Another requst that's open to discussion
What's in a name?
A whole heck of a lot when you've imbued everything else with meaning.
I need a second name for Nyota Uhura, and I need reasons for it. Y'all were all so helpful that last time I was pulling my hair out, I figured I'd ask again.
This wouldn't be so important if I hadn't created an entire backstory for Uhura and for her maternal relatives (and her dad).
But I wrote the following:
Notes on the History of Nyota Uhura as I Envision Her
Mother: M'Umbha Uhura (nee Wakufunzi) is a professor of linguistics who comes from a long line of people dedicated to studying and preserving various languages. She is warm and extremely extroverted. Although she is devoted to her career, she loves being a mother and has a tendency to "go mommy" on unsuspecting young people who wander into her sphere of influence.
Most Wakufunzis work in academe or in the diplomatic corps. The family began their life's work around the lands of Africa united and was reinvigorated as Federation Standard proliferated to the exclusion of all other tongues. The family name, Wakufunzi, is a Kiswahili word that means “senior-level students” and was chosen in honor of their family’s long-standing commitment to learning and preserving endangered languages. (There are several other words in the language that translate to “students”, but I thought this one was most appropriate. Please note, though, I’m learning all my Kiswahili from CDs and online, so the word may not be entirely accurate.)
Father: Benjamin Uhura is a prominent xenopsychiatrist renowned for his pioneering studies into non-human psyches. Gardening is a particular hobby of his, made all the more challenging by his decision to live among the Wakufunzis in the dry Garissa District of north eastern Kenya. He was named after 20th Century pediatrician, Benjamin Spock, in the hopes that he would follow in the man's footsteps. Benjamin, much like his youngest child, was fiercely independent and chose to follow is own path. In spite of his quiet demeanor, he is still prone to doing the unexpected.
Sister: Upenda Uhura (y'all know where her name cam from )is Benjamin's and M'Umbha's eldest child. She is four year older than Nyota, a doctor and known for throwing a good party. She lives, and practices medicine, in New York City.
Brother: Muta Uhura is named for father of Wangari Maathai. He is two years older than Nyota and is a researcher for the Mombasa Language Academy (who were is happy happy to snare a member of the Wakufunzi clan). He is a talented musician and songwriter. He and Upenda are very close. Though they both tried to make sure that their little sister never felt excluded from their play while all three were children, sometimes life didn't allow them to succeed.
Uncle: Tabansi Wakufunzi is a communications specialist with Starfleet. He gave up life in academe after his fiancee, Estella Libertad y Dominguez was killed while serving on the USS Kelvin. He joined Starfleet in her honor. He is very close to his niece, Nyota, who shares Estella's birthday, and is named for her. (see TCS, chapter 6)
Homeland: Garissa is a district in the North Eastern Province of Kenya, which borders Somalia and Ethiopia. The area is now arid to semi-arid and very hot. In Nyota's lifetime, the climate is vastly drier and its residents and scientists have become famous for their hydration research. In our time of the populatition of the province are predominently ethnic Somalis. By 2113, when the Wakufunzi family settled there, the area had become much more diverse.
And it's created a bit of a sticky wicket now that I've accepted that that data from my old computer isn't getting retrieved before I've got to write a wedding scene (for a fic I've yet to start posting here), that's gonna require a FULL name for Ms. Uhura.
And since I set such stupid standards for myself, I'm gonna have to deliver something meaningful.
Any ideas?
Seriously. I need help as I hope to post this weekend.
If it helps, I'll sweeten the deal by offering a Spock or Uhura plushie to the person who comes up with a usable candidate. (That is, as soon as I manage to sew a plushie that doesn't resemble the Pilsbury Dough Boy on controlled substances, I'll offer one to the person who comes up with a viable candidate.)
That's right. I'm getting off my duff and completing Don't Lose Your Compass
A whole heck of a lot when you've imbued everything else with meaning.
I need a second name for Nyota Uhura, and I need reasons for it. Y'all were all so helpful that last time I was pulling my hair out, I figured I'd ask again.
This wouldn't be so important if I hadn't created an entire backstory for Uhura and for her maternal relatives (and her dad).
But I wrote the following:
Notes on the History of Nyota Uhura as I Envision Her
Mother: M'Umbha Uhura (nee Wakufunzi) is a professor of linguistics who comes from a long line of people dedicated to studying and preserving various languages. She is warm and extremely extroverted. Although she is devoted to her career, she loves being a mother and has a tendency to "go mommy" on unsuspecting young people who wander into her sphere of influence.
Most Wakufunzis work in academe or in the diplomatic corps. The family began their life's work around the lands of Africa united and was reinvigorated as Federation Standard proliferated to the exclusion of all other tongues. The family name, Wakufunzi, is a Kiswahili word that means “senior-level students” and was chosen in honor of their family’s long-standing commitment to learning and preserving endangered languages. (There are several other words in the language that translate to “students”, but I thought this one was most appropriate. Please note, though, I’m learning all my Kiswahili from CDs and online, so the word may not be entirely accurate.)
Father: Benjamin Uhura is a prominent xenopsychiatrist renowned for his pioneering studies into non-human psyches. Gardening is a particular hobby of his, made all the more challenging by his decision to live among the Wakufunzis in the dry Garissa District of north eastern Kenya. He was named after 20th Century pediatrician, Benjamin Spock, in the hopes that he would follow in the man's footsteps. Benjamin, much like his youngest child, was fiercely independent and chose to follow is own path. In spite of his quiet demeanor, he is still prone to doing the unexpected.
Sister: Upenda Uhura (y'all know where her name cam from )is Benjamin's and M'Umbha's eldest child. She is four year older than Nyota, a doctor and known for throwing a good party. She lives, and practices medicine, in New York City.
Brother: Muta Uhura is named for father of Wangari Maathai. He is two years older than Nyota and is a researcher for the Mombasa Language Academy (who were is happy happy to snare a member of the Wakufunzi clan). He is a talented musician and songwriter. He and Upenda are very close. Though they both tried to make sure that their little sister never felt excluded from their play while all three were children, sometimes life didn't allow them to succeed.
Uncle: Tabansi Wakufunzi is a communications specialist with Starfleet. He gave up life in academe after his fiancee, Estella Libertad y Dominguez was killed while serving on the USS Kelvin. He joined Starfleet in her honor. He is very close to his niece, Nyota, who shares Estella's birthday, and is named for her. (see TCS, chapter 6)
Homeland: Garissa is a district in the North Eastern Province of Kenya, which borders Somalia and Ethiopia. The area is now arid to semi-arid and very hot. In Nyota's lifetime, the climate is vastly drier and its residents and scientists have become famous for their hydration research. In our time of the populatition of the province are predominently ethnic Somalis. By 2113, when the Wakufunzi family settled there, the area had become much more diverse.
And it's created a bit of a sticky wicket now that I've accepted that that data from my old computer isn't getting retrieved before I've got to write a wedding scene (for a fic I've yet to start posting here), that's gonna require a FULL name for Ms. Uhura.
And since I set such stupid standards for myself, I'm gonna have to deliver something meaningful.
Any ideas?
Seriously. I need help as I hope to post this weekend.
If it helps, I'll sweeten the deal by offering a Spock or Uhura plushie to the person who comes up with a usable candidate. (That is, as soon as I manage to sew a plushie that doesn't resemble the Pilsbury Dough Boy on controlled substances, I'll offer one to the person who comes up with a viable candidate.)
That's right. I'm getting off my duff and completing Don't Lose Your Compass