# Fantasy equivalents of modern terms **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 26, 2017, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-equivalents-of-modern-terms/778231 "2017-01-26T15:40:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-equivalents-of-modern-terms/778231/41 "2017-01-31T05:39:13Z")
I guess what I’m trying to get at is that for any character in any given setting there are multiple layers of understanding. The way the author understands the character’s motivations. The way the work describes or illustrates the character’s motivations. The character’s self-understanding of their motivations. The way the character explains their motivations to others. The way casual acquaintances understand the character’s motivations. The way intimate companions understand the character’s motivations. The way the audience understands the characters’s motivations. So all of these could match up or not, or make sense, or not. An author from before the modern era might describe a character in such a way that a modern audience is sure the character is supposed to be coded as gay, or asexual, or whatever. But the author themselves might never have consciously decided that the character had that trait. But maybe the author themselves didn’t understand the character. Maybe all that coded homoeroticism is in there because the author wanted it in there, and wanted the wised-up members of the audience to get it while the rubes missed it. Maybe the author tells the audience flat-out that the character has same-sex attractions, but the character keeps it secret from everyone else, or even themselves. Maybe the author was desperately trying to hide the homoeroticism from the audience, or himself, but it all just spurted out. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-equivalents-of-modern-terms/778231/42 "2017-01-31T17:33:27Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > True, but a law-writer will naturally seek to prevent such disagreements. One might perhaps say that _well-written_ legalese is akin to a programming language. Of course good drafters will try to avoid any ambiguities. But given the nature of language and the adversarial context, even well-written legal texts can result in ambiguities. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-equivalents-of-modern-terms/778231/43 "2017-01-31T21:21:32Z")
I think the upshot is that there’s no one-size-fits-all substitute word for any given concept. You need to actually think about the cultures in your setting and figure out how they would think of the concept you’re addressing. If it’s something delicate, or the subject of social disapproval, they might speak of it indirectly, in euphemisms. They might use loan-words from another culture where the subject is more familiar or more accepted. There might simply not be a word for the concept at all, and it would have to be implied, or a character might fumble for words to explain it. Programming hijack: > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Of course good drafters will try to avoid any ambiguities. But given the nature of language and the adversarial context, even well-written legal texts can result in ambiguities. That’s why the code includes error-handling routines–i.e., court proceedings. Court system = operating system Laws/contracts = executable code Common law/precedent = expert system for error handling ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-equivalents-of-modern-terms/778231/44 "2017-01-31T22:51:37Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > A Song of Ice and Fire has a character who is called “the Reader.” Granted, reading isn’t so weird in the universe and learnéd men are celebrated, but it is weird in this character’s hyper-masculine bro-rapist culture, he’s a nerd. I thought it was more that the Ironborn are notoriously xenophobic and tradition bound, and someone who reads is doing something that’s both foreign AND untraditional. So Rodrik gets the epithet “the Reader”, since it’s a unique enough activity for him to be pasted with. I never got the impression that he was a nerd though; he’s the head of House Harlaw, and clearly, due to the fact that he talked shit out loud to a certain nephew of his, and is respected by the Ironborn, I’d say he’s likely pretty gangster, just one who is peculiar and likes to read. I’d think you’d have to describe emo, asexual and nerd, not come up with some silly fantasy word to describe them. It’s probably better writing anyway, as being emo in a fantasy setting would probably be liable to get one killed. Asexuality could be just a matter of NOT writing about things everyone else is commenting on or noticing. I’m not sure about nerdiness; I suppose you could go about it by describing them as having interests which aren’t women, ale and killing, or by doing the tired old trope of making them some sort of magic user or alchemist. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-equivalents-of-modern-terms/778231/45 "2017-01-31T23:41:24Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Later books in Lackey’s _Valdemar_ setting have the slang term “shaych” for “homosexual”, a shortening of related foreign terms from earlier in the series that means something like “one whose lover is like self”. I don’t recall a term used specifically for “asexual” in the setting, however, although there are some asexual characters. There’s a race with a neuter gender, but they’re just referred to as “neuter”. One of the cultures has a warrior caste who have dedicated their lives in service to their goddess, called the Swordsworn. One of the effects of the oath is to render them neuter. It’s not specifically stated that they have no girl or man parts, but they are definitely not interested in any funny stuff, either pitching or catching. Within the context of the stories, they’re referred to as sexless, genderless, or asexual. In more than one word, I recall one of them being described as “as interested in that sort of thing as her sword is.” Which is to say, not at all. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-equivalents-of-modern-terms/778231/46 "2017-04-28T18:30:08Z")
Okay, I’ve got one for you: What would be the Middle-earth equivalent of “cutting the Gordian knot”? ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-equivalents-of-modern-terms/778231/47 "2017-04-28T20:39:25Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Okay, I’ve got one for you: > > What would be the Middle-earth equivalent of “cutting the Gordian knot”? You could pretty easily get away with “cutting the Ergolanth knot” and tell the same Alexander the Great story, but regarding ancient “Lord Commander Bazlen the Brave” cutting a famous knot in Ergolanthia. Or don’t explain it at all. I’d still get it if you didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-equivalents-of-modern-terms/778231/48 "2017-04-28T21:14:04Z")
Smiting the Witch-king, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-equivalents-of-modern-terms/778231/49 "2017-04-28T21:35:10Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Problem is, those imply a choice. Like, “I would like to have sex, but I won’t.” I need a word or phrase that implies, “I don’t want to have sex in the first place.” Will celibate do? ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-equivalents-of-modern-terms/778231/50 "2017-04-28T21:42:22Z")
“dollar”. Never mind that the term was coined [pun intended] in 1520. It doesn’t sound old-timey enough. Your fantasy currency units are gonna be things like “gold pieces” and “silver pieces”. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-equivalents-of-modern-terms/778231/51 "2017-04-28T21:47:23Z")
> [@tracer](#): > > “dollar”. > > Never mind that the term was coined [pun intended] in 1520. It doesn’t sound old-timey enough. Your fantasy currency units are gonna be things like “gold pieces” and “silver pieces”. ducats, florins, shillings ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2017, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-equivalents-of-modern-terms/778231/52 "2017-04-29T02:35:56Z")
Aphrodisiac \>\> “Spanish Fly” \>\> _Viagra_ “Death Ray” \>\> Phaser/Blaster \>\> TASER Knight \>\> Marine (Hoo-ah!) Pantheon \>\> Justice League / The Avengers Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall \>\> CCTV ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2017, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-equivalents-of-modern-terms/778231/53 "2017-04-29T10:51:35Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > ducats, florins, shillings Or “crowns”. Several European countries still use variations of the term (krona and so on). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-equivalents-of-modern-terms/778231.md?page=2)