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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/37763
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/37763
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

### Go long! Write about the custom, and the reader will get it.

In a recent Writing Challenge here on SE, I had a short Human and Extraterrestrial exchange:

> Human: Where are you from?  
> ET: Earth. Sorry about that. In translation, all planets are named Earth.

Suppose the alien communicated in a form of sign language; and in their language the name of their planet was a facial expression modified by a hand gesture. How do you translate into English their planet name to something humans can understand? The human's only reference (until recent SciFi) for a home planet name is "Earth".

**You have a similar problem;** to write a book in English, you must translate _everything_ to English; including the unusual names.

However, this problem is easy to get around because the custom is easily understandable; in the USA most Americans are familiar with the American Indian custom of naming people after animate and inanimate objects, like "Running Wolf."

I would introduce this custom early, by the narrator. e.g.

> My name is Cloud, chosen by father, Gatekeeper. Such symbolic names are the custom of my people, and in truth, the custom of most lands: The English name Leia comes from the ancient word 'Ley' that meant 'meadow'. Leo is 'from the meadow'. Ash is a forest tree with strong fine-grained wood, and Ashley is 'from the Ash forest meadow'.
> 
> But in the West they have long forgotten their ancient meanings, and must look them up, although some still choose names of meaning, like 'Destiny'. We still speak our ancient language, and we still cherish the magic of meaning in our names, carrying the aspirations of our parents. I will tell you of my cousins, Gift and Tree, brother and sister, as we together must leave our homeland and venture into the Western world.

Something like that, tailored to your character and story.

Original score: 9