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Old Guard / Other Stories / Out of Character / Notes: The Clans
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Emotions Legend
[quote][b]Remus (Jan 05, 2005 05:54 p.m.):[/b] [b]Male Names[/b] The importance of group identity in clan society is reflected in the clansmen’s names:[1] [center]Alaran Cale (Clan name) (Given Name)[/center] [/1]For males, the name of one’s clan is considered part of the self to such a degree that it precedes the given name. Indeed, the traditional forms of formal address between clansmen forsake given names entirely, using only the clan name and a suffix which differs depending upon the allegiance of the subject.[1] [center]Formal address (same clan): Alaran-Ka (“Brother Alaran”) Formal address (other clan): Alaran-Sim (“Cousin Alaran”)[/center] [/1]Historically a clansman would never be called by his clan name alone except as an insult or challenge, but the relaxing of old rivalries since the coming of the imperialists has softened the rudeness of this method of address. Now clansmen of different clans who are well-acquainted might refer to each other by their clan names without malice. In most cases, however, a clansman is known by his given name. A clansman dealing with outsiders unfamiliar with clan customs would probably introduce himself with only his given name to avoid needless confusion. Given names in clan society are highly recyclable. A family tree (following the male line) might contain only a handful or two of distinct names for either sex. Traditionally a firstborn son is named after his grandfather and additional sons after other male ancestors in no strict order. It is important to note, however, that it is considered in very bad taste for two living members of the same family to share the same name (suggesting that the junior member’s existence has written off the elder member as inconsequential). While the elder member lives, the name of the junior member is modified with the suffix [i]-at[/i] (“son of” – clansmen are considered the sons of all ancestors before them, living and dead). Thus, if Cale's father Yan (for whom Cale's son is named) still lived, his son would be called Yanat. [b]Female Names[/b] The most important distinction between the names of males and females in clan society is that female names do not include the clan identity. Because a female can never be considered a representative of her clan, it is a severe taboo for a woman to call herself by the name of her clan. This is also due in part to the practice of females being married into a different clan when they come of age to minimize inbreeding. Only in the most formal of situations would a woman of the clans (there is no word in Vesari for “clanswoman”) be addressed with reference to her clan, and only through her husband:[1] [center]Nechayen Alaran Calur “Nechayen, wife of Alaran Cale”[/center] [/1]In most other situations a female would be called only by her given name, though this name is not formed so straight-forwardly as a male’s. A female’s given name is comprised of at least two parts: a base name given at birth and a characteristic suffix added ceremonially once the female has reached sexual maturity. This suffix is chosen by the parents of the female to represent a single defining quality, and signifies her passage into womanhood and readiness for marriage (though in modern clan society the age of adulthood for both males and females is widely considered to be 16 years old). Cale’s wife was called Necha as a girl, but was christened Nechayen when she came of age.[1] [center]Common characteristic suffixes: [i]-aed[/i] (“clever”) [i]-ai[/i] (“just”) [i]-en[/i] (“wise”) [i]-ir[/i] (“beautiful”) [i]-is[/i] (“compassionate”) [i]-ot[/i] (“hard-working”)[/center] [/1]Like the their male counterparts, clan females are named almost exclusively for ancestors along the patriarchal line. In the case of females named for still-living relatives, the suffix [i]-al[/i] (“daughter of”) is added between the base name and the characteristic suffix. Thus Cale’s eldest daughter, named for her mother (somewhat unorthodox), is called Nechayalai. It is worth noting that among family and very close friends, the suffixes of both male and female names are sometimes dropped for the sake of brevity. Cale’s second daughter is named Kireyalir after her grandmother, but within Cale’s household she is mostly called Kire. The dropping of suffixes is mostly limited to peer/subordinate address; none of Nechayen’s children would dare call her [i]Necha[/i], but Cale might as a pet name.[/quote]
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