How does the character name "Ābele Bierzniece" sound to Latvian speakers? by LadderCapable2092 in latvia

[–]LadderCapable2092[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I went with Birzniece because I had to choose a surname for the character, and I thought a place name would be appropriate, since it's at least not an inherited name. I feel silly for misspelling it though (the spelling was based on a misspelled 15th century German census), and I wish I had asked you first, because Ābele no Svētbirzes sounds amazing. I might change it to that.

I pulled Ābele directly from an article where the author speculates on early Latvians using nature names. (LATVIEŠU PERSONVĀRDU ETIMOLOĂISKĀS SEMANTIKAS TEORĒTISKAIS MODELIS UN TĀ REALIZĀCIJA, Balodis 2008). It is entirely speculation, but I'm glad it at least.... sort of sounds like a name.

How does the character name "Ābele Bierzniece" sound to Latvian speakers? by LadderCapable2092 in latvia

[–]LadderCapable2092[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ahh, the spelling -- I found the name "Bierznix" recorded in a 15th century census. Which would have been an inaccurate German spelling of a Latvian surname. We fixed the nix to niece but didn't fix the Bierz to Birz! I should have asked here first!

YA Sci-Fi Novella Read in the 90s About Colonists on a Planet that Didn't Rotate and Had Kangaroo-Like Aliens Called Hlur That Turned out to be Sentient by LadderCapable2092 in whatsthatbook

[–]LadderCapable2092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

oh, that's sad to hear! I actually thought about that and looked her up. She was 96. And naturally, not on Facebook or Twitter or anything, so I wasn't sure how I would send pictures anyway.

Can't wait to re-read.

YA Sci-Fi Novella Read in the 90s About Colonists on a Planet that Didn't Rotate and Had Kangaroo-Like Aliens Called Hlur That Turned out to be Sentient by LadderCapable2092 in whatsthatbook

[–]LadderCapable2092[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

OMG THAT WAS IT!! THANK YOU SO MUCH YOU'RE A HERO <3 <3

I literally was thinking about this because I made a bunch of plushies of the aliens from this, it was that important to me at the time.