Both Plainsfolk and Dunsefolk Lalafell names are ruled by rhythm, repetition, and rhyming (as well as a little alliteration). Syllable count also plays a large part. There are four unique sets of rules, and these rules are rarely deviated from. Once the rules are learned, one will be able to discern a Lalafell’s clan and gender by simply looking at a name.
The Lalafellin language (used by the clans before they arrived in Eorzea) originally only possessed five distinct vowels: a e i o u. The pronunciations are as follows:
a (“ah” as in arm) e (“eh” as in bet) i (“ee” as in beet) o (“oh” as in home) u (“ooh” as in dude).
Surnames are only surnames in placement, as they are not taken from the mother or father and are unique to the individual.
Male
1. The phoneme pattern used is AB - CB 2. The A and C phonemes do not have to rhyme. 3. The A, B, and C phonemes are usually limited to one or two syllables.
Fun Fact: In everyday speech, Plainsfolk males will usually always use their full names, rarely ever breaking them down into solely first or last.
Female
1. The phoneme pattern used is ABB - AB. 2. The A and B phonemes are always one syllable, and most often a single consonant paired with a single vowel, or simply a single vowel.
- Mimomo Mimo - Tokiki Toki - Ulala Ula - Honmeme Honme
1. The phoneme pattern used is AAB - CCB 2. The A and C phonemes are 1 syllable, the B phoneme 2. 3. The A and C phonemes may rhyme, but do not have to. 4. Syllables are most often a single consonant paired with a single vowel, or simply a single vowel.
There are rare cases when the B phoneme will ‘seemingly’ have one syllable such as Zozonan or Nanalai. The ‘n’ and ‘i’ here are, in fact, the remnants of sounds that were once paired with a Lalafellin vowel that, over time, has disappeared from speech, and therefore become silent in names.
Female
1. The phoneme pattern used is AAB - AB 2. The A and B phonemes are 1 syllable (with the A phoneme always repeated in the forename). 3. Syllables are most often a single consonant paired with a single vowel, or simply a single vowel.
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