Earth Words or Phrases in SW

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2006-07-05 02:20pm

I was perusing some Wiki articles when I come across this interesting little fact that I never gave much thought to before. Darth Malak's flagship is called "Leviathan" Now Leviathan is based on the Hebrew scriptures about a giant sea monster. It is not a standard synonym for large or enormous, it is a very culture centric word same as say "Titanic" based on the Greek culture and Titans. Leviathan could not have come about in the Star Wars galaxy unless we're willing to say Basic has some Hebrew or English in it. And even then it would need the same historical/cultural significance as it does on Earth to make any sense.

So what are we to make of this? Do we as an audience then think that when we see words like "Leviathan" or "Hell" are we being given a transaltion for our purposes to make sense. For instance when Han in ESB says "Than I'll see you in Hell." Did he really say "Then I'll see you in Falavia"? Falavia being the underworld in the SW galaxy but makes no sense to us thus the translation is made to "hell".

Any other examples of Earth centric words or phrases in the trilogy or EU you can think of?

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2006-07-05 02:23pm

Chimaera, Gorgon, Hydra, Basilisk and Manticore were all names of Imperial star destroyers.

The KOTOR-era Mandalorians used Basilisk war droids.

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2006-07-05 02:27pm

Galvatron wrote:Chimaera, Gorgon, Hydra, Basilisk and Manticore were all names of Imperial star destroyers.

The KOTOR-era Mandalorians used Basilisk war droids.

How could I forget the names of those star destroyers?? Yeah, seems that alot of Earth mythology was thrown in the mix there willy nilly.

Noble Ire · Post by **Noble Ire** » 2006-07-05 02:36pm

IIRC, Chimaera and Manticore are actually names of creatures that exist in the SW universe, albeit in different forms (as per a holo-zoo in one of JKA's books).

Nevertheless, this does raise an interesting point, although I'm not sure you can ever really get an adequete explanation for it. Really, every part of our language, especially nouns, proper or otherwise, are based on cultural aspects that the civilizations of SW would be wholly unfamiliar with, even if they did have analoguous legends. I suppose in each case, one could say that said ship was actually named after such and such mythical beast, and a Gorgon is the closest Earthly comparison, but the explanation is still rather tedious.

On a similar note, I wonder if the term "terrestrial" has ever been used in the EU, and if not, what an adequete substitute would be.

Shadowtraveler · Post by **Shadowtraveler** » 2006-07-05 02:55pm

Katana Fleet. Seems obvious enough.

General Soontir Fel · Post by **General Soontir Fel** » 2006-07-05 03:23pm

On a similar note, I wonder if the term "terrestrial" has ever been used in the EU, and if not, what an adequete substitute would be.

I do not recall that, and they do try to avoid it (using groundquake rather than earthquake, for instance.)

On the other hand, the ESB novelization mentions Slave I being shaped "like an elephant's head". This is a problem of the medium--you just see what it's like on screen, but it has to be described in words in print--but it does break the SOD.

Also, Invisible Hand? Although the concept signified by that phrase exists, it is doubtful that the Adam Smith of the SW galaxy would use the same phrasing.

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2006-07-05 03:52pm

How about the most obvious: Millennium Falcon

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2006-07-05 03:55pm

The line 'Go to hell' appeared in Betrayal. Which is the first time that I can remember that hell has been even used as a word in SW.

Kane Starkiller · Post by **Kane Starkiller** » 2006-07-05 03:57pm

This is not exactly a word but in ANH we do see arabic numbers being used by X-wing distance display.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2006-07-05 03:58pm

The Kuati facination with Latin seems a good one as well. But I do, in fact, chalk it up to words or concepts in basic that do not have a direct translation, so an english equivilant, though not exact, is subsituted.

Hell being a perfect example. I'm sure there are quite a few negitive religeous after life destinations in all the cultures, even Corellian. But as you put it, the movie watcher may not quite get the gist of 'See you in Valllahaalllakik!'.

Darwin · Post by **Darwin** » 2006-07-05 04:20pm

I always figured it was a basic/english translation thing, with closest-match to same meaning and or feel.

Except for Chocolate. that has no excuse.

Anguirus · Post by **Anguirus** » 2006-07-05 04:23pm

What's wrong wih chocolate? We accept the existence of humans in that universe, as well as the ducks on Naboo. Cats and dogs have been mentioned in the EU, I think. I always assumed that "Earth-native" organisms are spread out over the SW galaxy.

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2006-07-05 04:31pm

Han actually first coined "hell" in ANH when Leia blasted the garbage chute open.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

Stravo wrote:
Galvatron wrote:Chimaera, Gorgon, Hydra, Basilisk and Manticore were all names of Imperial star destroyers.
How could I forget the names of those star destroyers?? Yeah, seems that alot of Earth mythology was thrown in the mix there willy nilly.

KJA was just following the naming-convention started by Zahn. Personally, I think we need to see a wider variety of names for Imperial warships. Seriously, Exsanguinator is a fucking star destroyer's name? How many words like this exist in the English language that can be used for the ~25,000 ISDs of the Imperial starfleet?

000 · Post by **000** » 2006-07-05 04:34pm

consequences wrote:The line 'Go to hell' appeared in Betrayal. Which is the first time that I can remember that hell has been even used as a word in SW.

Uh... watched A New Hope lately? Or TESB?

Anyway, it's been established for a long time that Corellian mythology has nine hells.

Noble Ire · Post by **Noble Ire** » 2006-07-05 04:34pm

Galvatron wrote:How about the most obvious: Millennium Falcon

Of course, generic animal names seem to be used quite a bit, although they are typically tagged with a descriptor (Endorian Pony, for example). And then there are creatures that seem to be almost identical to Earthly animals, like the ducks of Naboo (mentioned indirectly in the ANH novelization and seen in TPM).

consequences wrote:The line 'Go to hell' appeared in Betrayal. Which is the first time that I can remember that hell has been even used as a word in SW.

Han tells a Rebel officer in ESB "Then I'll see you in Hell!" In universe, it refers to the concept of the "Seven Correlian Hells", evidently a part of han's own heritege.

Edit: I thought it was seven, at least.

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2006-07-05 04:44pm

There's also the Ebon Hawk.

Noble Ire wrote:Of course, generic animal names seem to be used quite a bit, although they are typically tagged with a descriptor (Endorian Pony, for example). And then there are creatures that seem to be almost identical to Earthly animals, like the ducks of Naboo (mentioned indirectly in the ANH novelization and seen in TPM).

I hate that. It's so fucking Star Trekkie.

I prefer truly alien names for creatures like mynocks, tauntauns and rancors to Trek-sounding shit like Denubian bats or Altairian water snakes.

Bah, I say. Bah!

Post by **Kuja** » 2006-07-05 05:05pm

"C-3P0 wouldn't know a bantha from a panda."

SW novelization, Luke thinking to himself. Don't recall the exact page.

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2006-07-05 05:09pm

Right, so its been a while,. I stand thoroughly corrected.

Crossroads Inc. · Post by **Crossroads Inc.** » 2006-07-05 06:22pm

Darwin wrote:I always figured it was a basic/english translation thing, with closest-match to same meaning and or feel.

Except for Chocolate. that has no excuse.

Are you serious, theres CHOCOLATE in starwars?

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2006-07-05 06:22pm

Luke drank hot chocolate in Heir to the Empire.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2006-07-05 06:39pm

Yeah, and Lucasfilm had a fit over "hot chocolate" being mentioned in Zahn's manuscript, but didn't even bat an eye over "Katana Fleet"...

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2006-07-05 07:26pm

I'm just waiting for some EU hack to name an Imperial ship the Yorktown and be done with it.

Junghalli · Post by **Junghalli** » 2006-07-05 08:09pm

General_Soontir_Fel wrote:I do not recall that, and they do try to avoid it (using groundquake rather than earthquake, for instance.)

Actually, ironically enough using words like earthquake would be far less noticeable than things like the Millenium Falcon. It's accepted that an alien language's word for earthquake wouldn't have the actual word "earth" in it, but hey, anybody can tell earthquake is just a straightforward translation.
References to Earth animals and such are a different story. A falcon is a very specific animal, and while you could explain it away as a translation it'd be a very subjective one (exactly how does one decide what SW animal is a "falcon" and what is an "eagle" etc.).

Personally my take on the matter is SW happens in the very far future, when mankind has spread out to other galaxies and Earth is an obscure historical reference or a myth, and the "a long time ago" was supposed to indicate the narrator was telling the story to someone even further into the future, as it's presented as history. So there'd be no contradiction.

Anarchist Bunny · Post by **Anarchist Bunny** » 2006-07-05 08:10pm

I remember a courscanti politian using a Hover-Limo in I believe a NJO book.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2006-07-05 08:18pm

Junghalli wrote:Personally my take on the matter is SW happens in the very far future, when mankind has spread out to other galaxies and Earth is an obscure historical reference or a myth, and the "a long time ago" was supposed to indicate the narrator was telling the story to someone even further into the future, as it's presented as history. So there'd be no contradiction.

Um, yeah, sure...

How about a big "no" on that?