A positive term needed for ongoing (alien) sleeplessness

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding a suitable term for a fictional species of aliens that do not experience sleep. Participants explore various linguistic constructions and concepts related to this state of perpetual wakefulness, considering both the implications of such a term and its applicability in a science fiction context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that a species that does not sleep would not have a term for it, proposing the invented terms "permwake" and "permastute" as possible names for the state of being awake.
  • Another participant introduces "asomnia" as a term that conveys the absence of sleep without implying a disorder, while also considering the term "absomnia."
  • Some participants discuss the term "permaflux" as a potential descriptor, noting its phonetic similarity to "permafrost."
  • There is a suggestion that the term "Formicians" could be used, drawing a parallel to ants, which are known not to sleep.
  • Humor is introduced with the suggestion of using "New York" as a term for a state of constant wakefulness, referencing the city's nickname as "the city that never sleeps."
  • Several participants express preferences for certain terms, with some favoring "asomnia" or "asomnic" for their perceived accuracy and appeal.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of opinions on the most suitable term, with no clear consensus emerging. Multiple competing views and suggestions remain throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the cultural implications of naming a state of wakefulness, particularly from the perspective of a species that does not experience sleep. The discussion highlights the challenges of creating terms that accurately reflect the nature of the aliens while also being linguistically plausible.

Dr Wu
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A polite help! I'm currently penning a shortish SF story featuring aliens who never sleep, who don't see the point of sleep, and have no biological need for it. Unhappily, despite racking my brains on the subject, and giving Google a hard time in the process, I cannot find a ready-made term for this continual state of wakefulness. This probably means that no such word exists, at least in English - understandable enough given that life on Earth is mostly diurnal. The best that Google can offer is "insomnia" which is the name for a medical condition, and so isn't applicable here. I did briefly consider "non-circadian" before realising that it's both imprecise and a bit of a mouthful.

So the only workaround left is to cobble up an invented term which at least looks scientifically plausible on the page, but even here I'm struggling. Can any of the smart folks here on Physics Forums bale me out here?

Many thanks!
 
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A species that doesn't sleep won't have a name for it since it is their normal state and "sleep" would be an unknown concept that wouldn't have a word either. Hence, the question is what we would call it, and we call it insomnia as it is a medical disorder to us.

If you want to construct a word despite the fact that it is somehow unexplainable that either species would name it, I suggest calling it what it is: permanently awake melting it to "permwake" or maybe better permanently astute melting to "permastute".
 
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The wake/sleep cycle (often tied to a day/might cycle) is often called circadian rhythms or cycle.
Non-cycling would be a decent term for those that don't do that.

There are lots of mutations affecting circadian rhythms. Many affect cycle length, some eliminate rhythms altogether.
 
Wakeful.
 
Thanks for the contributions. I quite like permwake, though I feel that permawake comes off the tongue more trippingly. Therefore, assuming I have fresh-42's blessing here, I'll give it a try.

Thanks again!
 
Dr Wu said:
Thanks for the contributions. I quite like permwake, though I feel that permawake comes off the tongue more trippingly. Therefore, assuming I have fresh-42's blessing here, I'll give it a try.

Thanks again!
Sure. The only downside of those constructions is that they sound a bit like permafrost.
 
It would be asomnia.

Without sleep - but sans the implication of a disorder.

But thinking through its applications, you might not describe an alien as "having" asomnia (as if to imply they could not have it); you might more likely describe their species as asomnic.
 
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How about 'absomnia'?
 
MisterGnu said:
How about 'absomnia'?
Abs omnia. One's entire body is covered in abdominal muscles. :oldbiggrin:
 
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  • #10
DaveC426913 said:
Abs omnia. One's entire body is covered in abdominal muscles. :oldbiggrin:
Insomia segitur abs omnia.
 
  • #11
DaveC426913 said:
Abs omnia. One's entire body is covered in abdominal muscles.
Ha ha!

Oddly enough (being in a state of) "flux" sprang to mind earlier. So perhaps a construction like "permaflux" is possible. It would invite closer comparisons with permafrost, of course. Not sure if that's a problem. On the other hand, while uncertain about their derivations, "absomnia" and/or "asomnia" look far more convincing on the page, at least to these eyes. This would make the aliens, who are biological machines, absomnic or asomnic. . .
 
  • #12
Dr Wu said:
while uncertain about their derivations, "absomnia" and/or "asomnia" look far more convincing on the page
That brings the tingle of missing desired or necessary sleep, while that species do not even know sleep (maybe only unconsciousness, as a dangerous and abnormal state), right?

Different starting points still has their own use, though. It's completely right (and gives you a ton of exploitable 'cultural thing' for a writing) to use both 'permaflux' or 'perm(a)wake' if referred from the side of that species, and keep 'asomnia' if the phenomenon is referred from human side...:wink:
 
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  • #13
Perhaps 'Formicians' -- Formicidae, the ant family, as far as we know are the only insects that never sleep.
 
  • #14
How about "New York"?
A Manhattan taxi driver proudly used the description of his city.
 
  • #15
sophiecentaur said:
How about "New York"?
A Manhattan taxi driver proudly used the description of his city.
?
 
  • #16
DaveC426913 said:
?
The city that never sleeps.
 
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  • #17
fresh_42 said:
The city that never sleeps.
Good catch!!
 
  • #18
DaveC426913 said:
you might more likely describe their species as asomnic.
Yes, that is what I was going to say.
 
  • #19
Sounds like a hedgehog. (I'll get my coat)
 
  • #20
I had been thinking of calling these aliens omnies or omnics, but asomnics has a lot going for it, more accurate too.

Thanks, Dave
 
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