# Re: Star Trek: TNG, What Nationality Was Dr. Noonian Soong? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197 "2004-07-21T16:26:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/1 "2004-07-21T16:26:00Z")
The thing that most throws me off is that he almost seems to have an almost oriental(-?) name, yet when he made a surprise appearance on the series, he was clearly a white person. I guess my main question surrounds his name then. ([Here](http://www.planetspace.de/startrek/library/images/character/soong.jpg) and [here](http://www.planetspace.de/startrek/library/images/character/soong2.jpg) are two [rather small] pictures of him, in case anyone has forgotten what he looks like. [Naturally he was played by the Brent Spiner, who also played his android creations, Data and Lore.] 🙂 .) ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/2 "2004-07-21T16:33:43Z")
Khan Noonian Singh was supposed to be Punjabi, from India, Ricardo Montalban notwithstanding. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/3 "2004-07-21T16:35:49Z")
Sorry, thinking of the wrong guy. :smack: ---
**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:** [July 21, 2004, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/4 "2004-07-21T16:48:17Z")
Can’t imagine why you’d confuse Khan Noonian Sing with Noonian Soong… Seeing as how he made Data & Lore in his image, I’d say he was of western european descent, name notwithstanding. Perhaps he was adopted. ---
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/5 "2004-07-21T16:57:45Z")
This would be buying into Roddenberry’s “utopian future” vision, but perhaps by the 24th century, there has been so much racial intermixing that the designations “Asian,” “Oriental,” or “white person” no longer have any specific meaning? ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/6 "2004-07-21T17:02:32Z")
Considering that in my life I’ve had friends with… A Scottish last name but Mexican heritage (Scottish great-grandfather whose name got passed all the way down), An English last name but Korean heritage (assumed “more American-sounding name” on immigration), An English last name but Vietnamese heritage (same as above), and I distinctly remember news stories involving Peru recently having a president named Fujimora who certainly didn’t look Japanese… …it doesn’t seem too impossible. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/7 "2004-07-21T17:18:10Z")
> [@av8rmike](#): > > This would be buying into Roddenberry’s “utopian future” vision, but perhaps by the 24th century, there has been so much racial intermixing that the designations “Asian,” “Oriental,” or “white person” no longer have any specific meaning? Not a bad thought, but none of the other character names seem to work that way - Jean-Luc Picard is (ostensibly) French, Miles O’Brien is Irish, Keiko whateverthenamewas was Asian, etc. > [@kilt-wearin' man](#): > > and I distinctly remember news stories involving Peru recently having a president named Fujimora who certainly didn’t look Japanese… [He looks Japanese enough to me.](http://joi.ito.com/archives/images/fujimori.jpg) I read that both of his parents were Japanese, so if he didn’t look it it would be a tad strange. 😉 ---
**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:** [July 21, 2004, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/8 "2004-07-21T17:22:55Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Jean-Luc Picard is (ostensibly) French Which (ostensibly) explains the accent. ^:dubious:^ Also, in The Squire of Gothos, Trelaine calls out several members of the away team as being of some national archetype–German, French, English… ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/9 "2004-07-21T17:37:11Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Which (ostensibly) explains the accent. ^:dubious:^ Yeah, the voice was always kind of at odds with the name, but they did make an effort to Frenchify him a little now and then–he is heard humming “Aupres de Ma Blonde” in a couple of episodes, and at least once, on hearing some bad news, muttering “Merde!” ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/10 "2004-07-21T17:39:49Z")
I was more annoyed by the fact that his name was so similar to Khan’s. Couldn’t they think of anything else? ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/11 "2004-07-21T17:52:45Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I read that both of his parents were Japanese, so if he didn’t look it it would be a tad strange. 😉 Eh. I stand corrected on that one. It’s been a long time since he’s been on the news, so my faulty memory failed me. That doesn’t change my friends though…that’s three examples that I know personally. And I’m with **Helena** on the “Noonian Soong” and “Khan Noonien Singh” thing - I mean, it’s not like there weren’t other names out there. Roddenberry had a habit of re-using names (just run an IMDB search on “Dylan Hunt” to see what I’m talking about), but _come on_…did he think nobody would notice the similarity? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/12 "2004-07-21T18:01:42Z")
Oh yeah? Let me google your friends and we’ll see. 😉 > [@Helena](#): > > I was more annoyed by the fact that his name was so similar to Khan’s. Couldn’t they think of anything else? And all the ship computers sound the same- what’s the deal with that? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/13 "2004-07-21T18:34:21Z")
I just found out about a man with the name Bjorn Antonio Teheran. Now what would expect THAT guy to look like? ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/14 "2004-07-21T18:44:57Z")
> [@Kilt-wearin' man](#): > > And I’m with **Helena** on the “Noonian Soong” and “Khan Noonien Singh” thing - I mean, it’s not like there weren’t other names out there. Roddenberry had a habit of re-using names (just run an IMDB search on “Dylan Hunt” to see what I’m talking about), but _come on_…did he think nobody would notice the similarity? I always thought that was a deliberate, if subtle reference… that Noonian the inventor was some relative of Khan the warlord, possible a son from while he was marooned in the Ceti Alpha system. I’m not a huge trekkie enough to know the plot of ‘wrath of khan’ backwards and forwards and point out when such a son would have had the opportunity to join federation society, but I’m sure there would be at least one such chance. And then he would downplay and hide his relationship to the butcher of Genesis - why not? (That might explain Noonian’s remarkable brains.) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/15 "2004-07-21T18:45:14Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > Yeah, the voice was always kind of at odds with the name, but they did make an effort to Frenchify him a little now and then–he is heard humming “Aupres de Ma Blonde” in a couple of episodes, and at least once, on hearing some bad news, muttering “Merde!” I was always amused by my sister’s theory that Picard wasn’t really French at all, but that he was on the run from the Vulcan Mafia and had consequently entered the Witness Protection Program. (That fire that killed his brother and nephew in the first TNG movie? That was no accident…) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/16 "2004-07-21T18:46:30Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > And all the ship computers sound the same- what’s the deal with that? 😃 Well, the computer was sleeping with Roddenberry, that had to help 😛 . As far as the OP goes, I’m going to go with **av8rmike** on this one. ---
**Author:** ![alimarx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@alimarx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alimarx)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/17 "2004-07-21T18:58:46Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > …and at least once, on hearing some bad news, muttering “Merde!” Cite? What ep? > [@Kilt-wearin' man](#): > > And I’m with **Helena** on the “Noonian Soong” and “Khan Noonien Singh” thing - I mean, it’s not like there weren’t other names out there. Roddenberry had a habit of re-using names (just run an IMDB search on “Dylan Hunt” to see what I’m talking about), but _come on_…did he think nobody would notice the similarity? I’m still looking for the link (probably anecdotal anyway), but I remember reading somewhere that Roddenberry once had a friend whilst in the military who had a name very similar to “Noonian Singh”. He had lost touch with him, and Roddenberry’s multiple use of the name was his way of trying to hook up again (and IIRC, he never did). ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/18 "2004-07-21T19:08:48Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Can’t imagine why you’d confuse Khan Noonian Sing with Noonian Soong… Brain fart, I guess. I have no other defense. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/19 "2004-07-21T19:13:53Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > Well, the computer was sleeping with Roddenberry, that had to help 😛 He really was the prototypical Trekkie, wasn’t he? The only way he could get any was from a computer. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197/20 "2004-07-21T19:43:53Z")
> [@alimarx](#): > > Cite? What ep? Oh jeez, I wouldn’t know. A little Googling, after filtering out all the spoof scripts, indicates it was “The Last Outpost.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-star-trek-tng-what-nationality-was-dr-noonian-soong/256197.md?page=2)