Does My Name Meet Conventions?

[BlaiseLallaise]

Ever since I first read over the Lalafell naming conventions, I have been thinking about the name I've been using throughout 1.0 and trying to figure out whether or not I meet these naming conventions.

So, let's break it down.

The name I chose, after MUCH deliberation, is Blaise Lallaise. This seems to best fit into the Plainsfolk Male naming conventions. If you are saying, "But wait, you're a Dunesfolk," you would be correct, but please ignore that for now. I'm considering my options for taking care of that little problem. Spoiler alert: It'll most likely be explained with mixed-clan parents.

In the Plainsfolk Male naming conventions, we are shown that they normally follow the AB-CB pattern. This would break my name down as follows:

A = Bl
B = aise
C = Lall

At a glance, it appears to fit right into the conventions. But wait! There is yet one little caveat that may throw it all out the window. Given the rule that states, "[t]he A, B, and C phonemes are usually limited to one or two syllables," one can assume that means the first name and surname will each usually have between 2 and 4 syllables. The potential problem here is that my AB first name shares a single syllable.

So, the question I cannot quite figure out is this. Will I be required to add a vowel in the middle of the 'A' phoneme in order to fall within the naming conventions or does it fit in just fine as is?

One more point, in the naming conventions thread, it is said that "[t]here are four unique sets of rules, and these rules are rarely deviated from." That brings up other questions. Is the single syllable first name considered a "deviation" and if so, is it small enough to be deemed an acceptable, or even noticeable deviation?

So, what do you think? Perfectly fine? Acceptable deviation? In need of change? I should stop fretting over something so trivial?

[Jinketsu]

You could say it's Bla-ise Lalla-ise. Given much of the Lalafell language isn't as strict in its phonetics in present day Eorzea, you can still pronounce it AS one syllable (two for surname) and still meet the conventional properties of Lalafellian lore!

EDIT: Fern also confirmed that the clans have been known to mesh together in some cases, like the Miqo'te from Ul'dah who has a Sun seeker name, but is clearly a Moon Keeper. So it's not too hard to believe a Dunesfolk has a Plainsfolk's conventions. I'm in the same boat as you. I love my mismatched eye colors, but have the name 'Jinketsu.' My surname in 1.x was Juster, but now that I know the conventions I'll be changing it to Moruketsu. Plainsfolk conventions, but I like it much more than Jijiketsu Momoketsu, haha.

[Inaaca]

In order to fit convention, each phenome needs to have a syllable within itself. Using "laise" as your B phenome and adding a vowel to the first syllable in your first name would solve it if you're trying to fit Male Plainsfolk convention.

As far as what's an acceptable deviation, I think Ferne would be able to better answer that. That also begs the question of what causes the rules to be deviated from in the first place?

Edit: Jinketsu also makes a good point about interpreting syllables and pronunciation.

[Jinketsu]

Actually, I'm hoping Fern comes in to at least specify more about consonants. I don't know if double-consonants like BL, LL or TS are allowed within the same syllable. That would make or break our names for authenticity's sake!

[Inaaca]

Or even double vowels, for that matter.

[Kinseykinz]

keep in mind too, that names that are 'close' but not quite right would also demonstrate the changing populations etc. that the game has. Most lalafells have migrated to Uldah afterall, and therefore it is easy to assume there would be a fair amount that have 'less racial' names. So I guess the question is 'How traditional a lalafell are you/how traditional were your parents?'

Basically, OP if you like your name as is, it is close enough that it would blend in...and you could create a little 'my parents were progressive-thinking lalafells' back story or something of the like.

[Jinketsu]

That is a very good point, Kinsey - unless that's not the direction they want us to go with.

Let's ponder, less for RP's sake and more for continuity's, what the consonant-vowel rules are. The only specification they give is that a syllable can in fact hold only one letter - consonant or vowel. All of the examples given reflect that rule, but each name has only a maximum of two letters per syllable. The two-letter syllables always start with a consonant and end with a vowel. No examples are given with doubles of anything, nor are there any rules stated saying it's not supposed to happen. The unstated-but-given rule is that a single three-letter syllable written as consonant-vowel-consonant (like Zol in Zolka) is to be considered two syllables - but would that example be pronounced as Zol-Ka, or is it actually pronounced as three syllables like Zo-Uhl-Ka or something?

Then back to my original question, what are the rules behind thee-letter syllables like Bla or Tsu? Are they generally unaccepted? Do they exist and were just not reflected in the examples given? I'd like to at least know for sure, because I'm anal like that :P

EDIT: It could be that the rules say 'Usually' one or two syllables for the A-B-C rhythmic portions means that three or four could be acceptable, and that Bla and Tsu would be considered two instead of one. It would make my name Jinketsu lay out like Ji-N-Ke-T-Su, or Lallaise like La-L-La-I-Se. While it's not the 'Usual' convention of one or two syllables, it's not entirely against the rules. If I'm right in that assumption, then all I would need is confirmation on how to pronounce consonants as their own syllable, like Zolka or Blaise.

EDIT 2: Oh, and given that the E in Blaise would be silent, what are the rules on silent vowels?

[BlaiseLallaise]

Hmm...there are some good points here. I didn't consider alternate pronunciations. If I pronounce the B like 'Buh', then that forces a new syllable, creating a phonetic pronunciation of Buh-layz La-layz. It's sketchy, but may work.

Even so, an official word on the questions that have come up in the process would be a nice read.

[Kinseykinz]

Yeah, I was mostly basing my response on Ferny's response back about 'Mixed Breed' names for Miq'otes and such from the F'lhaminn thread

Hello guys!

The same topic was brought up in the JP forums, so the loremasters decided to make an official response.
Here is a rough translation of what it says:

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As is indicated by the name, F'lhaminn is a member of the F (bear) Seeker of the Sun tribe. However, as many of you have pointed out, she has many physical features which are attributed to Keepers of the Moon (such as iris shape, skin color, etc). As many of you have also noticed, there have been other characters which have displayed the features of one clan, while following the naming conventions of another. This can be attributed to two factors.

One: It could merely be a genetic anomaly. Just because certain races have a tendency to display certain features (pointed ears, long legs, darker or lighter skin, soul-piercing eyes), doesn't mean that once every thousand or ten thousand births, something deviates from the rules.

Two: It could be that a parent or grandparent was of a different clan, and the features of that clan were passed down. We know for certain that F'lhaminn was raised as a Seeker of the Sun, but we would have to look further down her family tree for clues why she has the appearance of a Keeper of the Moon.

Finally, some good news for our role-players who want a little more spice in their character's history--in character creation for ARR, we'll be allowing the mixing and matching of certain features between clans, so it will be possible to create a Keeper of the Moon-like Seeker of the Sun (or vice versa).

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I know it's not exactly the same thing...but as it would make sense that some people might name their character 'Lhaminn' (a seeker of the sun who no longer identifies themselves by their tribe/might have been abandoned/more familiar/more modern/etc...it is possible we lalafells have started doing similar.

Also, as some have suggested in other similar topics, you could come up with your 'adventurer tag' (the name your character actually uses) and still have a 'given name' that you roleplay your parents gave you. Basically, my adventuring buddies gave me this nickname because, but my real name is_____. This helps those who don't want to change their name/follow conventions to the letter, while still aiding in roleplay if possible.


I am having similar problems with my own character name...I'd like something that fits convention, but I'd also like it to be similar to my current in-game name so friends know who I am. So I too am interested in more lore about the how and whys of Lala names, and how far we can stray from convention but still be plausibly 'well-named'. (Personally, I think I want to change my main to plainsfolk...but I think I prefer the female Dunesfolk naming potential... /sigh)

[Rau]

is Kinsey Winsey a potential name? :v