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From 'dada' to Darth Vader – why the way we name fathers reminds us we spring from the same well

  • Written by Valerie M. Fridland, Professor of Linguistics, University of Nevada, Reno
imageEven supervillains need the odd day off.Katja Ogrin/Redferns via Getty Images

Movie legend has it that the identity of Luke Skywalker’s father was always hiding in plain sight – well, at least through a subtle naming clue. “Darth Vader” does, after all, have a distinct paternal ring to it linguistically. Indeed, had the big...

Read more: From 'dada' to Darth Vader – why the way we name fathers reminds us we spring from the same well

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