Naming and Greeting in the World of Coriolis
Firstly, a disclaimer,
I am not an Islamic scholar or an expert in either linguistics or comparative
religion. When we draw from Arabic
sources, it worth remembering that language is a child of culture and in Arabic,
Islam has heavily influenced the language.
For instance, the following phrase is commonly recognized as a
greeting (and is used incorrectly in many TV shows and Movies).
SALAM ALAIKUM ( السلام عليكم )
– literally meaning “peace be upon you”
This is a greeting that is between Muslims it is not
intended for use by non-Muslims or between a Muslim and a non-Muslim. The
meaning of the phrase is a specific reference to the peace of God being a
blessing to the person who receives it.
It is also
important to recognize that while this blog draws upon Islamic concepts, the The Middle East is not a monolith.
Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Yezidi, Druze and folk beliefs
all play across this region creating a rich tapestry of belief which creates
space for competing narratives and language.
The Icons
In naming
the Icons I have had to take some liberties with names, some have no simple
translation in Arabic and my dictionaries did not actually have the word. For instance, Deckhand and the Faceless One
(to be faceless in Arabic is to be Cruel).
The
Icons - Alqunat
The
Messenger – الرسول
– alrasul (Era – Ra - Sul
The
Dancer – راقصة – raqisa
(Ra -quis– atun)
The
Gambler -مقامر – maqamir
(Ma-ka-miru)
The
Deckhand - العامل –
aleamil (El-ah-emu) (Please note this is actually The Labourer)
The
Merchant – التاجر –
altaajir (E Te Jiru)
The Judge – القاضي – alqadi (El-ka-di), for the Order of Pariah, al-Sahid (The Martyr)
The
Traveler – المسافر
– almasafir (El-mu-saferu)
The Lady
of Tears عشيقة الدموع
- eashiqat aldumue (Ah-shi-qat-ah-domei)
(Please note literal = Mistress of Tears) for the Draconites, al-Jallad (The Executioner)
The
Faceless One - القاسية-
alqasia (El-qa-see-atuu) (Note Literal The Cruel or The Faceless)
Invoking the Icons
Broadly speaking Islam is an Iconoclastic faith, literally being a
religion that rejects the use of Icon’s in religious practice, so I would
strongly advise against the use of religious Arabic language and the names of
the Icons or the concept of the Icons in general.
The following passage combines religious language and the name of the
Icon, in this case, the Judge. I feel
this phrase (which mirrors the blessing of Allah benediction probably steps
into inappropriate language and would be best avoided in the game.
(Alqadi baraka feekum) literal
meaning The Judge bless You
This next phrase I would argue should be preferred, as it uses
non-religious language create the phrase (the original source referred to '"in the
name of the prince")
biaism alrasu (Beysem-al-ra-sul) In the name of the Traveller biaism alqunat: - In the name of the Icons
Greetings
So what could we do if we can’t use Salam Alaikum as a formal greeting? I would suggest the use of the informal and
more inclusive term.
MARHABA ( مرحبا ) literal
meaning Hello (Ma –
rha – ban)
So, in the full form of a greeting, the following statement would be an acceptable way to introduce yourself:
“Marhaba, Essmee Ali ibn Yousef Al Mansour” (meaning Hello, I am called Ali
son of Joseph, from Mansour)
I leave it for you to decide how far you want to take this. I do hope you find it of interest in any case Sources
Source English Arabic Dictionary, by F Steingass
https://www.almaany.com/en/dict/ar-en/icons/?c=Political
https://www.almaany.com/en/dict/ar-en/icons/?c=Political
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