| My inner linguist is bugged by this part of GS; The rest is awesome, though | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 3 2009, 02:30 AM (236 Views) | |
| Grim | Jan 3 2009, 02:30 AM Post #1 |
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Namely, the lack of any variation in speech except in Xian. Xian seems to be the only place where anyone speaks differently from the rest of the world, despite the fact that, in the state of isolation almost everything seems to be in, Master Hammet would have to be a master of at least nine or ten languages, and the only reason I can come up with for why the group does this is that Ivan is an internal translator. Even so, it makes no sense, and although I understand the need for it, its unrealisticality makes me gripe a little. This is, btw, hardly a new complaint; I've complained in a similar manner about the "Common" in D&D and the "Speak Language" skill, and even tried coming up with a more realistic method of doing languages... but that got really tricky to balance and I had to give up or go madder than I could handle. I chose to give up. So yeah, i guess what I'm trying to say is that I understand why everyone speaks the same language, but it still bugs me. |
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| Dracobolt | Jan 3 2009, 02:30 AM Post #2 |
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Interesting point. |
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| Grim | Jan 3 2009, 02:35 AM Post #3 |
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I'm a linguist. If I were paid to be a linguist, I'd be paid to know these sorts of things. |
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| Dracobolt | Jan 3 2009, 02:36 AM Post #4 |
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Heh. I have to say, though, the lack of variation does making writing fan fiction easier. Feizhi is always tricky to do 'cause you have to capture her speech pattern. =P |
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| Grim | Jan 3 2009, 02:56 AM Post #5 |
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You have a point. Although my inner linguist is still grumbling a bit. He's a grumpy old sourpuss. |
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| RyuKenshin | Jan 3 2009, 02:59 AM Post #6 |
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Supreme Overlord of all Clans
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I object, but with weak arguments. In Loho they speak different, in Garoh they speak different, and if I remember right, out in Izumo they speak differently. |
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| Grim | Jan 3 2009, 03:07 AM Post #7 |
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Izumo didn't, in Garoh it's mostly their wolfy nature trying to slip out, and I can't remember Loho too clearly... but even so, it's a freakin' dialect, which isn't the same. See, Xian sorta seems like they had to learn the "Common Tongue". Loho... IIRC, it's like talking with a Scot. |
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| RyuKenshin | Jan 3 2009, 03:09 AM Post #8 |
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Well, we also somewhat have to assume that Weyard =/= Earth, and that there is a fairly common language. Lazy way out, maybe, but it's convenient for players. |
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| Grim | Jan 3 2009, 03:10 AM Post #9 |
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Which is why my inner linguist is just grumbly. That and my inner linguist is a grumbly old man, he understands but he doesn't like it. On another note, my old theory of Alchemy-As-Language-Capability got me thinking about whether there could be other expressions of Alchemy during the Golden Age than just Psynergy. |
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| RyuKenshin | Jan 3 2009, 03:13 AM Post #10 |
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Supreme Overlord of all Clans
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Very interesting theory, and specific thoughts on the matter? |
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| Grim | Jan 3 2009, 03:15 AM Post #11 |
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None yet, but not for lack of trying. I'd be going a metaphorical route... Might even come up with a triad similar to "Subject, Object, and Verb" for Alchemy as applied to Psynergy. |
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| RyuKenshin | Jan 3 2009, 03:17 AM Post #12 |
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Supreme Overlord of all Clans
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Very interesting... |
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| Dracobolt | Jan 3 2009, 03:17 AM Post #13 |
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Sounds like you've thought on this. Sounds interesting. |
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| Grim | Jan 3 2009, 03:18 AM Post #14 |
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Eh, a little bit, ever since thinking up the "Alchemy = Language, Psynergy = language" theory (and yes, there's a reason I capitalized the first Language but not the second language). |
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| RyuKenshin | Jan 3 2009, 03:22 AM Post #15 |
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Not even going to bother asking... I don't really want to know... |
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| Grim | Jan 3 2009, 03:23 AM Post #16 |
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Probably not. It's kinda lengthy and syntactical. |
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| Chrono Ivan | Jan 4 2009, 01:03 AM Post #17 |
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Supreme Ruler of Heaven
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Since a BOAT WITH SAILS is considered cutting edge technology yeah... that's one of those acceptable breaks from reality. Mind you even if you kept the dialouge the same for story scenes you could still have everyone speaking weird text cyphers that only mind read lets you get around, and have Ivan/Sheba do all the talking to NPC dudes. Boondoggle Alhafra's mayor when Sheba speaks flawless Alhafran AND Madran AND Ancient Lemurian to those appropriately assembled. You know that would be really cool in an RPG and greatly reinforce the "foreigness" of world travel if everyone spoke wildly different languages, and GS is the only one I can think of that has a "master of tongues" skill for one character. Damn, what we have missed out on... |
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| Grim | Jan 4 2009, 09:35 PM Post #18 |
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...You've just given me a fun idea for Dust and Ashes.
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