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Given names in English, depite what the baby-name books claim, are not generally imbued with meaning. As such, they are transliterated rather than translated. Exceptions will occur; in fact, this author’s taken name, Amberwind, is much more satisfying when translated (Dathimithedeyul: dathi (needle) + mi (leaf) = dathimi (conifer) + thede (jewel) = dathimithede (amber) + yul (wind)) than when transliterated (Ámerewin, or some such).
That brings up the topic of family names. Dr Elgin never addressed this topic, so it has been left to the second generation. We’ve decided that, in line with Láadan naming conventions, wherein the name proceeds from the general to the specific, the family name will precede the given name.
There are, in English, various types of family names that can be translated; others will have to be transliterated. Some of the general types that can be translated are patronymic names (Albertson, Bettison, Johnson/Jones, Williamson/Williams, Robertson/Roberts, etc.), trade-names (Carpenter, Fuller, Smith, Taylor, Tinker, Wright, etc.), color-names (Black, Brown, Green, Grey, White, etc.), and place-names (Carlton, Fields, Rivers, Stone, etc.).
Patronymic (literally father-name) names will likely be the most difficult to translate, consisting as they do of a given name (almost always a male given name; Bettison—son of Betty—is the only one in the list above that is arguably maternal in origin, and even that one uses the male suffix –son). We partially translate the English suffix using “shem” (offspring) as a suffix to the transliterated given name. Among our list above are several that show the
Generally speaking, trade names will be translated insofar as possible (where the vocabulary exists; names such as Fletcher, one who attaches the feathers to arrows, lack the necessary referrents in Láadan). Where translation is not feasible, they would be transliterated. These names connote that an ancestor of the family had, as an occupation, the profession or trade referenced; as such, and to mark these as family names rather than profession-related honorifics, they would take the
Color names in English commemorate an ancestor with some notable feature in that color: eyes, hair, skin tone, or some such. Most common color names do have words in Láadan. As such, these names will also take the
To mark place-names as a family name, we will once again employ the
Names that do not fall into one of the above categories would likely have to be transliterated (or a Láadan name made up); in any case, it would feature the
The advantage of translating names is obvious: the name is naturalized into Láadan; a transliterated name is forever marked as a borrowing. Nevertheless, it is important to note the preference of the person being named and adhere to that when referring to her—unless it is your intention to give insult.
Elizabeth Taylor
Oweháshem Elízhabeth
Carol Green
Liyeneshem Hérel
William Fields
Duneshem Wílem
Mary Jones
Zhaneshem Méri
This last name presupposes the personal name “Zhan” for the English “John.”
“Honorifics” or “titles” are used in English with a name (eg, “Mrs Baker,” “Dr Brown,” “Sr Mary,” “Miss Edith”) or without (eg, “Miss,” “Ma’am,” “Sir,” “Doctor,” “Father,” “Sister”).
Another class of honorifics is relationship words (eg, “Aunt Carol,” “Uncle William,” “Cousin Anna,” “Grandpa Matthew”).
Unlike in English, Láadan honorifics are applied after the name, if any, they’re used with—just as we’ve become used to doing when using a pronoun to carry Case for a name. In fact, an honorific will do double-duty, standing in for the pronoun that carries case endings for a name as well as carrying the honorific information.
Also unlike in English, where “Dr Brown,” “Mrs Baker,” and the like are the norm, Láadan stresses personal relationships rather than mere professional/acquaintance relationships. One upshot of this focus is that the Surname-Honorific sequence will be rare in Láadan. Much more common will be Personal Name-Honorific or just the Personal Name or, if the name is not known, just the Honorific.
Profession-based English honorifics are limited to very few high-status professions (eg, “Dr/Doctor,” “Sr/Sister,” “Fr/Father”). While in English is it common to address a physician as “Doctor,” it feels odd indeed to refer to a plumber or carpenter—or even a lawyer—in the same way. “Sister” and “Father” among Catholic worshipers are an addition to this very short list—likely some conclusion could be drawn as to the status ascribed to such people.
Láadan profession-based honorifics are available regardless of the trade or profession. “Ábedá” (Farmer) or “Omá” (Teacher) are as valid as “Eduthahá” (Doctor) or “Wíitham” (Clergy).
Doctor Suzette Brown
Doctor Brown
Doctor
Leyaneshem Shuzhéth Eduthahá
Shuzhéth Eduthahá
Eduthahá
Nurse Anthony Carpenter
Nurse Carpenter
Nurse
Belidáshem Ánetheni Onin
Ánetheni Onin
Onin
Teacher Marsha Lake
Teacher Lake
Teacher
Wiliduneshem Másha Omá
Másha Omá
Omá
Sister Mary Elizabeth
Sister
Méri Elízhabeth Wíitham
Wíitham
While some English honorifics are profession-based, most English honorifics refer to gender and marital status (Mister/Master, Mrs/Miss, sir, ma’am) and, in British English, degree of nobility. In forming a Láadan honorific, on the other hand, the feeling (neutral/loved/honored/despised) the speaker has toward the person referred to by the honorific is central; the age and gender are secondary; marital status and rank are not considerations.
Non-professional honorifics in Láadan are pronomial in form; that is, they are made using mechanisms we are used to seeing when dealing with pronouns. We begin with the second-person or third-person pronoun: (ne: you, or be: he/she); if the feeling we have for the person is non-neutral, we may optionally use the inflected form of the pronoun (na/ni/lhene or ba/bi/lhebe). Plural forms are permissible, should the situation warrant. We may then add an optional age-prefix (
2nd person, neutral
Ø
F
M
Ø
Ne
Nehizh
Nehid
Infant
Áne
Ánehizh
Ánehid
Child
Háane
Háanehizh
Háanehid
Teen
Yáane
Yáanehizh
Yáanehid
Adult
Sháane
Sháanehizh
Sháanehid
Senior
Zháane
Zháanehizh
Zháanehid
2nd person, beloved
Ø
F
M
Ø
Na
Nahizh
Nahid
Infant
Ána
Ánahizh
Ánahid
Child
Háana
Háanahizh
Háanahid
Teen
Yáana
Yáanahizh
Yáanahid
Adult
Sháana
Sháanahizh
Sháanahid
Senior
Zháana
Zháanahizh
Zháanahid
2nd person, honored
Ø
F
M
Ø
Ni
Nihizh
Nihid
Infant
Áni
Ánihizh
Ánihid
Child
Háani
Háanihizh
Háanihid
Teen
Yáani
Yáanihizh
Yáanihid
Adult
Sháani
Sháanihizh
Sháanihid
Senior
Zháani
Zháanihizh
Zháanihid
2nd person, despised
Ø
F
M
Ø
Lhene
Lhenehizh
Lhenehid
Infant
Álhene
Álhenihizh
Álhenihid
Child
Háalhene
Háalhenehizh
Háalhenehid
Teen
Yáalhene
Yáalhenehizh
Yáalhenehid
Adult
Sháalhene
Sháalhenehizh
Sháalhenehid
Senior
Zháalhene
Zháalhenehizh
Zháalhenehid
3rd person, neutral
Ø
F
M
Ø
Be
Behizh
Behid
Infant
Ábe
Ábehizh
Ábehid
Child
Háabe
Háabehizh
Háabehid
Teen
Yáabe
Yáabehizh
Yáabehid
Adult
Sháabe
Sháabehizh
Sháabehid
Senior
Zháabe
Zháabehizh
Zháabehid
3rd person, beloved
Ø
F
M
Ø
Ba
Bahizh
Bahid
Infant
Ába
Ábahizh
Ábahid
Child
Háaba
Háabahizh
Háabahid
Teen
Yáaba
Yáabahizh
Yáabahid
Adult
Sháaba
Sháabahizh
Sháabahid
Senior
Zháaba
Zháabahizh
Zháabahid
3rd person, honored
Ø
F
M
Ø
Bi
Bihizh
Bihid
Infant
Ábi
Ábihizh
Ábihid
Child
Háabi
Háabihizh
Háabihid
Teen
Yáabi
Yáabihizh
Yáabihid
Adult
Sháabi
Sháabihizh
Sháabihid
Senior
Zháabi
Zháabihizh
Zháabihid
3rd person, despised
Ø
F
M
Ø
Lhebe
Lhebehizh
Lhebehid
Infant
Álhebe
Álhebehizh
Álhebehid
Child
Háalhebe
Háalhebehizh
Háalhebehid
Teen
Yáalhebe
Yáalhebehizh
Yáalhebehid
Adult
Sháalhebe
Sháalhebehizh
Sháalhebehid
Senior
Zháalhebe
Zháalhebehizh
Zháalhebehid
Presented in another way, the table at right shows the options when forming nonprofessional honorifics; simply choose one element from each column. As denoted by Ø, most elements are optional.
One further note: it is possible to form an honorific using a first-person pronoun—for instance in a social situation in which it becomes necessary to correct another’s way of referring to us. In such a situation, we might use a first-person pronoun; it is difficult to imagine another use for a first-person honorific in courteous discourse.
Age
Ø–
á–
háa–
yáa–
sháa–
zháa–
Person
ne
na
ni
lhene
be
ba
bi
lhebe
Number
–Ø
–zh
–n
Gender
–Ø
–izh
–id
Bíi eril di le Elízhabeth Hudim wa; dibó Sháabihizh ledim di le shoneth bethu ninidedimehé.
I spoke to Queen Elizabeth; Her Majesty (adult, honored, female) commanded that I speak to you (many, honored, male) about peace.
Báa néde láad Méri Zháabahizh leth oyinan?
Does Miss Mary (senior, beloved, female) want to see me?
1
Bóo dithed ne Elízhabeth Ebaládim; bíi them le thuzheth udathihéeya aril wa.
2
Báa medíbel Sháanizhizh leth ranath nizhedim?
3
Bíi bedina Wílemeshem Méri Omátho déeladáan Láadanethum sháaleya ril wáa.
4
Wil sha, Yáanihizh. Báa duredeb ni bebáath?
5
Bíid thad baneban ra le Thíben Sháalhebedim; náloláad le bina lhebedim wa.
6
Bíi aril radozh hal Zháanida wa; dam le ihehena i lolena hi rawáan.
7
Bíi eril mebithim ra lezh lawitheth raya wa; báa ril néde di Zháana bebáath lezhedim?
8
Báa tháa Hérel Bedihá? Bíi eril dush sháad Yáabehizh duthahothedim bedishodede wáa.
9
Bíith lhitharil le wa, Eduthahá; úuya le wohiwetha wohibidesha.
10
Bíilan thónahelasháana shem letha wa; elahela náaleya shin aril; litharil le hoshemeth thenahulenal—beyeya.
In #2, the prefix
In #6, did the phrase “hi rawáan” give you any trouble? The pronoun “hi” (this/that) refers to the topic previously under discussion; “hiwáan” would be “because of the foregoing.” Splitting off the case ending and using it with
In #7, did you have any trouble interpreting the meaning of “raya”? It’s a time-case word with
11
I shall ask Anthropologist Anthony at what school he (honored) studied anthropology.
12
[Love] You (few, beloved) will be asleep when your Aunt Margaret arrives from Arkansas.
13
Entomologist Michael and Farmer Marsha cooperate to heal the seedlings.
14
I had hoped that Singer William would now be welcoming Priest Bethany to our town.
15
The nurse greeted my sick great-niece, “Greetings, (beloved, infant) Little Miss.”
16
Matthew Green is extremely busy; he (honored, teen) has many things he ought to do for his family.
17
Gardener Teresa intends to care for herself (teen) using her own common sense from this week forward.
18
I shall beg Banker Mary—other than at the bank; perhaps she (adult) will be remorseful and not take my house away from me.
19
Peacemaker, how (because of what) are you (honored, senior) able to show lovingkindness to THEM (many, despised)?
20
Child, [didactically] we all are “they (many, despised)” in SOMEone’s perception; [lovingly] now do you (beloved) understand?
In #12, “arrive” is translated “finish traveling;” this uses additional vocabulary as well as reinforcing that any travel-type verb can have the English meaning of “arrive” or “depart” with the application of appropriate prefixes.
In #18, did you have trouble with the phrase “other than at the bank”? We’ve seen this type of construction before, but never in the Place case. Consider “at the bank” (loshebelidesha); if we want to reverse the function of the case to specify “anywhere but at the bank” we’d need to split the case suffix off from the noun and use
1
Prithee call Baker Elizabeth; I need a cake tomorrow afternoon.
2
May I bring you ladies beverages?
3
Teacher Mary Williamson’s lesson today is about Láadan sentences.
4
Greetings, Honored-Teen-Miss. What are honored-you looking for (trying to find)?
5
[Angry] I cannot forgive despised-adult Steven; I’m still angry (Int,Ø,+) at despised-him.
6
The work for Honored-Senior-You will be difficult; nevertheless, I will demonstrate excitement (despite neg circ) and confidence (good).
7
We’ve never met a saint before; what do Senior-Beloved-You want to tell us?
8
Is Student Carol well? Teen-She had to leave the classroom to go to hospital.
9
[Pain] I’m worried, Doctor; I feel pain in my left testicle.
10
[Joy] My daughter just began menstruating for the first time; the celebration will be two nights from now; I’m looking forward to grandchildren with great joy—sometime.
11
Bíi aril dibáa le Ánetheni Ewithádim eril ulanin bihid ewith bebáashahée wa.
12
Bíili aril meháana nazh úyahú nohim Mázhareth Berídan nazhetha Araneshade wa.
13
Bíi mezheshub medutha Máyel Ezhubá i Másha Ábedá ádalathehéwan wa.
14
Bíi eril ul le rilrili elathóodi Wílem Lalomá Bétheni Wíithamedim miwith lenethosha nuyahé wa.
15
Bíi eril dibithim onin wohéeya wohosherídan lethadim wa, “Wil sha, Ánahizh.”
16
Bíi shóodehul Liyeneshem Máthu wáa; dinime shub yáabihid daleth menedebehóo onida bithada.
17
Bíi nédeshub naya Therísha Déelahá yáabeyóoth bash behóothanan híyahathede ril wa.
18
Bíi aril dithem le Méri Loshádim loshebelid rasha wa; rilrili lhitheril sháabe i raban ra belid lethoth lede.
19
Shoná, thad dam ni donidaneth lhebenehóodim bebáawáan?
20
Háawith, bíidi len woho “lhebenem” láa beyehóothosha wa; báali ril en na?
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