I’m interested in how the various aliens of Mass Effect go about naming themselves.
Like the volus. They always have two names. I assume one is the name of their clan, and one is a given name, much like the krogan. But does anyone know which is which? Or if this is even so in the first place?
Asari names seem to have their own rules. Many asari, go by what appear to be both given and family names much like humans and turians. But asari Matriarchs seem to go by only one name, preceded by the honorific ‘Matriarch.’ As do some non-Matriarch asari, such as Samara (is 'Justicar' Samara's official title?) and Shiala. This leads me to believe that asari names are situational and change over the course of an asari’s life.
Many asari use “T’” seemingly in much the same way the Irish use “O’”. The asari have “T’Soni” and “T’Loak”, the Irish have “O’Malley” and “O’Brian”. But if asari names change over the course of their lives then maybe “T’” has an added significance, denoting the Maiden phase perhaps? Or perhaps that an asari is unmarried?
Can anyone shed some light on these or other alien name related issues?
Alien Naming Conventions
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, janv. 14 2011 08:43
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#2
Posté 14 janvier 2011 - 08:47
jayred vas normandy
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i also noticed this about the asari, but no clue what the rules to ME alien names are. this would make a good codex entry.
#3
Posté 14 janvier 2011 - 08:51
GodWood
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Salarian naming conventions:
Salarian names are quite complex. A full name includes – in order – the name of a salarian's homeworld, nation, city, district, clan name and given name. For example, the salarian on Feros is named Gorot II Heranon Mal Dinest Got Inoste Ledra, but he would be called either by his clan name, Inoste, or his given name, Ledra
Salarian names are quite complex. A full name includes – in order – the name of a salarian's homeworld, nation, city, district, clan name and given name. For example, the salarian on Feros is named Gorot II Heranon Mal Dinest Got Inoste Ledra, but he would be called either by his clan name, Inoste, or his given name, Ledra
#4
Posté 14 janvier 2011 - 08:54
IndigoWolfe
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I have a theory on the "T" occasionally used in asari names.
I think the T-apostrophe-name is because the asari in question was born when her mother was in her matriarch stage. Meaning, Benezia's full name would probably be Benezia Soni.
Or perhaps it's an honorific, denoting family status.
I think the T-apostrophe-name is because the asari in question was born when her mother was in her matriarch stage. Meaning, Benezia's full name would probably be Benezia Soni.
Or perhaps it's an honorific, denoting family status.
#5
Posté 14 janvier 2011 - 09:13
CmdrKankrelat
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In addition to using a "T" in front of some last names, some asari also have an "L." There was an example of that a while back on the CDN with an asari actress named L'Tanas. It's also worth noting their first names - think of any asari, and I guarantee you most of them have a first name ending in "a." Liara. Benezia. Shiala. Erinya. Aethyta. Ereba. Eria. Elnora. I think there are a few here and there who flaunt that convention, which I as sume is in place because we usually think of a name ending in "a" as a feminine name, which works quite well for the asari. Asari first names also seem to have a faux-Greek feeling to them, which goes well with their Mediterranean-City-States-In-Space-style homeworld. Simiarly, the turians have faux-Roman conventions in their names (many x's!) which goes along with their nature as Space Romans.
#6
Posté 14 janvier 2011 - 09:20
Aimi
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I'll never understand why Garrus, of all the turians, apparently is the only one with an Armenian-sounding last name.CmdrKankrelat wrote...
Simiarly, the turians have faux-Roman conventions in their names (many x's!) which goes along with their nature as Space Romans.
#7
Posté 14 janvier 2011 - 09:35
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CmdrKankrelat wrote...
In addition to using a "T" in front of some last names, some asari also have an "L." There was an example of that a while back on the CDN with an asari actress named L'Tanas. It's also worth noting their first names - think of any asari, and I guarantee you most of them have a first name ending in "a." Liara. Benezia. Shiala. Erinya. Aethyta. Ereba. Eria. Elnora. I think there are a few here and there who flaunt that convention, which I as sume is in place because we usually think of a name ending in "a" as a feminine name, which works quite well for the asari. Asari first names also seem to have a faux-Greek feeling to them, which goes well with their Mediterranean-City-States-In-Space-style homeworld. Simiarly, the turians have faux-Roman conventions in their names (many x's!) which goes along with their nature as Space Romans.
That’s a great observation!
Perhaps different city-states have different conventions? While some use a “T” other might use an “L.” A bit like humans where some have names starting with “O” and others “Mac.”
But for some reason, I kinda like the idea that “T” is for unmarried asari, and “L” is for married. Sort of how humans use Miss and Mrs. So, if Liara were to get married she would go from “T’Soni” to “L’Soni” (or maybe “L’Shepard
).
Modifié par General User, 14 janvier 2011 - 09:39 .
#8
Posté 14 janvier 2011 - 09:55
CroGamer002
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GodWood wrote...
Salarian naming conventions:
Salarian names are quite complex. A full name includes – in order – the name of a salarian's homeworld, nation, city, district, clan name and given name. For example, the salarian on Feros is named Gorot II Heranon Mal Dinest Got Inoste Ledra, but he would be called either by his clan name, Inoste, or his given name, Ledra
I guess this is mine name:
Zemlja Hrvatska Slavonski Brod Brodski centar /private/ /private/
Eng.
Earth Croatia Slavonski Brod Brod's center /private/ /private/
#9
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Posté 15 janvier 2011 - 02:10
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I am a big fan of the Space Greek Asari/Space Roman Turian theory. There are several things in support of this which are seldom mentioned:
(1) Many Turians adopted the pantheistic religion/philosophy after the Turians joined the Council. Just like the Romans studied Greek philosophy and adopted Greek religion.
(2) The Asari practice *direct* democracy in the style of Athens, which is totally different from the *representative* democracy usually implied by the word "democracy".
(3) Turians accept the Volus as client race. Romans has Jews as client race. I don't think the Volus are space Jews, but many people do.
That said, I want to emphasize the relevance of the "Greekness" of the Asari to the OP's topic.
Ancient Greeks don't have last names. We don't know that the Asari have last names. Perhaps they don't, and the Asari second name is like an Ancient Greek *epithet*, in that they:
(1) Are not necessary. Many Asari do not appear to have second names. E.g. Shiala.
(2) Denotes the family/local origin of the bearer, or a characteristic the name bearer is famous for, or simply a pet name. e.g.
(a) Pallas Athena, Athena Parthenos are both name styles of the goddes Athena.
(
Nestor, the elderly Greek hero of the Trojan Wars, is often called Nestor Gerenios. What Gerenios translates to is not certain, but it's not a last name.
© Most Ancient Greeks are just called "Name" of "Place", or "Name" son of "Father's Name". e.g. Thales o Miletus, Odysseus Laertiades.
Now consider how often names of Greek females end in A's. And consider the name of my favorite non-squadmate Asari, "Rana Thanoptis". Now that's a Greek-sounding name if I've ever heard one!
So, yeah. My belief is that Asari don't have last names, but epithets. "T'Soni" probably means "From the Land of Soni", or "Wide-Eyed", or something of the sort in some ancient Asari dialect. That's the way it'd be in my version of the ME universe anyway.
(1) Many Turians adopted the pantheistic religion/philosophy after the Turians joined the Council. Just like the Romans studied Greek philosophy and adopted Greek religion.
(2) The Asari practice *direct* democracy in the style of Athens, which is totally different from the *representative* democracy usually implied by the word "democracy".
(3) Turians accept the Volus as client race. Romans has Jews as client race. I don't think the Volus are space Jews, but many people do.
That said, I want to emphasize the relevance of the "Greekness" of the Asari to the OP's topic.
Ancient Greeks don't have last names. We don't know that the Asari have last names. Perhaps they don't, and the Asari second name is like an Ancient Greek *epithet*, in that they:
(1) Are not necessary. Many Asari do not appear to have second names. E.g. Shiala.
(2) Denotes the family/local origin of the bearer, or a characteristic the name bearer is famous for, or simply a pet name. e.g.
(a) Pallas Athena, Athena Parthenos are both name styles of the goddes Athena.
(
Nestor, the elderly Greek hero of the Trojan Wars, is often called Nestor Gerenios. What Gerenios translates to is not certain, but it's not a last name.© Most Ancient Greeks are just called "Name" of "Place", or "Name" son of "Father's Name". e.g. Thales o Miletus, Odysseus Laertiades.
Now consider how often names of Greek females end in A's. And consider the name of my favorite non-squadmate Asari, "Rana Thanoptis". Now that's a Greek-sounding name if I've ever heard one!
So, yeah. My belief is that Asari don't have last names, but epithets. "T'Soni" probably means "From the Land of Soni", or "Wide-Eyed", or something of the sort in some ancient Asari dialect. That's the way it'd be in my version of the ME universe anyway.
Modifié par iOnlySignIn, 15 janvier 2011 - 02:51 .
#10
Posté 15 janvier 2011 - 02:28
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Well...
I don't know about the rest of y'all but I just learned something.
And learning is...
I don't know about the rest of y'all but I just learned something.
And learning is...
#11
Posté 15 janvier 2011 - 02:43
lovgreno
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Many interesting theories and observations here. The T many asari names beins with could also be a title, like a military or university rank. Liara is a professor (or something similar) in extinct civilisations so T'soni may mean something like professor or scholar Soni.
#12
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Posté 15 janvier 2011 - 02:49
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lovgreno wrote...
Many interesting theories and observations here. The T many asari names beins with could also be a title, like a military or university rank. Liara is a professor (or something similar) in extinct civilisations so T'soni may mean something like professor or scholar Soni.
I love this theory, except that I doubt Aria T'Loak is any sort of scholar. I do think there's a high possibily that T' is some sort of acquired title/rank.
Modifié par iOnlySignIn, 15 janvier 2011 - 02:50 .
#13
Posté 15 janvier 2011 - 02:52
xlavaina
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I'll explain Quarians for you. Tali'Zorah vas Neema nar Rayya, for example:
Tali is her first name. Zorah is her clan name. Neema is the name of the ship she has pledged to serve on after pilgrimage, and Rayya is the name of her birth ship.
I wonder how they named themselves before their war with the Geth.
Tali is her first name. Zorah is her clan name. Neema is the name of the ship she has pledged to serve on after pilgrimage, and Rayya is the name of her birth ship.
I wonder how they named themselves before their war with the Geth.
#14
Posté 15 janvier 2011 - 03:36
Measlybinkie
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xlavaina wrote...
I'll explain Quarians for you. Tali'Zorah vas Neema nar Rayya, for example:
Tali is her first name. Zorah is her clan name. Neema is the name of the ship she has pledged to serve on after pilgrimage, and Rayya is the name of her birth ship.
I wonder how they named themselves before their war with the Geth.
I thought they added the ships into their names to reduce the chance of inbreeding? Though I wouldn't be surprised if they did have similar naming conventions before the exile.
#15
Posté 15 janvier 2011 - 03:38
lovgreno
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Thank you. Good point about Aria. But many real life scholars reach high political positions and still keeps their titles as it looks good so I think that may be the case of Aria too.iOnlySignIn wrote...
lovgreno wrote...
Many interesting theories and observations here. The T many asari names beins with could also be a title, like a military or university rank. Liara is a professor (or something similar) in extinct civilisations so T'soni may mean something like professor or scholar Soni.
I love this theory, except that I doubt Aria T'Loak is any sort of scholar. I do think there's a high possibily that T' is some sort of acquired title/rank.
#16
Posté 15 janvier 2011 - 04:13
JG The Gamer
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Notably, asari first names end with the letter 'a'.
#17
Posté 15 janvier 2011 - 04:29
Notho
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xlavaina wrote...
I'll explain Quarians for you. Tali'Zorah vas Neema nar Rayya, for example:
Tali is her first name. Zorah is her clan name. Neema is the name of the ship she has pledged to serve on after pilgrimage, and Rayya is the name of her birth ship.
I wonder how they named themselves before their war with the Geth.
I believe they used the name of their home city, for example "nar name-of-birth-city". If there were some other preface that was used in place of 'vas' (crew of) I've never heard it. I assume it would be related to where they lived or worked as adults, if one was used at all.
#18
Posté 15 janvier 2011 - 04:32
Notho
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lovgreno wrote...
Thank you. Good point about Aria. But many real life scholars reach high political positions and still keeps their titles as it looks good so I think that may be the case of Aria too.iOnlySignIn wrote...
lovgreno wrote...
Many interesting theories and observations here. The T many asari names beins with could also be a title, like a military or university rank. Liara is a professor (or something similar) in extinct civilisations so T'soni may mean something like professor or scholar Soni.
I love this theory, except that I doubt Aria T'Loak is any sort of scholar. I do think there's a high possibily that T' is some sort of acquired title/rank.
Also remember that asari live for a very long time. Aria could have been some kind of scientist or scholar before becoming the ruler of Omega.
#19
Posté 15 janvier 2011 - 04:35
xlavaina
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Notho wrote...
xlavaina wrote...
I'll explain Quarians for you. Tali'Zorah vas Neema nar Rayya, for example:
Tali is her first name. Zorah is her clan name. Neema is the name of the ship she has pledged to serve on after pilgrimage, and Rayya is the name of her birth ship.
I wonder how they named themselves before their war with the Geth.
I believe they used the name of their home city, for example "nar name-of-birth-city". If there were some other preface that was used in place of 'vas' (crew of) I've never heard it. I assume it would be related to where they lived or worked as adults, if one was used at all.
Its certainly possible. i just don't know for sure. Are there any codex entries or something that I missed? Just wondering.
#20
Posté 15 janvier 2011 - 04:39
Notho
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Bleh, I can't remember where I saw the thing that said they used city names. It might have been in one of the books, or I could be randomly pulling it out of thin air.
#21
Posté 15 janvier 2011 - 04:40
Notho
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Still, it makes an interesting discussion so I'm just rolling with it.
#22
Posté 15 janvier 2011 - 04:43
Slayer299
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@ialsosignin - to further complicate the naming structure/meaning for Asari, Matriarchs drop their last name i.e. - Benezia, Aethyta, Dilinaga, etc,. So how important actually are last names for Asari?
#23
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Posté 15 janvier 2011 - 05:05
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lovgreno wrote...
Thank you. Good point about Aria. But many real life scholars reach high political positions and still keeps their titles as it looks good so I think that may be the case of Aria too.iOnlySignIn wrote...
lovgreno wrote...
Many interesting theories and observations here. The T many asari names beins with could also be a title, like a military or university rank. Liara is a professor (or something similar) in extinct civilisations so T'soni may mean something like professor or scholar Soni.
I love this theory, except that I doubt Aria T'Loak is any sort of scholar. I do think there's a high possibily that T' is some sort of acquired title/rank.
Hm, it might be an honor society like Phi Beta Kappa, which we know contains people distinguished in various different ways. Or maybe just some Asari sorority/secret college society. For all we know, most Asari go to college.
Ah, Asari sororities...
#24
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Posté 15 janvier 2011 - 05:08
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Slayer299 wrote...
@ialsosignin - to further complicate the naming structure/meaning for Asari, Matriarchs drop their last name i.e. - Benezia, Aethyta, Dilinaga, etc,. So how important actually are last names for Asari?
How do you know they *drop* their last names? I don't think they have last names at all. Shiala is not a Matriarch and she does not have a second name/last name. It seems that Sha'ira doesn't, either.
#25
Posté 15 janvier 2011 - 05:15
Slayer299
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iOnlySignIn wrote...
How do you know they *drop* their last names? I don't think they have last names at all. Shiala is not a Matriarch and she does not have a second name/last name. It seems that Sha'ira doesn't, either.
No, I did not just "make it up", it's under Benezia's profile under Trivia, that Asari discard their surname when they become Matriarchs. And iare you saying that Asari don't have last names at all??
