Guru Coyote
Archmage
This is a bit of a reverse to the "A Troll is a Troll" topic, from which it developed.
The real title for this thread might be "What to call things."
So, in my story world people have riding animals. They act and function just like horses do in our world (and many other worlds). But they are actually domesticated zebras, so they look like striped horses or actual Zebras, just with the size and strength of horses.
When I decided to call these animals 'horses,' the obviious question I got was "Why not call them Zebras, if that's what they are?"
Well, that reall is the question, isn't it? Are they Zebras?
My argument was that the name of something is usually more like a moniker for a certain characteristic, for its useage etc. In that sense, they are horses, not zebras. You can not tame a zebra, let alone ride it. These are domesticated zebras. Calling them zebra - even if they actually are - would be like calling a husky a wolf.
So, "call them what they are" is a double edged advice. Because what they are really depends on who you ask.
I'd like to hear your thoughts on this
P.S. my bestiary contains some other - small - oddities, which I mainly have for flavor: Spiders are called Weavers and there is a mythical creature called a hedgehog which there are only descriptions of. Oh and then there is the Quatlmander, a mythical creator which the MC will soon find is not at all mythical.
The real title for this thread might be "What to call things."
So, in my story world people have riding animals. They act and function just like horses do in our world (and many other worlds). But they are actually domesticated zebras, so they look like striped horses or actual Zebras, just with the size and strength of horses.
When I decided to call these animals 'horses,' the obviious question I got was "Why not call them Zebras, if that's what they are?"
Well, that reall is the question, isn't it? Are they Zebras?
My argument was that the name of something is usually more like a moniker for a certain characteristic, for its useage etc. In that sense, they are horses, not zebras. You can not tame a zebra, let alone ride it. These are domesticated zebras. Calling them zebra - even if they actually are - would be like calling a husky a wolf.
So, "call them what they are" is a double edged advice. Because what they are really depends on who you ask.
I'd like to hear your thoughts on this
P.S. my bestiary contains some other - small - oddities, which I mainly have for flavor: Spiders are called Weavers and there is a mythical creature called a hedgehog which there are only descriptions of. Oh and then there is the Quatlmander, a mythical creator which the MC will soon find is not at all mythical.