Editing Language in the Twelve Colonies
From Battlestar Wiki, the free, open content Battlestar Galactica encyclopedia and episode guide
More actions
The edit can be undone.
Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then publish the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
| Latest revision | Your text | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
:''This article discusses an aspect of the [[Re-imagined Series]] version of the Twelve Colonies. For information on the [[Original Series]] version, see [[The Twelve Colonies (TOS)]].'' | |||
{{RDM twelve colonies series}} | {{RDM twelve colonies series}} | ||
English or | English, or some language that is universally translated into it (à la [[Wikipedia:Westron|Tolkien]]) is standard. Loanwords from foreign languages ("élan", "fascist", "karma", "esprit de corps" etc.) occur with normal frequency, as do chronologically enigmatic borrowings such as the battlestar ''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]''. Most religious terms are explicitly shared with ancient Greek beliefs (either antecedent to or descendant from them). | ||
==Vocabulary== | ==Vocabulary== | ||
| Line 12: | Line 13: | ||
*[[Commander Air Group]] | *[[Commander Air Group]] | ||
*Planes | *Planes | ||
:'''Adama:''' "You keep my planes flying. I need my planes to fly." | :'''Adama:''' "You keep my planes flying. I need my planes to fly." ([[Litmus]]) | ||
===Ersatz=== | ===Ersatz=== | ||
| Line 41: | Line 42: | ||
*"As of this moment" is used particularly often for seemingly "official" announcements. After the original Cylon attack, then-Commander William Adama announces to his crew, "As of this moment, we are at war." The phrase is used later by Colonel Tigh in his announcement of martial law <ref>"As of this moment, I have declared martial law." — "[[Fragged]]"</ref>, and Gaius Baltar in announcing his candidacy for the presidency<ref>"…I am, as of this moment, a candidate for the Presidency." — "[[The Captain's Hand]]"</ref>. | *"As of this moment" is used particularly often for seemingly "official" announcements. After the original Cylon attack, then-Commander William Adama announces to his crew, "As of this moment, we are at war." The phrase is used later by Colonel Tigh in his announcement of martial law <ref>"As of this moment, I have declared martial law." — "[[Fragged]]"</ref>, and Gaius Baltar in announcing his candidacy for the presidency<ref>"…I am, as of this moment, a candidate for the Presidency." — "[[The Captain's Hand]]"</ref>. | ||
*"With every fiber of my being" is often used to conclude oaths, particularly the oath of presidency, as taken by Roslin and Baltar at various points. | *"With every fiber of my being" is often used to conclude oaths, particularly the oath of presidency, as taken by Roslin and Baltar at various points. | ||
*"[[So say we all]]" is used to conclude prayers and similar remarks. It is analogous to, and roughly synonymous with, "amen. | *"[[So say we all]]" is used to conclude prayers and similar remarks. It is analogous to, and roughly synonymous with, "amen". | ||
*When used as an intensifier or in other instances of profanity, "God" is usually replaced with "Gods, | *When used as an intensifier or in other instances of profanity, "God" is usually replaced with "Gods", befitting the Colonials' polytheistic faith—"Gods damn it", "Oh my Gods!", etc. | ||
===Enigmas=== | ===Enigmas=== | ||
| Line 51: | Line 51: | ||
* ''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]'': This battlestar name comes from Christopher Columbus, thus making it an unusual name for the Twelve Colonies. However, it also stems from the Latin word "columba" meaning "dove" together with the suffix "ia" which means "land" (geographical expression) in all languages derived from Indo-European roots (ergo, "Land of the Dove") | * ''[[Columbia (RDM)|Columbia]]'': This battlestar name comes from Christopher Columbus, thus making it an unusual name for the Twelve Colonies. However, it also stems from the Latin word "columba" meaning "dove" together with the suffix "ia" which means "land" (geographical expression) in all languages derived from Indo-European roots (ergo, "Land of the Dove") | ||
* ''[[Cloud | * ''[[Cloud Nine]]'': This American expression of bliss comes from a 1890's Earth weather reference on the highest-altitude cloud formation. The expression became popularized in 1950s radio broadcasts. | ||
* ''[[Adriatic]]'': The name of this vessel under the influence of [[Tom Zarek]], much like ''Columbia'' appears to have originated on Earth. On Earth the Adriatic Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, located between Italy and the Balkans. | * ''[[Adriatic]]'': The name of this vessel under the influence of [[Tom Zarek]], much like ''Columbia'' appears to have originated on Earth. On Earth the Adriatic Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, located between Italy and the Balkans. | ||
===Honorifics=== | ===Honorifics=== | ||
Although civilians use the honorific "Madam" or its shortened form "ma'am, | Although civilians use the honorific "Madam" or its shortened form "ma'am", in the Colonial military all superior officers are referred to as "Sir", regardless of gender.<ref>According to RDM's [http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/blogs blog] on January 20th, 2006, the series follows the system established in ''[[MemoryAlpha:Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan|Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'', where the term "sir" has become gender-neutral in military usage. Thus, [[Laura Roslin]] is referred to as "Madam President" or "ma'am" in a civilian context, but in her capacity as Commander-in-Chief, she is always addressed as "sir".</ref> | ||
===Names=== | ===Names=== | ||
| Line 65: | Line 63: | ||
Some of these apparent allusions may have no intended meaning beyond sounding good. Others are known to have been chosen for a reason, and that's noted where verifiable. | Some of these apparent allusions may have no intended meaning beyond sounding good. Others are known to have been chosen for a reason, and that's noted where verifiable. | ||
* [[William Adama|William]] and | * [[William Adama|William]] and [[Lee Adama]]: "Adama" is Hebrew for "earth" in its literal meaning—ground, dirt—from which "Adam", the Biblical First Man, derives his name. It is also the name of a large city in Ethiopia. Lee's call-sign "Apollo" is of course a reference to the Greek (and apparently, Kobolan) god. Both "Adama" and "Apollo" are carry-overs from the original series, where they were chosen for their mythological significance. | ||
* [[Richard Adar]]: "[[w:Adar|Adar]]" is a month in the Jewish lunar calendar still in use today. It coincides roughly with the Gregorian month of March. It is a carry over from the original series. | * [[Richard Adar]]: "[[w:Adar|Adar]]" is a month in the Jewish lunar calendar still in use today. It coincides roughly with the Gregorian month of March. It is a carry over from the original series. | ||
* | * [[Karl Agathon]]: "[[w:Agathon|Agathon]]" was an Athenian poet, a friend of Euripides and Plato. | ||
* [[Gaius Baltar]]: "Gaius" was the ''[[w: | * [[Gaius Baltar]]: "Gaius" was the ''[[w:praenomen|praenomen]]'' of the man we commonly call [[w:Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]]. "Baltar" was made up by [[Glen A. Larson]] for the original series. | ||
* [[Helena Cain]]: "[[w:Helena|Helena]]" is a common enough name, but is also a possible reference to Helen of Troy. "[[w:Cain|Cain]]" in the Old Testament is the first murderer, and is a carry-over from the original series. | * [[Helena Cain]]: "[[w:Helena|Helena]]" is a common enough name, but is also a possible reference to Helen of Troy. "[[w:Cain|Cain]]" in the Old Testament is the first murderer, and is a carry-over from the original series. | ||
* [[Aaron Doral]]: "[[w:Aaron|Aaron]]" is a Biblical Hebrew name, the older brother of [[w:Moses|Moses]]. | * [[Aaron Doral]]: "[[w:Aaron|Aaron]]" is a Biblical Hebrew name, the older brother of [[w:Moses|Moses]]. | ||
* [[Anastasia Dualla]]: The Greek word ''[[w:anastasia|anastasia]]'' translates to "resurrection, | * [[Anastasia Dualla]]: The Greek word ''[[w:anastasia|anastasia]]'' translates to "resurrection", and was a deliberate choice by [[Ronald D. Moore|Ron Moore]]. It's also a common Greek and Russian name. Dualla is the name of a region and people in sub-saharan Africa. | ||
* [[ | * [[Hera]]/Isis: "[[w:Hera|Hera]]" was a Greek goddess, the wife of Zeus. "[[w:Isis|Isis]]" an Egyptian goddess, the wife of Horus in early mythology; the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus later. This is one of the few Egyptian references in the new series. | ||
* [[Billy Keikeya]]: "Keikeya" is one of the three queens of [[w:Ayodhya|Ayodhya]] in the Hindu epic, ''[[w:Ramayana|Ramayana]]''. | * [[Billy Keikeya]]: "Keikeya" is one of the three queens of [[w:Ayodhya|Ayodhya]] in the Hindu epic, ''[[w:Ramayana|Ramayana]]''. | ||
* | * [[Kara Thrace]]: "[[w:Thrace|Thrace]]" is a region in southeast Europe spanning Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Turkey, and Serbia. It was also the ancient name for the same area. The famous gladiator Spartacus was a Thracian. | ||
* [[Saul Tigh]]: "[[w:Saul|Saul]]" is a Hebrew name (pronounced "Shaul" in Hebrew), which means "borrowed. | * [[Saul Tigh]]: "[[w:Saul|Saul]]" is a Hebrew name (pronounced "Shaul" in Hebrew), which means "borrowed". Biblical references include both the first king of Judah and Israel, and the birth-name of Paul of Tarsus. Originally the character was named "Paul Tigh", but when it was discovered that this could not be used for legal reasons, it was shifted to "''S''aul Tigh", a reverse of the name switch that Saul of Tarsus/St. Paul made. "Tigh" appears to be a reference to the historical figure [[w:Colonel Tye|Colonel Tye]], an African-American military leader who fought for the British in the [[w:American Revolutionary War|American Revolutionary War]] (the original series version of Colonel [[Tigh (TOS)|Tigh]] was of African ethnicity). | ||
* [[Galen Tyrol]]: "[[w:Galen|Galen]]" was a famous Greek | * [[Galen Tyrol]]: "[[w:Galen|Galen]]" was a famous Greek healer, the source of much Medieval medical knowledge, and was the first to argue that the mind was in the brain and not the heart; this could be construed as ironic, given that Tyrol followed his heart and maintained a relationship with Boomer even when he shouldn't have. "[[w:Tyrol|Tyrol]]" is a region that spans the border of Austria and Italy. | ||
* [[Sharon Valerii]]: "Sharon" is a name of a geographic area in the center of Israel, although it's also a common English woman's name. The [[w:Valerius|gens Valeria]] is one of the longest-running families in the history of the [[w:Roman Empire|Roman Empire]]. " | * [[Sharon Valerii]]: "Sharon" is a name of a geographic area in the center of Israel, although it's also a common English woman's name. The [[w:Valerius|gens Valeria]] is one of the longest-running families in the history of the [[w:Roman Empire|Roman Empire]]. Curiously, "valerii" is the masculine plural form. | ||
* [[Tom Zarek]]: "[[w:Thomas|Thomas]]" is a deliberate biblical reference. Originally he was supposed to be called "Peter, | * [[Tom Zarek]]: "[[w:Thomas|Thomas]]" is a deliberate biblical reference. Originally he was supposed to be called "Peter", but that didn't clear with the legal departement. It's also a common English name. Zarek is a Polish name derived from the Babylonian name Balshazzar meaning "Baal protects the king." According to the writers, they just made up the name "Zarek" because they thought it sounded "strong and futuristic". ([[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]], p.52) | ||
Uncertain references: | Uncertain references: | ||
* [[Leoben Conoy]]: "[[w:Leoben|Leoben]]" is an Austrian town where a preliminary peace in the Napoleonic wars was signed. "[[w:Conoy|Conoy]]" is a Native American tribe, also known as the Piscataway. Both are pretty obscure. | * [[Leoben Conoy]]: "[[w:Leoben|Leoben]]" is an Austrian town where a preliminary peace in the Napoleonic wars was signed. "[[w:Conoy|Conoy]]" is a Native American tribe, also known as the Piscataway. Both are pretty obscure. | ||
* [[Laura Roslin]]: "[[w:Roslin Institute|Roslin Institute]]" is where Dolly the Sheep was cloned. A more likely source of the name would be the Scottish village of [[wikipedia:Roslin, Midlothian|Roslin, Midlothian]], where | * [[Laura Roslin]]: "[[w:Roslin Institute|Roslin Institute]]" is where Dolly the Sheep was cloned. A more likely source of the name would be the Scottish village of [[wikipedia:Roslin, Midlothian|Roslin, Midlothian]], where the Roslin Institute is located. | ||
==Accents== | ==Accents== | ||
Most characters (or the actors that portray them) speak with a [[ | Most characters (or the actors that portray them) speak with a [[Wikipedia:General American|Standard American]] accent, with some exceptions. | ||
=== | ===English Accent=== | ||
Three characters speak with the [[ | Three characters speak with the [[Wikipedia:Received Pronunciation|Received Pronunciation]], Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] from [[Aerelon]] (although he consciously suppresses his native [[#Aerelon Accent|Aerelon accent]]), ''Galactica'' medic [[Layne Ishay]] and the captain of the ''[[Pyxis]]''. | ||
===Canadian Accent=== | ===Canadian Accent=== | ||
The actor playing Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]], especially when shouting or barking orders, exhibits a definite Canadian accent. [[Michael Hogan]] is a noted Canadian actor, and on the show his speech is generally indistinguishable from General American English, but observant listeners can detect the accent in certain situations. | The actor playing Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]], especially when shouting or barking orders, exhibits a definite Canadian accent. [[Michael Hogan]] is a noted Canadian actor, and on the show his speech is generally indistinguishable from General American English, but observant listeners can detect the accent in certain situations. He has used certain Canadianisms, such as "line up", on occasion. | ||
More subtly, [[Leoben Conoy]], portrayed by veteran Canadian actor [[Callum Keith Rennie]], exhibits Canadian patterns discernible to native speakers. | More subtly, [[Leoben Conoy]], portrayed by veteran Canadian actor [[Callum Keith Rennie]], exhibits Canadian patterns discernible to native speakers. | ||
| Line 113: | Line 98: | ||
Since the series is shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, many of the actors are Canadian character players, for the most part speaking with West/Central Canadian accents. | Since the series is shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, many of the actors are Canadian character players, for the most part speaking with West/Central Canadian accents. | ||
=== | ===Puerto Rican Accent=== | ||
[[Giana]], a woman rescued from | [[Giana]], a woman rescued from [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]] by [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon Valerii]], speaks with a Puerto Rican accent, and inquires after the whereabouts of her husband, who she states is "stationed on Gemenon". Her place of origin is unclear, but no other characters from either Caprica, [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Gemenon|Gemenon]], or anywhere else have shared this accent. The actress, Lymari Nadal, is from Puerto Rico ([[Miniseries]]). | ||
=== | ===Kiwi Accent=== | ||
The reporter [[D'Anna Biers]] speaks with a Kiwi/New Zealand accent (this is actually the accent that actress [[Lucy Lawless]] speaks with when off screen, because she is from New Zealand). However, the same episode revealed that D'Anna is actually a [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylon]] (Number Three), and another copy of her model on Cylon-occupied Caprica does ''not'' speak with this accent, but a Standard American one, perhaps to differentiate the two characters. Subsequent appearances by D'Anna Biers in "[[Downloaded]]" and [[Season 3 (2006-07)|Season 3]] have featured the Kiwi accent exclusively. | |||
=== | ===Aerelon Accent=== | ||
In "[[Flesh and Bone]]", Baltar notes that Sharon Valerii speaks with a trace of an [[Aerelon]] accent. In the episode "[[Dirty Hands]]", Baltar displays his native Aerelon accent. It sounds somewhat raspy, and resembles a north English, Yorkshire accent. Baltar being from Aerelon explains how he could pick up a faint trace of it in Valerii. However, in her case, the accent appears to be entirely fictional - Canadian actress Grace Park speaks passably Standard American English without a 'foreign' accent. | |||
In "[[The Son Also Rises]], | In "[[The Son Also Rises]]", [[Romo Lampkin]] speaks with an accent somewhat similar to Baltar's native Aerelon accent. The actor, [[Mark Sheppard]], is Irish. | ||
(Note: The accent of the corresponding '[[Aeries]]' people in the Original Series sounds Irish, as heard in "[[The Long Patrol]]") | (Note: The accent of the corresponding '[[Aeries]]' people in the Original Series sounds Irish, as heard in "[[The Long Patrol]]") | ||
==Liturgy== | ==Liturgy== | ||
During the funeral service at the end of the | During the funeral service at the end of the Mini-series, Priest [[Elosha]] chants a prayer in a foreign language. It is recognizable as a common Sanskrit prayer, found in Part I, Chapter III, Verse 28 of the [http://sanatan.intnet.mu/upanishads/brihadaranyaka.htm Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad]. | ||
:{| | :{| | ||
| Line 144: | Line 124: | ||
|} | |} | ||
Although the lyrics are identifiable, it should be noted that the actress's performance is closer to the chanting of biblical Hebrew, and does not resemble the traditional melody.<ref>Viewers can compare Elosha's chant to the same chant found in the soundtrack of the movie ''[[ | Although the lyrics are identifiable, it should be noted that the actress's performance is closer to the chanting of biblical Hebrew, and does not resemble the traditional melody.<ref>Viewers can compare Elosha's chant to the same chant found in the soundtrack of the movie,''[[Wikipedia:The Matrix Revolutions|The Matrix Revolutions]]'', by composers Don Davis and the group Juno Reactor. The final track, "Navras," (which plays during the closing credits of the motion picture) begins with this same verse; the track Neodämmerung, also from The Matrix Revolutions, also consists entirely of Sanskrit lyrics taken from the Upaniṣads, including this verse.</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div> | |||
[[Category:A to Z]] | [[Category:A to Z]] | ||