Quote:
Originally Posted by GrannyGrump
Which does remind me of a peeve in modern speculative/fantasy books -- the unpronounceable “alien” name or phrase. Having to stop to puzzle out a word like “Bxzphorrhgrw” is likely to put the author on my better-never-read list.
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I am irritated by a similar conceit by SF writers. That is calling Earth, "Terra" I'm pretty sure English has dropped that name for the planet quite some time ago. And why would, in the future, some 'global naming agency' use the word 'Terra' for the planet Earth?
If we are concerned about being too "Anglo-centric", isn't the Euro-centrism of using 'Terra' for the planet, just as blind? Wouldn't the name of Earth in the future, as likely to be in Mandarin or Hindi, as it is in English or Latin?
I don't expect this to change, this tired trope now seems set in concrete at this point for Science Fiction. And God help us, future generations may take their lead from Science Fiction. (Look how often the name "Enterprise" is used on both real ships, NASA craft, and in SciFi, it is NOT because of the US Aircraft carrier!)
But I do feel better for saying it!