I did a search and couldn't find the answer to this, so I thought I would post the question. Would it be all right to use obsolete or archaic words as nouns in a fantasy setting? Sometimes even adjectives and verbs (that aren't recognized anymore) seem like they would make the perfect name, but I wonder if using a word like that is taboo? (Note that I'm not thinking of any words that would be recognizable to most people.) I hope this isn't a stupid question, and if so I apologize in advance.
Using obsolete or archaic words in a fantasy novel.
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I did a search and couldn't find the answer to this, so I thought I would post the question. Would it be all right to use obsolete or archaic words as nouns in a fantasy setting? Sometimes even adjectives and verbs (that aren't recognized anymore) seem like they would make the perfect name, but I wonder if using a word like that is taboo? (Note that I'm not thinking of any words that would be recognizable to most people.) I hope this isn't a stupid question, and if so I apologize in advance.
You want to make sure that the real meaning works with the character. Because no matter how obscure you think it is, someone out there will recognise it. And if you can find this archaic word, so can anyoone else with a library card or internet hookup.
The meanings are the reason I liked them, I was just afraid that if I used an old verb as a name (when it fit the character or places description) that someone might look it up and go, "Hey, that's supposed to be an verb."
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There is hardly a rule against it, so why not try it? I use archaic words in fantasy both in their original meaning and as names. Context is everything 
Don't see why not as long as it doesn't cause a speed bump in the flow of the story for the reader.
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I don't think it matters if you use a verb for a name. I think it would matter if the meaning of the word didn't fit with the character. Go for it.
Just pay attention to your word choice. I used a word that I thought sounded sufficiently alien and strange as the name for an alien race. It turned out to be the Swedish word for "pregnancy."
Depends entirely on the words. Some words are more obsolete than others. Some have fallen out of common usage, but are still well-known to the general reading public, and could be used to good effect in a certain context. Others may be so obscure that few readers will recognize them, in which case you'll need to do some explaining or defining, which itself may or may not work. In A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess invented a futuristic teen-slang based largely on Russian, which, for me, became transparent enough in context that it worked. But he also included a glossary at the back of the novel, so apparently he was concerned about the issue.
But it's a real horrorshow book.
caw
But it's a real horrorshow book.
caw
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Fantasy readers, as a class, probably know the words already.
You might want to read a few books by Stephen R. Donaldson, Mervyn Peake, and Lord Dunsany, to see what kind of vocabulary you're facing.
That being said, "hobbit" is an obscure word meaning (approximately) "half-pint." "Orc" is a kind of sea monster. "Ent" is a "giant." So you've got some precedent for taking obscure words and making them names.
Do be very careful. If you name your mighty warrior character "Swyving Quente," a whole bunch of your readers will giggle helplessly.
You might want to read a few books by Stephen R. Donaldson, Mervyn Peake, and Lord Dunsany, to see what kind of vocabulary you're facing.
That being said, "hobbit" is an obscure word meaning (approximately) "half-pint." "Orc" is a kind of sea monster. "Ent" is a "giant." So you've got some precedent for taking obscure words and making them names.
Do be very careful. If you name your mighty warrior character "Swyving Quente," a whole bunch of your readers will giggle helplessly.
Of course, that's exactly the sort of thing Douglas Adams did ("Slartybartfast"), and helpless giggling was what he was after. I kind of like the idea, myself.
caw
Laurel, I don't think any words exist that were created to be exclusively names. Take your own name for instance.
Laurel is a type of tree or bush, whose leaves were originally used to mark individuals with distinction or given as an award. Do you think people look at your name and think, "Hey! That's supposed to be a tree, not a person!"
Thank you everyone. I will be very careful about the words I choose.
Birol,
Thank you. That's a good point. I was worried that the more unusual the word, the more reaction it might cause. I do know that people hear the name Laurel and realize there is a Laurel tree, but the name itself is common enough that it doesn't provoke the kind of reaction I was worried about. (That isn't really my name though -- It's Laura -- which means basically the same thing ) I wouldn't name my character Fast or Slow, but there might be an obscure word meaning the same thing that might work as a name. I just wondered if that was an acceptable thing to do. Again, thank you all for taking the time to answer my question .
Birol,
Thank you. That's a good point. I was worried that the more unusual the word, the more reaction it might cause. I do know that people hear the name Laurel and realize there is a Laurel tree, but the name itself is common enough that it doesn't provoke the kind of reaction I was worried about. (That isn't really my name though -- It's Laura -- which means basically the same thing
) I wouldn't name my character Fast or Slow, but there might be an obscure word meaning the same thing that might work as a name. I just wondered if that was an acceptable thing to do. Again, thank you all for taking the time to answer my question .
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OK, I'll bite. What does Slartybartfast mean? I thought it was just the general assonance of the thing.
Doesn't mean squat, but it does sound silly, which is why Slarty was so hesitant about revealing it.
caw
Although if you Google Definition: Slartybartfast and scroll around, you'll find a page defining a certain section of the Dewey Decimal system which references him, something that amuses me no end.
If the word works in context, its the right word, regardless of all other factors.
There are even places where you can get away with using completely foriegn words.
There are even places where you can get away with using completely foriegn words.
The only reason this seems to be an issue is because English names are largely loan words from other languages, so we don't associate a word-meaning with them. Names like "Rachel" and "Ichiro" do mean something in the original language, just as in English we have names like "Joy" and "Faith." And verbs migrate to adjectives all the time.
Use the names you like. As long as the reader can read them! (^_^)
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