Society of the ethnic Gallente

The society of the ethnic Gallente is a term that is somewhat of a misnomer, given the fact there is no single ethnic Gallente society. Rather, it can be considered a 'society of societies', unique in the sense that conformity is not enforced or otherwise indirectly encouraged. An ethnic Gallente is free to define themselves however they desire and pursue whatever they like, so long as their pursuits do not violate the inalienable liberties of others. Indeed, many say that the only defining aspects of the ethnic Gallente is that there aren't any.

As the Federation is not a cultural or ethnic entity, its constituent societies do not hand down any sense of purpose to its citizens, leaving each individual to discover their own identity by themselves. Gallente education systems particularly emphasize finding one's own purpose, leaving some ethnic Gallente to pursue a leisure activity or religion, all in order to discover the meaning of what it is to be human. Believing humans should have as much free time as possible for these endeavors, a wide variety of social technology has been pioneered by the Gallente, which also contributes significantly to their democracy. The massive diversity (such as in language) and lack of any societal rigidity has created unique questions regarding identity, and has not held back from the ethnic Gallente forming a notable diaspora amongst the stars.

The hedonism spawned by such an individualistic society is sometimes dismissed as tasteless and crass by citizens of other empires, but only small parts of the ethnic Gallente cultures could be seen as lacking principle (or simply not having the same set of principles as those who ridicule them). It is often the case that meticulous moral and/or artistic standards are abided by, for no other reason than for its own sake.

Individualism

The ethnic and non-ethnic Gallente societies exhibit an unrivalled level of diversity, but the only unifying factor for most of them is individuality, which is in turn considered a diverse topic with numerous differing (and often opposing) definitions. The individualistic culture manifests itself in many different ways.

Some societies amongst the Gallente, particularly those in harsher or poorer environments, are noted for exhibiting collectivist tendencies. However, the key difference from this form of collectivism to that of the Caldari (for example), is that the individual is putting the needs of others before their own by their own free will, and is not culturally enforced to doing so. Others are more selfish, where individuals are considered as the champions of their own personal universes. Competition is rife, with citizens attempting to outdo one another by purchasing the latest car or upgrading their house. Paranoia in these communities can thus be common. Residences will be spaced out considerably with complex but discreet security systems. Most of these individuals will stick to their own bubbles, and take unkindly to those who attempt to impose themselves, with good intentions or not.

The most common and popular image of a Gallente society, however, is where the individual is seen as a near-divine and precious entity, being the base unit of human civilization. These communities are noted for being home to friendly, open-minded, and welcoming people. Each individual will have their own unique lifestyles and beliefs, but this will not be a source of social segregation. Rather, it creates a vibrant and progressive community, where misfits can slot in, artists can find their venues, and champions of every cause can find their soapbox. These societies typically exist in major, well-connected and cosmopolitan cities or towns. Although it is the most frequent perception of the Federation (thus making it a big draw for immigrants), these particular cultures do not exist universally in the union, nor are in a full majority.

Ultimately, each and every Gallente has their own definition of individualism, what it entails and what it means. They will thus coalesce into communities that are attuned to one another's viewpoints on individuality and libertarianism, this socio-ideological grouping being one of the main contributing factors of the Federation's megadiversity. Those in Solitude would define individualism as being able to take care of oneself independent of any outside aid, whereas those in Caille might define it more as being able to tolerate and appreciate one another's uniqueness. It is said a thousand communities exist for each of the countless definitions of individualism (or combinations thereof), making the Federation appear as a much more larger place than it is physically.

Leisure

The Gallente are the masters of pleasure and entertainment, and their rich trade empire has given the cluster many of its primary tourist destinations and sights. The lack of hardships on Gallente Prime compared to other homeworlds meant that there was a large amount of free time for various recreational pursuits. This made the pursuit of pleasure a key part of Gallente culture, philosophized as a human requirement and/or reward for hard work. The visual, performing and literary arts was one such avenue, and leisure activities was another.

The below are just a small selection of the countless leisure activities undertaken by the Gallente.

Sports

In the ancient world, countless sports were undertaken to pass the time, particularly water games and ball sports. These games varied between competitive to cooperative, or sometimes combining the two together, such as sports that would rely on individual initiative for an edge in team competition. They would very rarely be violent in nature, however. Cutting-edge technology has permitted many of these ancient games to ascend into the modern era, such as skyball. Hologames (that emulate sports or otherwise) are physically demanding, and are commonly found as a key part of Gallente with fast-paced lifestyles, keeping them fit and healthy without having to leave the home.

Though new sports commonly sprout up, whether from the school playground or from a local culture, very few gain traction in the long-term. The only sports to be consistent in their popularity are zero-g games (a marriage of ancient ball and water sports). The commercialization means that large corporations are wary of taking risks in investing in new trends, though there is certainly money to be made in the short-term. Gallente zero-g games have taken their place alongside Caldari combat tournaments as New Eden's primary genres of sport.

Unorthodox medicine

The popular practice of leeching and unorthodox medicine originated from Gallente tribes, most of which have become extinct during modernization (excluding those individuals and groups who wish to cultivate the history). This is a continuing trend into the modern day, and has contributed to the Gallente medical authorities being adaptable and possessing an adept understanding of the human body.

Rather than using leeches nowadays, small discs with miniscule grapplers would traverse their occupants' backs until they sensed something beyond the skin (what this actually would be depends on who one asks). A little local anaesthetic would be injected before the metal leeches latch on. To ameliorate the visual discomfort caused by the sight of the discs, the bleeding causes their carapaces to change, unfurling petals reminiscent of iridescent flowers. The petals served as status indicators, and once their colours had changed from white to a darkened orange they would be removed, typically with great ceremony. A part of a subtle mental therapy was the idea that their blood had given life to another entity.

Recreational drug use

Though the Federation has fought a war with drug cartels for decades, the ethnic Gallente have continued to recreationally consume light narcotics throughout their history. When the Garouners began to explore other lands on the homeworld, they discovered exotic locations with new species of herbs and flora. The Garouners were already notorious wine drinkers and smokers of herbs found in their local marshlands.

These consumables would stimulate philosophical thought that would develop the culture and politics of the Garoun Empire. Thus, new substances in new lands were associated with new ideas, something the Gallente have always been hungry for. Only the wealthy, such as merchants and the intelligentsia, would be the primary consumers of these. At the end of the world wars and the start of the Information Age, recreational drug use became common amongst the everyday citizen. As entire societies were now becoming integrated and globalized, it was considered important that everyone was now on the same wavelength, and not just the elite.

Such a practice exploded again during interstellar exploration and colonization. In discovering new cultures, Gallente would often consume their local herbs alongside them to better understand their ways (with surprising levels of success). The idea that new planets with unique biologies that could potentially offer new ideas set the market wild, as the rapidly-expanding Federation was discovering new worlds by the week.

Unsurprisingly, there is no scientific correlation between the level of popular drug use and the ideological evolution of the Federation, no matter how much proponents state there is. Moreover, the social, cultural and political development of the Federation as it expanded is rarely associated with new drugs, but more with the fact that the expansion of territory brought the expansion of ideas. Opponents of drug use and citizens neutral on the issue simply point out that the concept of discovering new concepts through new substances is merely a convenient notion to justify the practice.

Body modification

Pushing the boundaries in defining the human condition is common amongst many Gallente, and so-called bodymodders do so with the human physique. Many pursue body-modding for experimentation or wanting to attain what they consider the perfect figure. There is a niche, however, for more extreme mods.

Those within this niche consider the modification of the human body as a form of high art, in the same way one modifies a canvas. Bodies can be used to display slow-motion plays, their skin showing off colorful vistas with moving actors in the foreground. Simpler versions of this, usually covering some minor part of the body and frequently involving starships or the natural world, would have tattoos that moved jerkily, like stop-motion imagery not dissimilar to neon blinklights. The motion of these tattoos would get progressively smoother depending on their complexity and level of skin coverage.

Other mods can go deeper, using implants that bulge and writhe under the skin. Series of small metal spikes, aligned in a straight line, can poke out in rhythm through the flesh of a forearm, capable of tapping out lines of music. Variations of these types of mods could expand and extend very sharp feelers that can slowly rotate on their bearers' skin. Cutaneous alterations can turn the skin scaly and silver, or given a multihued, oily patina. Some turn the skin rough and coarse, often inset with tufts of shaggy hair. Sharp teeth is used to complement those with rough and hairy skin.

The most notorious bodymodding community, present on a handful of worlds, are the Replacers. The Replacers are known to remove parts of their bodies entirely, be it skin, hair, bits of muscle and so on. Despite the name, some forego replacement, leaving the remains either bound with transparent sealant or left in glass-like tubing. Similar to an open wound or a gaping maw, this leaves the insides visible to others. Those who are fans of anatomy appreciate being able to view the muscles pull and contract on skinless limbs.

Other Replacers frequently install mods that are considered bizarre and non-human by many. Insect wings instead of shoulder blades, or replacing the upper body's sinews with tree roots are two reported designs. Liquefied Replacers are known for replacing an inner body part or entire organ with a chemical soup that serves the same task, stored in an unbreakable glass-alloy display container that reaches all the way to the surface of the body.

The mindset of the more extreme bodymodders is not a widely accepted viewpoint, but tolerated nonetheless. It is spawned from the Gallente's love of futuristic technologies (detailed below), but many feel that such styles of body modification is taking this culture to the extreme.

Pleasure hubs

The pleasure hub is a staple of Gallente leisure time. They can be found as planetary resorts or entire space stations, or just smaller centers in cities and starbases. The content of these pleasure hubs vary immensely. To more run-down markets, they are little more than glorified brothels. For the rich, many outsiders (and even Gallente citizens) are surprised at just how profligate upper class hubs can get.

The more common image of a pleasure hub in the popular mindset is one that offers nearly anything a patron can think of. Using the best in lifestyle technology, entire tropical paradises and tourist cities can be erected, or entertainment complexes that offer the best in virtual simulation. The pleasure hub has become so prolific in New Eden, that other empires (with the exception of the Amarr Empire) now operate their own brands, either to cater to their own cultural bracket or to keep Gallente companies at bay.

These pleasure hubs evolved from bathhouses used by the Garoun Empire. The bathhouses were open in both senses; they would welcome both genders within the same space, and their marble constructions were often built around the local flora. While this element of Gallente history is often ridiculed as decadent, such behavior was very rare in the bathhouses. Instead, individuals from both genders would come to discuss cultural and philosophical matters, typically over a glass of wine.

A popular legend is that some of the most prolific philosophical ideas of the Gallente (such as ending slavery) emerged from bathing cultural elite, a nod to the Gallente habit of combining luxury with liberal philosophy.

Technology

Although all civilizations pursue science, the ethnic Gallente have a unique interest in the advancement of technology for social purposes, rather than the more common ends of military and/or economic dominance. Several of the richer worlds in the Federation, such as Gallente Prime, are in a state of post-scarcity, all due to pursuing technological advances to increase quality and ease of everyday living. The pioneering of and subsequent reliance on AI, drones, and other forms of automation on these highly developed worlds decreases the working week significantly. The pursuit of automated perfection is a constant search in many Gallente societies.

Much of these scientific applications overlap with leisure activities detailed above, but the same technologies are often used for political and economic purposes as well. Indeed, the Gallente are known for having societies with accessible and highly-integrated domestic technologies.

History

The first instance of the ethnic Gallente inventing a unique social technology was during their Information Age, constructing a global telecommunications network. Although initially utilized by military forces, it would gradually be accessible by the everyday citizen. As a result, cross-cultural communication exploded, with people interacting with one another across the planet on an individual (rather than national) basis. It took only a few years for this technology to become portable and miniaturized, with citizens staying connected wherever they were.

Only when FTL communications was invented in 23146AD, was Luminaire able to export such technological concepts across entire planets and systems, creating the modern day GalNet. Soon after the invention of military drones in the Gallente-Caldari War, the technology became prevalent in industry, and then as municipal and domestic services within cities and homes.

Implant technology has allowed individuals to connect to the FTL networks, but this is only accessible to the wealthy. Gallente Prime sets the cluster's standard for technological integration with everyday living, being decades ahead of its closest rivals. Other worlds in the Federation vary in infrastructure.

Examples

Outside of the below, the ethnic Gallente have countless other technologies that assist everyday living, many exclusive to individual cities or planets who may hold the patents. Use of implants can be common, especially for social networking and augmented realities, but the price of this technology keeps the availability of such items amongst the more well-off societies. A couple of other examples include efficient automated transport to new urban development proposals being holographically projected in its desired location for the electorate's approval, though exact forms of implementation may be inexhaustive in the wake of new technologies being discovered each day. Part of the appeal in exploring the Federation is seeing how each of the millions of communities utilizes technology in its own way.

Drones and artificial intelligences

Drones are the most common examples of a uniquely prevalent and near-ubiquitous social technology in the Federation, varying immensely in design and purpose. Advanced models resemble humans, though many jurisdictions require by law that there be key indicators to differentiate these drones from actual humans. These models are most commonly used as companions, housekeepers or secretaries, and can only be afforded by the very rich, or within large corporations and government institutions. Others are humanoid only in shape, with two arms, a torso and a head with a "face". Some have legs for locomotion, but many use treads or antigravity lifts for more efficient movement. Caretaker and housekeeper drones are one of the more common applications of these type of drones.

Other drones vary immensely in shape and size, depending on their purpose. From street cleaners to gardeners, to cooks and bartenders, any mundane activity that requires doing can be potentially covered for by a drone. Gallente starships are noted for having the lowest crew requirements of any empire design, due to the extensive use of drones and automation onboard.

Anthromorphic weak AI independent of drones are common across the wide breadth of the Federation, from digital secretaries and retail assistants to popular celebrities and military staff. Hi-tech cities can be run by a single personable AI or a group of them, appearing across city notices and boards when needed. Simpler programs exist in personal property such as planetary vehicles and hovercars.

Virtual realities

Virtual environments are commonplace as well, but again are only available in the well-off societies. Many are utilized as interplanetary forums by billions of citizen-users for the purposes of popular political discussion, typically hosted via FTL or GalNet. AIs are used to gateway the massive amount of information passing through, and act as moderators and overseers of any discussions or engagements. This is a key element of modern Gallente democracy, with citizen-users capable of organizing entire revolutions through these virtual channels. Governmental transparency and accountability is relatively higher in the Federation thanks to citizen participation in these digital arenas.

Virtual entertainment is an off-shoot of the above, varying from inserting oneself as the protagonist of a computer game or as a background character in a feature movie, to living in an alternate reality. For enhancing the feedback of the experience (especially for sexual purposes), narcotics are sometimes used, as a way to tune the body in perfectly with the simulcra present in the encounter.

Comfort enhancement

Enhancing individual comfort with technology is identifiably Luminaire in origin, setting the standard for products such as luxury planetary vehicles. In hostile environments like space, the Gallente often seek to provide the illusion of not being in that environment at all, believing this to generally improve the inhabitants' welfare and happiness. Gallente-designed space stations and underwater cities often emulate planetside environments. They can house entire skyscrapers, townhouses and apartments similar to planetside dwellings, and streets or highways for hovercars. A handful of Gallente space station designs are constructed around massive biodomes, which house entire cities in a natural climate and ecology. Only the richest of inhabitants of such a station could ever dream to live there.

Domestic convenience is included in comfort enhancement technologies, using holographics for gesture-based manipulation of various devices and appliances remotely. Again, the specific applications of such concepts may very well be limitless in the wide Federation.

Gene therapy

It is generally considered that the Gallente have a greater understanding of genetic engineering than other groups, manifested most notoriously in practices such as the above bodymodding. However, other times, it mostly relates to pre-natal gene therapy. Well-off and expecting parents will typically invest in genetic alterations to favor certain traits and a healthy, beautiful, and fashionable child. These practices are not universal, but common enough amongst the wealthy for many to notice similarities in children born around the same date - similarities reflecting which genetics were the rage at the time.

Cloning is considered a Gallente expertise, with Poteque Pharmaceuticals holding the largest share in the clone market. Immortality and post-humanism is a major part of Gallente futurism, but the fact that the average citizen does not have access to cloning leaves such concepts a pipe dream to the masses.

Justifications

Starting in Luminaire's Information Age, the ethnic Gallente have put much stock in pursuing a concept they call the 'future society', where professionally-employed futurists engage in conceptualizing the far future or an alternate version of the near future. It is their belief that achieving a state of post-scarcity through technology is the end point and ultimate goal of an advanced civilization, including the minimization of mundane human labor, and the maximization of free time to pursue other endeavors, such as science or philosophy (or simply to just be free from commitment altogether). For this reason have the Gallente pursued automation and ease-of-living technologies. The anthropomorphizing of drones and AIs is seen as necessary in keeping a human element within this equation, lest the society become cold and detached from those who still make a living in the lesser occupations.

Though the ethnic Gallente have subscribed to the idea of the 'future society' for centuries now, they have never believed to have ever achieved it, especially true with the perception that technologies can continuously be improved. New technologies would enter the scene, altering the public mindset as they scramble to integrate that advancement into their community, sometimes creating the perception that the pursuit of the future society has been reset. That particular technology, not the previous, is suddenly considered the actual harbinger of the future society, starting the process all over again.

The slowdown of technological advances for the general populace in recent years across New Eden has only increased the desire to pursue the future society, even if millions are left unsated. With the joining of the capsule and the clone, many Gallente feel that the true future society involves all of humanity becoming immortal capsuleers. For now, the Gallente pursuit of the future society will continue to be just a pursuit. Some dismiss these individuals as dedicating their purpose in life to a pursuit of ideals that simply don't exist.

Education

Luminaire-style systems have a unique take on the value of education for its populace. Unlike in other empires, it is not simply a case of training the workforces for future employment. Rather, the level of education is seen as synonymous with the level of civilization (the Amarr have a similar approach as well, albeit with devoutness involved). These systems recognize that political democracies need an educated workforce. They believe that an individual must be encouraged (but never forced) to improve, educate, and civilize oneself, not only as personal duty, but a social one, stating that the health of a society depends upon the civilization of its members. According to this doctrine, a community which upholds this duty has begun to realize that its culture is an organic unity and its civilization a heritage.

Concept

The exact form of this particular education style is defined as the individual being politically aware, philosophically knowledgeable, and being able to constantly question the status quo. Seeing the individual as the sole actor of human civilization means that Luminaire-style education seek to discourage group think and encourage thinking for oneself. Early on, this ideology led many ethnic Gallente to have the habit of 'civilizing' smaller races, such as the Caldari, Intaki, and Mannar, via direct and sometimes heavy-handed means.

Over time, the unpopularity of this colonialist approach led to the education systems becoming its own independent force. It values political neutrality and not giving in to forces such as pressure groups. It is sometimes the case that the individualistic focus combined with academic independence leads to teachers and educational authorities pursuing their own agenda, sometimes against the government line, or more commonly because the tutor in question has their own idea of how to educate and thus civilize their students.

The emphasis on individual initiative and strong social education goes as far to influence the Federation's military culture and doctrine. While individual discipline may not be so strict as in other empire forces, having highly-educated soldiers and officers is emphasized for the purposes of having a civilized military. As the Gallente armed forces is as much a political force as it is a war machine, soldiers who know when and when not to fire their weapon is an important part of Federal foreign and defense policy.

Style

Although the systems in Gallente societies vary widely, there is a small list of Federation guidelines and directives that the central government believes are human universals when it comes to education. The Luminaire-style of education is popular, and the most successful in New Eden, with the University of Caille being the largest education institute in the cluster, and the Minmatar's Republic University being modelled off of it. It is also notable for being New Eden's longest education system, with the youngest graduation age of eighteen at the very earliest, and twenty-four at the latest.

Childhood and adolescence

In this particular system, children are largely left alone with their families for the first few years of their life. Parents are given ample government-regulated leave to spend with newborns, and childcare exists to care for older children where parents are otherwise occupied. During these years, many children spend much of their time engaged in playtime activities designed to promote individual thinking and, in better programs at least, identify any aptitudes or interests.

Primary and secondary schooling is public and free, though quality varies widely between schools serving different social strata. In poorer and/or more rowdy worlds and states, it is not uncommon for education to be handled entirely through technological means, even remotely from the home, with human teachers few and far between. At the other end of the spectrum, many private institutions exist for specialized education aimed at those who can afford it. Children focus in areas where they excel, though get grounded in other subjects as well.

Though the fundamental purpose of the Luminaire-style system has not changed much in terms of its end goal, teaching theory nonetheless cycles in and out of fashion every few years. One class of students might be encouraged to design their own lessons and set their own schedules, while another might have more traditional uniforms and set curriculums. Choice and challenge must be balanced. Regardless of setting, individual initiative is emphasized, and every child is taught the benefits and pitfalls of the freedoms in the Federation.

Higher level

A student in this system will typically graduate from both primary and secondary education at around sixteen or eighteen. Even though they are at working age in many jurisdictions, most will attend a university or academy. There are thousands of such institutes available, some run by member states, while others operate privately. The rich often enroll their children in expensive and very prestigious institutions, though in many cases a few scholarships exist at these schools for talented students of lesser means. The vast majority of students attend governmental schools or a variety of moderately-priced private colleges. It is perceived as unfair and unjust for the destitute to be excluded from education, and those from poorer societies will often enroll in a basic program at a local community training center.

Completing education at a university or academy takes from two to six years depending on the program. During this time, students not only work to future careers but often become involved in political or social groups. Students are encouraged to experiment and find the right lifestyle and career path for them.

Socialization is encouraged greatly, being viewed as an art, skill, and an absolute necessity. The rich and most elite students join secret or at least private societies, while most other students settle for a variety of fraternities, sororities, political groups, and organized social circles. It is intended that the friendships and connections formed during this time will last a student's entire life and across the stars, leading to a better connected (and thus better civilized) interstellar society overall.

Upon completion of advanced education, many graduates from this particular Gallente education style are considered full adults, far past the average age of majority in the Federation (and even further past the threshold of adulthood in most other cultures). Many join corporations or agencies at entry-level positions, while some become freelancers or emigrate to jobs in one of the other empires. Those who cannot secure quality employment join the ranks of poor laborers at their society's bottom rungs, if not the jobless and disenfranchised, where those who failed their education for whatever reason also reside. Some financial aid exist for these individuals, as social exclusion would be seen as an embarassment to the education system.

Religion

Gallente religious practices are many and varied, mostly due to the fact that there was never any universal religion or specific culture on the Gallente Prime homeworld to begin with. Many citizens in the Federation have adopted the religious beliefs of non-Luminaire cultures (such as the Amarr, Intaki, Sisters of EVE, or even the Sani Sabik) but there are several indigenous beliefs that date back to the Age of the Ancients, before the rise of the Garoun Empire. These practices have changed in countless different ways over the years, with several subsets and branches, fusing with one another or with that of foreign cultures in seemingly endless combinations.

Ancient practices

There are many ancient practices that originate from Luminaire, or those which have developed on other worlds over time (or picked up from indigenous peoples). As far as Luminaire is concerned, the four largest practices are polytheism, dualism, animism, and monotheism. Polytheism was the state religion for the Garoun Empire, and became somewhat widespread through cultural exportation (when the Empire collapsed, however, such influence diminished with it). Gallente dualism is typically based around masculine and feminine entities or beliefs, while animism tends to be founded on nature-based practices. Monotheism emerged as the least prominent of the four largest categories, as it was perceived as too restricting for an adherent of a religion to be expected to follow a deity they may have struggled to agree with on an individual basis.

Universalism and other trends

A fifth, but far from final, category is universalism. This is very popular amongst ethnic Gallente for its inclusive nature. It sees all religions and beliefs as equally valid in their approach to find the ‘truth’, and is widely perceived as fitting in with the Federation’s beliefs of tolerance and cultural diversity, even with non-religious believers. It is estimated that a slight majority of Gallente are religious in some form or another, but this tends to be a light belief in some spiritual entity or force. These Gallente would not be accounted for as religious practitioners in the traditional sense, and would only bring the topic up when specifically asked. Historic difficulties in census-taking, however, makes these estimations unreliable.

Other practices vary from planet to planet, including religions of local populations or imported from elsewhere (and likely adapted over time). The majority of these are not recorded, though the more persistent ones are. At the lowest level, including very rural and undeveloped areas, these are causes for religious conflict and sectarian violence, something the Federation is quick to keep a lid on. At the highest level, such as in space, new creeds can appear and disappear regularly, usually incorporating elements of previously existing religions or philosophies and combining them in new ways.

Secular cynics are often dismissive of these new religions, seeing them as run by opportunists who wish to exploit innocent spiritual seekers. While this is certainly not unheard of, it is nonetheless true that in a considerable number of cases, these religions are insitituted and run by people who genuinely believe they have found "the truth". Though many and varied, these types of religions share some characteristics, mostly that they are neither very strict nor formal, as a general rule focusing more on the individual and their happiness rather than rules or dogmas that serve the institution.

Language

The Gallente language (simply called Gallente) is one of the official languages of the Federation. It is, by far, the most commonly used in government channels, particularly in space, though it is not used in territories with a majority of speakers of another primary language.

Roots

Gallente has its origins in the language of the Kingdom of Central Garoun, known as Garouni. When the homeworld was globalized, Garouni developed as the lingua franca of Gallente Prime, becoming the official language of the International Space Cooperative, the Organization for Foreign Planetary Development, and later the Federation itself (by which point, it was known as Gallente).

Even if the main languages of the other major signatories were recognized as official, Gallente was the most commonly used due to their early domination in the Senate, as well as their homeworld's original monopoly on the entertainment industry. The pre-Federation Gallente nations on both the homeworld and other planets retained their languages domestically.

Gallente has proven the most adaptable and changeable than any other primary language in New Eden, as a necessary requirement for it to become as widespread amongst as many different peoples as possible. It has incorporated elements of other major tongues for the purposes of simplicity, and has effectively become a hybrid language over the centuries. Many Gallente linguists ensure that the language is not too simplified, as they feel it is necessary to retain the cultural flair of the language in order to demonstrate its uniqueness (and thus superiority) to other peoples and languages.

Early attempts to homogenize language in the Federation by the early, more colonialist administrations ultimately failed, and the government has long capitulated on the issue. Those who can speak or understand the interstellar dialect of Gallente are in the minority (around 20%-40% of the Federation's population). Attempts to teach the language within planetary educational curriculums are mostly half-hearted and very lax, as there is little need to speak Gallente in these communities.

Prevalance

Counting both native and non-native speakers, interstellar Gallente is the second largest language in all of New Eden by a very large margin after Amarr, thanks to the Federation's massive entertainment industry, as well as their extensive diplomatic and economic influence. It is the most common second language in New Eden otherwise. There are more speakers of interstellar Gallente outside the Federation than inside it.

For a long time, Gallente has battled with Amarr as the second language in the Minmatar Republic since the end of the Rebellion, originally touted to eventually exceed its competitor. The influx of ex-slaves into the Republic after Empress Jamyl I's emancipation order has thrown Amarr into a slight majority as the second most common language, at least for now.

Speakers of interstellar Gallente are found most commonly in space (such as on stations), as it is the official language amongst starship captains and traffic controllers in the Federation. Interstellar government administrations and corporations also require this form of Gallente to be spoken, or any other organization that operates across multiple planets. Because of this, any citizen who wishes to make a living in a space, learning Gallente is almost compulsory. It is also the dominant language on GalNet and FTL channels, which goes a long way to spreading the amount of fluent speakers both inside and outside the Federation.

Most ethnic Gallente speak the dialect or language local to their place of birth. This includes the language spoken by immigrants from outside of the Federation (who may or may not have formed a majority in their respective territory), the language and dialects of the indigenous population they may have settled alongside as a minority, or the language of another Federation ethnic group.

Alternatively, ethnic Gallente may speak the language of their original home nation back on Gallente Prime, having evolved as an independent dialect over the centuries since colonization. As the Federation has countless more languages than any other nation, these Gallente will learn the common dialect to interact with one another over GalNet, FTL, or any other medium.

Major entertainment corporations that operate across planets and/or across empires (such as Impetus or Egonics Inc.) create products in the four main interstellar languages of the Federation. Internationally, however, these products always use Gallente, as a way to export the language far and wide. Domestic corporations will seek to cater to local languages and dialects, and also work on translating major Gallente language productions for sub-planetary markets.

Identity

One of the most important sociological questions in the Federation (if not all of New Eden, due to its unique instance) is what constitutes a Gallente, even an ethnic one. As far as the Federal government is concerned, any registered citizen of the nation is considered a Gallente, though most feel this is a rather simplistic approach for the purposes of bureaucratic ease.

Origins of the term

The original word came about to identify the ethnicities of Gallente Prime from those of the Caldari homeworld (by the captain of the first expedition, on her own accord), and then later the Intaki, Mannar, and other minor races. The word is thus one of nationality, and not necessarily ethnicity.

The disproportionate level of influence the Gallente homeworld had in early Federation politics meant that the individual nation-states and ethnicities were mostly overlooked. Over time, the Luminaire habit of cultural melting pots began to dominate the interstellar communities in the Federation, this style of social mixing being identified as Gallente in origin (for instance, the other races were not so open to interracial marriages and relationships as the Gallente were). After first contact, the Amarr Empire simply labelled all citizens of the Federation as Gallente, regardless of ethnicity.

The use of the ‘ethnic’ prefix is thus a relatively recent one, having come about in the past one to two hundred years. Though intermixing between the Gallente and other races in the Federation has been in practice for centuries, the shift in the meaning of the word ‘Gallente’ to not just refer to those from the Luminaire homeworld encouraged the use of the ‘ethnic’ prefix for differentiation.

It does not particularly make a difference to the contemporary Caldari or Amarr, who tend to look at the Federation as a homogeneous entity. The multi-ethnic Minmatar, however, are more acutely aware and appreciative of the similarly multi-ethnic Federation, especially the Gallente Prime homeworld, which never had one racial group dominate.

Issues

However, the question is not answered simply by using the ethnic identifier. It does not take into account the various ethnic groups of the Gallente Prime homeworld, where there are some who prefer their pre-Federation nationalities over the modern one. Moreover, the immigrant culture compounds the problem further.

As mentioned before, a citizen who identifies as ethnic Gallente may have one parent who does not descend from Luminaire, or is from outside the Federation altogether, while another individual who is not native to the empire at all may identify themselves as purely Gallente, particularly second generation immigrants and beyond. Within the world of employment, many candidates of minor bloodlines commonly identify as ethnic Gallente to make their application process much more simplified, as there is no cultural or legal ramifications for doing so.

In addition, the long history with the Caldari means that many ethnic Gallente may be able to trace some sort of Civire or Deteis lineage in their history. The same applies to Intaki and Mannar lineages, though less so with the Jin-Mei due to the relatively shorter time since first contact. With all of this in mind, it is often the case that the term ‘ethnic Gallente’ is used to identify a citizen who is not purely a descendant of any of the other major ethnicities in the Federation.

This freedom to self-identity on own’s one terms is constitutionally protected in the Federation, but critics both inside and outside the nation are not so enthusiastic about the idea. To them, the fact that anyone can call themselves Gallente or ethnic Gallente represents a very sinister method of cultural imperialism and assimilation, eradicating the identity of traditional cultures and peoples, simply labelling it with a term that originated from a single planet, and not one that was developed as a consensus between multiple ethnicities (such as Minmatar, for example).

In response, counter-arguments state that the term ‘Gallente’ can no longer be associated with the Luminaire homeworld, noting the vast immigrant population of Gallente Prime, and the resultant loss of some ancient and traditional practices. To these proponents, the word Gallente has become a universal term for any idea or practice associated with the Federation. That said, while Gallente Prime no longer has disproportionate political or legal influence, it still holds a place as a ‘cultural heart’ of the Federation, being the ultimate destination for many prospective migrants to the empire.

Localism

With the above in mind, it is very common for ethnic Gallente to identify by their local community or birthplace to others in the Federation, be it village, town, continent, planet, or system. This is particularly true on worlds that were colonized by multiple parties, requiring each group to differentiate themselves from one another. This is sometimes a source of competition, where the separate groups of colonists will attempt to outperform one another in establishing their new homes.

All in all, the fluid, open and changing definition of the term Gallente, even ethnic Gallente, has resulted in a never-ending debate amongst both supporters and opponents of the Federation, unique in the sense that mostly all other races in New Eden have a much more rigid definition of their ethnic terms.

Diaspora

Moreso than any other race in New Eden, the Gallente have a boundless appetite for colonizing new worlds and braving the frontier for no particular reason other than the natural compulsion to do so. They do not venerate their homeworld in the same way as other races do, and many see the ancestral birthplace as nothing more than a cradle to depart from.

In addition, the pursuit of one’s own destiny and vision has led many to find a new world and establish their own homesteads, building a new society without the flaws of the one they had left behind. Millions of these individuals have diverged so far from their original roots, that they are only Gallente by virtue of citizenship.

Beyond the frontier

It is for the above reason, then, that the ethnic Gallente’s zest for exploration and frontier colonization has not been limited to within Federation territory, and have sought to settle on worlds beyond the boundaries of empire space, faster than other peoples due to the fact space travel became much more common for the average Gallente citizen far earlier than elsewhere.

It is estimated that individuals of Gallente descent are the second-largest ethnic group in nullsec space after Minmatar, the former lacking any cultural grounding that would otherwise disallow or discourage them from migrating out of the nation. The other empires’ disinclination to allowing immigrants within their borders means that Gallente who wish to leave the Federation for truly unrestricted fortunes find themselves heading to the outer regions instead.

Mining communities are the most common type of Gallente settlements in nullsec space, by far, due to the cultural stock that particular occupation has to the Gallente. Most hope to strike it rich by establishing extraction colonies, either to sell back home in the Federation, or to cater to the various factions within the null-security frontier.

In other empires

There are plenty of ethnic Gallente individuals to be found in the other three empires of New Eden. There is a considerable number of expatriates within the State, mostly composed of Gallente who fill in occupations the Caldari generally do not bother themselves with (though are nonetheless somewhat necessary), such as chefs and entertainers. There are also plenty of wealthy and established businesspeople who seek greater riches within the ultracapitalistic corporate melee.

A number of State-born ethnic Gallente are accounted for as natural citizens as well, being the second largest racial minority after the Achura. Like with many non-Caldari in the State, they are often subject to discrimination and indirect persecution. Many met a fatal end at the hands of other citizens during Tibus Heth’s invasion of Luminaire in YC110, after invoking civil unrest once news of the violence had became widespread.

In the Minmatar Republic and Amarr Empire, the same pattern regarding the occupations of expatriates apply. Traders and wealthy executives are naturally common, with a high number of investment bankers and financiers in the Republic in particular. In both of these empires, there is a large number of charity and humanitarian aid workers for non-profit and/or non-governmental organizations who have taken up semi-permanent residence. These individuals tend to work for the benefit of slaves and ex-slaves. Some even decide to live alongside Holders to ensure humane practices are maintained. Full citizens of ethnic Gallente descent in either empire are virtually non-existent, due to cultural and institutional factors.

There is a number of ethnic Gallente slaves within the Khanid Kingdom, the Dark Amarr having their traditional sources of indentured services denied to them, forcing them to take anyone they can get. "Legal" Khanid slave raids into the Federation officially ended when the Kingdom joined CONCORD Illegal raids by independent slavers still continued after this, mostly unabated despite pressures from both the Federation and CONCORD. These slaves are only ethnic Gallente by their genetic history, having been subject to a couple of generations worth of cultural indoctrination.

See Also

• Ethnic Gallente
• Culture of the ethnic Gallente
• History of the ethnic Gallente
• Gallente
• Chronicle: Her Painted Selves
• Chronicle: Language Translators
• Chronicle: Taught Thoughts
• Chronicle: The Ever-Turning Wheels
• Chronicle: The Khanid Kingdom