Padjal Naming Conventions?

[Bowen]

So, I was wondering exactly how the Padjal are named, and what the names symbolize. For example, we have the Seedseers, Kan-E-Senna, Raya-O-Senna, but then we have the oddball brother, A-Ruhn-Senna.

After looking at other Padjal names, there are E-Sumi-Yan and O-App-Pesi. It seems that male names have the single letter begin in the front of of the names, while females have theirs in the middle.

[Orophin]

Looks like the last section is probably the family name, the first the first name. I'm not sure what the middle section means though.

It's obviously different between males and females too, as the females have the single letter in the middle and males have it at the beginning.

[Yrusama]

The first two parts of the name are the given name, I think. I've heard E-Sumi-Yan referred to as "E-Sumi". Of course, picking the structure apart can only teach us so much. I'd like to know how they arrived at such names in the first place.

[Vilhem]

I do believe the extra letter has to do with when they are bestowed with horns and whatnot. The placement of the letter is at the beginning for males, and in the middle for females.

As Yru mentioned, we clearly hear "E-Sumi" in one of the cutscenes, so we could probably assume the others follow similarly..that is, the letter is treated as an extra syllable in their name.

Kan-eh-Senna
Raya-oh-Senna
Ah-Ruhn-Senna
Oh-App-Pesi
Eh-Sumi-Yan

[Bowen]

Now that I think about it, how did they get their names, exactly? I mean, they weren't exactly born Padjal, so do they just change their names?

[Rowyne]

Now that I think about it, how did they get their names, exactly? I mean, they weren't exactly born Padjal, so do they just change their names?

This is what I'm suspecting. When they become Padjal, they are born into a new life, so to speak. It would make sense to choose a new name to reflect their new identity.

[Fernehalwes]

Hello all,

Allow me take a few moments to shed a little light on the naming conventions used for Padjals.

First off, the language that the names are based off of is that of the Ainu peoples, indigenous to northern Japan.

Here are a few real-world examples of that language:

sir e-tok : the edge of the world
nupe : tears
pon : small
wakka : clear water

We aren't using that language as-is, but have tried to create something unique based off the spellings, sounds, syllable count, and overall feel of the words.

Here are the rules for the names:

1. All are comprised of three words.

2. The first two are the forename, and the final word is the surname.

3. The first name is constructed of simple vowel-based word (E, Ae, Uo, I, Ea, etc.) combined with a longer companion word. In the case of males, the vowel-based word comes first. In the case of females, it comes second.

Male:
E-Sumi-Yan
O-App-Pesi

Female:
Kan-E-Senna
Raya-O-Senna

4. Words in the Padjal language are normally separated by spaces. However, when a group of words forms a single concept (such as a proper noun, or a compound word), they are connected with hyphens.

---

In addition to NPC names, the ancient language can be seen used in names of sacred locations around the Twelveswood. If a name is Padjali, you can assume that the location has been there for a long time.

Place names:
The Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak (a beast from Padjali mythology)
Tam-Tara Deepcroft

Enemy names:
Ak-Inik varlet -> servant of the Inik house
Ak-Mena varlet -> servant of the Mena house (Ak being the honorific prefix attached to a deceased member of a house)

---

There was also a question about how a Padjal gets their name (considering they start off as Hyur).

There are several old Hyur families in Gridania which consistently (albeit rarely) produce Padjals. Those include the Senna, the Yan, and the Pesi families. (Note the family names still possess the Padjali linguistic roots).

When a baby is born to one of these families, he or she is given a "normal" Hyur name, as is the custom (i.e. Bryce Senna).

When it is learned that the child is a Padjal, they are given a new first name based off the ancient Padjali tongue, and accepted into Stillglade Fane for their indoctrination.

---

Hope that clears things up a bit!

[Bowen]

Fern, you're my hero!

There was also a question about how a Padjal gets their name (considering they start off as Hyur).

There are several old Hyur families in Gridania which consistently (albeit rarely) produce Padjals. Those include the Senna, the Yan, and the Pesi families. (Note the family names still possess the Padjali linguistic roots).

When a baby is born to one of these families, he or she is given a "normal" Hyur name, as is the custom (i.e. Bryce Senna).

When it is learned that the child is a Padjal, they are given a new first name based off the ancient Padjali tongue, and accepted into Stillglade Fane for their indoctrination.

This is a little surprising to me. I always assumed that Padjal could be of any race, but were reborn into a Padjal once they were blessed. This makes a lot more sense, though. I wonder why the family names contain the Padjali roots, though. Is it just because of the fact that they have a history of producing Padjal, so they changed their name at a point in time, or is it because they're old families and have those ties?

[Myranda]

Fern, you're my hero!


This is a little surprising to me. I always assumed that Padjal could be of any race, but were reborn into a Padjal once they were blessed. This makes a lot more sense, though. I wonder why the family names contain the Padjali roots, though. Is it just because of the fact that they have a history of producing Padjal, so they changed their name at a point in time, or is it because they're old families and have those ties?

I'd go with they're old family names reaching back to the time of Gelmorra. More dedicated loremongers than I can correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm also under the impression that the first padjal chosen by the elementals would have been when the Gelmorran civilization started to migrate above ground into the forest proper? So Gelmorran/Padjali would be more or less synonymous?

[Deli]

besides the names...
they have more power than the playable 5 races?
All the npcs so far are only tied to conjurers/whm :O