(no subject)

[elloran]

A quick question.

Several members here have mistakenly thought my first name was "Ton" - an honorific associated with my status as Inquestor.

Which makes me wonder; what kind of honorifics do you have in your worlds? And if you do not have many, how does your society function without knowing peoples place and duties?

Thank you for your answers!

Comments

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[former_endboss]

All Reyvateils are refereed to as Maidens by some cultures, even if they are not exactly maidenly any longer. But society seems to have shifted and splintered since my day. I don't know how they did things in Sol Cluster in any case.

[lil_tanuki]

Japan tends to have a polite culture, where suffixes are used in equivalence to English words like Mister, Doctor, and such. Like -san is equivalent to Mister, --senpai refers to an elder, but also a upperclassman or senior in a practice such as school or hobbies.

And -sensei refers to people such as doctors, teachers and other people of certain professions. Just as an example.

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[elloran]

Are there other titles for leaders beyond Maidens?

And what of the lower classes? Are there equivalents of Tash and Sen and Ir?

[Elloran, of course, does not realize that just like Ton Mir might not realize that the latter are also titles.]

[elloran]

Are their other suffixes denoting class, rank or calling? Are all doctors sensei, or is there a way of indicating a greater expertise than the norm?

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[former_endboss]

There are the so-called Goddesses, but they're really just the Origins, our prototypes. They were named for and modeled on ancient mythic figures, but they're just very expensive Reyvateils with some special features and responsibilities. And the Hymn Code Ansul as opposed to most's Fehu_Eolia or my own Teiwaz.

I should also debase you of one notion-Reyvateils are frequently an oppressed underclass, regarded with little respect despite our immense power. Society and individuals frequently belittle and control them without their consent.

I believe the Teru clans designate themselves in such a way, but they are somewhat mysterious and reclusive. No human culture I know of does that sort of thing.

[lil_tanuki]

All doctors are sensei as it is a form of respect to a professional. Our honorifics encompass certain types of people ranging from professionals, to the young and old and such. Sensei is also used for people such as mangaka, fashion designers and such.

[elloran]

So anyone who is gifted in their field...much like Hokh is used in my galaxy. Interesting.

[lil_tanuki]

Yes, it confers respect to professionals in the field. And younger children like myself, tend to refer to older young men and women by the more familiar oneechan and oniichan, although there are more formal versions with the changing of the suffix to san. Although since I'm 9 I can get away with calling everyone on the community onee/oniichan

[refinedvillian]

Titles can be quiet important in our society as well. It informs everyone of our status, which lets them know the appropriate manners to keep in mind.

For example, my title as the Earl gives me considerable power, though not as much as our Queen would hold.

[notmynature]

Uh...it kind of doesn't. Function, I mean. The government keeps people in small places but outside of the walls, people just do whatever they want.

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[elloran]

No human culture at all? Strange. Are there classes and clans, though?

[elloran]

That does make things simpler. What do you call children younger than yourself?

[elloran]

You seem to be one of the few who have such a well-ordered society. Others here say they use little to no titles, and I have difficulty understanding how their wider societies function.

[elloran]

Is living outside the walls safe?

[former_endboss]

Class, sure. I'm not sure how to describe it though, and I'm not the most up to date-I do know that the old families of my childhood are completely extinct.

[She made sure of that.]

[lil_tanuki]

It's still the general -chan for young children, even younger than myself. Some boys get -bo but it's a gender exclusive one.

[elloran]

Oh. I understand how strange it can be to live in a world made strange by time. It must be difficult to adapt.

[elloran]

Gender-exclusive? Oh! I see. How strange. Are there other gender-exclusive honorifics?

[lil_tanuki]

Not many. Some girls use chan when speaking to younger girls or children or referring to themselves. Like if I were to refer to Karen-nee as a childish manner it would be Kara-chan or such. It is a endearment term. Even kun isn't gender exclusive either. Only really bo.

[former_endboss]

Difficult? Oh, no, you misapprehend. I'm simply sealed off from the world, I don't miss the fictional good old days. I hated those oligarchs with every fiber of my being.

[elloran]

But why would you need to know someone's gender when speaking to them at all? One would think female children would be content with rising within their fields rather than above other girls.

[elloran]

Ah. So you were glad to see them go?

[former_endboss]

Extremely.

[elloran]

There are a few of my fellows I felt similarly about. And others I was sorry to destroy, though it still became necessary.

[former_endboss]

They were never my fellows. Only monsters pretending to have souls.