h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think that the names given to the characters in English are better chosen than those in French. In general, they are descriptive of the characters as well as being jokes.

For example, the Druid is Panoramix in French, nothing to do with Druids, while he is Getafix in English, which describes his habit of making up powerful potions.

Similarly, the Bard is Assurancetourix (All-Risk Insurance) in French, while in English he is Cacofonix (Obnoxious noise).

The Welsh names are good, too.

The Druid is Cycrymalix(?) a reference to 'Cryman'/'Sickle' which of course he carries with him at all times.
The Bard (or should I say 'Bardd'!) is called Odlgymix a reference to 'Odl Gymysg'/'Mixed Rhyme' - a very appropriate name!
The chief is Einharweinix - 'Our Leader'.

With no book to hand I'm not exactly sure of the spellings they chose, or of the other character's names. Oddly, though, I can remember the Roman camps around the village - Bolatenae/Thinbelly, Cloclarwm/Alarm Clock, Bagiautrwm/Heavy bags and Ariole/After Him.

I've always thought the French names seemed rather irrelevant... apart from Agecanonix and Abraracourcix.

AQUARIUM & COMPENDIUM ARE OBVIOUS...

BUT WHAT ARE 'TOTORUM' & 'LAUDANUM'????

Totorum is from "Tot of rum", a thing that sailors and soldiers used to get as a reward for occassion acts beyond their call of duty.

Laudanum was a drug used for something, I can't remember what. I think it's been long-since banned, or it has another name.

THANKS FOR THAT...

I PREFER 'MARCUS GINANTONICUS'
'CRISMUS BONUS'
'GENERAL ELECTRIC'
'ORTHAPEADIX'
'INFLUENZA'
'UNHEIGEINIX'
HIS WIFE 'BACTERIA'
'NOSEPIX'
'FINGERLIX'
'CHOCCYBIX'
!!!!!!!!!!

Laudanum was a dilute mixture of morphine that rich people used to take and be addicted to when they suffered from "melancholy".

That's the one!

Would I have seen it mentioned in Dickens somewhere?