Introduction  

I’ll be frank… 

 

 

 

…I’ve been pondering the standard forms of address in the Dominion for a while now, and still am not happy.

I don’t want people in the Dominion to refer to each other as Mr/Miss/Mrs/Ms etc.

My default position is ‘Citizen’ for civilians and appropriate rank for Military Officers, Viziers, Bureaucrats of Executive Grades and above and certain members of the Overlord’s Household.

I’m OK with the latter part of that, but I still don’t really like Citizen.

Any ideas from my lovely Players?

Response to MS 2019-04-14 11:44

  

Proposed Solution

Although Ax should probably win on popularity here a set of options based on what people seem happy enough with and the concepts they carry (plus I had an idea):

  

Mer

• In modern Dominion usage ‘Mer’, a contraction of member, is a respectful usage for any person who is a member of the Dominion.  
• Particularly in a situation where you might not know if the person you are speaking with has a formal Military, Vizierate or Bureaucratic title or rank, Mer is still respectful and appropriate.
  • Though if you know the title you should use it, for example, striking up a conversation with an unknown person in Vizierate uniform, one would use “Vizier” not “Mer”.  
• Mer can be used on it’s own with strangers, such as 
  • “Excuse me, Mer, can you direct me to the freshers?”
• Mer can be used with a given name, House Name or combination of names in formal circumstances, much as one would use a rank 
  • Mer Lia Silver-Rose
  • Mer Starr
  • Mer Oliver 
• Mer can be used in the plural on its own when introducing or addressing a group of associated people.
  • “Mers, thank you for coming.”
  • In this situation, it can be used respectfully to address large mixed groups.
  • See Sers and Order of Precedence
• It can be used in the plural with specific names
  • “Presenting Mers Karmen Intuveker, Ipan Intuveker and Kwint Sing-Tollyer” is possibly how the shuttle crew were introduced on the surface of Mundo Zargo.
  • But it would be inappropriate for use with a small group of differently ranked people
    • One would not say, “Introducing Mers Marissa Starr and Ian Oliver” because at least one has military rank. 
• The Overlord is never referred to as Mer.    

  

Sers

• Somewhat fallen out of use, this contraction of Senior may be used collectively to refer to
  • Legion members of Under Officer rank and above
  • Any member of the Vizierate
  • Any member of the Bureaucracy of Senior rank and above
  • Any member of a planetary, system or Octant Secretariat
  • Members of the Overlord’s Household 
• The singular, Ser, has limited practical use as one should use the rank (eg Under Commander), or collective title (Vizier, Bureaucrat).
  • It could be used to address a person who is known to be senior, but not in what capacity
    • [scratchy audio comms drop in and out] “Ser, to whom am I speaking?””This is Operations Commander Marissa Starr of the Dominion Legion Navy starship Radiant.”
  • It could be used to address a member of the Overlord’s Household who does not otherwise hold a rank.
• It’s most likely to be heard in a phrase like, “Sers and Mers, please take your seats and we’ll get started.” 

  

Ax

• Originally coined as a contraction of Annex, this term refers to those who are not members of the Dominion
• A Dominion Mer could well refer to a Sepratist as “Ax” or “Ax Estelle.”
• Before the Felline joined the Dominion they were referred to as Ax, although to do so now is insulting and racist. 

  

Upo

• A term for one’s lessers
  • By definition it is slightly demeaning if not a direct perjorative or insult
• It can be used by any Ser about any non-Ser
• It can be used by any ranked person about any lower rank, although in this context it is almost always disrespectful, as the rank title should be used
• It can be used by any Social Class about a member of a lesser Social Class
  • Oliver could refer to Upo Lia, if he so desired
• Its use toward a person of equal or senior rank or class is insulting (or even illegal – a Junior Rank in the Legion referring to a Leader rank as Upo could be brought up on disciplinary charges)
  • In some sub-cultures it’s become equivalent to challenging someone to a fight.
• In some quarters, it has replaced Ax as a generic word for the Felline
  • “I say, Sers, the Upo’s are restless tonight!”  (Which has the same connotation as ‘Dashed Darkies!’)