I watched Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope for the first time in a while a few days ago (the first step in taking my Daughter through the Machete Order). One thing that stood out was the pre-duel smack talk between Vader and Obi-Wan:
Vader: When I left you, I was but the learner; now, I am the master.
Obi-Wan: Only a master of evil, Darth.
From memory, this is the only example I can think of where 'Darth' is used as if is was Vader's first name, as opposed to the title that we (eventually) learn that it is, once we meet other Darths.
I wonder when Lucas decided that Darth would be a title for dark side Jedi (not called 'Sith' until the prequel trilogy)? In Empire and Jedi, Darth Sidious is referred to only as 'The Emperor', but 'Darth Vader' ceases to be called Darth if only one word is used; e.g. Yoda's "Vader, you must face Vader".
Is this just an example of Lucas making stuff up as he went along, rather than having it all planned out from the start (not actually all that unreasonable)? Or is there some reason that Obi-Wan used 'Darth' instead of 'Vader'? On previous viewings (i.e. before the prequels existed) I'd interpreted this as Obi-Wan being informal with his old student by using his first name, rather than his last. However, the reverse interpretation could be true once you know that Darth is a title, i.e. that Obi-Wan is using his title rather than his name in order to be as cold and impersonal as possible (i.e. replace 'Darth' with 'Sir' and put Bastard swords in their hands instead of light sabers).
Answer
I previously posted a short possible answer, but as it was deleted, I have now found a reference: Star Wars Glossary: Darth (About.com)
From the explanation:
Definition: The title "Darth," indicating a Sith, first appeared with Darth Vader in Episode IV: A New Hope. At first it was treated almost like a first name; Obi-Wan Kenobi calls Vader simply "Darth" in the film, and Splinter of the Mind's Eye refers to him as "Lord Darth Vader." As the Star Wars universe grew, "Darth" became a title used by Dark Lords of the Sith.
In-universe: The etymological origins of the title Darth are unclear and disputed. It may be as simple as a contraction of "Dark Lord of the Sith." Alternatively, it may be derived from Daritha, the word for "Emperor" in the language of the Rakata, a humanoid species who controlled a powerful empire thousands of years before the Galactic Republic. It may also come from the Rakatan darr tah, meaning "triumph over death" (i.e., immortality, the ultimate goal of the Sith) or "conquest through death" (i.e., the destruction of one's enemies).
This in-universe information is found in the book Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force, which says the following in the section "The Darth Title":
Many of the Dark Lords of the Sith chose to add the Darth honorific to their name. The very word has become synonymous with the wondrous power of the dark side. However, the origins of the word are unclear. While many see Darth as nothing more than a contraction of Dark Lord of the Sith, there is some evidence for a deeper interpretation of the term.
Darth Revan and Darth Malak are generally believed to be the first Dark Lords to have used the title. Given that much of their power was derived from the Star Forge, a creation of the extinct Rakata species, some historians see Darth as a corruption of Daritha, the Rakatan word for "emperor." Similarly, others note that the word for "triumph" or "conquest" in Rakatan is darr, and the word for "death" is tah. This has led to theories that Darth is derived from darr tah and means "triumph over death" or "immortal." A competing theory asserts that the true meaning of darr tah is "conquest through death"...of one's enemies.
Numerous other cultures or species can—and do—make similar claims to the etymology of the Darth title. In the end, however, there is no definitive answer.
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