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micmcd
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In my near-complete doorstopper that I've been working on for the better part of three years, I have one detail about the society I've created that's been bugging me for a while, and I was wondering if I might pick up a good idea from suggestions here.

The society in which most of my characters live is a stratified, quasi-egalitarian country with three distinct classes of people: commoners, gentry, and Citizens (always with a capital C). To give you an idea of the numbers, there are about 4 million people in the country, approximately 1 million of whom are gentry, and there are about 100,000 Citizens.

I describe the society as quasi-egalitarian in that everyone* is born a commoner, and you have to earn your way up the ladder. Most of the people who become Citizens do so through a lifetime of military service. Ways of becoming a member of the gentry class are more diverse (technically, you can become a Citizen in all the same ways, but the bar is nearly impossibly higher).

The detail that I don't like is the name for the middle class of people. "Gentry" has never sounded right to me, as they aren't noble in any sense of the word. They have more rights than do commoners, and less than Citizens. They aren't in line for the throne (because there is no throne), and they aren't even allowed to vote in most elections (that right is reserved for Citizens).

I tried on "Second Citizens," but it was a mouthful and sounded more derogatory than commoner. I could make up a name that is supposedly of the language, but I was hoping not to use Zarblogs since the other two classes are well-described in plain English.

Any ideas?


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Reziac
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My idea is that you got it right, or at least right enough, the first time. I got the picture, and the word "gentry" slipped easily into place. Maybe there's a better word out there somewhere (what was it the French Revolution types called one another?) but this works fine.

"Equals" might be another possibility. Commoners, equals, and Citizens. (Some animals are more equal than others.)


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redux
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This is a brain teaser

Here are some options that come to mind:

Plebs - which was used to refer to the common (non-slave) people of Ancient Rome

the Ton - from Le Bon Ton (pronounced 'tone')- was used to refer to British High Society; you could use it as a play on words - with people pronouncing it 'tun' (as in the unit of measure) since your gentry makes up a large portion of your society

Peerage - UK's system of hereditary titles, but you might not want that since the word conjures images of royalty

Caste - social status/position, from Portuguese 'casta', Latin root 'castus'

declassé - de-class, lower in rank/class


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kevenwall
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Another abstract thought is to use a characteristic of the society to help define it. For example, if the society revolved around agriculture and land use, maybe the name "terra" or something similar could describe the middle class. If it is a war loving people, (which might play with the idea that the military helps shape the society) name the middle class something like "legious"...maybe legious is a terrible name but hopefully my point is made.
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shimiqua
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Idea's...

Citizens, Comrade's, and commoners.

I think Gentry works, or else you could go patricians.

I like how Citizens and commoners both start with a c, so if you want the gentry class title to start with a c as well, here are some more idea's...

Compatriot (which by definition means fellow citizen,)

Consort. (Consort is synonymous with spouse. Maybe a consort could be viewed like the Citizen's wife. Still privileged, still better than the commoners (or children) but not able to vote, not able to rule.)

Companion

or Concomitant, (which means contributing, or accompanying, or as a noun means necessary part, or embellishment)


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Kathleen Dalton Woodbury
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You could shorten "Second Citizen" down to "Second."
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coralm
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Ooh, I really like the "Second" shorthand suggestion. I cast my vote for that one.
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Robert Nowall
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I assume for the way it's put here that there's some sort of obligation laid on the Citizen class...perhaps a name could be derived from said obligation or its nature...
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micmcd
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Thanks much for all the ideas. Second has a ring to it. I wouldn't say they have an obligation to the Citizens any more than I have an obligation to my state senator, at least so far as something specific. Deference is shown toward Citizens, and no commoner thief would dare mug a Citizen (because the Cops are different than the cops), but there aren't specific rights or duties owed to them.

Perhaps a better idea of them would be like members of a difficult to achieve group, like NFL players or movie actors. Just because they're in the group doesn't make them your better, but I'd certainly rather have a chat with Aaron Rodgers than some random dude on the street (or Scarlett Johanson, but that's for an entirely different reason).

Maybe gentry is good... it took me a long time to settle on it. The one thing that originally held me back from Second is that I wanted Citizen to be the only capitalized one, and talking about a second would be confusing no matter how much you got used to it. Though there could be delightful puns. I might also call them "blues" for a reason that only really makes sense if I go on for a few more paragraphs about important stuff in society.

Ah well, I shall see. All suggestions are much appreciated, and I'll give good consideration to them (and let you know if I pick one

Thanks!


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snapper
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Make sure you pluralize it. Seconds.

Or you can bastardise the term.

Secunds, secants, sadcons...


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