Which term is more correct?

[LW Bercini]

Layne Pemberton and Jim Parsons aside, are we Terrans, or Earthlings?

 

[user 13]

I think both.

Pool or a pond...

Flatlander works also.

 

[Funkworks]

Some of us are both. And technically, either term could include non-humans.

 

[kuririn]

If you're from this universe, you're an Earthling.
If you're from the mirror universe, you're a Terran.
Been watching too much Star Trek Discovery.

 

[dhbarr]

PIE *er- ( earth, ground ) takes precedence over *ters- ( to dry ) IMO

 

[LW Bercini]

PIE *er- ( earth, ground ) takes precedence over *ters- ( to dry ) IMO

PIE?

 

[mikec]

are we Terrans, or Earthlings?

I always liked the derogatory Klingon term "Earther" as used in the TOS episode "The Trouble with Tribbles".

See also a rich Belter vocabulary from THE EXPANSE.

 

[kuririn]

As Dolly Parton would say, it's not holLOW, it's HolLER.
So someone from Ceres or Ganymede would say it's not Belter, but BeltAH.
And people from the inner planets are not InnERS, but InnAHs.
Heh.

 

[dhbarr]

PIE?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proto-Indo-European_language#Development_of_the_hypothesis

 

[Woody's Workshop]

We are Earthlings.
To future other planetary visitors, we are what ever they call our plant.
Maybe they chose to call this planet Water World because it's 70-75% water.
To them, then....we'd be Waterlings...
And them dar Watrlngs ar' terraformin that planet, while using up all the natural resources and polluting it.
Time for a another 30 day & 30 night long rain!

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

I call the planet “Earth”, so I’m inclined to call us “Earthlings”, “Earthers”, or maybe “Earthans”.

 

[Ronz Rocketz]

Isn’t anyone living on a planet considered a Terran?

 

[K'Tesh]

Funny... I thought you were bipedal, carbon based lifeforms, descended from apes.

 

[jqavins]

Tellurians. (See Tellus and tellurium.)

Funny... I thought you were bipedal, carbon based lifeforms, descended from apes.

Not "descended from apes", just "apes". Apes with uncommonly sophistic language, uncommonly prolific tool-making, and uncommonly little hair.

 

[jimzcatz]

It's all about the context of the conversation LW. If we are discussing the planet Terra, we are Terrans, If we are discussing Earth, well it's obvious we are Earthings. If Discussing Mars, you are on your own!!

 

[HHaase]

If you pick the right episodes of the right shows, there are some funny ones out there. My personal favorite is "Giant ugly bags of mostly water".

-Hans

 

[K'Tesh]

Tellurians. (See Tellus and tellurium.)

Not "descended from apes", just "apes". Apes with uncommonly sophistic language, uncommonly prolific tool-making, and uncommonly little hair.

I was just quoting from the guide.

Share and Enjoy!!!

 

[kuririn]

Not "descended from apes", just "apes". Apes with uncommonly sophistic language, uncommonly prolific tool-making, and uncommonly little hair.

We would still be apes if not for the monolith.
Oh wait, that's another thread.

 

[Jeff Lassahn]

We would still be apes if not for the monolith.
Oh wait, that's another thread.

Wait, you mean we were all just regular old Primates until that thing in Utah a few weeks ago Uplifted us? I knew I felt different recently, I just hadn't realized why...

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

Wait, you mean we were all just regular old Primates until that thing in Utah a few weeks ago Uplifted us? I knew I felt different recently, I just hadn't realized why...

I thought for awhile I was just imagining it, but I’m pretty sure my tail is getting shorter!

 

[jqavins]

That's nice, Thirsty. You just keep telling yourself that. There's a good barbarian. There there.

 

[dr wogz]

and uncommonly little hair.

And how well that hair is styled!

 

[Bat-mite]

"Earth" comes down from the Germanic peoples, "Terra" from the Romans. So your ethnicity determines whether you are Terran or an Earthling.

 

[Jeff Lassahn]

So does that mean it follows the usual Germanic/Roman pattern for animals vs foods? You're an Earthling on the farm, but you're served as Terran roast on the table?

 

[jqavins]

Oh, is that where cattle/beef, sheep/mutton, deer/venison, etc. come from? Often have I wondered.

Sorry for the unwelcome seriosity; please resume silliness.

 

[Mugs914]

Texan.....

 

[Funkworks]

I sort of got duped here. Seems like "Terran" isn't really a word outside science-fiction. Hm.

 

[Jeff Lassahn]

Oh, is that where cattle/beef, sheep/mutton, deer/venison, etc. come from? Often have I wondered.

Sorry for the unwelcome seriosity; please resume silliness.

Yup. Apparently some guy named "Norman" showed up among the Anglo-Saxons in 1066AD and tried to make them all speak French. Also why there are some redundant word pairs like "Cease and Desist" in legal writing.

I sort of got duped here. Seems like "Terran" isn't really a word outside science-fiction. Hm.

Is "Earthling" a word outside science-fiction? I guess there isn't a lot of call for words saying "I'm from Earth" in a non-science-fiction context...

Now I'm looking for a word to pair with "Texan" to go along with "Earthling/Terran". Maybe "Texan/Austinling" but that doesn't feel quite right...

 

[Mugs914]

A WHOLE lot of Austinlings aren't real Texans...

 

[Huxter]

Gene Rodenberry is the definitive answer - he obviously had a lot of hindsight.

How 'bout what the Ferengi call us: "HU-MAAN"... (Remember what the Telaxions say about forks in the road...)

Archer says we're from the "Sol" system - so that is obviously what we call our solar system!