Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Leadership Title Question

This is topic Leadership Title Question in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by whiteboy (Member # 2652) on :

Hey. I've been a lurker here for a while, but now I have something I'd like you fine people to help with.

I'm having an issue right now with how to title my characters. The story is in a civilian society, but with leadership arranged in a militaristic style. I was trying to steer clear of anything reminiscint of the American military, because I have already used many of those titles with an opposing faction.

I was thinking about maybe taking some religious references, and the Jewish calendar seemed like a good place to look. But I'm open to suggestions.

I don't want to seem like I'm not creative, but please help.

Posted by wbriggs (Member # 2267) on :

Is there any connection between these civilizations and our world?

I don't think it would be bad to use US military titles for _both_ sides. There's a principle that the English translation of the alien equivalent of "damn" is (of course) "damn." That should work for "colonel," as well!

You could use different services. IIRC "ensign" is naval, and "private" is army.

Rome had a set. There's a lot of richness in different cultures. I don't have links. I do have a gripe: a critiquer (not here) who saw me use the word "gendarme" relating to some future civilization that's a mishmash of present ones, and said, "I didn't get that these people were French"! You may get the same if you use "Komissar" or "Daimyo."

You could also make up nonsense titles.

Posted by yanos (Member # 1831) on :

Of course, if you had used Lieutenant which is also from French (a are many military titles) what would the critique have said?

Posted by franc li (Member # 3850) on :

Jewish calendar... like the names of the months? I guess that could work.

Posted by Elan (Member # 2442) on :

I should think the Jewish Calendar names would be fine - if you aren't Jewish. If you are Jewish, you would probably identify them immediately as calendar names and then you would lose all respect for the author or ability to suspend disbelief in what you read.

No, I suggest you do what Star Trek did... hunt down names for authority and leadership titles, and select some less common used ones. Perhaps the titles of religious authorities would work, or the titles of authority from another country.

Do a GOOGLE search on titles of authority and leadership. I came up with this link from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership

It will give you a few good ideas.

[This message has been edited by Elan (edited June 16, 2005).]

Posted by whiteboy (Member # 2652) on :

Some good ideas here. Thanks. I actually was thinking the same thing, Elan, about losing credibility by using the names of the Jewish months. It seemed like a good idea at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought it wouldn't fit.

By the way, thanks for the link.

I do actually want the titles to have a connection with our world. And, actually thinking it about it now, using American military titles for both sides might just convey the sense I want.

Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :

You can use American titles for one side and British titles for the other, or something like that.

Or you can mix and match. There are certain implications about the organization of staff/command implicit in how you structure your military heirarchy. It isn't just a matter of pay grade or seniority, after all.