Naming conventions: Difference between revisions
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Feminist SF has considered at least two aspects of naming conventions: | Feminist SF has considered at least two aspects of naming conventions: | ||
# the power to name, as a type of power; see [[Ursula K. Le Guin]], "[[She Unnames Them (short story)|She Unnames Them]]", a riff on the Abrahamic tradition that [[Adam]] was given the power to name the beasts of the world. | # the power to name, as a type of power; see [[Ursula K. Le Guin]], "[[She Unnames Them (short story)|She Unnames Them]]", a riff on the Abrahamic tradition that [[Adam]] was given the power to name the beasts of the world. | ||
# patronymic and alternative naming practices; see [[Marion Zimmer Bradley]]'s [[Free Amazons]] in the Darkover books, where women follow a matronymic naming pattern, e.g., ''[[Margali n'ha Ysabet]]''. "From this day forth I swear I shall never again be known by the name of any man, be he father, guardian, lover or husband, but simply and solely as the daughter of my mother." [[Oath of the Free Amazon]]) | # patronymic and alternative naming practices; see [[Marion Zimmer Bradley]]'s [[Free Amazons]] in the Darkover books, where women follow a matronymic naming pattern, e.g., ''[[Margali n'ha Ysabet]]''. "From this day forth I swear I shall never again be known by the name of any man, be he father, guardian, lover or husband, but simply and solely as the daughter of my mother." [[Oath of the Free Amazon]]). See also [[Barbara Hambly]]'s duology, ''[[Sisters of the Raven]]'' and ''[[Circle of the Moon]]'', in which women embedded in a thoroughly patriarchal culture are given new names of their husband's / master's choice on marriage, concubinage, etc. | ||
[[Category:Themes and tropes]] | [[Category:Themes and tropes]] | ||
[[Category:Names and naming]] | [[Category:Names and naming]] | ||
Revision as of 08:49, 24 January 2010
In SF as in real human cultures, naming conventions may reflect family structures, sexual controls, and flows of transferring power thru the generations.
Feminist SF has considered at least two aspects of naming conventions:
- the power to name, as a type of power; see Ursula K. Le Guin, "She Unnames Them", a riff on the Abrahamic tradition that Adam was given the power to name the beasts of the world.
- patronymic and alternative naming practices; see Marion Zimmer Bradley's Free Amazons in the Darkover books, where women follow a matronymic naming pattern, e.g., Margali n'ha Ysabet. "From this day forth I swear I shall never again be known by the name of any man, be he father, guardian, lover or husband, but simply and solely as the daughter of my mother." Oath of the Free Amazon). See also Barbara Hambly's duology, Sisters of the Raven and Circle of the Moon, in which women embedded in a thoroughly patriarchal culture are given new names of their husband's / master's choice on marriage, concubinage, etc.