Now that's an interesting idea. Back before the mammoths died out, Humanity was studied by a group of !'kxxzl!t exopologists. The !'kxxzl!t are, as everyone knows, the galaxy's foremost scholars of uncontacted worlds, and always adhere scrupulously to the First Commandment of preventing primitive races from being made aware of the broader Galactic Confederation. The tribe they studied, located in what is now sub-Saharan Africa, used both the glottal clicks of the !Kung people and the modern-day "Mb" sounds of the...I'm pressed for time, can't look it up right now. The point is, the !'kxxzl!t took that tribe's name for itself and used it to refer to all homo sapiens. However, the !'kxxzl!t are an exoskeletal species with no lips, and thus no ability to produce any labial consonants, so the tribe's name was trans-pronunciated (still pressed for time) through their thorax-mounted vocal tympani. When Humanity finally reached the stars and was granted First Contact, it discovered that it was universally referred to by a term that sounded like a high-powered vibrating massager being dropped into a metal bowl full of ball-bearings, and all appeals by the Secretary General of United Earth were insufficient to sway the accepted usage of millenia. tagging my fellow linguist @Wreybies
I think whatever you choose could be influenced by whatever racial origin or belief system is dominant in your story. For example, Gaia could be used for a Greek-centric approach. If the Maori from New Zealand ascended, Papatūānuku (Earth mother) or Papa (Earth). Choose any culture and you get a plethora of exotic terms more interesting than good old Earth and Terra. I think it adds to the richness of the story if, in your world building, you pick a history to match whatever terminology is used.
Don't use "Tierra", "Sol", "Luna"... etc to name your alternative solar system. It's a nightmare for Spanish translators.
It think it comes down to context. Earth seems archaic for far future settings. I'm actually planning on using "terra" as a suffix for two terms in my next novel: one to denote people on Earth and the other for people on the moon/in lunar orbit.
Are you SURE the "moon people" aren't 'Earth-ish'? I mean, isn't Terra even more archaic? How did the world communicate before emoticons?
According to the peaceful cheese farming race that lives on the dear moon, do not fancy their Earthly neighbors when they show up announced and begin to trample through their vast Gouda fields to plant a flag and what not. Though I am unsure of what kind of insulting term they have for their nosy and destructive Terran neighbors.
I'll have those cheddar-munching squatters know that my dad owns 1500 acres of that rock free and clear, bought it for him from the Lunar Embassy twenty-odd years ago.
I REALLY like "Gravity's Bitches". Totally illogical since the Earth-ish scum don't have the ability to jump off of the moon and escape its gravity. These are real popular around the orbiting space elevator, the Earth-ish are SO arrogant about their dependence on Earth. People notice these things Q: How many Earth-ish does it take to change a light bulb? A: Just one, but he has to wait for one to arrive from earth, along with the cabbages for dinner. Q: When taking a trip to the moon, how do you know you've arrived? A: Everything smells like a fart. (closed air system in underground communities - See cabbages)
Solians. Most other races tend to be named for their native star. Generally assumes only one spacefaring or otherwise highly developed civilization per star system, which is probably not an awful assumption. Most Rigellians cant distinguish between a Martian and a Earthian anyway. But to Solians who have left Earth behind, earth dwellers will always be clayfeet.
I agree. It makes it seem as if America or some other English speaking nation, fictional or not, is the dominant or even ruling on the planet. Maybe this is what you're going for, but in some cases you may want to convey the planet as united under a single government. Like the Republic in Star Wars. Or the planet may represent it's own nation and culture. Like Zandar in the Marvel universe. Using the word, "Terra," or "Terran," makes the planet Terra, or Earth, sound more like a single place on it's own, rather then a planet with many conflicting peoples. Because there are many words for Earth, but only one word for Terra.
Terra is ok and Terran sound nice. Earth is the simplest option and would work best, however, I don't like Earthian. Earthan is better. I am also tired to hear Gaia. If you want to think outside the box there is: Blue, O Or use google translate and translate earth in any fancy language, you might like on of them. I am a Solari from the Third Rock.
Subterra.... I use that word. Like it. Terraformers is also a favourite... has strength. Replacement terms I adore: Urth Old Earth Aard Solstheim ( : # ) Thurdth
I cannot remember where I read it, but Solarian comes to mind as a nice alternative. Some story from the early days of space opera. Update: I knew when I posted that I would remember, or think that I do, as soon as I pressed “post”. I believe that was in Star Wolf by Ed Hamilton.
If it's an extraterrestrial using the line Terra, you could always have them say something condescending like, "Oh, they are from that backwater planet in the sol system". Or you could just give it a designation number if it's hard science and you want to make the planet seem insignificant or small. Although, another option would be an anagram for Earth like Reath(or Erart for Terra).
"Planeta Zemlya" is the Russian equivalent for planet Earth and is used most commonly in fiction. Mir means "The World" (or peace in some instances) so it is not really relevant to the Terra discussion. None of the books in the picture you posted have planet earth referenced. There is one about the moon and one about the king of fear, one called "American Science Fiction" etc. Although, I have to say word Terra is uncommon in Russian.
