(06-14-2015, 05:12 PM)Nero Wrote: My objection to the word choice is based off the literal definition of "unique", that is, something that is completely one-of-a-kind in every facet. I don't particularly like the usage of the word because you're absolutely right: there is practically nothing in human culture--and by extension, human fiction--that is unique by its purely technical definition, which is exactly what I avoid that word, and instead would rather use the word "distinctive" or describe something by its characteristics rather than saying it's unique. Something that says that "This is the ways in which it differs from others", without saying "This is totally unlike anything else".
Good point~ Even so, one could argue that the combination of qualities and individual ideas is what makes the tribe unique. Once more, it depends on how deep you want to go (and if you want to get into the whole cultural/modern definition vs literal dictionary definition argument). I will agree, however, that "distinctive" is a much better choice for writing and will make sure to change it! Thank you once again for being so thorough~