Spock's family name?
- Thread starter Crewman47
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Just look at his space-passport, it'll definitely say it on there.
Oddly enough, it also mentioned his inner eyelid and seven year mating cycle.
The problem was that it was written in Yiddish.
At a very early ST convention panel, in which DC Fontana and David Gerrold participated (IIRC), the gathering decided upon Spock's unpronouncible name being "Xtmprszntwlfd", and this name made it into the 1980 prozine "USS Enterprise Officer's Manual" by Geoffrey Mandel (and possibly the earlier "Star Fleet Handbook", which had material reprinted in the Manual).
Say it backwards and he magically transforms into Zachary Quinto...
Since Dr Leonard McCoy is played by DeForest Kelley then it's only right that Leonard Nimoy plays DeForest Spock.
I wouldn't think its unpronouncable by Human's, just extremely hard to get right. Vulcan's are raised speaking their language like we are speaking whichever respective language we speak. In Spock's case he was bilingual, being able to speak Vulcan and English (as his mother was Human and his father, the Vulcan ambassador to Earth).
If Spock's family name was S'chn T'gai then it could be pronounced in any manner of ways (most of us probably think "Skun Tee Guy") since Vulcan phonetics don't have to be the same as Human phonetics. It could be pronounced as "ShhhhichihihiNa TiEee GeeayEe" (the multiple letters are said rapidly) try saying that as fast as you would say a one word name such as Spock
As for "Xtmprszntwlfd" try "ExtissmpiiirrszzZTEewilFifthD".
If Spock's family name was S'chn T'gai then it could be pronounced in any manner of ways (most of us probably think "Skun Tee Guy") since Vulcan phonetics don't have to be the same as Human phonetics. It could be pronounced as "ShhhhichihihiNa TiEee GeeayEe" (the multiple letters are said rapidly) try saying that as fast as you would say a one word name such as Spock
As for "Xtmprszntwlfd" try "ExtissmpiiirrszzZTEewilFifthD".
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How about "the first time, Fontana was joking"?
Supposedly she was, but it still ended up passing into limited usage. So did Walter Sulu and Penda Uhura, which were also coined at the early conventions.
I know the origin of "Walter Sulu" (in short, George Takei was getting sick of Robert Wise confusing him with Walter Koenig, and some reporter asked him what Sulu's first name was at the wrong time), but where did "Penda" come from? I've also seen "Upenda" listed occasionally.
BTW, anyone who tries using that name for Uhura in the presence of Nichelle Nichols (or any name besides "Nyota") will have a fight on their hands.
BTW, anyone who tries using that name for Uhura in the presence of Nichelle Nichols (or any name besides "Nyota") will have a fight on their hands.
"Translated, it means, 'Spock, son of Sarek of the House of Surak of the Noble Clan Telek-sen deen,' but it's pronounced pigfuckingrancidsheepentrails."
"Okay, so 'Mr. Spock' it is, then..."
"Okay, so 'Mr. Spock' it is, then..."
In some fan fiction I've read, it's stated that Amanda is a linguist teacher and that is how she met Sarek in the first place. She knows the Vulcan language, while Leila does not. Consequently, she's got a better shot at getting a Vulcan word (or name) out of her mouth correctly.
My parents, big trekkies that they are, almost gave one of my sisters the name Penda. I think it's pretty.
Where as Uhura means freedom, Penda in Swahili means affectionate or (less commonly) love. It's use came out of the amateur Star Trek fan magazines of the 1970's.
My parents, big trekkies that they are, almost gave one of my sisters the name Penda. I think it's pretty.
Beautiful Boy -- Wonderful News -- Circle of Flowers -- Dipped in Water (my name).
No, that was a coincidence. "Walter" Sulu was coined at one of those big LA conventions in the mid 70s, pre TMP, IIRC. Takei gave the LA convention fans his blessing and approval to use "Walter" in their fanzines.
The other name floated was "Hosato", which I think Takei ended up using for his space ninja character in the SF novel he co-wrote with Robert Aspirin ("Mirror Friend, Mirror Foe"). It also became the name of a Takei fan club in the late 70s/early 80s.
Same convention. The "Upenda" is someone misremembering, and the typo was perpetuated by others. IIRC, there is an article about this (and "Walter") in a "Best of Trek" volume. The writer of the article goes on to suggest "Winston" as a first name for Kyle.
Really? Because until that day when Bill Rotsler rang her to ask her if she liked "Nyota" for "ST II Biographies", Nichelle had already agreed that the LA convention fans could use "Penda" in their fanfic with her blessing and approval.
And since Nyota means 'flowers,' Penda is a more appropriate name. I mean, c'mon, would you rather be named "Flowers Freedom" or "Love (of) Freedom"?
Supposedly, "nyota" means "star".
We could be dealing with that legendarily malleable Nichelle Nichols memory in action again, because in more recent interviews she gives the impression that the first time anyone brings up the idea of Uhura's first name is Rostler's inquiry.
We could be dealing with that legendarily malleable Nichelle Nichols memory in action again, because in more recent interviews she gives the impression that the first time anyone brings up the idea of Uhura's first name is Rostler's inquiry.
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