Adding Names to Cultures

[Grouchio]

So if I were to go into my cultures folder and wish to add names for each westerosi culture, what real-life languages or cultures should I draw from? Old Norse for the Ironborn/Northmen? Scottish for Northmen? French for the Rivermen? German for the Valemen? Stuff like that?

 

[Rabid Bogling]

Generally the best thing to do is take a real name common in Western Europe and fiddle with it until you get something that fits. Samwell instead of Samuel, Eddard instead of Edward, Sandor instead of Alexander. That's the rather lazy way GRRM comes up with most names in the series. He also referrences other works, from other authors and unexpected places (Elmo and Kermit are ancestors of the Tullys, for example). That applies across the Seven Kingdoms, where the same names seem to be used in most cases. There are Jons and Rickards all over the place

So.. uh.. Emonwell instead of Immanuel, Algerion instead of Algernon, or Kennis instead of Kenneth. Maybe throw the odd Rincewind or Elric into the mix.

If you're determined to apply real world cultures to Westros, it's really up to you. You'll likely get mixed opinions on the matter, so I say reach your own conclusions and run with it. Men of the North can be Scottish, Northern Englishmen, Scandinavians, Thai, Cherokee, or a mix of the lot for all it matters.

 

[JodelDiplom]

Generally the best thing to do is take a real name common in Western Europe and fiddle with it until you get something that fits. Samwell instead of Samuel, Eddard instead of Edward, Sandor instead of Alexander. That's the rather lazy way GRRM comes up with most names in the series. He also referrences other works, from other authors and unexpected places (Elmo and Kermit are ancestors of the Tullys, for example). That applies across the Seven Kingdoms, where the same names seem to be used in most cases. There are Jons and Rickards all over the place

So.. uh.. Emonwell instead of Immanuel, Algerion instead of Algernon, or Kennis instead of Kenneth. Maybe throw the odd Rincewind or Elric into the mix.

If you're determined to apply real world cultures to Westros, it's really up to you. You'll likely get mixed opinions on the matter, so I say reach your own conclusions and run with it. Men of the North can be Scottish, Northern Englishmen, Scandinavians, Thai, Cherokee, or a mix of the lot for all it matters.

Elmo and Kermit were probably inserted by those hacks Elio and Linda. At least that's what I tell myself when I cry myself to sleep over the horrible fanfiction filling so many parts of that world book.

 

[TheArrogantOne]

So if I were to go into my cultures folder and wish to add names for each westerosi culture, what real-life languages or cultures should I draw from? Old Norse for the Ironborn/Northmen? Scottish for Northmen? French for the Rivermen? German for the Valemen? Stuff like that?

As it was already stated, GRRM was mainly taking English names and transforming them. He also took some names from other places, like Elmo and Kermit, or the Valyrian names (I have no idea if he stole them from somewhere or invented them himself). Comparing AGOT cultures to real ones isn't a good idea. Andals and the First Men would be English. Well sure, you can try to find rferences to the Wildlings, Rhoynars, Valyrians, Ghiscarians, Yi Tiyans, Lengians, Asshaians and all that stuff. But is their language similar? You don't know.

You could use, like, Scottish Gaelic for the Wildlings, or Scottish for the Northmen, but this wouldn't be accurate, would it?

 

[Furion Matsuya]

Elmo and Kermit were probably inserted by those hacks Elio and Linda. At least that's what I tell myself when I cry myself to sleep over the horrible fanfiction filling so many parts of that world book.

Terrible fan fiction, what the hell are you on about ?. The World Book is great, the bad bits are no worse then anything bad written by GRRM and even he has his bad moments.

 

[Furion Matsuya]

As it was already stated, GRRM was mainly taking English names and transforming them. He also took some names from other places, like Elmo and Kermit, or the Valyrian names (I have no idea if he stole them from somewhere or invented them himself). Comparing AGOT cultures to real ones isn't a good idea. Andals and the First Men would be English. Well sure, you can try to find rferences to the Wildlings, Rhoynars, Valyrians, Ghiscarians, Yi Tiyans, Lengians, Asshaians and all that stuff. But is their language similar? You don't know.

You could use, like, Scottish Gaelic for the Wildlings, or Scottish for the Northmen, but this wouldn't be accurate, would it?

He made the Valyrian names himself apparently using his own barebones set of rules for them.

 

[TheArrogantOne]

He made the Valyrian names himself apparently using his own barebones set of rules for them.

That's what I thought. They sound kind of nice, actually... maybe because they're original, unlike the Westerosi names >_>

 

[Furion Matsuya]

Terrible fan fiction, what the hell are you on about ?. The World Book is great, the bad bits are no worse then anything bad written by GRRM and even he has his bad moments.

Come to think of it I might have an idea as to why he called them hacks, Emilo and Linda have something or a reputation for rather Linda does for been very out spoken about the show. Bit of a bitch actually.

 

[Rabid Bogling]

They think the writing's gone down hill, and disagree with many of the decisions Benioff and Weiss have made in adapting the series. That doesn't make them hacks it makes them critics.

 

[Furion Matsuya]

They think the writing's gone down hill, and disagree with many of the decisions Benioff and Weiss have made in adapting the series. That doesn't make them hacks it makes them critics.

True, I wasn't saying they were hacks just why some people might seem them as such. She's incredibly hard to please however, ripping into it even at the start. In her own words she would have perfered to show to be completely faithful and then quietly cancelled after a season or two and fading into obscurity rather then the popularity it has now.

What I don't get is why she bothers complaining at all, yes she hates it but for crying out loud the books are still there. The show isn't going to damage them or anything.

 

[TheArrogantOne]

True, I wasn't saying they were hacks just why some people might seem them as such. She's incredibly hard to please however, ripping into it even at the start. In her own words she would have perfered to show to be completely faithful and then quietly cancelled after a season or two and fading into obscurity rather then the popularity it has now.

What I don't get is why she bothers complaining at all, yes she hates it but for crying out loud the books are still there. The show isn't going to damage them or anything.

But the show is appearing way faster than the books... one season takes much less time than one book. What will happen if they get to the end?

I'm not familiar with the show, since i did only read the books.

 

[Furion Matsuya]

But the show is appearing way faster than the books... one season takes much less time than one book. What will happen if they get to the end?

I'm not familiar with the show, since i did only read the books.

I don't think it matters I the show finishes first, it's branching off in it's own direction. It's an alternate universe to the books anyway.

G.R.R.M really shouldn't have given the green light for the show until he was finished but he writes at the pace of a glacier making him the Glacier that Writes. I say that as a term of endearment however as I don't mind him taking time although the filler in books four and five is annoying.

 

[TheArrogantOne]

I don't think it matters I the show finishes first, it's branching off in it's own direction. It's an alternate universe to the books anyway.

G.R.R.M really shouldn't have given the green light for the show until he was finished but he writes at the pace of a glacier making him the Glacier that Writes. I say that as a term of endearment however as I don't mind him taking time although the filler in books four and five is annoying.

Maybe he is tired of writing ASOIAF and he just writes the books to not disappoint the others and remain a celebrity?

 

[Furion Matsuya]

Maybe he is tired of writing ASOIAF and he just writes the books to not disappoint the others and remain a celebrity?

That's actually my thoughts as well.

 

[JodelDiplom]

Terrible fan fiction, what the hell are you on about ?. The World Book is great, the bad bits are no worse then anything bad written by GRRM and even he has his bad moments.

Some parts are good, others are repetitive and bland. The chapters about the Targaryen rulers after Aegon are good. The ones about the Free cities are good. The chapters about the Iron Islands are excellent. Bit the chapters about Sarnor, Yi Ti, Sothoryos and the Vale are mind numbingly boring, utterly lacking in imagination (oh look, a fake China only I don't call it China but Chingchangchong, no wait, Yi Ti!), and downright repelling in their alienness and lack of originality. Linda and Elio are official co-authors so they did not only some editing or support, they must have written whole Chapters. And it shows. They are hacks who have no literary talent.

Anyways... there are lots of names in that book at least, and "Elmo" or "Kermit" are memorable enough that the mod ought to have them as proper riverlander names (if only to troll the haters ).