tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post618834133409153034..comments2024-03-28T05:59:52.454-07:00Comments on TalkToYoUniverse: Why Nouns Matter, part 1: Proper NamesJuliette Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-49066537354531352982011-10-17T09:40:08.156-07:002011-10-17T09:40:08.156-07:00Here's a comment from Nicole Lisa that didn...Here's a comment from Nicole Lisa that didn't make it through for some reason...<br /><br />Yes! And it’s so fun to break down character names within a story to subtly show cultural, ethical, religious, racial differences by using different “families” of names. A not subtle example is George Chester Wallace III and Agamemnon – already you’re clued in to two wildly divergent histories. When you’re writing speculative fiction you can make up the names whole cloth to get a similar effect.<br /><br />Great point, Nicole!Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-49423638890049554442011-09-22T17:41:52.618-07:002011-09-22T17:41:52.618-07:00Useful, aren't they. :) Good luck with your pr...Useful, aren't they. :) Good luck with your project.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-41721765368795996452011-09-22T17:40:16.231-07:002011-09-22T17:40:16.231-07:00You make some interesting points, especially regar...You make some interesting points, especially regarding proper names. My sci fi novel, Universe Ocean, begins in our solar system, but doesn't stay there past the end of the prologue. Therefore, I had to set up the premise quickly within the reader's mind. With the use of one proper name, the Japanese Solar Commerce Fleet, I was (hopefully) able to create a broad picture of the time period and setting. And just as importantly, they’re not there just as a placeholder; the JSCF plays an integral role in the plot as well.<br /><br />I could write a whole paragraph on the implications that the existence of the JSCF creates, but that would be defeating the purpose. Instead, I’ll just mention that you can read an early version of my prologue at www.universeocean.com to see how this was done. If I’ve done my job as a writer then whether or not I even mention the exact year the story begins becomes irrelevant. I’ve already painted a future landscape in the reader's mind with a single proper noun.<br /><br />TimTimhttp://www.universeocean.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-52795763372421529922011-09-21T07:46:35.839-07:002011-09-21T07:46:35.839-07:00I entirely agree, nlisa. Fun for all, and thanks s...I entirely agree, nlisa. Fun for all, and thanks so much for commenting!Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-25111191526411357582011-09-21T07:46:07.078-07:002011-09-21T07:46:07.078-07:00This post comes from nlisa, who had trouble with t...This post comes from nlisa, who had trouble with the Blogger comment frame: <br /><br />Yes! And it’s so fun to break down character names within a story to subtly show cultural, ethical, religious, racial differences among characters by using different “families” of names. A not subtle example is George Chester Wallace III vs Agamemnon – already you’re clued in to two wildly divergent histories. And when you’re writing speculative fiction you can make up the names whole cloth to get a similar effect.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-49848208944214949992011-09-20T05:52:25.589-07:002011-09-20T05:52:25.589-07:00Thanks for your comment, Vega! I do remember that ...Thanks for your comment, Vega! I do remember that about German nouns - but I didn't know about capitalizing the adjective in the same noun phrase for emphasis. Different languages often have to "solve" the same types of problems of expression, but they tend all to do that in different ways.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-11592440975538413282011-09-20T00:11:24.803-07:002011-09-20T00:11:24.803-07:00I kinda envy you and the English language. Being a...I kinda envy you and the English language. Being able to emphasize through capitalization is great because as a reader you most probably notice it. In German any noun is capitalized, not just common names.<br />So, a great tool less for us.<br />However, when I want to emphasize an adjective and a noun, I capitalize both. As in "Neues Testament" e.g. But often a capitalized adjective "feels" like a spelling error.<br /><br />Good article, though! It's true with the association of certain sounds of names.<br /><br />Greets DaniVegahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134075243329028044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-38857674911242724332011-09-19T16:47:22.216-07:002011-09-19T16:47:22.216-07:00You know, I grew up just outside New London...You know, I grew up just outside New London...Kylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11313942278768498907noreply@blogger.com