The meat of the story is linguistics being done by a non-linguist, which means that Rocky's use of language tells us something about Eridian language but tells us way more about Ryland Grace's translation choices.

Fffffffffff this dovetails so well with my unwritten space story where the team linguist is NOT the archeologist but rather the techie. Dr Zeke Arnolds my irritating beloved, you coulda been played by Ryan Gosling *wipes tear* .....man, Zeke woulda been so rude to Grace about literally everything. [Zeke Arnolds is of course named after the legendary Arnold Zwicky, styled after my irl colleague REDACTED, and fueled by the sort of linguist rage and pedantry you can only acquire in graduate school. Ah, memories...]

On a side note, Rocky is named after a common noun of English that presumably has nothing to do with whatever meaning is name has in Eridian. The name "Rocky" is corefferent with his actual name but it does not translate it. What if Grace's name is the same way? The name Rocky gives him doesn't mean grace, it means This Guy. But the point of the story is that these guys are exactly the same, so what if Rocky assigned him some epithet that was a common noun in Eridian, based on the substance he's composed of

Rocky: can't proceed. Grace all over floor.

Grace: I - what?

Rocky: not human Grace. Just grace.

Grace: ...describe what that word means

Rocky: small liquid contained. Grace.

Grace: ....

Grace: YOU NAMED ME PUDDLE

....okay this was in no way the point of the post but my new headcanon is that Grace's Eridian name is "Puddleglum." Because he is a sad contained liquid.

Grace: actually my name means "divine mercy freely given"

Every now and then a difficult period like this comes along: so it's time to request some assistance.

I've kind of been neglecting my vision for the past year or so, aware that I needed new glasses (and to go have a consult for possible eye-related surgery), but putting it off... and now the situation has, as it were, come home to roost.

The other day, when I was typing something and then (to check it before posting) had to pick up the Mac and hold it up to my nose to see what I'd typed... I realized that if this went on much longer, even with dictation (because after you dictate, you still have to edit...), I wouldn't be able to write.

That would be bad.

I need to go see my Eye Lady, get examined, and get both sets of glasses re-fitted with new prescriptions. This—as usual, each time it needs to be done every year and a half or two years, due to Weird Eyes—is going to run into a low-four-figure-ish kind of money. And due to other recent unexpected medical expenses, right now there's not enough dosh around (or spondoolicks or whatever term you prefer...) to get things sorted.

Therefore: can I get people interested in keeping a writer, you know, writing (as I've got three novels working at once at the moment...), to consider doing one of these things?

(a) Go over to Ebooks Direct and buy a book. (Or a bundle. Or a gift card for somebody else who might like my work.) And if you do: thanks so much!

(b) Stop by my Ko-Fi and drop a little something in the pot. It'll be most appreciated.

And if you can't do either of the above:

(c) Reblog this and let other people see it?

They wear suits, but they don't even know basic etiquette.