The Ferengi (pronounced [fɛ'rɛŋgi]) are a fictional extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe. The universal translator is a fictional device common to many Science fiction works especially on television Fiction is the telling of stories which are not real More specifically fiction is an imaginative form of Narrative, one of the four basic Rhetorical modes. See also List of extraterrestrials in fiction In Popular cultures Life forms -especially intelligent life forms that are of extraterrestrial They first appeared in "The Last Outpost", the fifth episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987, during which they made first contact with the United Federation of Planets in 2364 on the planet Delphi Ardu, though they had been mentioned in the series' pilot, "Encounter at Farpoint". " The Last Outpost " is a first-season episode of Star Trek The Next Generation. Star Trek The Next Generation ( STTNG or TNG) is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning science fiction television program created by Gene Roddenberry Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) The United Federation of Planets, (also known as the "The Federation" or UFP) is a fictional interplanetary state depicted in the Star Trek " Encounter at Farpoint " is the first episode of Star Trek The Next Generation. They and their culture are characterized by a mercantile obsession with profit and trade and their constant efforts to swindle people into bad deals. Mercantilism is the idea that a colony should export more goods than it imports and that a colony should sell at higher prices and buy at lower prices They are also known for their business acumen and for exploiting females. Misogyny (mɪˈsɒdʒɪni is hatred (or contemptof women Misogyny is parallel to Misandry — the hatred of men Notable Ferengi characters include Quark, Rom, Nog, Ishka, Zek, and Brunt. Quark, son of Keldar and Ishka, is a Fictional character in the television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, played by Armin Shimerman Rom is a recurring character on Star Trek Deep Space Nine. He is played by Max Grodénchik. NOG may refer to NOG mouse Nogales International Airport (Mexico N-Oxalylglycine This article lists characters in the various canonical incarnations of Star Trek. This is a list of minor characters from the Science fiction television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine. This is a list of minor characters from the Science fiction television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine.

Their home planet, Ferenginar (or, non-canon Ferengal), is the center of the Ferengi Alliance and is governed by the Grand Nagus and a Commerce Authority made primarily of the Council of Economic Advisors (formerly Board of Liquidators). The Ferengi (pronounced) are a Fictional extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe Like most of their culture, their religion is also based on principles of capitalism: they offer prayers and monetary offerings to a Blessed Exchequer in hopes of entering the Divine Treasury upon death, and fear an afterlife spent in the Vault of Eternal Destitution.

Concept and creation

The Ferengi were originally meant to replace the Klingons as the Federation's arch-rival, but viewers could not see the ridiculous creatures as posing any kind of consistent threat. Star Trek is a Science fiction Television series created by Gene Roddenberry that aired from September 8, 1966 through This is a complete list of Star Trek The Original Series episodes Star Trek The Animated Series (also known as The Animated Adventures of Gene Roddenberry 's Star Trek) is an Emmy Award winning This is a list of Star Trek The Animated Series episodes' The 22 episodes of the series were originally aired on NBC Star Trek The Next Generation ( STTNG or TNG) is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning science fiction television program created by Gene Roddenberry This is the complete episode listing for Star Trek The Next Generation. The following is a complete list of episode descriptions for Star Trek Deep Space Nine, in broadcast order This is an episode list for the Science fiction Drama Star Trek Voyager. Star Trek Enterprise (simply titled Enterprise prior to season three is a Science fiction Television program created by Brannon This list of Star Trek Enterprise episodes is accompanied by each episode's original airdate on UPN in the United States, along with its Star Trek The Motion Picture is a 1979 Science fiction film from Paramount Pictures. Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan is the second feature film based on the Star Trek Science fiction Television series, following Star Trek III The Search for Spock ( Paramount Pictures, 1984) is the third feature Film based on the Star Trek Star Trek IV The Voyage Home ( Paramount Pictures, 1986) is the fourth feature Film based on the Star Trek Science fiction Star Trek V The Final Frontier ( Paramount Pictures, 1989) is the fifth feature Film based on the Star Trek Science Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country is the sixth feature film based on the Star Trek Science fiction Television series. Star Trek Generations is a 1994 Science fiction film and the seventh feature film based on the Star Trek science fiction television Star Trek First Contact is a 1996 Science fiction film and the eighth feature film based in the ''Star Trek'' fictional universe Star Trek Insurrection is a 1998 Science fiction feature film the ninth based on the Star Trek television series Star Trek Nemesis ( 2002) is the tenth feature Film based on the Star Trek television series Star Trek is a Science fiction film directed by J J Abrams and written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. This is a list of sentient species and races from the Fictional universe of Star Trek. The United Federation of Planets, (also known as the "The Federation" or UFP) is a fictional interplanetary state depicted in the Star Trek In the Star Trek Science fiction universe Humans/Terrans ( Homo sapiens) are one of the races undertaking interstellar travel Vulcans are a Humanoid species in the fictional Star Trek universe who hail from the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt Romulans are an alien species in the Star Trek universe that are related to the Vulcans and are at war or in an uneasy truce with the United Federation of In the Star Trek universe the Q Continuum is an extradimensional plane of existence inhabited by a race of extremely powerful hyper-intelligent beings known as Klingons ( Klingon: tlhIngan; Pronunciation /ˈt͡ɬɪŋɑn/ are a warrior race in the fictional Star Trek universe Cardassians are a spacefaring race in the fictional Star Trek universe Bajorans, a race of Humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe were introduced in the Next Generation series and played The Borg are a fictional pseudo- race of Cyborgs depicted in the Star Trek franchise In the fictional Star Trek universe the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races The Mirror Universe (MU is a Fictional parallel universe in which the plots of several Star Trek television episodes take place The Star Trek franchise has produced a large number of novels comic books video games and other materials which are generally considered non-canon. Star Trek Phase II was a planned television series based on the characters of Gene Roddenberry 's Star Trek. This is a list of the various Star Trek novels novelisations short story collections that have been published since 1968 The Star Fleet Universe (SFU is the variant of the Star Trek Fictional universe detailed in the series of Star Fleet Battles games ( The Star Trek Customizable Card Game is a Collectible card game based on the Star Trek universe The enduring popularity of the Star Trek science fiction franchise has led to numerous games in many different formats beginning in 1967 with a Board game based on the This article deals with fan-made productions using elements of the Star Trek franchise Star Trek The Experience was a themed attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, based on the Star Trek The Star Trek canon is usually defined as comprising the television series ''Star Trek'', Star Trek The Next Generation, Star Trek Deep Space This article lists characters in the various canonical incarnations of Star Trek. This article describes the Starfleet organization in the Star Trek universe for other uses see Starfleet (disambiguation In the Fictional universe The below is an abridged Timeline of events established in the group of Television shows and Feature films set in the Fictional Star Trek universe The fictional Star Trek universe includes several spacegoing species and groups listed in the articles linked below Borg starships This is a list of the fictional Star Trek universe's Starfleet ships organized by Ship class. In the fictional Star Trek universe the Planet Classification System is a system developed by the United Federation of Planets to categorize Planets The science-fiction media franchise Star Trek has borrowed freely from the scientific world to provide storylines In the Fictional universe of Star Trek, the Prime Directive, Starfleet 's General Order #1 is the most prominent guiding principle of the Law in Star Trek refers to the legal procedures and processes as seen in the Star Trek Fictional universe. Memory Alpha (often abbreviated to MA) is a Wiki that is an encyclopedic reference for topics related to the Star Trek fictional universe Star Trek is one of the most culturally influential television shows – and perhaps the most influential science fiction TV series – in history Trekkie (or Trekker) is a term used to describe a fan of all or part of the Star Trek Fictional universe. " Where No Man Has Gone Before " is the second pilot episode of the Television series Star Trek (later known as Star Trek Sexuality in Star Trek refers to the wide range of sexual practices seen in the Star Trek franchise Klingons ( Klingon: tlhIngan; Pronunciation /ˈt͡ɬɪŋɑn/ are a warrior race in the fictional Star Trek universe Thus, Paramount scrapped them as true threats, and they were usually shown on Star Trek: The Next Generation as being somewhat of a one-dimensional nuisance, and plots involving them were usually comedic ones. Comedy (from the Greek κωμωδίαkomodia has a popular meaning (any discourse generally intended to amuse especially in Television, Film, and The main arch-rival for the Federation would instead turn out to be the Borg. The Borg are a fictional pseudo- race of Cyborgs depicted in the Star Trek franchise

In "Encounter at Farpoint" the Bandi leader Groppler Zorn is the first to mention the Ferengi when he threatens to sell Farpoint Station to them, to which Picard said he hoped the Ferengi found the Bandi as tasty as their last associates. " Encounter at Farpoint " is the first episode of Star Trek The Next Generation. Oddly enough, internal references in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine made it clear that the Klingons and the Cardassians had been interacting with the Ferengi for years prior to Encounter at Farpoint, yet apparently the Federation never received information about the Ferengi in data exchanges with either race. " Encounter at Farpoint " is the first episode of Star Trek The Next Generation. In internal Star Trek chronology, however, the earliest known reference to the race occurs in the 2002 Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Dear Doctor", when, in 2151, a Valakian astronaut that encounters the crew of the Enterprise (NX-01) mentions the Ferengi in passing, but the Enterprise crew do not recognize the name. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Star Trek Enterprise (simply titled Enterprise prior to season three is a Science fiction Television program created by Brannon " Dear Doctor " is the twelfth episode (production #113 of the Television series Star Trek Enterprise. The 22nd century of the Common Era will span the years 2101&ndash2200 of the Gregorian calendar. The Enterprise (NX-01 is a fictional Starship in the Science fiction Television series Star Trek Enterprise. The crew would encounter the Ferengi themselves later that season in "Acquisition", but would never learn the name of their race, and thus not make the connection with the race mentioned by the Valalkian astronaut. Acquisition is the 18th episode (production #119 of the Television series Star Trek Enterprise.

Star Trek: The Next Generation first featured the three original Ferengi in the episode entitled "The Last Outpost". " The Last Outpost " is a first-season episode of Star Trek The Next Generation. The original three Ferengi names were Letek (played by Armin Shimerman), Mordoc, and Kayron. Armin Shimerman (born November 5, 1949) is an American actor who was born and raised in Lakewood, New Jersey. Armin Shimerman (born November 5, 1949) is an American actor who was born and raised in Lakewood, New Jersey.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was the series that focused the most on the Ferengi. Armin Shimerman joined the regular cast of the show as Ferengi bartender Quark. Armin Shimerman (born November 5, 1949) is an American actor who was born and raised in Lakewood, New Jersey. Quark, son of Keldar and Ishka, is a Fictional character in the television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, played by Armin Shimerman Other Ferengi also appeared on the show, most notably Quark's brother Rom (Max Grodenchik) and Rom's son Nog (Aron Eisenberg). Rom is a recurring character on Star Trek Deep Space Nine. He is played by Max Grodénchik. Max Grodénchik (born November 12 1966 also known as Michael Grodénchik, is an American actor NOG may refer to NOG mouse Nogales International Airport (Mexico N-Oxalylglycine Aron Eisenberg (born January 6, 1969 in Hollywood California) is an actor best known for his role as Nog on Star Trek Deep Space Nog would later become the first ever Ferengi in Starfleet. NOG may refer to NOG mouse Nogales International Airport (Mexico N-Oxalylglycine This article describes the Starfleet organization in the Star Trek universe for other uses see Starfleet (disambiguation In the Fictional universe Deep Space Nine, therefore, featured many episodes that centered around the Ferengi and explored their culture in depth. It was on Deep Space Nine that Ferenginar was first seen.

Etymology

"Ferengi" and similar terms are Arabic names for European traders, or for Westerners in general. Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Both the Arabic word and the name are similarly pronounced [fɛˈrɪŋɡi]. The name is likely derived from the Arabic word faranj or ifranj, "Franks", or possibly the Persian word farangi, meaning "foreigner". Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language The Franks or Frankish people (Franci or gens Francorum) were West Germanic tribes first identified in the 3rd century as an Ethnic group Farangi is a term for foreigners in Persian, possibly linked to the Franks. In Ethiopia, ferenj or ferenji has the same meaning. NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page The Greeks sometimes use fra[n]gkoi (φράγκοι) as a mild slur against western Europeans. The term was used as a partially derogatory term in India to denote the British; however, the word is often used in an affectionate way. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Star Trek usage is derived from the above. ^[1]

"Grand Nagus" is the appellation of the Ferengi head of state. Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state The similarly pronounced "Negus", a loanword from Ethiopic languages, was up until a few decades ago the appellation of the Ethiopian head of state for several centuries / millennia. For other uses see Negus (disambiguation Negus ( Ge'ez gez ንጉሥ, Amharic; cf Ge'ez (ግዕዝ, ɡɨʕɨz also transliterated Gi'iz, and referred to as Ethiopic) is an ancient South Semitic Language NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page It comes from the Afro-Asiatic (Semitic) root verb for reign, "N-G-Ś". The Afro-Asiatic languages constitute a Language family with about 375 languages ( SIL estimate and more than 300 million speakers spread throughout North Africa In Linguistics and Ethnology, Semitic (from the Biblical " Shem " Hebrew שם translated as "name" Arabic: ساميّ

Anatomy

The Ferengi are a humanoid species, somewhat smaller than humans, usually reaching approximately five feet in height. The term " humanoid " refers to any being whose body structure resembles that of a Human. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus They have unusually large ears, which are more pronounced in males than in females, giving them an excellent sense of hearing. The ear is the sense organ that detects Sounds The Vertebrate ear shows a common biology from Fish to Humans with variations They have lobed foreheads, large, ribbed noses, ascending ribs, upper and lower lungs, and a four-lobed brain that cannot be read by the telepathic powers of Betazoids or Vulcans. In Vertebrate Anatomy, ribs ( Latin costae) are the long curved Bones which form the ribcage. lung is the essential Respiration organ in air-breathing Animals including most Tetrapods a few Fish and a few Snails The most primitive The brain is the center of the Nervous system in animals All Vertebrates and the majority of Invertebrates have a brain Telepathy is a common plot element in the Star Trek universe Several recurring species such as the Vulcans and Betazoids exhibit telepathic In the fictional Star Trek universe Betazoids are a sentient humanoid species from the Planet Betazed, a member of the United Federation Vulcans are a Humanoid species in the fictional Star Trek universe who hail from the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt Data once mentioned Ferengi being stronger than humans; however, in later episodes they are usually shown as being significantly weaker than the average human. Lieutenant Commander Data, played by actor Brent Spiner, is a character in the Star Trek Fictional universe. The ears, at least in males, are erogenous zones; Ferengi are seen to take sensual delight when their ears are stimulated, described by the word umox ("oo-mox". An erogenous zone is an area of the Human body that has heightened Sensitivity and stimulation of which normally results in sexual response. ) The Ferengi also colloquially use the word lobes much as the word balls is used in modern English (as in, "I didn't think you had the lobes for that!!"). Ferengi teeth resemble jagged spikes, and they use a hand-held "tooth sharpener" to maintain them.

Culture

A trio of Ferengi

The Ferengi originate from the planet Ferenginar, in the center of the Ferengi Alliance located in the Alpha Quadrant. In the television series Star Trek and its spin-offs Galactic quadrant refers to an area of the Milky Way Galaxy (although it's apparently no longer called Precisely what the Ferengi Alliance consisted of was never revealed; it may simply encompass Ferenginar and any uninhabited planets that the Ferengi have colonized, since there was little indication that the Ferengi government exercised authority over any species other than its own (save perhaps the Huyperians).

Most of the rules were written by Ira Steven Behr, a producer of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and he has published many of them in a book The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition (ISBN 0-671-52936-6), the cover of which credits authorship as being "By Quark as told to Ira Steven Behr". Ira Steven Behr is an American Television producer and Scriptwriter. Additional rules were published in Legends of the Ferengi (ISBN 0-671-00728-9), by Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe. Robert Hewitt Wolfe is an American Television producer and Scriptwriter.

Ferengi culture is based entirely on commerce, and the 285 Rules of Acquisition comprise the sacred code on which all of Ferengi society is based. The Rules of Acquisition, in the Fictional They were first written down by Gint, the first Grand Nagus (the title of the leader of the Ferengi Alliance). The Ferengi (pronounced) are a Fictional extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe The title "Rules of Acquisition" was chosen as a clever marketing ploy (since the rules are merely guidelines) and Gint numbered his first rule as #162, in order to create a demand for the other 161 Rules that had not yet been created.

Ferengi culture is so devoted to unregulated capitalism that concepts such as labor unions, sick leave, vacations, or paid overtime for workers are considered abhorrent, because they would interfere with exploitation of workers. Capitalism is the Economic system in which the Means of production are owned by private Persons and operated for Profit and where A trade union or labour union is an organization of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals in key areas such as wages hours and working conditions forming In addition to the Rules, the Ferengi also recognize the five Stages of Acquisition: infatuation, justification, appropriation, obsession, and resale. The Rules of Acquisition, in the Fictional Infatuation is the state of being completely carried away by unreasoned passion or Love; addictive love They value similar traits in other species as well — Earth's Wall Street is regarded with religious reverence by Ferengi, who routinely visit Earth to make pilgrimages to the "holy site" of commerce and business. Wall Street is a street in lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. (Star Trek: Voyager episode "11:59")

The quest for profit even reaches into Ferengi religion – similar to the prosperity gospel taught in some Christian circles, it is common for Ferengi to pray for financial success. " 1159 " is an episode of Star Trek Voyager, the 23rd episode of the fifth season Prosperity theology is the teaching that an authentic religious belief and behavior in a person will result in their material prosperity The Ferengi believe in an afterlife which is based on the profit earned in life. There are two possible eternal fates: for the successful, the Divine Treasury or Golden Treasury lies ahead (provided one can bribe one's way in); the financial failures spend eternity in the Vault of Eternal Destitution, or Debtor's Dungeon.

Until the episodes "Ferengi Love Songs" (in which it was revealed that Ishka, the mother of Quark and Rom, had become romantically involved with Grand Nagus Zek), and "Profit and Lace", the laws and society of the Ferengi were extremely harsh towards its women. This article lists characters in the various canonical incarnations of Star Trek. This is a list of minor characters from the Science fiction television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine. Female Ferengi were forbidden to make profit, wear clothes, talk to strangers, or travel without the permission of the eldest male of the family. Ferengi women traditionally softened food for members of their family by chewing it, and selling one's mother for gold-pressed latinum, the principal form of legal tender, is an act that would be looked on with admiration in Ferengi society.

By the time of Deep Space Nine's penultimate series episode, The Dogs of War, it was indicated that Ferengi capitalism was coming under greater regulation, with historic changes being made with respect to things such as female rights, universal health care, workers' rights, etc. " The Dogs of War " is an episode from the finale arc of Star Trek Deep Space Nine, the eighth of the ten final chapters Capitalism is the Economic system in which the Means of production are owned by private Persons and operated for Profit and where Universal health care is health care coverage which is extended to all eligible residents of a governmental region Zek's appointment of Rom to be his successor as Grand Nagus suggests that this trend will likely continue, given that Rom was long-depicted as more liberal, compassionate, and sensitive than more traditional Ferengi such as Quark.

Ferengi males are neither buried nor cremated when they die. Rather, the dying male puts his body up for auction to the highest bidder and the dead body is carved up into little pieces that are vacuum-desiccated, preserved and packaged for sale as mementos of a worthy life. (In one DS9 episode, Constable Odo expresses an interest, when the time comes, in buying Quark's remains. Odo, played by René Auberjonois, is a main character on the science fiction television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine. Quark, son of Keldar and Ishka, is a Fictional character in the television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, played by Armin Shimerman )

A subset of the Ferengi culture are known as Eliminators, and they routinely hire themselves out as assassins to anyone willing to pay for their services. Most Ferengi, however, view Eliminators as eccentric at best (since Eliminators appear to enjoy the sport of killing more than the profits gained thereby) or dangerous psychopaths at worst (killing potential customers, which is not good for business), and avoid them whenever possible.

An important component of Ferengi cooking appears to be insects and other small invertebrates. Some, such as tube grubs and gree worms, are nearly always served alive (like the Klingon dish gagh), while others are served jellied or in a juice form. Klingons ( Klingon: tlhIngan; Pronunciation /ˈt͡ɬɪŋɑn/ are a warrior race in the fictional Star Trek universe Popular beverages include Eelwasser and Slug-O-Cola. The cuisine of the Ferengi has achieved little acceptance among other cultures, with a few notable exceptions. Ferengi invented the alcohol substitute synthehol, and the alcoholic drink "black hole" is popular among some non-Ferengi.

Outside of Ferenginar, many Ferengi enjoy the food of other cultures in addition to traditional Ferengi cuisine, and have integrated it into their menus. However, most Ferengi have a particular distaste for human food. In several episodes of DS9, Quark expresses his extreme distaste for Root Beer, which he describes as "so bubbly, and cloying, and happy. Root beer, also known as Sarsaparilla, is a carbonated Beverage originally created from Sassafras. . . just like the Federation. " ^[2]

When welcoming guests (or perhaps Liquidators or other officials in particular) into his home, a Ferengi male will recite a traditional greeting: "Welcome to our home. Please place your thumbprint on the legal waivers and deposit your admission fee in the slot by the door. Remember, my house is my house. " The guest replies, "As are its contents. "

When a Ferengi prays or bows in reverence, he holds his hands in a bowl shape with his wrists together.

A certain branch of Ferengi government known as the Ferengi Commerce Authority are almost universally loathed by all Ferengi (especially its agents, known as Liquidators), and are possibly meant as a parody of the IRS. The Liquidator Brunt was a recurring character on Deep Space Nine, who often found himself at odds with Quark.

A notable Ferengi pastime is the strategic game Tongo, played with cards and a roulette wheel. The fictional Star Trek universe is memorable for various elements of imagined future culture including a variety of sports games and other pastimes A card game is any Game using Playing cards either traditional or game-specific Roulette is a Casino and Gambling game named after the French word meaning "small wheel" At each turn the player has the choice to "evade", "confront", "acquire", or "retreat". A Global Tongo Championship is held each year on Ferenginar.

Another Ferengi game using a similar wheel is Dabo. The fictional Star Trek universe is memorable for various elements of imagined future culture including a variety of sports games and other pastimes About ten players can sit around the dabo wheel, and each either "buys", "sells" or "converts" their gold-pressed latinum (money) in preparation for the next spin of the wheel. Proprietors who house dabo games in their establishments often employ attractive women (colloquially, "dabo girls") to run the games, entice customers to play and distract their attention.

Economics and trade

The Ferengi concept of conducting trade and business can be best described in the episode "Treachery, Faith, and the Great River". " Treachery Faith and the Great River " is a season seven episode of Star Trek Deep Space Nine that first aired on November 4 1998 It introduces the Great Material Continuum, a metaphor in Ferengi culture that describes trade as the binding force of all life in the universe, where there are "millions of worlds, all with too much of one thing and not enough of the other. " The Continuum is a river whose current flows from those who want to those who have. According to this concept, there is a finite amount of wealth and goods in the universe, and any goods taken from one part of the "river" must be appropriately replaced or paid for by other methods. Thus, one must be sufficiently knowledgeable of the wants and needs of others to properly conduct business; a Ferengi sufficiently skilled at navigating this continuum will certainly prosper and amass great wealth and power.

If a Ferengi navigates the river properly, he can accumulate wealth and distribute it throughout society, at various points along the river. This may demonstrate an important distinction, even in Ferengi culture, between selfishness and greed; Ferengi believe that greed, while essential to their concept of economics, is not inherently selfish, because the pursuit of greed serves a greater good. This is similar to the "Greed is Good" speech made by Gordon Gekko in the film Wall Street. Gordon Gekko is a Fictional character from the 1987 film Wall Street. Wall Street is a 1987 American film directed by Oliver Stone and features Charlie Sheen as a young stockbroker desperate Alternatively, the concept may demonstrate that Ferengi culture views both selfishness and greed as completely compatible with improving the wealth of the universe as a whole.

Language

In the Star Trek television shows, Ferengi, like almost every other alien race are almost always shown speaking in English, but as with other races, they are known to have their own language. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States The Deep Space Nine episode "Little Green Men" shows Ferengi speaking their own language when their Universal Translators malfunction. The universal translator is a fictional device common to many Science fiction works especially on television (In that episode, we see that Ferengi typically wear their Universal Translators implanted into their ears. ) In the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Acquisition" the script is mostly in their language until they get the Universal translator working. The universal translator is a fictional device common to many Science fiction works especially on television They are one of the few alien races whose language has been heard by the home viewer. Several episodes show examples of the Ferengi written language or script, some of them being animated on computer displays, as if they were a futuristic version of a Ferengi stock ticker. Ticker tape was used by ticker tape machines, the Ticker tape timer stock ticker machines, or just stock tickers. Ferengi writing is meant to resemble a flow chart. As a result of the rainy climate, the Ferengi language has 178 different words for "rain" and none for "crisp. "

There exists an unofficial constructed Ferengi language. A constructed or artificial language known colloquially or informally as a conlang is a Language whose Phonology, Grammar

Geography and architecture

The Tower of Commerce on Ferenginar

Their homeworld, Ferenginar is a Class M planet in the Star Trek universe, homeworld of the Ferengi and the capital of the Ferengi Alliance. A Class M planet is a fictional classification of a Planet in the Science fiction franchise Star Trek. Homeworld is a Real-time strategy (RTS Computer game released in 1999 developed by Relic Entertainment and published by Sierra The atmospherics of Ferenginar are very stable. It is almost always raining heavily, resulting in a swampy climate. A swamp is a Wetland featuring temporary or permanent inundation of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water ^[3]

Ferengi buildings are generally low, dome-shaped buildings with narrow doorless entrances. At 40 stories, the tallest building on Ferenginar is the Tower of Commerce, which is adorned with a large spire. The Tower marks the Sacred Marketplace and is home to the Grand Nagus, leader of the Ferengi Alliance. The Ferengi (pronounced) are a Fictional extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe ^[3] The 1995 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode Family Business was first to show the planet. " Family Business " is an episode of Star Trek Deep Space Nine, the 23rd episode of the third season In that episode, customs including admission fees for visitors to a person's home, charging for the use of elevators, and even seats.

Ferengi Alliance

In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Ferengi Alliance is the group of inhabited and controlled worlds located northeast of the Federation on the galactic map. It is a relatively small but very powerful group that plays a significant role in the economy of the quadrant.

The Ferengi Alliance is ultimately controlled by the Grand Nagus, followed by his subordinates in the Ferengi Commerce Authority. The ultimate aim of this group is to make profit, either through galactic expansion, acquisition (see the Rules of Acquisition), or trade. The Rules of Acquisition, in the Fictional In the past, acquisition has been gained through attacking other ships and worlds and taking anything of value. More recently it has been determined that one cannot make a profit if one is blown up, and that peaceful trade is more profitable, so this hostile approach has been eliminated on the whole.

The Ferengi Alliance operates on a strictly patriarchal society in which women are forbidden to wear clothing or leave the home, and can absolutely never make profit. There is a strong Ferengi presence around Deep Space Nine as the gateway to business in the Gamma Quadrant. The Space station Deep Space Nine ( DS9) is the main setting of the Science fiction Television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine In the television series Star Trek and its spin-offs Galactic quadrant refers to an area of the Milky Way Galaxy (although it's apparently no longer called

The Alliance remained neutral during the destructive Dominion War which laid waste to much of the Alpha Quadrant. In the Fictional Star Trek universe the Dominion War was a war between the Dominion, Cardassian Union and the Breen Confederacy In the television series Star Trek and its spin-offs Galactic quadrant refers to an area of the Milky Way Galaxy (although it's apparently no longer called The effects of the war on the Alliance are unknown, although it is likely to have suffered economic hardship with the collapse of neighboring economies.

Technology

In the Star Trek fictional universe, the D'Kora-class starship, also known as the "Marauder", is the mainstay of Ferengi vessels. " The Last Outpost " is a first-season episode of Star Trek The Next Generation. The Star Trek Fictional universe contains a very large number of weapons. The Star Trek Fictional universe contains a very large number of weapons. A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with unique background elements such as an imaginary history or geography and possibly fantasy or science Though mainly used as a tradeship, the D'Kora-class is capable in battle, carrying photon torpedoes and disruptors. The Star Trek Fictional universe contains a very large number of weapons. The Star Trek Fictional universe contains a very large number of weapons. Tactically it is about as powerful as a Galaxy-class starship, but only has half as many crew. The Galaxy class is a fictional class of Starship in the Science fiction franchise Star Trek.

Constructed by one of the Ferengi ship conglomerates, the Marauder has proven to be one of the most cost-effective vessels available. They are generally owned by the most powerful businessmen and the Ferengi Commerce Authority. The Ferengi (pronounced) are a Fictional extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe They can be customized to suit the owner's needs, including customized weapon and defensive systems; a crew can even be included during a purchase, for a price.

Though the vessels are mostly used for conventional trade (legal and illegal) around the Alpha and Gamma quadrants, some of the more powerful companies in the Ferengi Alliance use them to attack colonies or other ships, stealing technology or supplies which they can re-sell. The Ferengi (pronounced) are a Fictional extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe

Famous D'Kora-class ships include the Krayton and the Kreetchta. It was a D'Kora-class starship that Jean-Luc Picard defeated at the Battle of Maxia in 2355, while captain of the USS Stargazer (NCC-2893), using a new tactic known as the "Picard maneuver". Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character primarily portrayed by Patrick Stewart. " The Battle " is a first-season episode of Star Trek The Next Generation, first broadcast November 16, 1987. The USS Stargazer, NCC -2893 is a Federation Starship in the Fictional universe of Star Trek The Next Generation " The Battle " is a first-season episode of Star Trek The Next Generation, first broadcast November 16, 1987.

In the non-canon game Birth of the Federation, the Ferengi are seen using a number of new starships similar to the D'Kora-class. Examples include the Tokorn-class heavy raider and the Glantor-class troop transport.

The D'Kora class starship was included as a part of Decipher, Inc.'s Star Trek Customizable Card Game in the Rules of Acquisition Expansion to the First Edition. Decipher Inc is an American gaming company based in Norfolk Virginia, USA The Star Trek Customizable Card Game is a Collectible card game based on the Star Trek universe ^[4]

History

According to Star Trek writers, in ancient times the Ferengi and the Gree vied for control of their planet. Both bartered with their gods for the upper hand, until the Gree gave too much away, and became a food source for the Ferengi.

Before uniting under a Nagus, Ferenginar was divided into warring Commerce Zones. This was known as the "Barter Age. "

In about the 9th Millennium B.C. Gint started writing the Rules of Acquisition laying the basis for Ferengi society. The Rules of Acquisition, in the Fictional

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode Little Green Men, set in 1947, featured a Ferengi craft from the 2370s (carrying Quark, Rom, Nog and Odo) crashed in Roswell, New Mexico. " Little Green Men " is an episode of the Television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, the eighth episode of the fourth season Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Quark, son of Keldar and Ishka, is a Fictional character in the television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, played by Armin Shimerman Rom is a recurring character on Star Trek Deep Space Nine. He is played by Max Grodénchik. NOG may refer to NOG mouse Nogales International Airport (Mexico N-Oxalylglycine Odo, played by René Auberjonois, is a main character on the science fiction television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine. Roswell is a city in and the County seat of Chaves County in the southeastern quarter of the state of New Mexico, United States. New Mexico ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States of America. This was humanity's first contact with the Ferengi, although "officially" the record showed that the crashed alien ship was actually a weather balloon.

At some point between 1947 and 2151, the Ferengi purchased warp drive from the Breen. Warp drive is a form of Faster-than-light propulsion in the Fictional universe of Star Trek, capable of propelling spacecraft or objects to many multiples The Breen are a fictional extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek Science fiction franchise The technology was traded by a single Breen in exchange for ownership of several ice comets in the Ferengi solar system, as well as a small ice moon and all the Arctic regions on Ferenginar itself. The Breen then departed Ferengi space, never to return. It is a common Ferengi myth that he took the Arctic regions with him, but since Ferengi do not like to be in cold places, none have ever gone to check.

In 2151, a group of Ferengi raiders, using a gas-deploying device, incapacitate the crew of Enterprise and try to steal everything of value. The Enterprise (NX-01 is a fictional Starship in the Science fiction Television series Star Trek Enterprise. Three crew members manage to foil the Ferengi and take back everything they stole before sending the pirates on their way, though the name of the raiders' race is never revealed to the crew.

In 2355, a (still unknown) Ferengi vessel fired on the USS Stargazer. The USS Stargazer, NCC -2893 is a Federation Starship in the Fictional universe of Star Trek The Next Generation The Federation commander, Jean-Luc Picard, returned fire, destroying the Ferengi ship, which never identified itself. Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character primarily portrayed by Patrick Stewart. The Ferengi sensationalized this incident as "The Battle of Maxia. " The Battle " is a first-season episode of Star Trek The Next Generation, first broadcast November 16, 1987. " Daimon Bok, the father of the Ferengi who captained that vessel, sought revenge on Picard, first in Next Generation's first-season episode "The Battle," and later in its seventh season, in the episode "Bloodlines. " The Battle " is a first-season episode of Star Trek The Next Generation, first broadcast November 16, 1987. " Bloodlines " is a seventh season episode of Star Trek The Next Generation. "

Notable Ferengi

• Grand Nagus Zek, leader of the Ferengi
• Quark, merchant on Deep Space Nine
• Rom, Quark's brother, Deep Space Nine engineer, Zek's successor as Grand Nagus
• Nog, Rom's son, first Ferengi in Starfleet
• Ishka, mother of Quark and Rom
• Liquidator Brunt, official of the Ferengi Commerce Authority and bane of Quark's life

Characteristics

The Ferengi realize that Humans and other species often look down on them for their ravenous profiteering and lack of independent technological or cultural achievements. This is a list of minor characters from the Science fiction television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine. Quark, son of Keldar and Ishka, is a Fictional character in the television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, played by Armin Shimerman The Space station Deep Space Nine ( DS9) is the main setting of the Science fiction Television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine Rom is a recurring character on Star Trek Deep Space Nine. He is played by Max Grodénchik. The Space station Deep Space Nine ( DS9) is the main setting of the Science fiction Television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine NOG may refer to NOG mouse Nogales International Airport (Mexico N-Oxalylglycine This article lists characters in the various canonical incarnations of Star Trek. This article lists characters in the various canonical incarnations of Star Trek. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus Profiteering is a pejorative term for the act of making a Profit by methods considered unethical. However, Ferengi often see other races as self-righteous and, as Ferengi have come into regular contact with Humans, their own self-image has improved by comparison. While their criticism that Humans took well over 6,000 years to develop a central banking system after the beginning of their civilization may seem lacking in moral force, other arguments can be more convincing. A central bank, reserve bank, or monetary authority is the entity responsible for the Monetary policy of a country or of a group of member states

• In theory, every business transaction that a Ferengi makes is governed by 285 Rules of Acquisition, though the rules themselves give the Ferengi license to cheat, steal, and bend the truth to suit their needs. The Rules of Acquisition, in the Fictional
• The Ferengi are possibly one of the least belligerent races seen in Star Trek. Although they have fought skirmishes with other races, they have never been involved in an all-out war. Even on Ferenginar, disputes were almost always settled through extending economic hegemony, rather than through military action. Hegemony (hɨˈdʒɛməni (Amer /hɨˈɡɛməni/ (Brit (ἡγεμονία hēgemonía) is a concept that has been used to describe and explain the dominance of one social A military is an Organization authorized by its Nation to use force usually including use of Weapons in defending its Country (or by attacking
• Racism is almost unknown among the Ferengi. List of racism-related topics|Racism by country Racism, by its simplest definition is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that It is unclear if there even are racial divisions among the Ferengi. Indeed, believing that a Ferengi merchant would refuse to serve anyone because of their race is almost unthinkable—there would be no profit in it. There has never been any indication that the Ferengi engaged in genocide or apartheid. Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction in whole or in part of an ethnic racial religious or national group However it must be pointed out that until the very end of the series, the Ferengi were notorious for their sexism. Sexism is the belief or attitude that one Gender or Sex is inferior to or less valuable than the other and can also refer to a Hatred or distrust towards Ferengi also believed the Federation was a "homo-sapiens only club" and practiced racial discrimination against the Ferengi. They also are known for pronouncing the human race as "hew-mon".
• Revenge and crimes of passion are nearly unknown among the Ferengi—again, they rarely see any profit in either. Revenge (also vengeance, retribution, or vendetta amongst others consists primarily of retaliation against a person or group in response A crime of passion, in popular usage refers to a crime in which the perpetrator commits a crime especially assault or Murder, against a Spouse or other loved one The Ferengi idea of revenge is more akin to the concept of schadenfreude. Schadenfreude (ˈʃaːdənˌfʁɔʏ̯də) is enjoyment taken from the misfortune of someone else Causing your enemy to lose profit, or fail to profit, is considered the best revenge.
• Despite the goal of vast accumulation of wealth, income mobility among the Ferengi seems to be quite high. See also Social mobility Economic mobility is the ability of an individual or family to improve their Economic status in relation A poor Ferengi who has the "lobes for business" will almost certainly rise to great heights. Ferengi society seems to be based on strict meritocracy, and aristocracy, nepotism, oligarchy, and dictatorship are almost unknown in Ferengi society. Meritocracy is a system of a government or another organization wherein Appointments are made and responsibilities are given based on demonstrated talent and Ability Aristocracy is a form of Government, where rule is established through an internal struggle over who has the most status and influence over society and internal relations Nepotism is the showing of favoritism toward relatives and friends based upon that relationship rather than on an objective evaluation of ability Meritocracy or suitability Oligarchy' ( Greek, Oligarkhía) is a Form of government where Political power effectively rests with a small elite segment A dictatorship is usually defined as an autocratic Form of government in which the Government is ruled by a Dictator. In fact, former Grand Nagus Zek rejected his own son, Krax, as his successor when Krax attempted to assassinate acting Grand Nagus Quark after Zek faked his own death: not because he had tried to do something morally wrong, but because Zek saw resorting to such a crude assassination attempt as the sign of an incompetent undeserving of the position.
• Despite the possible profits from nuclear power, the Ferengi never tested nuclear weapons in their atmosphere. Nuclear power is any Nuclear technology designed to extract usable Energy from atomic nuclei via controlled Nuclear reactions A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from Nuclear reactions either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. In addition, the Ferengi do not often believe in selling products that are inherently dangerous from regular use, as that would reduce their customer base. For example, the Ferengi invented synthehol for use as a harmless substitute for ethyl alcohol, and were astounded that humans would allow the sale of cigarettes, which are both addictive and unhealthy. A cigarette ( French "small Cigar " from cigar + -ette) is a product consumed through Smoking and manufactured However, they have been known to sell weapons to both sides in a war, though this may be looked down upon.
• The Ferengi have a strong work ethic, and encourage thrift and saving over conspicuous consumption. Work ethic is a set of values based on the moral virtues of hard work and diligence In common usage saving generally means putting money aside for example by putting money in the bank or investing in a Pension plan Conspicuous consumption is a term used to describe the lavish spending on goods and services acquired mainly for the purpose of displaying Income or Wealth. When a Ferengi makes a major purchase, it is likely to be something very useful for making further profit. Ferengi make excellent administrators as they are well versed in accounting and inventory procedures, and can often apply these skills to other endeavors. Accountancy or accounting is the measurement statement or provision of assurance about financial information primarily used by Lenders managers,
• The Ferengi do not appear to appreciate class or have a class system. Social class refers to the hierarchical distinctions (or stratification) between individuals or groups in Societies or Cultures. Even though their status is determined entirely by wealth, the Ferengi would consider it foolish to establish an "upmarket" clientèle when there would be profit to be made in selling goods to less fortunate people. In fact, the Ferengi belief in the "Great Material Continuum," an analogue of the unrestricted free market, often drives them to great length to satisfy a potential customer's needs and to find a market for their goods. A free market is a Market in which property rights are voluntarily exchanged at a price arranged completely by the mutual consent of sellers and buyers
• To the Ferengi, profit is its own reward (Rule of Acquisition #41). Arms merchants are tolerated, as with any business. Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #34 states "War is good for business,"; however, Rule of Acquisition #35 rebuts "Peace is good for business. " Ferengi engage in the practice of selling defensive weaponry to weaker species under attack, in addition to selling to species that are more belligerent.
• The Ferengi consider pregnancy to be a rental, with the father being termed the lessee.

In one episode of DS9, Quark and Benjamin Sisko share an exchange in which Quark makes the case that the Ferengi are a more civilized race than humans:

• Quark: I think I figured out why humans don't like Ferengi—
• Sisko: Not now, Quark. Benjamin Lafayette Sisko, played by Avery Brooks, is the main character of the Television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine.
• Quark: The way I see it, humans used to be a lot like Ferengi: greedy, acquisitive, interested only in profit. We're a constant reminder of a part of your past you'd like to forget.
• Sisko: Quark, we don't have time for this.
• Quark: You're overlooking something, Commander. Humans used to be a lot worse than Ferengi. Slavery, concentration camps, interstellar war. . . we have nothing in our past that approaches that kind of barbarism. You see? We're nothing like you. . . we're better.

It should be noted that the Ferengi that were featured in an episode of Star Trek: Enterprise made reference to being involved in the slave trade, so it is possible that Quark is either not aware of his people's history or was indulging to make a point, or the Ferengi in that episode were renegade Ferengi, or that they make a distinction (e. g. , between enslaving Ferengi and enslaving other species, or between keeping slaves and selling slaves), or that Enterprise is ignoring continuity. Likewise, a group of rogue Ferengi featured in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation enslaved the population of a Federation colony, as well as the crew of the Enterprise, to assist in their mining operation. While they do not engage in the practice of slavery on their homeworld, it is common practice to punish lawbreakers on Ferenginar with indentured servitude if the offender lacks assets to seize. An indentured servant is a form of Debt bondage worker The Laborer is under Contract of an Employer for some period of time usually three to

Reception

Some have accused the portrayal of the Ferengi of being anti-Semitic. Antisemitism (alternatively spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism; also rarely known as judeophobia) is the Prejudice against or hostility ^[5] In the book Religions of Star Trek, Ross S. Kraemer wrote that "Ferengi religion seems almost a parody of traditional Judaism. Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut . . Critics have pointed out a disturbing correlation between Ferengi attributes (love of profit that overrides communal decency; the large, sexualized head feature, in this case ears) and negative Jewish stereotypes. "^[6] Commentator Jonah Goldberg wrote that Ferengi were portrayed in The Next Generation as "runaway capitalists with bullwhips who looked like a mix between Nazi caricatures of Jews and the original Nosferatu. Jonah Jacob Goldberg (born March 21, 1969) is an American syndicated columnist and author Nazism, which was a short name for National Socialism (Nationalsozialismus refers primarily to the Ideology and practices of the National Socialist German Nosferatu A Symphony of Horror is a German Expressionist film by F "^[7] The fact that the three most notable Ferengi characters, Quark, Nog and Rom, are played by Jewish actors Armin Shimerman, Aron Eisenberg and Max Grodénchik, contributes to this theory.

References

• Ira Steven Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe, Legends of the Ferengi (1997), ISBN 0-671-00728-9. Ira Steven Behr is an American Television producer and Scriptwriter. Robert Hewitt Wolfe is an American Television producer and Scriptwriter. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar The authors worked on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine for several years and established most of what is known about the Ferengi. This book contains exclusive insights into the Ferengi.

External links

• Official StarTrek.com Library article on Ferengi
• Ferengi article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki
• Tongo, Dabo, Beverages, Ships, etc
• Highly Offensive Ferengi: Racial Issues and Star Trek's Multicultural Deep Space Nine in Film (KINEMA, A Journal for Film and Audiovisual Media, University of Waterloo)