Betazoid society

[Christopher]

Re: one of the OP's questions, I've always sorta figured that Betazoid society was historically matriarchal and that, traditionally, the husband takes the wife's name. Obviously there is some personal preference in the matter by the 24th century, just as there is here in the 21st, but I always felt that the "norm" was for the male to take her name.

There is possibly a hint of that in Nemesis where Picard teasingly addresses the recently-married Riker as "Mr. Troi."

 

[Paper Moon]

Re: one of the OP's questions, I've always sorta figured that Betazoid society was historically matriarchal and that, traditionally, the husband takes the wife's name. Obviously there is some personal preference in the matter by the 24th century, just as there is here in the 21st, but I always felt that the "norm" was for the male to take her name.

There is possibly a hint of that in Nemesis where Picard teasingly addresses the recently-married Riker as "Mr. Troi."

Yes, thank you! Sorry, was thinking of that but forgot to put it down.

Frankly, I kinda hope that was the way that TPTB intended that line to work (ie. a pun on Human vs. Betazoid culture clash), because otherwise it strikes me as being a little bit sexist (like, "hahaha, Riker, I'm gonna pretend you're a girl by calling you Mr. Troi and I'll be able to get away with it because it's a culture clash thing." Picture Patrick Stewart saying it à la Family Guy.) But that may just be me.

Is there any world-building done in The Battle of Betazed? (I've never read it.)

 

[Deranged Nasat]

^ We get to see a fair bit of Betazed (albeit mostly tunnels and caves in the mountains), as well as its primary colony on a neighbouring world, but there's not really that much revealed about Betazoid culture. They have a Parliament, apparently, and the naming conventions are reinforced (male names one syllable, sometimes two; female names three or four, sometimes two; family names often end in "n" or "x" ). But while there's an interesting ethical dilemma revolving around telepathy and what it's meant for Betazoid culture, it doesn't explore their history and society in depth. It's a good book and a welcome look at Betazed, but it's not a definitive world-building novel by any means. Lots of interesting little details but nothing expanded on.

 

[Paper Moon]

^Ah, thank you. That's a shame that there isn't more, though I'm sure the book was busy with other stuff.

 

[Sci]

^ We get to see a fair bit of Betazed (albeit mostly tunnels and caves in the mountains), as well as its primary colony on a neighbouring world, but there's not really that much revealed about Betazoid culture. They have a Parliament, apparently, and the naming conventions are reinforced (male names one syllable, sometimes two; female names three or four, sometimes two; family names often end in "n" or "x" ).

Thanks for that! It's been a long time since I read The Battle of Betazed, and I'd borrowed it from a library rather than buying it, so I'd forgotten their legislature is a Parliament.

We do know, however, from Articles of the Federation, that their head of government is a Governor.

 

[captcalhoun]

there's a reference in IKS Gorkon: Enemy Territory to the Klingon 23C TV series 'Battlecruiser Vengeance' featuring a Betazoid crew member aboard a Starfleet vessel the Vengeance's crew boards. Said show was set in the TOS era.

(said Betazoid is also noted to have solid black eyes, one of a number of mistakes in the show's depiction of Fed races)

 

[Deranged Nasat]

^ We get to see a fair bit of Betazed (albeit mostly tunnels and caves in the mountains), as well as its primary colony on a neighbouring world, but there's not really that much revealed about Betazoid culture. They have a Parliament, apparently, and the naming conventions are reinforced (male names one syllable, sometimes two; female names three or four, sometimes two; family names often end in "n" or "x" ).

Thanks for that! It's been a long time since I read The Battle of Betazed, and I'd borrowed it from a library rather than buying it, so I'd forgotten their legislature is a Parliament.

We do know, however, from Articles of the Federation, that their head of government is a Governor.

I think that AotF was indeed the first to establish that; I don't recall any mention of a head of government in TBoB. I assume she/he was dead; most of the surviving members of the parliament were part of the resistance. Cort Enaran was a member before leading the resistance in the Loneel Mountains. Given that Lwaxana was too (I think), and that Sark Enaran carried titles similar to Lwaxana's, it suggests to me that members of the noble houses are frequently found in the government. I assume, given how tradition-conscious the Betazoids are, that the old Houses have a lot of popular support and end up as leaders a lot?

As an aside, to return to the OP's question, the fact that Sark has titles shows that males can hold ceremonial positions similar to Lwaxana's, though whether that's because the family had no daughters is never revealed. So it doesn't really answer the Are Betazoids Matriarchal/Matrilineal question, but it's worth noting.

there's a reference in IKS Gorkon: Enemy Territory to the Klingon 23C TV series 'Battlecruiser Vengeance' featuring a Betazoid crew member aboard a Starfleet vessel the Vengeance's crew boards. Said show was set in the TOS era.

(said Betazoid is also noted to have solid black eyes, one of a number of mistakes in the show's depiction of Fed races)

Good point. I'd forgotten about that.