There seems to be some conflict in sources that I've noticed as to Dr Soong's name (notably Memory Alpha and Memory Beta). Now, this is important to me (for obvious reasons - in fact it's why the underscore is so important - fun fact). So, my question is: what is the canon name for Dr Soong? Is it Noon-ien or Noon-ian?
asked Aug 24, 2015 at 3:38
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2I personally prefer Noonian, just saying 😉– Often RightCommented Aug 24, 2015 at 5:50
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20Compromise: Dr. Nooniæn Soong. ;-)– Janus Bahs JacquetCommented Aug 24, 2015 at 8:03
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1Also FWIW - Khan Noonien Singh predates Dr. Nooni(e/a)n Soong by quite a few years. So I'd say that it should be Noonien to be consistent. YMMV.– Bob Jarvis - Слава УкраїніCommented Aug 24, 2015 at 16:43
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2Great! So now after this question and this question someone needs to ask a question about the use of the name @Richard. And the use of pop machines.– ThePopMachineCommented Aug 24, 2015 at 18:45
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1If the name derives from another language, there might not be a single "correct" transliteration. See also kalzumeus.com/2010/06/17/…– Harry JohnstonCommented Aug 24, 2015 at 21:43
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3 Answers
It appears to be both.
Both spellings can be found on this 1995 action figure:
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7@N_Soong : The left hand didn't know what the right hand was typing...– PraxisCommented Aug 24, 2015 at 4:33
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4That's what I get for letting Data use both his hands so well. +1 for the freehand circles btw ;) Commented Aug 24, 2015 at 4:34
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2No, you see, the card is in a different continuity from the action figure. We just have to wait to see which one makes it into a movie or TV show first, and then we'll know which one is canon. /s– KevinCommented Aug 24, 2015 at 17:30
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His name is 'officially' Noonien!
Looking at the scripts online for TNG: Brothers, all seem to refer to him with the 'ian' suffix rather than the 'ien' suffix.
Source 1: Chakoteya.net:
DATA: You do bear a resemblance to Doctor Noonian Soong, the cyberneticist who constructed me. But, Doctor Soong was killed shortly afterward by the Crystalline Entity.
Source 2: Antoa.com:
CAST: ... DOCTOR NOONIAN SOONG
Source 3: ST-minutiae.com
CAST: ... DOCTOR NOONIAN SOONG
Source 4: Memory Alpha refers to him as Noonian
Yet, arguably the most canon source of all these, the page on StarTrek.com, says his name is Noonien.
Memory Alpha makes reference to the ultimate canon sources though - the scripts and in-series references:
Soong's first name was spelled "Noonien" in the scripts for "Datalore" and "The Measure Of A Man" while all subsequent scripts ("Brothers", "A Matter of Time", "Birthright, Part I", and "Inheritance") spelled the name "Noonian". The okudagram for Data's personnel file seen on-screen in "Conundrum" used "Noonian" while the passenger manifest seen in "Inheritance" used "Noonien". The "Noonien" spelling is used in several reference sources, including the Star Trek Encyclopedia and StarTrek.com.
(Source)
So, considering the final line of the above quote, it seems that Noonien is the more 'official' name used in canon, but both are within canon!
Just to add even more confusion - because as if there isn't enough already, Memory Beta tells us that :
The video game The Transinium Challenge gives his name as "Nguyen Soong".
As a side note, I personally prefer Noonian...
answered Aug 24, 2015 at 3:44
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8Note that chakoteya is a fan-site, not a source of official scripts. It's also notorious for spelling mistakes– ValorumCommented Aug 24, 2015 at 7:50
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2@Richard - struck gold: Memory Alpha does refer to the official scripts at the bottom of the page: I've included the quote above. Now we know for certain that his name is definitely Noonien or Noonian ;) Commented Aug 24, 2015 at 8:54
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7Perhaps he went by both names just to confuse people. I have a friend who spells his own name as Alistair in real life, but historically has spelt it Alastair online...– MuzerCommented Aug 24, 2015 at 9:41
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3@Muzer: Who knows what native script Soong's name originally uses. For all we know, Noonian/Noonien might be equally valid transliterations of the same name. Commented Aug 24, 2015 at 14:40
It's an Anglicized version of a foreign name, so there needn't be an official single answer. For example, the names Chen, Chan, Chang, Xian, Xiang, Qiang are all different attempts to render the same chinese name into english.
Personally, I always thought it was everyone's attempt to pronounce the name Nguyen; the correct pronounciation is something like Nn-wen, but because of the spelling many pronounce it as Nuh-goo-eee-en. And Soong would seem to be an indicator of asiatic origin.
answered Aug 24, 2015 at 22:28
