T' - Does the prefix have to be feminine?

[skullchrist]

Didn't think Vulcans would be that restrictive/primitive about gender.

Want to know if anyone has heard what T' actually means. I always associated it with T'Pau who was a legendary spiritual leader and not necessarily to the fact that she was female.

Just wondering because I was going to create a male RPG character with that prefix (heterosexual male so there is not confusion).

 

[The Keller Machine]

T'Klaas was a Male Vulcan - appears to be the only one in canon Trek but not sure about novels etc.

 

[skullchrist]

T'Klaas was a Male Vulcan - appears to be the only one in canon Trek but not sure about novels etc.

Thank you! I knew you guys wouldn't let me down!

Live long and prosper my friend!

 

[Tenacity]

Didn't think Vulcans would be that restrictive/primitive about gender.

Thee are prepared to become the property of the victor?

I am prepared.

 

[skullchrist]

A race full of extreme contradictions for sure!

 

[C.E. Evans]

Of course, the reverse is true on the women's side (those with names that don't have the T' prefix like Saavik and Selar.

I remember an old idea--maybe from the novels or by a fan--that Tuvok was named in honor of a female ancestor in his family. Not by any means canon, but Tuvok does add weight to the idea that Vulcan naming conventions are not so rigid, IMO.

 

[Nyotarules]

In my head canon its a regional thing, a bit like surnames with Mac....., O'.... or ....son names, the Shi Kahr region give their females a T prefix, all other areas get the other letters of the Vulcan alphabet.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Of course, the reverse is true on the women's side (those with names that don't have the T' prefix like Saavik and Selar.

I can think of at least two Vulcan women to whom that doesn't apply: V'Lar from ENT, and Patar from DSC.

As for the men, there haven't been any restrictions on their names either, for quite some time. Going all the way back to at least TNG (Taurik) and VOY (Tuvok and Vorik).

 

[BillJ]

I always thought the T' was for women who are betrothed or married.

 

[Greg Cox]

I can think of at least two Vulcan women to whom that doesn't apply: V'Lar from ENT, and Patar from DSC..

And let's not forget Valeris.

 

[Tenacity]

Naming conventions could vary widely between different Vulcan cultures. Different regions of the planet. Different societies.

I refuse to believe that species in the Star Trek universe have "mono-cultures."

 

[Avro Arrow]

T'Klaas was a Male Vulcan - appears to be the only one in canon Trek

According to Memory Alpha, he was from the fourth century, so it's possible that naming conventions could change over time.

 

[Tallguy]

Seriously, by the time of The Voyage Home (the last pre-TNG production) how many Vulcans had we heard named?
Spock, Stonn, Sarek, T'pring, T'pau, Sonak, Saavik (yes, might be a Romulan name), T'lar. Who did I miss? So we're basing the naming conventions of a city, let alone a planet, on seven people?

 

[Qonundrum]

A race full of extreme contradictions for sure!

But only in ways the Vulcans would find logical.

Imagine how Spock (and the Vulcans in general!!!) would have turned out if DC Fontana was not there to hone and refine the character. Ditto for Nimoy, who brought in the greeting gesture and the Vulcan neck pinch because he felt punching and phasers were too violent (as well as having more potentially lifelong effects, as well as being too realistic. Ah, for the days when even actors had a say in their roles' development...)

But she wasn't involved in "Amok Time", which explains why some cringey lines of dialogue are in it.

 

[skullchrist]

Thanks for the input everyone!

T'Klass was the smoking gun I was looking for.

Live long and prosper!

RIP DC Fontana

 

[Tim Thomason]

Seriously, by the time of The Voyage Home (the last pre-TNG production) how many Vulcans had we heard named?
Spock, Stonn, Sarek, T'pring, T'pau, Sonak, Saavik (yes, might be a Romulan name), T'lar. Who did I miss? So we're basing the naming conventions of a city, let alone a planet, on seven people?

All Vulcan names from TOS, TAS, and the first four Star Trek movies, named:
- Kiri-kin-tha (unknown, Star Trek IV)
- Saavik (female, Star Trek II)
- Sarek (male, Journey to Babel)
- Sasak (male, Yesteryear)
- Selek (male, Yesteryear)
- Sepek (male, Yesteryear)
- Setar or Sitar (unknown, The Ultimate Computer)
- Skon (unknown, Star Trek III)
- Sofek (male, Yesteryear)
- Solkar (unknown, Star Trek III)
- Sonak (male, Star Trek I)
- Spock (male, The Cage)
- Stark (male, Yesteryear)
- Stonn (male, Amok Time)
- Surak (male, The Savage Curtain)
- T'Lar (female, Star Trek III)
- T'Pau (female, Amok Time)
- T'Pel (female, Yesteryear)
- T'Plana-Hath (female, Star Trek IV)
- T'Pring (female, Amok Time)

In the novelization of The Motion Picture by Roddenberry, the otherwise unnamed Kolinahr high master was T'sai (female).

Xon (male) was set to appear in Star Trek: Phase II, which was never produced. His name was later seen in Star Trek II on a directory placard, but it wasn't established if he was still a Vulcan or not.

 

[FormerLurker]

What evidence was there that Kiri Kin-Tha was a Vulcan? I don't remember, and thought it was just a name-drop. T'Plana-Hath was, of course, the Mother of Vulcan Philosophy.

 

[Tenacity]

Spock, Stonn, Sarek, T'pring, T'pau, Sonak, Saavik (yes, might be a Romulan name), T'lar.

Are we absolutely sure Commander Sonak was a male character?

Male actor sure, but the character?

 

[Timo]

You'd really have to ask Sonak's relatives. They can be reached through the Vulcan Embassy.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Tim Thomason]

What evidence was there that Kiri Kin-Tha was a Vulcan? I don't remember, and thought it was just a name-drop. T'Plana-Hath was, of course, the Mother of Vulcan Philosophy.

None in TOS times (the best evidence for Kiri's Vulcanness comes from Enterprise), so, yeah it could've been meant to be just a random alien name at the time.

That would mean there was no non-S or T Vulcan until Pola in TNG.