MATTERS MOST URGENT My mindset is a fragile one, especially in those liminal morning minutes before the caffeine kicks in. I am greatly, greatly perturbed by two recent Digest changes that threaten my equilibrium and my peace of mind. My soul is Orlanthi, but of an Augustinian persuasion, "Let me welcome change Lord, but not just yet".
MATTERS ALSO URGENT
GAZZA:
>Is it a custom for Orlanthi women to take their husband's
>surname as their own? Or is it the case that ALL members
>of a given Clan have their Clan as their surname?
There are very very few Orlanthi universals, save the name of the Lord of the Middle Air, and even that goes through some mind-boggling linguistic and dialectic mutations. Useless GodLearner propaganda aside, it is the *differences* in custom, kinship and mythology that make each tribe so interesting (and also, incidentally, the single great reason why the Orlanthi will *never* be united).
At the bright and shining centre of the Lozenge (Sartar and the Far Place) surnames as such are not used. An Orlanthi is given a personal name at birth or some time thereafter, usually the name of a prominent recent ancestor. (Since infant mortality is so high, parents only take a strong interest in their child if they survive to four or five - between weaning and this age the child is pretty much communal property). Being patrilineal (though with strong cognitive descent tendencies) their 'surname' is usually based on the name of their father - for example Broddison, or Broddidotter, Arkison or Arkidotter. In the case of a prominent or powerful mother, the appellation may come from her - Theyadotter, Theyason. This 'never' happens i.e. around 15% of the time. Personal epithets are very common, but are unlikely to remain constant, based as they are firstly on physical characteristics, then initiation events or visions, and later on occupation or attainment or scandal or just cruel and funny (usually game) puns or jokes. (My (myth-sensitive, serious, storytelling (ha!)) campaign has a pc called Arson Head In The Clouds - no doubt you can supply groaners yourself).
Clan and bloodline connections are *very* important, in fact more important than personal names. These will be well known, and an Orlanthi will constantly refer to them, but they are not commonly telegraphed into personal names or surnames.
So a typical say, Tresdarnii clansman of the Tovataros tribe would be called Broddi Tarkatsonn called Clapsaddle of the Twin Birches of the Tresdarnii clan of the Tovtaros, or Danwyr Can't-Be-Moved, son of Orlstein, lodge son of the Twin Birches of the Tresdarrnii. (Tribal names are less likely to be mentioned in day to day encounters).
THE 'REAL' NAME OF BOLDHOME If we're using the Anglo-Saxon analog, it should be noted that the Old English word 'bold' actually means 'dwelling' or 'home'. MGF insists here that Boldhome is a mistranslation applied by a confused Lunar cartographer whose informant was simply referring to where she lived.
Other OE words for 'home' itself include (apologies for simplifications due to font limitations) 'eard' (homeland), 'edel' (homeland or tribal tula), 'stol' (parental or ancestral home), 'ham' (home), or 'toft' (site of building). it should be noted that 'stead' merely refers to 'thing' or 'place' and does not technically mean a dwelling. (Hence the current English continuation, "In my stead".)
The OE term for 'bold' is 'beald'.
Prosaically, BoldHome may be referred to in Sartarite as something like 'Bealdenbold' - home of the bold ones. But I'd be interested in MGF explorations using the OE roots. Suggestions anyone?
Cheers
John
(who regularly circulates *his* .sigs)
J. Michael
Straczynski, on Plot.
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