Earth, Earthlings, Terrans, Sol, Humans...MAKE UP YOUR MINDS!!!

[MarianLH]

I watched this last night and I always thought, on this thread's theme, that the 'terran system' bit of Worf's line was a bit redundant - it ends up being said 3 ways - 'sector 001', 'the terran system', and 'earth' - Riker could have done his Riker Explains It All bit just from the sector number.

...To be sure, Sector 001 might contain more star systems than just Sol.

Dangit Timo, you beat me to it. I don't know where I got the idea that a sector is 20 light years square, or if it's ever been established onscreen or not (although I'm pretty sure it's in the TNG tech manual), but if it is that big Sector 001 could include Vulcan and Andor as well as Earth.

Which doesn't make Riker any less guilty of repeating the obvious. I guess Troi rubbed off on him...


Marian

 

[Red Ranger]

I think "Humans" fits nicely, in that it includes people of Human ancestry no matter what planet they were born on. And frankly, since it's humans watching this show, using terms like "Terran," or "Earthers" just sounds odd.

I think the times they've been used is when non-humans refer to us, like the Romulan Commander in "The Enterprise Incident," asking Spock if he was "Terran or Vulcan?" Or how the human slaves in the mirror universe eps are called "Terrans" as an ethnic slur.

So using "Humans from Earth," or "from the Federation" always seemed fine with me. After all, not all Vulcans were born or lived on Vulcan -- some must have grown up on colony worlds -- yet they're still referrred to as Vulcans.

Red Ranger

 

[Broccoli]

What is the deal here?? Why is Trek so overwhelmed with different names for us and earth? Hell, the Vulcans have to share the same name between themselves and their home world. Why do we have so many options?

Because Earth is fucking awesome.

 

[jbake]

Just as a matter of interest, what are the options in other languages - Spanish and French for instance?

Sorry to chime in late. Here in Italy, things are quite forward, since the English word "Earth" translates simply into "Terra", so to our ears the distinction is lost.

So the planet is just "Terra" and the inhabitants are "Terrestri" (for both "Earthers" and "Terrans").

"Earthling" could be made into "Terricoli", which is a disused word and sounds quite rude and very antiquate, like in "Bow to me, lowly Earthlings!"

"Humans" is "Umani", and the meaning is more cultural (or biological) than geographic (i.e. people from Earth's colonies would be called "Umani" but probabli not "Terrestri").

"Sol" sounds cool when used to identify our sun, but it would sound wrong used for people: "Solaran" would suggest people from a planet "Solara" more than people from Earth's star system.

Thanks for posting that, "Umani" sounds wonderfully lyrical and elegant to the ear. i prefer it the pedestrian sounding, "human" . I could picture Picard saying, "We are the U, mar,nee"

So for me, Umani for the species name. With Solarians as the name, for the Umani People from the Planet Sol (Planet Earth).


Solarians conjures up the image of perfect people in minimalist white linen robes. Statedly Minimalist buildings with brilliant white floors, white walls. Hushed hallowed intellectual tones and ethereal incense, with cymbals chiming every so often

Indeed the Edenic paradise that Sisko spoke of

 

[Deckerd]

I like Terrestri. It has a certain je ne sais de vivre.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Thanks for posting that, "Umani" sounds wonderfully lyrical and elegant to the ear. i prefer it the pedestrian sounding, "human" . I could picture Picard saying, "We are the U, mar,nee"

Italian always sounds very elegant, even for mundane words.

Alidar (studiare per il suo esame noioso oggi).

 

[iguana_tonante]

Thanks for posting that, "Umani" sounds wonderfully lyrical and elegant to the ear. i prefer it the pedestrian sounding, "human" . I could picture Picard saying, "We are the U, mar,nee"

Italian always sounds very elegant, even for mundane words.

Why, thank you...

It always strikes me as funny when someone say that, because (obviously) to me Italian doesn't sound so much lyrical or elegant. And there are so many accents that sound quite crude or vulgar to my ears.

But, I'm always so happy when people express their appreciation to my language. Squeeee! (I need an emoticon for that.)

Alidar (studiare per il suo esame noioso oggi).

Ma sono sicuro che andra' bene!

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Grazie, spero che sei corretto. Credo che l'esame sarà facile, ma non so.

Now I'll stop speaking in Italian and go study before I have to warn myself for spamming

 

[Triskelion]

Just as a matter of interest, what are the options in other languages - Spanish and French for instance?

Sorry to chime in late. Here in Italy, things are quite forward, since the English word "Earth" translates simply into "Terra", so to our ears the distinction is lost.

So the planet is just "Terra" and the inhabitants are "Terrestri" (for both "Earthers" and "Terrans").

"Earthling" could be made into "Terricoli", which is a disused word and sounds quite rude and very antiquate, like in "Bow to me, lowly Earthlings!"

"Humans" is "Umani", and the meaning is more cultural (or biological) than geographic (i.e. people from Earth's colonies would be called "Umani" but probabli not "Terrestri").

"Sol" sounds cool when used to identify our sun, but it would sound wrong used for people: "Solaran" would suggest people from a planet "Solara" more than people from Earth's star system.

Thanks for posting that, "Umani" sounds wonderfully lyrical and elegant to the ear. i prefer it the pedestrian sounding, "human" . I could picture Picard saying, "We are the U, mar,nee"

So for me, Umani for the species name. With Solarians as the name, for the Umani People from the Planet Sol (Planet Earth).


Solarians conjures up the image of perfect people in minimalist white linen robes. Statedly Minimalist buildings with brilliant white floors, white walls. Hushed hallowed intellectual tones and ethereal incense, with cymbals chiming every so often

Indeed the Edenic paradise that Sisko spoke of

Very nicely put. Are we they? Substituting intellectual and aesthetic challenges in place of violence, scarcity and aggression? Although violence may be in our evolution, so is self-mastery.

 

[jbake]

So for me, Umani for the species name. With Solarians as the name, for the Umani People from the Planet Sol (Planet Earth).


Solarians conjures up the image of perfect people in minimalist white linen robes. Statedly Minimalist buildings with brilliant white floors, white walls. Hushed hallowed intellectual tones and ethereal incense, with cymbals chiming every so often

Indeed the Edenic paradise that Sisko spoke of

Very nicely put. Are we they? Substituting intellectual and aesthetic challenges in place of violence, scarcity and aggression? Although violence may be in our evolution, so is self-mastery.

I was in my midteens when TNG first aired, and I totally bought into its view "the evolved sensibilities of humanity". Loved it, wished I could have lived in that world

So the image, that the name Solarian called in my mind. Was in large part based on TNG's version of Earth. Im open as to how the Solarians got their culture, either by a change in the technology or conscious change. The hidden monastrylike intrigues, deceit and hypocrisy would probably be suffocating lol


All things change, The wheel turns and perhaps 300yrs further, the Solarians are a culture/s of violence