RE: (OT) Naming the Aliens

This is often the case with hard consonant sounds (K, B, D, P, T). You
also
see a trend to softer, kinder, or more intelligent races using soft
sounds
like L or M (ex. Lothloria <sp>, Landru). Sometimes S is used, if it is
a
short s sound. A long S sound us usually for some evil race (sounds like
hissing). The V sound is often used for valiant or vigilant races (ex.
Vorlons). Names that start with long vowel sounds are usually bad, but
short
vowel sounds are usually good. And X and Z are almost always the
villians.
Just some cultural insight.

---
Brian Bell
bkb@beol.net <mailto:bkb@beol.net>
http://members.xoom.com/rlyehable/
---

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
[mailto:owner-gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU]On Behalf Of Tom.McCarthy
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 13:56
To: 'gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU'
Subject: Re: (OT) Naming the Aliens

I'd assumed the prevalence of 'K' in alien names was because the authors
wanted strong, aggressive sounding names with hard Kuh sounds.	The name
Kra'Vak goes nicely with an aggressive nature.	The ship classes of the
Kra'Vak also appear to have patterns of hard kuhs, glottal stops, and
short
vowels.

It's a fairly common technique to pick names which the author thinks
sound
appropriate for the race and which pick up on the author's intent for
their
nature or psychology.  I wouldn't be surprised if you could find a link
between 'Klingon' and a 60's communist individual or place, and if you
picked the right brains, between 'Ferengi' and a miser, moneylender, or
financial institution.