Thoughts on language

[HackMonkey]

I posted the following in the characters section in answer to Martin's query about the local human tongue...

The native human language is 'Thylli', from the old Hoarland word meaning 'speak'. It is also known as 'Kandaarian', mostly by foreigners but increasingly so by Frithlanders too.

Hoarlanders and Frithlanders also have their own spoken dialects which can be considered different enough from Thylli to be treated as seperate languages for the purpose of the Language skill - although competence in any one of the three can grant a bonus when trying to use another, even if unskilled.

...I have had further thoughts after noticing the Dialect quirk during last night's session! ;D

Dialect (3 BP): This character speaks in a regional dialect that is difficult to understand for those that did not grow up within a 50 mile radius of the character’s place of origin. When conversing with other speakers of his language, he suffers a 20% penalty to his native language mastery.

So, herebelow is my current thinking for our campaign setting.

Language (Thylli): The native human language of Kandaarians is 'Thylli', from the old Hoarland word meaning 'speak'. It is also known as 'Kandaarian', mostly by foreigners but increasingly so by Frithlanders too. Over the centuries since Kandaar united the Frithland tribes their dialects have become a gradual casualty of their civilisation. This is just one reason the Hoarlanders cling stubbornly to their own tribal dialects making conversation with other Kandaarians occasionally awkward. All Hoarlanders will have the Dialect quirk, although being a nomadic people the penalty is not based on distance from origin but applies when dealing with anybody not from their own tribe.

[antonios]

I presume I will be the only one having it, so a couple of questions.

a) Would be a good idea (for your planning and stories) to know in advance how many tribes/populations exist in absolute numbers. This is knowledge that I should havesince I guess it's part of my tribe's history. That would mean that I also know which tribes I should be more or less friendly towards, which tribes have an accent closer to mine (thus we understand each other better) etc.

b) How do I role-play that? I can speak Greek if you want to, but that would be a totally different language unique in its own language family.

c) In real life people lose dialect traits/accents super fast (within days or weeks) if not in the usual environment. Any thoughts on this?

[HackMonkey]

Oct 7, 2011 22:49:24 GMT antonios said:

I presume I will be the only one having it, so a couple of questions.

Well as the only Hoarlander PC so far, yes you are! ;D

Oct 7, 2011 22:49:24 GMT antonios said:

a) Would be a good idea (for your planning and stories) to know in advance how many tribes/populations exist in absolute numbers. This is knowledge that I should havesince I guess it's part of my tribe's history. That would mean that I also know which tribes I should be more or less friendly towards, which tribes have an accent closer to mine (thus we understand each other better) etc.

As one might expect there is no formal record or census of the Hoarland tribes, so absolute numbers are unknown by all.

Kolkko will know there are dozens of tribes however; some are small, some large. Most gather together in the south over winter forming ad-hoc towns of tents - or increasingly occupying Frithland inns. As the thaws come and the tribes move north to hunt they disperse again.

There will probably be half a dozen or so tribes that Kolkko's will come into regular contact with. Feel free to expound on this: tribal names, allies, rivalries, etc.

Oct 7, 2011 22:49:24 GMT antonios said:

b) How do I role-play that? I can speak Greek if you want to, but that would be a totally different language unique in its own language family.

Speaking Greek would certainly make it hard for other characters to understand you - unfortunately also for the GM! I think probably best if you stick with English, maybe speaking slowly and using small words when in character?

Oct 7, 2011 22:49:24 GMT antonios said:

c) In real life people lose dialect traits/accents super fast (within days or weeks) if not in the usual environment. Any thoughts on this?

This is exactly why the Hoarlanders "cling stubbornly to their own tribal dialects" - they are fiercely defensive of their identity as a matter of pride and honour.

Example: As a Cornishman living away from Cornwall myself, I can easily empathise with this kind of situation. Living in Wales I may sound Cornish to the Welsh people, but when I go 'back home' I sound more Welsh to the Cornish people as I have lost a lot of my natural accent and picked up bits of Welsh dialect. I can however 'turn on' the Cornish, and deliberately speak with a stronger accent and dialect - almost as if doing an impression of my earlier self!

[finsteel]

Frithlandish should be Finnish and Hoarlandish should be Sami of course

Speaking of dialects I can't resist linking to this: S with an H

Well that's not exactly a dialect. More like a speaking disorder?

-Vesa-

[antonios]

I get it, I am supposed to play the satanic intelligence anyway. He was going to use easy words anyway in a sense. Now it will be easy words, smallish sentences, plus the random convoluted Shakespearean word nobody would have seen coming.

Thrice the fun!

And speak English with a Nordic accent, of course (joking, joking!).

For the names of the tribes you will have to wait until the next session I am afraid, girlfriend on mission. Simply opening the dictionary and making Anglicisms out of Finnish sounds cheap for the serious and mature stuff we are running here.

...what?!

[On a side-note, I already had prepared on the plane the names of my family and some other tribal friends and acquaintances (all in Finnish, of course), but misplaced the paper. The worst part is that the gf had already checked them out and they were good to go. They will also be available for the Wednesday after.]