Re: Cross-post: Naming systems, family structure, politeness in , address

> From: Yoon Ha Lee
>
> On Tue, 29 Aug 2000, Matt McLauchlin wrote:
>
> > --- In conculture@egroups.com, "Matt McLauchlin" <matt_mcl@h...>
> > wrote:
> > How do your naming systems relate to your family structure?
The nardhost traditionally take four names:

1) endraner (self-name): name chosen by the child upon reaching maturity
during the ceremony of tular ornethion (coming of age) upon reaching the age
of 16;

2) endrandir (gift-name) : given name chosen by the parents of the child at
birth;

3) endredair (parental-name) : males take the father's endraner or
patronymic (endran), females take the mother's endraner or matronymic
(endramil);

4) endrathar (clan name)  the father's clan name.

A typical male name might be called:

galdran aegnor magloranno athar-sinadhoth
Galdor Aegnor son of Maglor of the Sinda Clan
        galdran   aegnor    magloranno athar-sinadhoth
        self-name gift-name patronymic clan-name
        Galdor    Aegnor    of  Maglor Sinda Clan

A typical female name might be called:

luthiel elbreth anariello athar-balaroth
Luthiel Elbereth daughter of Anariel of the Balar Clan
        luthiel   elbreth   anariello   athar-balaroth
        self-name gift-name matronymic  clan-name
        Luthiel   Elbereth  of  Anariel Balar Clan

The self-name and parent name are always inflected for gender allowing the
stems to be used for either sex, e.g. galdran (masc) /galdriel (fem).  These
latter are traditionally translated as galdran > Galdor and galdriel >
Galadriel.

While these names often have no meaning in the contemporary language, they
are derived from protolanguage roots and borrowings from the languages of
the Dunedain.  However, their original meanings are not known to the average
nardhost.  Male gift- and self-names are usually chosen from among those of
the father's family while female gift- and self-names are typically chosen
from among those of the mother's family.  Individuals are free to choose any
name for their self-name and many have been known to agonize over this
choice for several years before tular ornethion.

Usage:

- When speaking about someone, as opposed to directly addressing them, the
definite article is used with the name, e.g. i galdran , “the Galdor”.

- Relatives and contemporaries of children use the child's self-name (e.g.
galdran or luthiel).

- Unrelated adults when addressing a child use what is called the
endrameldar or friend-name.  It is formed by combining the self-name with
the gift-name (e.g. galdran aegnor or luthiel elbreth).

- The endristron (lit. familiar-name) is used by relatives and
contemporaries of adults.  It is formed by combining the gift name and the
parental name (e.g. aegnor maglorano or elbreth anariello),

- Close friends of adults will use just the gift-name inflected for gender
(e.g. aenoran or elbrethiel).

- Unrelated older adults and children when addressing an adult will combine
the self name, the gift-name and the parental-name (e.g. galdran aegnor
magloranno or luthiel elbreth anariello)

- The endravaldil (lit. ceremonial name), consisting of the all parts of the
name is only used in formal ceremonies.


During my sojourn among the nardhost I was given the ceremonial name:

curunaran demith meldon iananno athar-calonoth
Gray Wizard David (beloved) son of John of the Bell Clan
        curanaran demith meldon    iananno     athar-calonoth
        self-name        gift-name patronymic  clan-name
        wizard    gray   David     son of John of the Bell Clan

meldon iananno
i guranaran demith

David E. Bell
The Gray Wizard
    dbell@graywizard.net
    www.graywizard.net

"Wisdom begins in wonder." - Socrates