The Use of Specific Terms in Fantasy

[dios4vida]

Howdy, all.

In my new WIP my protagonist is a sellsword. Though this isn't an "alternate Earth", I've chosen a Roman double-sided shortsword, called a gladius, as his weapon of choice. During my descriptions, would it be acceptable for me to call it a gladius, or would it be better to stick with swortsword?

[Beethovenfan]

I say give it a nickname that the character calls it. Once you explain the "source" of the nickname, and the character uses it a few times, then you could call it that for the rest of the story. I could see it even becoming almost a character on its own, sort of a disassociated part of the character's personality or something.

Too weird? Then I would go with the general term of shortsword.

[MattLarkin]

I'd say gladius. Even if it isn't historical fantasy, if you want to people to think gladius, say gladius. Also, shortsword conjures a different mental picture in my mind, and honestly seems kind of vague anyway.

If you're worried people won't know what a gladius is, you can refer to it as a shortsword once and make the connection clear.

[dios4vida]

I could see it even becoming almost a character on its own, sort of a disassociated part of the character's personality or something.

Too weird?

I love that you said this because I have another sword in this story that DOES have its own personality. It's a sentient sword.

If you're worried people won't know what a gladius is, you can refer to it as a shortsword once and make the connection clear.

At one point my character, Aeo, backs himself into the trees. Here I say "The close-growing trees inhibited the swing of the massive Bok’Tarong, but Aeo’s much shorter gladius could still be used effectively." Does that get the image across okay?

[Sommer Leigh]

If you end up calling it a gladius, I would make the connection sometime early on that it is a shortsword, just in case someone isn't sure what a gladius is. It's a somewhat obscure term for non-weapon buffs.

[MattLarkin]

Brenda, I think that's enough for someone to understand it's a short blade, and that's what matters. In general, specificity is better, I think. Trust your readers. Even if they don't know a term, they can usually figure it out with even a small clue.

[Nicole R]

I agree with Sommer and Matt. If you mention it as a shortsword somewhere early on, then refer to it as a gladius throughout, I think you'll be fine. The reader will already have a "short" image in their mind.

[polymath]

Sellsword, shortsword, gladius, whatever, developing significant object mythologies early on is a most artful way to give them their character traits, personalities and behaviors so to speak. The Hattori Hanzō sword in Kill Bill: Volume Two has a most exquisite mythology development, for instance.

Gladius is simply the Latin word for sword. If the narrative uses other Latin terms and in a consistent manner, I see no reason not to use the term. Like Latin terms for weapons, scutum (shield), pila (javelin), pugio (knife), and gaiea (helmet). And perhaps other ritually-labeled personal objects of a warrior's lifeways: locolus (satchel), sarcina (pack), patera (mess tin).

[Mira]

I'm afraid I'm the voice of dissent here. If your world doesn't have the language Latin in its past, or the Roman people didn't exist, don't use the word "gladius" because it's not true to your world.

I know it can seem picky, but when you're world-building, it's good to be consistent to the world, or you risk making things murky -not only for the reader, but for yourself.

So, my advice is to give your character a sword appropriate to the world you have built. You can describe it as a shortsword, but you can also give it a name to describe the type of sword. Not a personal name, although you can do that too, but what that type of sword is called in your world. Maybe that type of two sided sword is called a Pentor or a two-sided Burtbe or something like that.

The little details are a good way to world build in a non-intrusive and tangible way.

Interesting question!

btw, Brenda, keep writing. I can't wait to read your book!

[Falls Apart]

It depends. There's a reason a gladius was called a gladius. If that reason doesn't exist in your world, it would be very disorienting to hear about it. For example, my WIP is set in a society with limited technology and no knowledge of how it works, and very little medical/biological knowledge. One of the characters is an albino. If the characters referred to him as this, when, with their scientific knowledge, they'd have no reason to think he was anything other than abnormally pale, it wouldn't make any sense in the setting. Instead, I had the people describe him as they saw him, only noticing things and naming things in ways to which they'd be prone. In a fantasy setting, where biology is thought of only in terms of magic, there would probably be a different word for an albino that made sense in those surroundings. In a society where paleness was thought to be a sign of being closer to the gods (or whatever), the terminology would reflect that. Only in a world where the way they'd think of albinism would be similar to ours would it make sense for one character to think of another as an albino. Similarly, unless your society would have the same customs and ideas surrounding a gladius, then calling it something else would probably make more sense. However, if your society does seem like that, then it wouldn't be strange at all

[Cookie]

I've been waffling on this. Part of me agrees with Mira and Falls Apart. However, in my wip, I refer to the weapons by their Japanese names, but mainly the ones that are Japanese weapons. But my world has a heavy Asian influence.

So, I'm going to echo Mira. I would give the sword a name specific to your world, and describe it, so the reader knows what it looks like.

[Mark.W.Carson]

Split the difference. Use the Latin name, but derive one from it and make it your own. Like gladius? Make the sword a "gladian blade" or something.

[MattLarkin]

Split the difference. Use the Latin name, but derive one from it and make it your own. Like gladius? Make the sword a "gladian blade" or something.

Well that got a chuckle.

[dios4vida]

Split the difference. Use the Latin name, but derive one from it and make it your own. Like gladius? Make the sword a "gladian blade" or something.

Well that got a chuckle.

I agree. I'd never have thought of doing something like that. It gives one food for thought...

Thanks everyone for your input! Bransforumers rock!