Alien Adam's Apple

Orianna2000 · 11-12-2012, 08:15 AM

What do I call a man's Adam's apple when he's not from Earth and therefore has never heard of Adam or Eve?

Wikipedia calls it the "laryngeal prominence," but that's much too anatomical, especially for a scene that's meant to be romantic. His Adam's apple is bobbing with nervousness as he swallows, shortly after being reunited with the woman he loves.

Is there another term for it? Something non-scientific and non-Biblical in origin?

Drachen Jager · 11-12-2012, 08:32 AM

Can't you just say something else to show his nervousness? Quivering is romantic, or you could just say he swallows nervously. Perhaps he just has a nervous tic all his own? I just finished a short where the MC bobs his head like a duck when he's nervous. It's a good opportunity to build some character in, instead of falling back on a tired cliche.

blacbird · 11-12-2012, 08:47 AM

For heaven's sake, Orianna, you're writing speculative fiction. No reader is going to expect this level of detail, and it can't possibly matter for the story. He's an alien. When embarrassed or nervous, his vaxillary prominence flashes green.

caw

Cath · 11-12-2012, 01:56 PM

Yeah, this isn't really 'research'. If you need ideas for speculative terms, I suggest you chat to the folks in Science Fiction/Fantasy.

11-12-2012, 08:15 AM	#1
Orianna2000 Freelance Writer Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,362	Alien Adam's Apple What do I call a man's Adam's apple when he's not from Earth and therefore has never heard of Adam or Eve? Wikipedia calls it the "laryngeal prominence," but that's much too anatomical, especially for a scene that's meant to be romantic. His Adam's apple is bobbing with nervousness as he swallows, shortly after being reunited with the woman he loves. Is there another term for it? Something non-scientific and non-Biblical in origin?

11-12-2012, 08:32 AM	#2
Drachen Jager Professor of applied misanthropy Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vancouver Posts: 10,291	Can't you just say something else to show his nervousness? Quivering is romantic, or you could just say he swallows nervously. Perhaps he just has a nervous tic all his own? I just finished a short where the MC bobs his head like a duck when he's nervous. It's a good opportunity to build some character in, instead of falling back on a tired cliche. __________________ When people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they're almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they're almost always wrong.—Gaiman The story must strike a nerve—in me. My heart should start pounding when I hear the first line in my head. I start trembling at the risk.—Sontag Creativity is the residue of wasted time.—Einstein

11-12-2012, 08:47 AM	#3
blacbird That hairy-handed gent Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Who ran amok in Kent Posts: 26,229	For heaven's sake, Orianna, you're writing speculative fiction. No reader is going to expect this level of detail, and it can't possibly matter for the story. He's an alien. When embarrassed or nervous, his vaxillary prominence flashes green. caw __________________ Without a reader, the story doesn't exist -- James D. MacDonald

11-12-2012, 01:56 PM	#4
Cath English Rose AW Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Here. Somewhere. Probably. Posts: 7,177	Yeah, this isn't really 'research'. If you need ideas for speculative terms, I suggest you chat to the folks in Science Fiction/Fantasy. __________________ Cath www.cathsmith.com "Many and various, strange and multitudinous are the friends that befriend me in this world, yet I never found one false or that did not surpass me in some virtue." Wilfred Owen in a letter home.

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