grounds for making Cell) and having them be controlled by a remote.
That, and I will just conclude with the fact that if all three were chosen, I would choose "Artificial Human." But since "Android" both describes that word, and can also be a being that also has cybernetics, I will go by that and conclude that Androids can be human at one point, or just be recreated humans at another point.
So yes... I hope I do make perfect sense.
And I do hope you will spend more of your energy doing this kind of research, opposed to shamelessly flaming FUNimation... Viz... or anybody/anything you do not know about. And yes, you did do this to a friend of mine when he used my old account there. But, then again, you flamed him without realizing that he was once a uber-hardcore fan. Namely one that once learned Japanese, so he could read the Daizenshuu... and also would make me read up on every aspect and thesis he deemed worthy, before I got into any discussions with him on the series. That, and he also helped me find references and other pieces of information that eventually helped me write up my two articles.
Sorry for saying that, but I had to. I have wasted my time with a person who flamed me... namely because he disregarded the fact that I said "Artificial Human" was the correct term, and that Androids are not defined as "robots."
Beyond that, there is nothing I can say. And also, Toei approved an explanation that ties to the Super Saiyan form. Also, as rumor has it, that Toriyama-sensei himself also approved it. Namely...
The Super Saiyan form (as of the "Frieza Saga") requires both a minimum Power Level of 5 million, and grants a x2.5 modifier. And Goku was able to acieve this form, due to the fact that his body adapted to the x20 "Kaioken" he did while fighting Frieza.
This would explain why Goku's power level went from 300,000 to 15,000,000. And the factor that his power was artificially boosted to 6,000,000 would explain why he was dubbed as saying that he needed to train until he could control it. But, even though the company did a bad job on two of the books (they blamed FUNimation for the first book, and only slipped on one part of the second book)... I recommend checking out this page: http://www.talsorian.com/just_a_touch.shtml
And yes, it was approved... and it's the only thing I respect (when it comes to them).
So that is all I can say. And yes, I do plan to contact whomever I should contact in Japan (i.e. Toei, etc.) about the Android part. Because that is the only way I feel we will recieve the real conclusion on this aspect.
And with that said... I bid you adieu.
