To which case do I give the first letters of different race names?

[Bowler1]

We'll have you sitting at the big boys' table any day now...

In the meantime I can keep using my kiddies highchair and carry on flinging food at all the adults and Moderators (a definite CAPITAL letter usage!).

 

[Tim Kinder]

If I might dare add my limited knowledge to this discussion, I believe this comes down to the difference between what I would refer to as "common or generic" terms verses "specific or definite" terms.

As some have said, words like orcs, dwarves, fairies, even humans (and I'll explain why in a moment) fall into the "common/generic" terminology category.

However, words like Klingon, Jaffa, or Gungan fall into the "specific/definite" category.

Whenever you're using a race identifier that is specific to a species/people then it is proper to capitalize it as you are speaking of their specific/definite race which identifies (usually) with their homeland, which, as a name, would be capitalized. For example "China - Chinese".

Technically, that should be true of human/Human too as all of us are technically "one race and species", however, to us as humans it is a common/generic term because we are used to thinking of ourselves less in terms of our species and more in terms of our nationalities -- American, German, French, etc. To that end, even if it would be accurate making the "H" capital in the word Human, it becomes jarring to the eyes because it's not how we're accustomed to reading it and seeing it, thus it's common/generic in our literature both non-fiction and fiction in most cases.

I hope that made sense...

 

[The Neon Seal]

If I might dare add my limited knowledge to this discussion, I believe this comes down to the difference between what I would refer to as "common or generic" terms verses "specific or definite" terms.

As some have said, words like orcs, dwarves, fairies, even humans (and I'll explain why in a moment) fall into the "common/generic" terminology category.

However, words like Klingon, Jaffa, or Gungan fall into the "specific/definite" category.

Whenever you're using a race identifier that is specific to a species/people then it is proper to capitalize it as you are speaking of their specific/definite race which identifies (usually) with their homeland, which, as a name, would be capitalized. For example "China - Chinese".

Technically, that should be true of human/Human too as all of us are technically "one race and species", however, to us as humans it is a common/generic term because we are used to thinking of ourselves less in terms of our species and more in terms of our nationalities -- American, German, French, etc. To that end, even if it would be accurate making the "H" capital in the word Human, it becomes jarring to the eyes because it's not how we're accustomed to reading it and seeing it, thus it's common/generic in our literature both non-fiction and fiction in most cases.

I hope that made sense...

*Stands up and claps*

 

[J D Foster]

I would use capital letters for all other sentient races/species, and even human colonists from other planets/satellites if they referred to themselves by the planet/colony name eg Ganymedians. I'd still use lower case for humans, though, even when written from the perspective of non-humanoids or those of mixed race -- just as I'd use lower case for the words "people" and "persons" -- but a capital if the humans are referred to as Earthlings or Terrans.

Very useful thank you. I'm fairly sure I have all my alien races referred to with capitals. I wasn't sure what I did when aliens referred to us, so I just checked a story and was embarrassed to see that it changed almost every time I wrote it....

I've been to this sight about three times now, and each time I have learned something really useful for my writing... I didn't realise how arrogant I was being, thinking I could figure it all out for myself... I'm so happy to have found this place

 

[The Neon Seal]

Very useful thank you. I'm fairly sure I have all my alien races referred to with capitals. I wasn't sure what I did when aliens referred to us, so I just checked a story and was embarrassed to see that it changed almost every time I wrote it....

I've been to this sight about three times now, and each time I have learned something really useful for my writing... I didn't realise how arrogant I was being, thinking I could figure it all out for myself... I'm so happy to have found this place

Hi, man! Let me have the pleasure of welcoming you to the SFF Chronicles... Come for the literature, and stay for the cake!

 

[J D Foster]

Hi, man! Let me have the pleasure of welcoming you to the SFF Chronicles... Come for the literature, and stay for the cake!

Thank you! ... just saw I spelled site as sight... doah

Technically, that should be true of human/Human too as all of us are technically "one race and species", however, to us as humans it is a common/generic term because we are used to thinking of ourselves less in terms of our species and more in terms of our nationalities -- American, German, French, etc. To that end, even if it would be accurate making the "H" capital in the word Human, it becomes jarring to the eyes because it's not how we're accustomed to reading it and seeing it, thus it's common/generic in our literature both non-fiction and fiction in most cases

Great explanation!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

It's purely a matter of style. In other words, it's up to you, so long as whatever pattern you come up with you stick with it.

And one thing to consider when it comes to the name of an alien or fantasy race: would the characters involved in the story write it (or think it) with a capital letter. When some people speak, you can just hear them speaking certain words in capital letters. And if that is how a character speaks, then that is how you should write it.

 

[The Neon Seal]

It's purely a matter of style. In other words, it's up to you, so long as whatever pattern you come up with you stick with it.

And one thing to consider when it comes to the name of an alien or fantasy race: would the characters involved in the story write it (or think it) with a capital letter. When some people speak, you can just hear them speaking certain words in capital letters. And if that is how a character speaks, then that is how you should write it.

So, because my narrator is not human, or at least only 1/4 human on his mothers side, I could refer to humans as Humans as he doesn't really identify with the species beyond his appearance?

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Yes, you could do that and if other characters didn't do the same, then it would remind readers how deeply he feels the difference.

 

[The Neon Seal]

Yes, you could do that and if other characters didn't do the same, then it would remind readers how deeply he feels the difference.

I like that. I'm thinking the only time 'human(s)' would be in lower case is when they refer to themselves in dialogue. Maybe that's the case for each race/species. My narrator would be quite pernickety about this sort of thing so that's how he would write it.

 

[Rufus Coppertop]

As some have said, words like orcs, dwarves, fairies, even humans (and I'll explain why in a moment) fall into the "common/generic" terminology category.

However, words like Klingon, Jaffa, or Gungan fall into the "specific/definite" category.

You make a kind of sense in your post but I still disagree with it. The klingons are one particular species like humans and dwarves etc. Therefore if 'human' is generic, so is 'klingon'.

Demonyms use capitals though. A klingon from the planet K'tingai is K'tingese just as a human from Germany is a German.

 

[yorelm]

Doesn't this boil down to a simple case of specific vs general?