Battlestar Wiki - User contributions [en]

Venner

2008-05-05T06:29:43Z

Chris Buckey:

{{Character Data
|photo=Venner.jpg
|age=
|colony=[[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Gemenon|Gemenon]]
|birthname=? Venner
|callsign=
|seen= Scattered
|death=
|parents=
|siblings=
|children=
|marital status=
|role=Colonial Marines
|rank=Corporal
|actor=[[Chris Shields]]
|cylon=
|name=
}}

'''Corporal Venner''' is a [[Colonial]] [[Marine]] serving on ''[[Galactica]]''. As a native of [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Gemenon|Gemenon]], Venner is a very religious man and believes in [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]] as a prophet sent by the [[Lords of Kobol]].

Venner is in charge of guarding Roslin while she is imprisoned in the brig after Commmander [[William Adama|Adama]] terminates her presidency and arrests her. Venner asks that she pray with him during a [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] attack. He carries a set of white prayer beads ([[Scattered]]).

Soon after, ''Galactica'' is boarded by [[Cylon Centurion]]s, and [[Lee Adama]] orders Venner to lead Roslin to [[sickbay]] and to safety. While making their way through the ship, they are nearly killed in a run in with the Centurions ([[Valley of Darkness]]).

While in the brig, Roslin is suffering from [[chamalla]] withdrawal. Her aide, [[Billy Keikeya]], asks for Venner's help in smuggling some of the medication for her into the brig ([[Fragged]]).

Venner is recruited by Keikeya in the plot to free Roslin. He participates in her escape from ''Galactica'' by pretending to be the victim of an assault that frees Roslin from the brig ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]).

He apparently survived New Caprica and, although unseen, is with Roslin when she threatens to have Baltar thrown out an airlock after his return from the Cylons ([[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]).

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Characters (RDM)]]
[[Category:Recurring Guest Characters (RDM)]]
[[Category:People from Gemenon]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Language in the Twelve Colonies

2007-12-13T12:55:54Z

Chris Buckey: /* Names */

:''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}}

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==

===Anachronisms===
''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' uses many terms from modern day naval aviation, which appear somewhat anachronistic but also lend the show a flavor of realistic jargon. These include:
*[[Combat Air Patrol]]
*[[Commander Air Group]]
*Planes
:'''Adama:''' "You keep my planes flying. I need my planes to fly." ([[Litmus]])

===Ersatz===
In contrast to its [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|predecessor]], the re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'' employs relatively little in the way of ersatz vocabulary. It does employ a few terms outside of a normal American English vocabulary, mostly military jargon. These are mixed in haphazardly with the real-life naval aviation terms above.

*[[Dradis]] - [[Wikipedia:RADAR|Radar]]
*[[Fumarella leaf]] - [[Wikipedia:Tobacco|Tobacco]]
*[[Frak]] - A bowdlerized version of "Fuck" (c.f. "[[Wikipedia:Frell|Frell]]" (Farscape), "[[Wikipedia:Frag|Frag]]" (Babylon 5), "[[Wikipedia:Smeg|Smeg]]" (Red Dwarf))
*[[G-4]] - [[Wikipedia: C-4 (explosive)|C-4]]
*[[Krypter]] - [[Wikipedia:Mayday|Mayday]]
*[[Morpha]] - [[Wikipedia:Morphine|Morphine]]
*[[Serisone]] - [[Wikipedia:prednisone|Prednisone]]
*[[Wireless]] - [[Wikipedia:Radio|Radio]]<ref name="wireless">This usage is not entirely unknown in Earth-bound English. As a synonym for radio or radiotelegraphy, it's more common in British usage, according to [http://www.m-w.com/ Merriam-Webster]. Prior to the popularisation of television in the 1950s, it was the preferred term for radio equipment and radio broadcasts amongst the bulk of the British population. It's also the source of the prefix 'Wi' in 'WiFi' and other similar wireless data standards now common.</ref>

===Invented Terminology===
As all science fiction shows must, Battlestar Galactica has a set of vocabulary referring to technologies and other items not shared with the real world.

*[[Ambrosia]] - a bright green alcoholic beverage
*[[Carom]] - the angle above or below the XY plane of a vessel, perpendicular to [[Wikipedia:Bearing (navigation)|bearing]] (c.f. "Mark" (Star Trek))
*[[Chamalla]] - an [[Wikipedia:Entheogen|entheogen]] used by priests
*[[Red Line]]

*'''For a more complete list of acronyms and expressions see:''' [[List of terms (RDM)]]

===Turn of phrase===
The dialect used by the Colonials employs some distinct turn of phrase at times:

*"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.
*"[[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", befitting the Colonials' polytheistic faith—"Gods damn it", "Oh my Gods!", etc.

===Enigmas===

Language in ''Battlestar Galactica'' have terms whose origins are a curiosity due to chronology or uniqueness to the real-world Earth that likely wouldn't have a parallel of the same name in the Twelve Colonies. See [[Sacred Scrolls#Earth as the true origin of the human species|an interpretation of the origin of humanity on Kobol]] that could support the derivation of these terms.

* ''[[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 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.

===Honorifics===
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===
Many characters have names that include one or more components that appear to be a Biblical or Classical reference. It remains an enigma whether, and to what degree, these should be thought of as translations for the audience's benefit.

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 [[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.
* [[Karl Agathon]]: "[[w:Agathon|Agathon]]" was an Athenian poet, a friend of Euripides and Plato.
* [[Gaius Baltar]]: "Gaius" was the ''[[w:Praenomen|praenomen]]'' of the man we commonly call [[w:Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]] and the noted Roman historian Tactius, among others. "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.
* [[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", 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]]''.
* [[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". 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-born healer, the source of much Roman and 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]]. 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", 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:
* [[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 (unsurprisingly perhaps) the Roslin Institute is located.

==Accents==

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 [[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===
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.

More subtly, [[Leoben Conoy]], portrayed by veteran Canadian actor [[Callum Keith Rennie]], exhibits Canadian patterns discernible to native speakers.

[[Sergeant Hadrian]], played by Canadian actress [[Jill Teed]] also shows Canadian cadences.

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 [[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 Number Threes 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 the English regional accents from Yorkshire and Lancashire. 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]]", [[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]]")

==Liturgy==
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].

:{|
| '''Devanāgarī''' || '''Transliteration''' || '''Translation'''
|-
| अस्तो मा सद् गमय || asato mā sad gamaya || Lead us from Falsehood to Truth
|-
| तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय || tamaso mā jyotir gamaya || Lead us from Darkness to Light
|-
| मृत्योर् मा अमृतं गमय || mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya || Lead us from Death to Immortality
|}

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==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial History]]
[[Category:Colonial History (RDM)]]
[[Category:Colonial Society]]
[[Category:Colonial Society (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

{{featured article candidate previous}}

Language in the Twelve Colonies

2007-12-13T12:42:45Z

Chris Buckey: /* Aerelon Accent */

:''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}}

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==

===Anachronisms===
''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' uses many terms from modern day naval aviation, which appear somewhat anachronistic but also lend the show a flavor of realistic jargon. These include:
*[[Combat Air Patrol]]
*[[Commander Air Group]]
*Planes
:'''Adama:''' "You keep my planes flying. I need my planes to fly." ([[Litmus]])

===Ersatz===
In contrast to its [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|predecessor]], the re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'' employs relatively little in the way of ersatz vocabulary. It does employ a few terms outside of a normal American English vocabulary, mostly military jargon. These are mixed in haphazardly with the real-life naval aviation terms above.

*[[Dradis]] - [[Wikipedia:RADAR|Radar]]
*[[Fumarella leaf]] - [[Wikipedia:Tobacco|Tobacco]]
*[[Frak]] - A bowdlerized version of "Fuck" (c.f. "[[Wikipedia:Frell|Frell]]" (Farscape), "[[Wikipedia:Frag|Frag]]" (Babylon 5), "[[Wikipedia:Smeg|Smeg]]" (Red Dwarf))
*[[G-4]] - [[Wikipedia: C-4 (explosive)|C-4]]
*[[Krypter]] - [[Wikipedia:Mayday|Mayday]]
*[[Morpha]] - [[Wikipedia:Morphine|Morphine]]
*[[Serisone]] - [[Wikipedia:prednisone|Prednisone]]
*[[Wireless]] - [[Wikipedia:Radio|Radio]]<ref name="wireless">This usage is not entirely unknown in Earth-bound English. As a synonym for radio or radiotelegraphy, it's more common in British usage, according to [http://www.m-w.com/ Merriam-Webster]. Prior to the popularisation of television in the 1950s, it was the preferred term for radio equipment and radio broadcasts amongst the bulk of the British population. It's also the source of the prefix 'Wi' in 'WiFi' and other similar wireless data standards now common.</ref>

===Invented Terminology===
As all science fiction shows must, Battlestar Galactica has a set of vocabulary referring to technologies and other items not shared with the real world.

*[[Ambrosia]] - a bright green alcoholic beverage
*[[Carom]] - the angle above or below the XY plane of a vessel, perpendicular to [[Wikipedia:Bearing (navigation)|bearing]] (c.f. "Mark" (Star Trek))
*[[Chamalla]] - an [[Wikipedia:Entheogen|entheogen]] used by priests
*[[Red Line]]

*'''For a more complete list of acronyms and expressions see:''' [[List of terms (RDM)]]

===Turn of phrase===
The dialect used by the Colonials employs some distinct turn of phrase at times:

*"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.
*"[[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", befitting the Colonials' polytheistic faith—"Gods damn it", "Oh my Gods!", etc.

===Enigmas===

Language in ''Battlestar Galactica'' have terms whose origins are a curiosity due to chronology or uniqueness to the real-world Earth that likely wouldn't have a parallel of the same name in the Twelve Colonies. See [[Sacred Scrolls#Earth as the true origin of the human species|an interpretation of the origin of humanity on Kobol]] that could support the derivation of these terms.

* ''[[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 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.

===Honorifics===
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===
Many characters have names that include one or more components that appear to be a Biblical or Classical reference. It remains an enigma whether, and to what degree, these should be thought of as translations for the audience's benefit.

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 [[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.
* [[Karl Agathon]]: "[[w:Agathon|Agathon]]" was an Athenian poet, a friend of Euripides and Plato.
* [[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.
* [[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", 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]]''.
* [[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". 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 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]]. 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", 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:
* [[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 the Roslin Institute is located.

==Accents==

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 [[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===
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.

More subtly, [[Leoben Conoy]], portrayed by veteran Canadian actor [[Callum Keith Rennie]], exhibits Canadian patterns discernible to native speakers.

[[Sergeant Hadrian]], played by Canadian actress [[Jill Teed]] also shows Canadian cadences.

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 [[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 Number Threes 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 the English regional accents from Yorkshire and Lancashire. 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]]", [[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]]")

==Liturgy==
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].

:{|
| '''Devanāgarī''' || '''Transliteration''' || '''Translation'''
|-
| अस्तो मा सद् गमय || asato mā sad gamaya || Lead us from Falsehood to Truth
|-
| तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय || tamaso mā jyotir gamaya || Lead us from Darkness to Light
|-
| मृत्योर् मा अमृतं गमय || mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya || Lead us from Death to Immortality
|}

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==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial History]]
[[Category:Colonial History (RDM)]]
[[Category:Colonial Society]]
[[Category:Colonial Society (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

{{featured article candidate previous}}

Wedge-shaped vessel

2007-03-03T21:22:15Z

Chris Buckey:

{{Ship Data
| image= Unknown Wedge Vessel.jpg
| race= Colonial
| type= Civilian
| ftl= Yes
| role=
| length=
| width=
| height=
}}

An unnamed '''wedge-shaped vessel''' is briefly seen during the end of "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]."

This ship appears to be based on a design created by a fan of the series, Todd Boyce. On his website where many other [[fan fiction]] renderings are hosted, he called the ship the "''Defender''."

While the wedge-shaped vessel shares its design with the "''Defender''," it does not share its military purpose. The ''Defender'' is a military ship, envisioned by the artist as a support vessel for larger [[battlestar (RDM)|battlestar]]s. However, in the series [[canon]], [[Galactica type battlestar|battlestar]] ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' is the only Colonial military vessel in [[The Fleet (RDM)|the Fleet]] as of the end of "[[Exodus, Part II]]."

The wedge-shaped vessel is seen again as part of the first group of ships to be shepherded through the radiation cloud of a star cluster to a planet rich with consumable algae. It is not seen among the ships that clear the jump however. Another ship of the same configuration can also be spotted in the background just behind the ''[[Space Park]]'' when the first jump commences ([[The Passage]]).

==External links==
* [http://ravensbranch.allen.com/colonialshipdescriptions.html Todd Boyce's fan design and description].

==Notes==
*Battlestar Wiki is not a [[fan fiction]] repository. The remarkable similarity between the artist's ship (created before the episode, "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]") and the rendering from the Re-imagined Series is sufficient to warrant its note in this encyclopedia.

{{Ships}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Craft]]
[[Category:Colonial Craft (RDM)]]
[[Category:Ships]]
[[Category:Ships (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Language in the Twelve Colonies

2007-02-26T14:47:14Z

Chris Buckey: /* Aerelon Accent */ Added a comparison to Northern English accents based on my own experience.

:''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}}

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]]''. Most religious terms are explicitly shared with ancient Greek beliefs (either antecedent to or descendant from them).

==Vocabulary==

===Anachronisms===
''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' uses many terms from modern day naval aviation, which appear somewhat anachronistic but also lend the show a flavor of realistic jargon. These include:
*[[Combat Air Patrol]]
*[[Commander Air Group]]
*Planes
:'''Adama:''' "You keep my planes flying. I need my planes to fly." ([[Litmus]])

===Ersatz===
In contrast to its [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|predecessor]], the re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'' employs relatively little in the way of ersatz vocabulary. It does employ a few terms outside of a normal American English vocabulary, mostly military jargon. These are mixed in haphazardly with the real-life naval aviation terms above.

*[[Dradis]] - [[Wikipedia:RADAR|Radar]]
*[[Fumarella leaf]] - [[Wikipedia:Tobacco|Tobacco]]
*[[Frak]] - A bowdlerized version of "Fuck" (c.f. "[[Wikipedia:Frell|Frell]]" (Farscape), "[[Wikipedia:Frag|Frag]]" (Babylon 5), "[[Wikipedia:Smeg|Smeg]]" (Red Dwarf))
*[[G-4]] - [[Wikipedia: C-4 (explosive)|C-4]]
*[[Krypter]] - [[Wikipedia:Mayday|Mayday]]
*[[Morpha]] - [[Wikipedia:Morphine|Morphine]]
*[[Serisone]] - [[Wikipedia:prednisone|Prednisone]]
*[[Wireless]] - [[Wikipedia:Radio|Radio]]<ref name="wireless">This usage is not entirely unknown in Earth-bound English. As a synonym for radio or radiotelegraphy, it's more common in British usage, according to [http://www.m-w.com/ Merriam-Webster]. Prior to the popularisation of television in the 1950s, it was the preferred term for radio equipment and radio broadcasts amongst the bulk of the British population. It's also the source of the prefix 'Wi' in 'WiFi' and other similar wireless data standards now common.</ref>

===Invented Terminology===
As all science fiction shows must, Battlestar Galactica has a set of vocabulary referring to technologies and other items not shared with the real world.

*[[Ambrosia]] - a bright green alcoholic beverage
*[[Carom]] - the angle above or below the XY plane of a vessel, perpendicular to [[Wikipedia:Bearing (navigation)|bearing]] (c.f. "Mark" (Star Trek))
*[[Chamalla]] - an [[Wikipedia:Entheogen|entheogen]] used by priests
*[[Red Line]]

*'''For a more complete list of acronyms and expressions see:''' [[List of terms (RDM)]]

===Enigmas===

Language in ''Battlestar Galactica'' have terms whose origins are a curiosity due to chronology or uniqueness to the real-world Earth that likely wouldn't have a parallel of the same name in the Twelve Colonies. See [[Sacred Scrolls#Earth as the true origin of the human species|an interpretation of the origin of humanity on Kobol]] that could support the derivation of these terms.

* ''[[Columbia]]'': This battlestar name comes from Christopher Columbus, a man unlikely to have existed in 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 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.

===Honorifics===
Although civilians use the honorific "Madam" or it's 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===
Many characters have names that include one or more components that appear to be a Biblical or Classical reference. It remains an enigma whether, and to what degree, these should be thought of as translations for the audience's benefit.

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 [[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.
* [[Karl Agathon]]: "[[w:Agathon|Agathon]]" was an Athenian poet, a friend of Euripides and Plato.
* [[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.
* [[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", 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.
* [[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". 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]], a 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 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]]. Curiously, "valerii" is the masculine plural form.
* [[Tom Zarek]]: "[[w:Thomas|Thomas]]" is a deliberate biblical reference, after the doubting apostle, although strictly speaking that apostle's name was Jude the Twin, "Tau'ma" being Aramaic for "twin". 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 "spacey".

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.
* [[Billy Keikeya]]: "Keikeya" appears to be made up.
* [[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==

Most characters speak with a [[Wikipedia:General American|Standard American]] accent, with some exceptions.

===English Accent===
Two characters speak with the [[Wikipedia:Received Pronunciation|Received Pronunciation]], Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] of Caprica and ship's medic [[Layne Ishay]]. Other characters from Caprica do not share this accent.

===Canadian Accent===
Occassionally when Col. [[Saul Tigh]] is shouting or barking out orders, he exhibits a faint Canadian accent. [[Michael Hogan]] is a noted Canadian actor, and on the show his speech is usually indistinguishable from Standard American English, but observant fans can occassionally detect a trace of an accent.

===Puerto Rican Accent===
[[Giana]], a woman rescued from [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|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]], and another copy of D'anna on Cylon-occupied Caprica does ''not'' speak with this accent, but a Standard American one, perhaps to differentiate the two characters. Subsequent appearances in "[[Downloaded]]" and [[Season 3 (2006-07)|Season 3]] have featured the Kiwi accent exclusively.

===Aerelon Accent===
In the episode "[[Flesh and Bone]]", Baltar notes that Sharon Valerii speaks with a trace of an [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Aerelon|Aerelon]] accent. This accent appears to be entirely fictional - the Canadian actress who portrays her, Grace Park, is fluent in both English and Korean, but speaks Standard American English without a foreign accent. In the episode "[[Dirty Hands]]", Baltar displayed his native Aerelon accent. It sounded somewhat raspy, and resembles a diluted version of rural accents from the North of England.

==Liturgy==
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].

:{|
| '''Devanāgarī''' || '''Transliteration''' || '''Translation'''
|-
| अस्तो मा सद् गमय || asato mā sad gamaya || Lead us from Falsehood to Truth
|-
| तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय || tamaso mā jyotir gamaya || Lead us from Darkness to Light
|-
| मृत्योर् मा अमृतं गमय || mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya || Lead us from Death to Immortality
|}

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==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial History]]
[[Category:Colonial History (RDM)]]
[[Category:Colonial Society]]
[[Category:Colonial Society (RDM)]]
[[Category:RDM]]

{{featured article candidate previous}}

Language in the Twelve Colonies

2007-02-10T22:35:13Z

Chris Buckey: /* Anachronisms */

:''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}}

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]]''. Most religious terms are explicitly shared with ancient Greek beliefs (either antecedent to or descendant from them).

==Vocabulary==

===Anachronisms===
''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' uses many terms from modern day naval aviation, which appear somewhat anachronistic but also lend the show a flavor of realistic jargon. These include:
*[[Combat Air Patrol]]
*[[Commander Air Group]]
*Planes
:'''Adama:''' You keep my planes flying. I need my planes to fly. ([[Litmus]])
*Sky
:'''Starbuck:''' Our job isn't to be careful, it's to shoot frakking Cylons out of the sky. ([[33]])

===Ersatz===
In contrast to its [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|predecessor]], the re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'' employs relatively little in the way of ersatz vocabulary. It does employ a few terms outside of a normal American English vocabulary, mostly military jargon. These are mixed in haphazardly with the real-life naval aviation terms above.

*[[Colonial Wireless Alphabet|Constellation]] - [[Wikipedia:NATO phonetic alphabet|Charlie]] (As used in the sense of radio alphabetic code, e.g.: "Alpha, Bravo, Constellation".)
*[[Dradis]] - [[Wikipedia:RADAR|Radar]]
*[[Fumarella leaf]] - [[Wikipedia:Tobacco|Tobacco]]
*[[Frak]] - A bowdlerized version of "Fuck" (c.f. "[[Wikipedia:Frell|Frell]]" (Farscape), "[[Wikipedia:Frag|Frag]]" (Babylon 5), "[[Wikipedia:Smeg|Smeg]]" (Red Dwarf))
*[[G-4]] - [[Wikipedia: C-4 (explosive)|C-4]]
*[[Krypter]] - [[Wikipedia:Mayday|Mayday]]
*[[Morpha]] - [[Wikipedia:Morphine|Morphine]]
*[[Serisone]] - [[Wikipedia:prednisone|Prednisone]]
*[[Wireless]] - [[Wikipedia:Radio|Radio]]<ref name="wireless">This usage is not entirely unknown in Earth-bound English. As a synonym for radio or radiotelegraphy, it's more common in British usage, according to [http://www.m-w.com/ Merriam-Webster]. Prior to the popularisation of television in the 1950s, it was the preferred term for radio equipment and radio broadcasts amongst the bulk of the British population. It's also the source of the prefix 'Wi' in 'WiFi' and other similar wireless data standards now common.</ref>

===Invented Terminology===
As all science fiction shows must, Battlestar Galactica has a set of vocabulary referring to technologies and other items not shared with the real world.

*[[Ambrosia]] - a bright green alcoholic beverage
*[[Carom]] - the angle above or below the XY plane of a vessel, perpendicular to [[Wikipedia:Bearing (navigation)|bearing]] (c.f. "Mark" (Star Trek))
*[[Chamalla]] - an [[Wikipedia:Entheogen|entheogen]] used by priests
*[[Red Line]]

*'''For a more complete list of acronyms and expressions see:''' [[List of terms (RDM)]]

===Enigmas===

Language in ''Battlestar Galactica'' have terms whose origins are a curiosity due to chronology or uniqueness to the real-world Earth that likely wouldn't have a parallel of the same name in the Twelve Colonies. See [[Sacred Scrolls#Earth as the true origin of the human species|an interpretation of the origin of humanity on Kobol]] that could support the derivation of these terms.

* ''[[Columbia]]'': This battlestar name comes from Christopher Columbus, a man unlikely to have existed in 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 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.

===Honorifics===
Although civilians use the honorific "Madam" or it's 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===
Many characters have names that include one or more components that appear to be a Biblical or Classical reference. It remains an enigma whether, and to what degree, these should be thought of as translations for the audience's benefit.

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 [[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]]: "[[Wikipedia: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]]: "[[Wikipedia:Agathon|Agathon]]" was an Athenian poet, a friend of Euripides and Plato.
* [[Gaius Baltar]]: "Gaius" was the ''[[Wikipedia:praenomen|praenomen]]'' of the man we commonly call [[Wikipedia:Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]]. "Baltar" was made up by [[Glen A. Larson]] for the original series.
* [[Helena Cain]]: "[[Wikipedia:Helena|Helena]]" is a common enough name, but is also a possible reference to Helen of Troy. "[[Wikipedia:Cain|Cain]]" in the Old Testament is the first murderer, and is a carry-over from the original series.
* [[Aaron Doral]]: "[[Wikipedia:Aaron|Aaron]]" is a Biblical Hebrew name, the older brother of [[Wikipedia:Moses|Moses]].
* [[Anastasia Dualla]]: The Greek word ''[[Wikipedia:anastasia|anastasia]]'' translates to "resurrection", and was a deliberate choice by [[Ronald D. Moore|Ron Moore]]. It's also not an uncommon Greek and Russian name. Dualla is the name of a region and people in sub-saharan Africa.
* [[Hera]]/Isis: "[[Wikipedia:Hera|Hera]]" was a Greek goddess, the wife of Zeus. "[[Wikipedia: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.
* [[Kara Thrace]]: "[[Wikipedia: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]]: "[[Wikipedia:Saul|Saul]]" is a Hebrew name, which means "borrowed". Biblical references include both the first king of Judah and Israel, and the birth-name of Paul of Tarsus. "Tigh" appears to have been made up by [[Glen A. Larson]], but it is also Scottish Gaelic for "house." 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.
* [[Galen Tyrol]]: "[[Wikipedia: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. "[[Wikipedia:Tyrol|Tyrol]]" is a region that spans the border of Austria and Italy.
* [[Sharon Valerii]]: "Sharon" is Hebrew for forest, although it's also a common English woman's name. The [[Wikipedia:Valerius|gens Valeria]] is one of the longest-running families in the history of the [[Wikipedia:Roman Empire|Roman Empire]]. Curiously, "valerii" is the masculine plural form.
* [[Tom Zarek]]: "[[Wikipedia:Thomas|Thomas]]" is a deliberate biblical reference, after the doubting apostle, although strictly speaking that apostle's name was Jude the Twin, "Tau'ma" being Aramaic for "twin". 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 "spacey".

Uncertain references:
* [[Leoben Conoy]]: "[[Wikipedia:Leoben|Leoben]]" is an Austrian town where a preliminary peace in the Napoleonic wars was signed. "[[Wikipedia:Conoy|Conoy]]" is a Native American tribe, also known as the Piscataway. Both are pretty obscure.
* [[Billy Keikeya]]: "Keikeya" appears to be made up.
* [[Laura Roslin]]: "[[Wikipedia: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==

Most characters speak with a [[Wikipedia:General American|Standard American]] accent, with some exceptions.

===English Accent===
Two characters speak with the [[Wikipedia:Received Pronunciation|Received Pronunciation]], Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] of Caprica and ship's medic [[Layne Ishay]]. Other characters from Caprica do not share this accent.

===Canadian Accent===
Occassionally when Col. [[Saul Tigh]] is shouting or barking out orders, he exhibits a faint Canadian accent. [[Michael Hogan]] is a noted Canadian actor, and on the show his speech is usually indistinguishable from Standard American English, but observant fans can occassionally detect a trace of an accent.

===Spanish Accent===
[[Giana]], a woman rescued from [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]] by [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica copy)|Sharon Valerii]], spoke with a Spanish accent, and inquired after the whereabouts of her husband, who she stated was "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.

===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]], and another copy of D'anna on Cylon-occupied Caprica does ''not'' speak with this accent, but a Standard American one, perhaps to differentiate the two characters. Subsequent appearances in [[Downloaded]] and the third season have featured the Kiwi accent exclusively.

===Aerelon Accent===
In the episode "[[Flesh and Bone]]", Baltar noted that Sharon Valerii spoke with a trace of an [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Aerelon|Aerelon]] accent. This accent appears to be entirely fictional - the Canadian actress who portrays her, Grace Park, is fluent in both English and Korean, but speaks Standard American English without a foreign accent.

==Liturgy==
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].

:{|
| '''Devanāgarī''' || '''Transliteration''' || '''Translation'''
|-
| अस्तो मा सद् गमय || asato mā sad gamaya || Lead us from Falsehood to Truth
|-
| तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय || tamaso mā jyotir gamaya || Lead us from Darkness to Light
|-
| मृत्योर् मा अमृतं गमय || mṛtyor mā amṛtaṃ gamaya || Lead us from Death to Immortality
|}

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==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

[[Category:A to Z]]
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[[Category:Colonial History]]
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[[Category:Colonial Society]]
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{{featured article candidate previous}}

User talk:Chris Buckey

2007-02-10T22:26:56Z

Chris Buckey: Replacing page with 'Do de dooty do. -~~~~'

Do de dooty do. -[[User:Chris Buckey|Chris Buckey]] 16:26, 10 February 2007 (CST)

User:Chris Buckey

2007-02-10T22:26:18Z

Chris Buckey: New page: This user does '''''not''''' have Aspergers.

This user does '''''not''''' have Aspergers.

Venner

2007-02-10T22:25:09Z

Chris Buckey:

{{Character Data
|photo=Venner.jpg
|age=
|colony=[[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Gemenon|Gemenon]]
|birthname=? Venner
|callsign=
|seen= Scattered
|death=
|parents=
|siblings=
|children=
|marital status=
|role=Colonial Marines
|rank=Corporal
|actor=[[Chris Shields]]
|cylon=
|name=
}}

'''Corporal Venner''' is one of the surviving [[Colonial]] [[Marines]] aboard ''[[Galactica]]''. As a native of [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Gemenon|Gemenon]], Venner is a very religious man and believes in [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]] as a prophet sent by the [[Lords of Kobol]].

Venner was in charge of guarding Roslin while she was imprisoned in the brig after Commmander [[William Adama|Adama]] terminated her presidency and arrested her. Venner asked that she pray with him during a [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] attack ([[Scattered]]). He carries a set of white prayer beads.

Soon after, ''Galactica'' was boarded by [[Cylon Centurion]]s, and [[Lee Adama]] ordered Venner to lead Roslin to [[Sickbay]] and to safety. While making their way through the ship, they were nearly killed in a run in with the Centurions ([[Valley of Darkness]]).

While in the brig, Roslin was suffering from [[Chamalla]] withdrawal. Her aide, [[Billy Keikeya]], asked for Venner's help in smuggling some of the medication for her into the brig ([[Fragged]]).

Venner is apparently recruited by Keikeya in the plot to free Roslin ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]). He participates in Roslin's escape from ''Galactica'' by pretending to be the victim of an assault that frees Roslin from the brig.

Venner apparently survived New Caprica and was with Roslin when she threatened to have Baltar thrown out an airlock after his return from the Cylons. ([[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]])

[[Category:A to Z]]
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Talk:Venner/Archive 1

2007-02-10T22:16:28Z

Chris Buckey:

Did Roslin call Venner's name during the sequence when she threatens to have Baltar thrown out ''Galactica's'' airlock? I swear I heard her shout "Venner!" in the memorial gallery or whatever it's called right after Baltar told her about his lab assistant. [[User:Chris Buckey|Chris Buckey]] 05:33, 9 February 2007 (CST)
:Definitely sounds like Venner, but I can't see him there. -[[User:Madbrood|Madbrood]] 05:46, 9 February 2007 (CST)
::Thought so. I'm gonna go ahead and add a mention of it in the article. -[[User:Chris Buckey|Chris Buckey]] 16:16, 10 February 2007 (CST)

Talk:Venner/Archive 1

2007-02-09T11:34:07Z

Chris Buckey:

Talk:Venner/Archive 1

2007-02-09T11:33:13Z

Chris Buckey: New page: Did Roslin call Venner's name during the sequence when she threatens to have Baltar thrown out ''Galactica's'' airlock? I swear I heard her shout "Venner!" ~~~~

Did Roslin call Venner's name during the sequence when she threatens to have Baltar thrown out ''Galactica's'' airlock? I swear I heard her shout "Venner!" [[User:Chris Buckey|Chris Buckey]] 05:33, 9 February 2007 (CST)

Frak

2006-11-24T02:35:32Z

Chris Buckey: Crashdown said the "frak me" bit in 33, not Gaeta.

'''"Frak"''' is a potent profanity in the language of the [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]]. It is a bowdlerized version of the real-life expletive "fuck", and can seemingly be used in the same ways:

* The term can describe sexual relations.
:''"You know what? I don't care who or what he fraks. [[Karl Agathon|He]] saved my ass down there, all right?"'' - Starbuck, ([[Flight of the Phoenix]])
* The term, as a perjorative, can be used to curse someone you vilify or find disgusting.
:''"Frakkin' rats"'' - Helo, ([[Bastille Day]])
:''"Frak you"'' - Helena Cain, ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]])
* The term can be used in several variations and compound words.
:''"Talk to me, you motherfrakker!"'' - Cally Henderson, ([[Valley of Darkness]])
:''"Command frak-up"'' - Pvt. Scott Kelso, ([[Final Cut]])
:''"frakwit"'' - Chiefs Tyrol and Laird, ([[Pegasus (Extended Version)]])
:''"I guaran-frakkin-tee you, I will put [[Scar (Raider)|you]] down this time for good."'' ([[Scar]])
* The term also is used as an adjective to describe an action or object that is subjectively considered outrageous, extreme, or ill-advised.
:''"Does anybody else think that this plan is frakking nuts?"'' - Baltar, ([[Fragged]])
*The term can be used as a means of conveying shock or surprise.
:''"Oh, frak me! Radiological Alarm!"'' - Crashdown, ([[33]])
*The term can also be used to express agreement.
:''"Frakkin' A!"'' - Sue-Shaun, ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]])
*"RFN" is an acronym for "Right Frakking Now." [[Lee Adama]] used the phrase while speaking with [[Saul Tigh]] during a Cylon boarding attempt ([[Valley of Darkness]]).

==Note==

"Frak" is derived from the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]] expletive, "frack," a term used in character dialogue far less often (or "colorfully") than its counterpart in the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]]. The Re-imagined Series' production team said they felt that "frack" should be a four-letter word, hence "frak."

This profanity's real-world derivation can be found in [[Wikipedia:Fuck|this article]] on Wikipedia. The terms "frak" and "frack" were obviously used in dialogue in the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]] to comply with FCC and other broadcast decency standards because the FCC has jurisdiction over the content of broadcast TV. "Frak" carries over this standard to the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]] despite the point that the FCC does not currently have jurisdiction to impose decency standards over paid services such as cable TV (where the Re-imagined Series airs in America). However, the use of a profanity substitute rather than the "real" word is convenient should episodes be broadcast on broadcast TV (i.e., NBC and its affiliates) because editing for verbal content would not be required.

[[Category:A to Z]]
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