Difference between revisions of "Adzamic name"

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(→‎Name gender and suffixes: formatting error, a bit more info on gender, some suffix decisions)
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===Name gender and suffixes===
===Name gender and suffixes===
Most Adzamic names come with a suffix that indicates one of the four [[Adzamasiin gender]]s. In childhood, a neuter suffix is usually used.
Most Adzamic names are suffixed to indicate one of the four [[Adzamasiin gender]]s. In childhood, a neuter suffix is usually used. Some adults also use gender neutral suffixes.


Upon reaching adulthood—typically between 16 and 21 years of age—most Adzamic people practice a name-changing tradition. Generally speaking, the root of the given name is kept, but the neuter suffix is replaced with a gendered ending, based on the new adult's chosen gender. For example, a child with the name ''Jürö-di'' ('attentive, well-behaved'), may choose the adult name ''Jürö-t'' or "Jürö-na'' if they are a sena, or ''Jürö-s'' or ''Jürösö'' if they are a lethe. It is not unheard of, however, for the youth to select an entirely unrelated name, if they are dissatisfied with its meaning.  
The roots used in names are not inherently gendered. Although there are certainly tendencies that are familiar across many cultures—for example, words describing beauty and gentleness for girls (and benthiin) and words describing strength and power for boys (and letheen), there are many exceptions and no hard-and-fast rules. This is especially true in childhood, since when children are named (typically at sixteen days) the parents do not typically presume their gender.


There is no formal restriction on the suffixes used, and many people have relatively unique names. However, there are traditional and common suffixes with widely-accepted meanings and gender connotations.  
Upon reaching adulthood—typically between 16 and 21 years of age—most Adzamic people practice a name-changing tradition. Generally speaking, the root of the given name is kept, but the neuter suffix is replaced with a gendered ending, based on the new adult's chosen gender. For example, a child with the name ''Jürödi'' ('attentive, well-behaved'), may choose the adult name ''Jüröt'' or ''Jüröna'' if they are a sena, or ''Jürös'' or ''Jürösö'' if they are a lethe. It is not unheard of, however, for the youth to select an entirely unrelated name, if they are dissatisfied with its meaning.  


For brevity, only the forms currently used in modern standard Adzamasi will be listed below. The alternate forms are mostly based on phonological environment, but others are simply preference. (Generally speaking, the listed forms focus on consonants. The vowels listed may be short or long, and may also undergo harmony, so "-et" could appear as any of ''-et, -eet, -öt'' or ''-ööt''.)
There is no formal restriction on the suffixes used, and many people have relatively unique names. However, there are traditional and common suffixes with widely-accepted meanings and gender connotations. Some people do also use bare adjectival or nominal roots for their names, without any suffix, although this is rare and can be confusing in some contexts.
 
For brevity, only the forms currently used in modern standard Adzamasi will be listed below. The alternate forms are mostly based on phonological environment (intervocalic voicing and epenthetic vowles are common), but others are simply preference. (Generally speaking, the listed forms focus on consonants. The vowels listed may be short or long, and may also undergo harmony, so "-et" could appear as any of ''-et, -eet, -öt'' or ''-ööt''.)


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
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| -di || -ti, -si || neuter || twin, triplet, etc
| -di || -ti, -si || neuter || twin, triplet, etc
|-
|-
| -t || -at, , -et, -ta || sena || generic
| -t || -at, , -et, -ta || sena || [[Adzamic inheritance|heir]]
|-
|-
| -a || -ya || sena || generic
| -a || -ya || sena || generic
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| -zi || -di, -si || sena ||
| -zi || -di, -si || sena ||
|-
|-
| -r || -ār, -ur, -ru || ruqrar || generic
| -r || -ār, -ur, -ru || ruqrar || heir
|-
|-
| -q || -āq, -uq, -eq || ruqrar ||
| -q || -āq, -uq, -eq || ruqrar || generic
|-
|-
| -d || -ad, -ud, -du, -tu || ruqrar ||
| -d || -ad, -ud, -du, -tu || ruqrar ||
|-
|-
| -v || -iv, -vi || benthi || generic
| -v || -iv, -vi || benthi || heir
|-  
|-  
| -i || -hi, -śi || benthi ||
| -i || -hi, -śi || benthi || generic
|-
|-
| -ŧ || -iŧ, -ŧi || benthi ||  
| -ŧ || -iŧ, -ŧi || benthi ||  
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| -ti || -di, -it || benthi ||
| -ti || -di, -it || benthi ||
|-
|-
| -š || -oš, -šo || lethe || generic
| -š || -oš, -šo || lethe || heir
|-
|-
| -s || -os, -se || lethe ||
| -s || -os, -se || lethe || generic
|-
|-
| -e || -ye || lethe ||
| -e || -ye || lethe ||
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|}
|}


Some Adzamic people do have multiple given names (or middle names). However, this is rare, even among royalty, except for with a small handful of very common and typically very short given names, such as ''Vea-s'' (and variations) and ''Öńi-s'' (and variations).  
Some Adzamic people do have multiple given names (or middle names). However, this is rare, even among royalty, except for with a small handful of very common and typically very short given names, such as ''Vea-s'' (and variations) and ''Öńi-s'' (and variations).


==Surnames==
==Surnames==

Revision as of 05:04, 24 July 2020

The Adzamic name typically consists of one given name, and one or a series of matronyms, each of which is accompanied by a particle to indicate the exact relation between the descendant and ancestor(s). Most Adzamic people therefore have a three-part name, such as Majetur 'ad Zaraqat (Majetur, son of Zaraqat).

Adzamic peoples follow a matronymic naming system whereby children use, as their surname, the name of their mother (or birth-giving lethe-parent) or, on occasion, a grandmother or more distant ancestor, along with a particle indicating their exact relation.

This article will generally use examples from Old Adzamian and/or Modern Standard Adzamasi, but the general customs, structure, and usage is the same across most Adzamic peoples.

Given names

Children are named by their parents, traditionally the sixteenth day after birth. Names are typically built from adjectives with positive connotations, such as jeḳet 'helpful, attendant' or seda 'graceful, resilient, dignified'; these adjectives can be selected from the modern language, but are also often taken from classical or literary languages, such as the Old Adzamian nahdein 'pure, perfect' (modern Adzamasi: nādzeń).

Names can also be based on nouns, most likely abstractions such as belyatsis 'focus' or tedel 'ability, capability'; or nominalized verbs, such as tōwiin, 'one who befriends', or hazayin 'one who refuses, stands up for themself.' However names based on nature (animals, plants, precious stones, bodies of water) are also not unheard of.

Children are often named in honour of deceased relatives, although never their immediate parents. Care is taken to avoid having the same given name appear more than once in three or four generations within a lineage, including among relatively distant cousins. Giving a child a related name—for example, using the same root, but a different suffix—is sometimes used to get around these restrictions, or as a correction of sorts if an oversight is made.

Name gender and suffixes

Most Adzamic names are suffixed to indicate one of the four Adzamasiin genders. In childhood, a neuter suffix is usually used. Some adults also use gender neutral suffixes.

The roots used in names are not inherently gendered. Although there are certainly tendencies that are familiar across many cultures—for example, words describing beauty and gentleness for girls (and benthiin) and words describing strength and power for boys (and letheen), there are many exceptions and no hard-and-fast rules. This is especially true in childhood, since when children are named (typically at sixteen days) the parents do not typically presume their gender.

Upon reaching adulthood—typically between 16 and 21 years of age—most Adzamic people practice a name-changing tradition. Generally speaking, the root of the given name is kept, but the neuter suffix is replaced with a gendered ending, based on the new adult's chosen gender. For example, a child with the name Jürödi ('attentive, well-behaved'), may choose the adult name Jüröt or Jüröna if they are a sena, or Jürös or Jürösö if they are a lethe. It is not unheard of, however, for the youth to select an entirely unrelated name, if they are dissatisfied with its meaning.

There is no formal restriction on the suffixes used, and many people have relatively unique names. However, there are traditional and common suffixes with widely-accepted meanings and gender connotations. Some people do also use bare adjectival or nominal roots for their names, without any suffix, although this is rare and can be confusing in some contexts.

For brevity, only the forms currently used in modern standard Adzamasi will be listed below. The alternate forms are mostly based on phonological environment (intervocalic voicing and epenthetic vowles are common), but others are simply preference. (Generally speaking, the listed forms focus on consonants. The vowels listed may be short or long, and may also undergo harmony, so "-et" could appear as any of -et, -eet, -öt or -ööt.)

Form Alternates Gender Meaning
-un -in, -uŋ neuter firstborn
-uk neuter second-born
-ax neuter third-born
-so -zo neuter later births
-di -ti, -si neuter twin, triplet, etc
-t -at, , -et, -ta sena heir
-a -ya sena generic
-n -an, -na, -ńa sena
-zi -di, -si sena
-r -ār, -ur, -ru ruqrar heir
-q -āq, -uq, -eq ruqrar generic
-d -ad, -ud, -du, -tu ruqrar
-v -iv, -vi benthi heir
-i -hi, -śi benthi generic
-iŧ, -ŧi benthi
-ti -di, -it benthi
-oš, -šo lethe heir
-s -os, -se lethe generic
-e -ye lethe
-l -el, -le lethe

Some Adzamic people do have multiple given names (or middle names). However, this is rare, even among royalty, except for with a small handful of very common and typically very short given names, such as Vea-s (and variations) and Öńi-s (and variations).

Surnames

Adzamic peoples follow a matrilineal system, and children always take a matronymic of their mother/ birthing-parent's given name, coupled with a particle.

Adzamian Adzamasi Dzimraic Majeeri Meaning
(q̇)ad /q'ɐd/ 'ad ɂad child of
(b)ay /bɐj/ 'ay pay heir of
set /sɛt/ set azët descendant of
na /nɐ/ na na adoptive child of
bay-na 'ay(-na), 'ańa annu adoptive heir of
nahkuu /nahku:/ N/A nāttū spiritual child of

The ⟨q̇⟩ and ⟨b⟩ in the Old Adzamian forms only appeared after a given name ending in a vowel. The forms q̇ad and bay will be used for meta-purposes.

All Adzamic people have a qad name. Once they reach adulthood and declare their gender, they may be officially designated their parents' heir, at which point they will generally begin using a bay name (and it is superfluous to list both bay and qad' names if they are linked to the same person). Multigenerational names can also be used, however. The heir of an heir can use a bay particle to show their link to an immediate ancestor who is more prominent (for whatever reason) than their parent. Regardless of title inheritance, anyone can use the set particle in a similar fashion—although not in reference to their mother.

In strongly traditional families, the official title of heir—and therefore the particle bay—will always be given to the firstborn daughter or benthi-child. (If enough time passes before such a child is born, the title will be passed to a niece, younger cousin, or an adoptive child, rather than a son or lethe-child. In rare cases, a son or lethe-child may even be pressured into changing their gender in order to better meet this requirement.) However, many families now give the title to their firstborn regardless of gender.

Examples

Q̇ad, bay, and set

Consider for one the current Tabiqan royal family.

  • The previous monarch, Queen Isaemat 'ay Avhidi, was her parents' firstborn child, and their designated heir, and as such used the bay-type particle, along with her mother's given name, Avhidi.
  • Isaemat's predecessor and father, King Vereq 'ad Henüút, on the other hand, was a second-born child. His elder sister, the original heir designate, was too sickly to assume the throne; as such, he used the q̇ad particle even though he served as the successor to Henüüt.
    • Since Vereq is Henüüt's son, he cannot be Vereq set Henüüt.
  • On the other hand, there is the present monarch King Okmārūd set Henüüt. He is the son of Isaemat's sister, Princess Iṫenat 'ad Avhidi. Although his mother is royalty, she did not serve as queen regnant, and as such the surnames 'ad Iṫenat and 'ay Iṫenat would not fully reflect Okmarūd's claim to the throne. So he uses the particle set in reference to his great-grandmother.
    • Since his predecessor is his aunt, not a direct ancestor, he cannot use Isaemat as his matronym.
    • It would also be correct to use the multigenerational name Okmarūd 'ad Iṫenat set Henüüt.
    • As the royal family is very traditional, only daughters and benthi-children can be designated heir with the bay particle—even though the title of ruler was passed on to him, he is still not the "official" heir of Iṫenat.

An example of a "double heir" is the twelfth and current Prime Minister of Tabiqa Nahdein 'ay Ahlenēya 'ay Aċekōn; she is daughter and heir of Ahlenēya, who is daughter and heir of Aċekōn. The multigenerational name is used to show a link to Aċekōn, who was a previous prime minister as well. If Nahdein were not her mother's heir, she could use the name Nahdein ('ad Ahlenēya) set Aċekōn.

Na, bayna and nahkuu

Traditionally, the particle na was used to indicate children who were adopted, rather than born to a couple. If their birth parent was known, they would take both names. For example, a child named Qamāruk na Suftal 'ad Gānaya was born to Gānaya and adopted by Suftal. When the birth-parent was unknown, they were traditionally named after a locality—or perhaps a biarevah—with the particle nahkuu in place of the q̇ad name.

If the adoptive child was designated as heir, they would use the composite particle bay na to mean adoptive heir.

In the modern day these particles are not legally used in most jurisdictions, which do not greatly differentiate between adoptive and biological children; as such, adoptive children use bay or q̇ad particles as appropriate.

Na, bayna and nahkuu particles do enjoy unofficial use among certain groups however. As they are no unofficial, they are sometimes used to indicate relation or affiliation to individuals other than one's biological or adoptive mother; for instance, some Adzamasiin now go by both a matronym and patronym, using na alongside their other parent's name. Others may use one of these particles among a found family, sometimes including organized crime, or use an nahkuu particle alongside the name of a particular biaren to show their devotion—or even a celebirty, as a form of adoration. None of these uses is permitted in the legal name, however, and most Tabiqiri think poorly of at least some of these practices.

These forms are still used in the traditional manner in some rural communities and nomadic clans, very notably among the Majeeri .

Usage

Legal

Children are officially and legally registered as [Given name] 'ad [Mother's name] on their naming day. When they reach sixteen years of age, all Tabiqiri are welcome to change their given name, matronymic particle, and gender for legal purposes, for a very small fee. Often, parents acquire the requisite forms on the child's first name-day, and keep them on their child's behalf until they are of age.

Generally speaking, once one child claims the bay title—which requires acknowledgement from their parent(s)—this is the permanent state of affairs, and any siblings can no longer take that title. However, if a designated heir dies before their parents have retired or deceased, the title may be passed onto another child.

Social

Adzamic people are never referred to, at least not by other Adzamic people, only the surname, nor the surname plus particle. It is proper to refer to someone by their given name only, or their full name. If an additional decorum is required in a given situation, a title may be used alongside the given and/or full name. For example, most people would refer to a very high-ranking official, especially a monarch, religious leader, or politician, by both a title and the full name; whereas one's employer or instructor would be more likely to be called the title and given name. Family members, friends, and peers refer to one another almost exclusively by the given name alone.

An incomplete list of titles (only in Adzamasi, for brevity) follows. Most have a unique form for each gender, as well as a neuter form used for individuals whose gender cannot be guessed for whatever reason, or in the plural to refer to mixed groups.

Meaning Sena Benthi Lethe Rukrar Neuter
Monarch regnant Tolyat Teyev Telyeš Tolyar Tölyök
Monarch consort
Sibling to the monarch
Tera Tēyi Turuš Turuq Töröz
Prime minister
Ambassador
Keyvat Keyv Keyveš Keyvar Keyv
Military general
Religious leader Ŧēmet Ŧēli Ŧēr Ŧesŧur Ŧer
Sir, ma'am, etc Maya Mavi Mase Maraq Maku

One near-exception to the "not going by their mother's name" rule is observed, occasionally, among royalty, where members of a particular dynasty go by the name of the ancestor they claim descent from, alongside a numeral. Unlike in other systems, where Henuut II would be used to mean 'the second monarch by the given name Henuut', here it means the first descendant of Henuut to be monarch regnant. As such, Henuut II is Henuut's son, Vereq, and Henuut III is her great-grandson, Okmārūd.

International

Internationally, especially in places farther from the Adzamic homelands or with very different naming traditions, the matronymic particle may be omitted or affixed directly to the surname. This has lead to a number of Adzamic sena and lethe names being taken up as simple family names—sometimes even partilineally—in the Adzamic diaspora.

There is a misconception among many foreigners that these particles are gendered, with females taking bay and males q̇ad, due to the prominent custom of designating the firstborn girl or benthi-child as the heir. However, this evidently does not hold up, as there are many seen and benthiin with the q̇ad particle and a few rukraan and letheen with bay.