Modes of address

Jack's picture

How do people in Ledenheim refer to each other? The limited Harbaal language glossary provides "aur" for man and "kvyne" for maiden, but I can't find the words for clan or kinsmen.

Consider the following scenarios:

1) A young clansman addressing a fellow clansman. "Kinsman" might seem most appropriate. Has the Harbaaler word been selected for that?

2) A young clansman addressing the valhakar. "Valhakar" would more than likely be the preferred mode of address. What about a clan elder or member of the thrangaad? "Elder kinsman"? "Honorable kinsman"?

3) A young clansman addressing a matron of the clan? "Kinswoman" seems a little informal...

4) A young clansman addressing a young clanswoman. Just "kvyne" in the absence of a name?

I'm curious what modes of address (in English) other people feel would work in circumstances like these...

rbs's picture


If I recall Robin's thinking correctly, In Chelemby and southern Harbaal (and perhaps further north), the usual term for addressing most fellow clan members is "fyter", meaning "cousin". I'd have to do some checking to see how one might address the clan head and other elders.

Jack's picture

That actually fits nicely

That actually fits nicely with my imaginings on the subject. It also lends itself well to minor modifications for differing levels of familiarity. For example, a long-time friend of the valhakar might refer to him as "cousin valhakar" . . . "dear cousin" for a friend, "little cousin" for a youth ("fyterelit", I believe that would be), and so on.

Reminds me of "little brother" from the movie "The Thirteenth Warrior".


Puster's picture

On Fyter and Proper Forms of address

There is stuff for this in the Chelemby modules, and I assume Ledenheim is not so far off:

Chelemby Kingdom 43:
"Fýter is the Chéler/Hârbáaler word for ‘cousin’ or ‘kinsman’.
In everyday usage, a fýter is a person one trusts absolutely.
The term may be applied (privately) to a close friend who is not a relative."

Chelemby City 16: Proper Forms of address:
"To call someone fýter is to claim or grant equality with that person."

This one also has a lots of other usefull information on adressing others, including most of what you look for, though it lacks a proper call for a member of another clan - you probably just call him (unless you know his real name) by his clan name, eg "Bjándsen", by function "Smith" or "Trader" or both "Pîrdas Priest", "Jaren Guard".

Jack's picture

I found both references -

I found both references - good stuff. Thanks for the heads up!

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