diff --git a/lib/register/boot.rb b/lib/register/boot.rb
index f3684da8..4e7a336c 100644
--- a/lib/register/boot.rb
+++ b/lib/register/boot.rb
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ module Register
       # have to define some dummies, just for the other to compile
       # TODO go through the virtual parfait layer and adjust function names to what they really are
       obj = @space.get_class_by_name(:Object)
-      [:main , :get_internal , :set_internal ].each do |f|
+      [:main , :get_internal_word , :set_internal_word ].each do |f|
         obj.add_instance_method Builtin::Object.send(f , nil)
       end
       obj = @space.get_class_by_name(:Kernel)
diff --git a/lib/register/builtin/object.rb b/lib/register/builtin/object.rb
index d3211f8d..dc4551e3 100644
--- a/lib/register/builtin/object.rb
+++ b/lib/register/builtin/object.rb
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ module Register
         # self[index] basically. Index is the first arg
         # return is stored in return_value
         # (this method returns a new method off course, like all builtin)
-        def get_internal context
-          compiler = Soml::Compiler.new.create_method(:Object , :get_internal , {:Integer => :index}).init_method
-          source = "get_internal"
+        def get_internal_word context
+          compiler = Soml::Compiler.new.create_method(:Object , :get_internal_word , {:Integer => :index}).init_method
+          source = "get_internal_word"
           #Load self by "calling" on_name
           me = compiler.process( s(:name , :self) )
           # Load the argument
@@ -33,10 +33,10 @@ module Register
 
         # self[index] = val basically. Index is the first arg , vlaue the second
         # no return
-        def set_internal context
-          compiler = Soml::Compiler.new.create_method(:Object , :set_internal ,
+        def set_internal_word context
+          compiler = Soml::Compiler.new.create_method(:Object , :set_internal_word ,
                                                 {:Integer => :index, :Object => :value} ).init_method
-          source = "set_internal"
+          source = "set_internal_word"
           #Load self by "calling" on_name
           me = compiler.process( s(:name , :self) )
           # Load the index
diff --git a/lib/register/interpreter.rb b/lib/register/interpreter.rb
index d9d1e161..952ce501 100644
--- a/lib/register/interpreter.rb
+++ b/lib/register/interpreter.rb
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ module Register
           raise "Unsupported action, must convert symbol to word:#{object}"
         end
       else
-        value = object.get_internal( index )
+        value = object.get_internal_word( index )
       end
       #value = value.object_id unless value.is_a? Fixnum
       set_register( @instruction.register , value )
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ module Register
       else
         index = get_register(@instruction.index)
       end
-      object.set_internal( index , value )
+      object.set_internal_word( index , value )
       trigger(:object_changed, @instruction.array , index)
       true
     end
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ module Register
 
     def execute_FunctionReturn
       object = get_register( @instruction.register )
-      link = object.get_internal( @instruction.index )
+      link = object.get_internal_word( @instruction.index )
       @instruction = link
       # we jump back to the call instruction. so it is as if the call never happened and we continue
       true
diff --git a/lib/register/parfait/indexed.rb b/lib/register/parfait/indexed.rb
index 84e27851..80e884f8 100644
--- a/lib/register/parfait/indexed.rb
+++ b/lib/register/parfait/indexed.rb
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ module Parfait
         end
 
         define_method :get_length do
-          r = get_internal( offset ) #one for layout
+          r = get_internal_word( offset ) #one for layout
           r.nil? ? 0 : r
         end
 
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ module Parfait
             grow_to(index)
           end
           # start one higher than offset, which is where the length is
-          set_internal( index + offset, value)
+          set_internal_word( index + offset, value)
         end
 
         # set the value at index.
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ module Parfait
           ret = nil
           if(index <= self.get_length)
             # start one higher than offset, which is where the length is
-            ret = get_internal(index + offset )
+            ret = get_internal_word(index + offset )
           end
           ret
         end
@@ -187,14 +187,14 @@ module Parfait
           return if old_length >= len
 #          raise "bounds error at #{len}" if( len + offset > 16 )
           # be nice to use the indexed_length , but that relies on booted space
-          set_internal( offset  , len) #one for layout
+          set_internal_word( offset  , len) #one for layout
         end
 
         define_method  :shrink_to do | len|
           raise "Only positive lenths, #{len}" if len < 0
           old_length = self.get_length
           return if old_length <= len
-          set_internal( offset  , len)
+          set_internal_word( offset  , len)
         end
 
       end
diff --git a/lib/register/parfait/layout.rb b/lib/register/parfait/layout.rb
index a5e8d79e..fee1e610 100644
--- a/lib/register/parfait/layout.rb
+++ b/lib/register/parfait/layout.rb
@@ -74,8 +74,8 @@ module Parfait
       raise "Use variable_index instead"
     end
 
-    # index of the variable when using get_internal
-    # (get_internal is 1 based and 1 is always the layout)
+    # index of the variable when using get_internal_word
+    # (get_internal_word is 1 based and 1 is always the layout)
     def variable_index name
       has = super_index(name)
       return nil unless has
diff --git a/lib/register/parfait/object.rb b/lib/register/parfait/object.rb
index dd804f4e..16d77d0d 100644
--- a/lib/register/parfait/object.rb
+++ b/lib/register/parfait/object.rb
@@ -41,11 +41,11 @@ module Parfait
     end
 
     # 1 -based index
-    def get_internal(index)
+    def get_internal_word(index)
       @memory[index]
     end
     # 1 -based index
-    def set_internal(index , value)
+    def set_internal_word(index , value)
       raise "failed init for #{self.class}" unless @memory
       raise "Word[#{index}] = " if((self.class == Parfait::Word) and value.nil? )
       @memory[index] = value
@@ -80,16 +80,16 @@ module Parfait
     def set_layout(layout)
       # puts "Layout was set for #{self.class}"
       raise "Nil layout" unless layout
-      set_internal(LAYOUT_INDEX , layout)
+      set_internal_word(LAYOUT_INDEX , layout)
     end
 
     # so we can keep the raise in get_layout
     def has_layout?
-      ! get_internal(LAYOUT_INDEX).nil?
+      ! get_internal_word(LAYOUT_INDEX).nil?
     end
 
     def get_layout()
-      l = get_internal(LAYOUT_INDEX)
+      l = get_internal_word(LAYOUT_INDEX)
       #puts "get layout for #{self.class} returns #{l.class}"
       raise "No layout #{self.object_id.to_s(16)}:#{self.class} " unless l
       return l
@@ -108,13 +108,13 @@ module Parfait
       index = instance_variable_defined(name)
       #puts "getting #{name} at #{index}"
       return nil if index == nil
-      return get_internal(index)
+      return get_internal_word(index)
     end
 
     def set_instance_variable name , value
       index = instance_variable_defined(name)
       return nil if index == nil
-      return set_internal(index , value)
+      return set_internal_word(index , value)
     end
 
     def instance_variable_defined name
diff --git a/lib/register/parfait/word.rb b/lib/register/parfait/word.rb
index 4c45fc76..6fe940b0 100644
--- a/lib/register/parfait/word.rb
+++ b/lib/register/parfait/word.rb
@@ -92,13 +92,13 @@ module Parfait
       word_index = (index - 1) / 4 + 1 + Word.get_length_index
       rest = ((index - 1) % 4)
       shifted =  char << (rest * 8)
-      was = get_internal( word_index )
+      was = get_internal_word( word_index )
       was = 0 unless was.is_a?(Numeric)
       mask = 0xFF << (rest * 8)
       mask = 0xFFFFFFFF - mask
       masked = was & mask
       put = masked + shifted
-      set_internal( word_index , put )
+      set_internal_word( word_index , put )
       msg = "set index=#{index} word_index=#{word_index} rest=#{rest}= "
       msg += "char=#{char.to_s(16)} shifted=#{shifted.to_s(16)} "
       msg += "was=#{was.to_s(16)} masked=#{masked.to_s(16)} put=#{put.to_s(16)}"
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ module Parfait
       index = range_correct_index(at)
       word_index = (index - 1 ) / 4 + 1 + Word.get_length_index
       rest = ((index - 1) % 4)
-      char = get_internal(word_index)
+      char = get_internal_word(word_index)
       char = 0 unless char.is_a?(Numeric)
       shifted = char >> (8 * rest)
       ret = shifted & 0xFF
diff --git a/lib/soml/parfait/word.soml b/lib/soml/parfait/word.soml
index af6588f4..f1356737 100644
--- a/lib/soml/parfait/word.soml
+++ b/lib/soml/parfait/word.soml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ class Word < Object
     word_index = word_index + 3
     int rest = index - 1
     rest = rest.mod4()
-    int char = get_internal(word_index)
+    int char = get_internal_word(word_index)
     int shifted = 8 * rest
     shifted = char >> shifted
     int ret = shifted & 255
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ class Word < Object
   end
 
   int set_length(int i)
-    set_internal( 2 , i)
+    set_internal_word( 2 , i)
     return i
   end
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class Word < Object
     int shifted =  rest * 8
     shifted =  char << shifted
 
-    int was = get_internal( word_index )
+    int was = get_internal_word( word_index )
     int mask = rest * 8
     int const = 255 << 8
     const = const + 255
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class Word < Object
     int masked = was & mask
     int put = masked + shifted
 
-    set_internal( word_index , put )
+    set_internal_word( word_index , put )
 
     return self
   end
diff --git a/test/register/interpreter/test_add.rb b/test/register/interpreter/test_add.rb
index fa7d6dc9..4e802bb0 100644
--- a/test/register/interpreter/test_add.rb
+++ b/test/register/interpreter/test_add.rb
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ HERE
     assert_equal Register::FunctionReturn ,  ret.class
 
     object = @interpreter.get_register( ret.register )
-    link = object.get_internal( ret.index )
+    link = object.get_internal_word( ret.index )
 
     assert_equal Register::Label , link.class
   end
diff --git a/test/register/parfait/test_layout.rb b/test/register/parfait/test_layout.rb
index b15c7bec..c7d7f0bc 100644
--- a/test/register/parfait/test_layout.rb
+++ b/test/register/parfait/test_layout.rb
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ class TestLayout < MiniTest::Test
     assert_equal @mess.next_message , @mess.get_instance_variable(:next_message)
     index = @mess.get_layout.variable_index :next_message
     assert_equal 2 , index
-    assert_equal @mess.next_message , @mess.get_internal(index)
+    assert_equal @mess.next_message , @mess.get_internal_word(index)
   end
 
   def test_layout_index
-    assert_equal @mess.get_layout , @mess.get_internal(Parfait::LAYOUT_INDEX) , "mess"
+    assert_equal @mess.get_layout , @mess.get_internal_word(Parfait::LAYOUT_INDEX) , "mess"
   end
 
   def test_inspect
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class TestLayout < MiniTest::Test
 
   def test_layout_length
     assert_equal 9 , @mess.get_layout.instance_length , @mess.get_layout.inspect
-    assert_equal 18 , @mess.get_layout.get_internal(4)
+    assert_equal 18 , @mess.get_layout.get_internal_word(4)
   end
 
   def test_layout_length_index
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class TestLayout < MiniTest::Test
     assert_equal 4 , @mess.get_layout.get_layout.get_offset
     assert_equal 4 , @mess.get_layout.get_offset
     assert_equal 8 , @mess.get_layout.get_layout.indexed_length
-    assert_equal 8 , @mess.get_layout.get_layout.get_internal(4)
+    assert_equal 8 , @mess.get_layout.get_layout.get_internal_word(4)
   end
 
   def test_layout_methods
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ class TestLayout < MiniTest::Test
     message_ind = Register.resolve_index( :message , :receiver )
     assert_equal 3 , message_ind
     @mess.receiver = 55
-    assert_equal 55 , @mess.get_internal(message_ind)
+    assert_equal 55 , @mess.get_internal_word(message_ind)
   end
 
   def test_object_layout
@@ -125,6 +125,6 @@ class TestLayout < MiniTest::Test
 
   def test_remove_me
     layout = @mess.get_layout
-    assert_equal layout , @mess.get_internal(1)
+    assert_equal layout , @mess.get_internal_word(1)
   end
 end
diff --git a/test/register/parfait/test_list.rb b/test/register/parfait/test_list.rb
index a7d9d5d2..fdc68357 100644
--- a/test/register/parfait/test_list.rb
+++ b/test/register/parfait/test_list.rb
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class TestList < MiniTest::Test
     @list.push :one
     assert_equal 1 , @list.get_length
     assert_equal 1 , @list.indexed_length
-    assert_equal 1 , @list.get_internal(Parfait::LAYOUT_INDEX + 1)
+    assert_equal 1 , @list.get_internal_word(Parfait::LAYOUT_INDEX + 1)
   end
   def test_list_inspect
     @list.set(1,1)
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ class TestList < MiniTest::Test
   end
   def test_one_set1
     assert_equal 2 , @list.set(1,2)
-    assert_equal 1 , @list.get_internal(2)
+    assert_equal 1 , @list.get_internal_word(2)
   end
   def test_set1_len
     @list.set(1,1)
diff --git a/test/register/parfait/test_message.rb b/test/register/parfait/test_message.rb
index 3b791a14..a4523216 100644
--- a/test/register/parfait/test_message.rb
+++ b/test/register/parfait/test_message.rb
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ class TestMessage < MiniTest::Test
   end
   def test_push3
     @mess.push :name
-    assert_equal 1 , @mess.get_internal(9)
+    assert_equal 1 , @mess.get_internal_word(9)
   end
-  def test_get_internal
+  def test_get_internal_word
     @mess.push :name
-    assert_equal :name , @mess.get_internal(10)
+    assert_equal :name , @mess.get_internal_word(10)
   end
 
   def test_get
diff --git a/test/register/parfait/test_object.rb b/test/register/parfait/test_object.rb
index 08703825..96f3ea5e 100644
--- a/test/register/parfait/test_object.rb
+++ b/test/register/parfait/test_object.rb
@@ -14,36 +14,36 @@ class TestObject < MiniTest::Test
   end
 
   def test_empty_object_doesnt_return
-    assert_equal nil ,  @object.get_internal(3)
+    assert_equal nil ,  @object.get_internal_word(3)
   end
 
   def test_one_set1
-    assert_equal 1 ,  @object.set_internal(1,1)
+    assert_equal 1 ,  @object.set_internal_word(1,1)
   end
 
   def test_one_set2
-    assert_equal :some ,  @object.set_internal(2,:some)
+    assert_equal :some ,  @object.set_internal_word(2,:some)
   end
 
   def test_two_sets
-    assert_equal 1 ,  @object.set_internal(1,1)
-    assert_equal :some ,  @object.set_internal(1,:some)
+    assert_equal 1 ,  @object.set_internal_word(1,1)
+    assert_equal :some ,  @object.set_internal_word(1,:some)
   end
   def test_one_get1
     test_one_set1
-    assert_equal 1 ,  @object.get_internal(1)
+    assert_equal 1 ,  @object.get_internal_word(1)
   end
   def test_one_get2
     test_one_set2
-    assert_equal :some ,  @object.get_internal(2)
+    assert_equal :some ,  @object.get_internal_word(2)
   end
   def test_many_get
     shouldda  = { 1 => :one , 2 => :two , 3 => :three}
     shouldda.each do |k,v|
-       @object.set_internal(k,v)
+       @object.set_internal_word(k,v)
     end
     shouldda.each do |k,v|
-      assert_equal v ,  @object.get_internal(k)
+      assert_equal v ,  @object.get_internal_word(k)
     end
   end
 end