Re: Wildspace common

On Tue, 30 Jun 1998, Harry Bandoian wrote:

> I say the wildspace common should be a variation aof the elven language 
> since they are one of the oldest of the spelljamming races! Then again I 
> do have a elven PC

Actually, wildspace common could be a distant relation of the language of
the Juna, with loan words from hundreds of other languages.  Admittedly,
it wouldn't be the Juna language any more (any more than English is the
same language as Proto-Aryan) because of linguistic drift, but that seems
the most likely to me.

There would probablybe heavy Reigar influences in wildspace common, along
with heavy Elven influences.  The Illithid wouldn't have had much
influence on the language, because they are a purely telepathic race (I
sincerely doubt they have a "language" of their own;  more of a series of
telepathic impressions that they all understand).

Of course, none of this really answers the question of why wildspace
common is understood throughout the Known Spheres.  It may be that it
isn't.  There are a number of variations of the language (call it Old
Spheresian for now), in much the same way that Latin spawned the Romance
languages.  On the main trade routes, there is a commonly accepted
language used by merchants (call it Vulgar Spheresian), similar to the way
that French was a "common" language in Europe during the 18th and 19th
centuries.  Old Spheresian could be considered a scholarly language, only
spoken by sages and individuals with classical educations.  It could range
from 25% to 50% comprehensible by people who speak only Vulgar Spheresian.

There are also local variations in Vulgar Spheresian, caused by isolation
and the amount of interaction that the spelljammers have with the
groundlings in their system.  Realmspace would have loan-words from Shou
Lung in the local patois, and a lesser amount of loan words from other
Torilian languages.  Krynnspace, on the other hand, would have Minoi loan
words but very little of any other language.  This would make
comprehension slightly difficult, but communication would not be seriously
impaired.

Off the trade routes, language gets more difficult.  Spheresian variants
would most likely be spoken on worlds that were settled by spelljamming
(perhaps this is the reason the Dracon understand it?), but comprehension
by individuals who speak Old or Vulgar Spheresian would vary.  Vodoni
(assumed to be a Spheresian variant for this discussion) might be (as an
example) 50% comprehensible to Vulgar Spheresian, and 65% comprehensible
to Old Spheresian.  (If nothing else, comprehension rates would make an
interesting statistic to put on world charts.)

So, where does this leave the groundlings?  It varies.  If their world was
settled by spelljammers, their local languages would have varying rates of
comprehension with Vulgar Spheresian.  If not, they need to employ a
hireling to translate for them.  The pidgin language rules (from a recent
Dragon magazine, although I don't remember which one) could also be used.
Furthermore, allowing them to learn under a tutor could be an excellet way
to relieve them of excess cash and/or motivate them to adventure (the sage
instructing them really needs a sample of Kindori excrement for his
studies, and will trade them lessons for a decent supply);  if this last
option is used, I would allow the groundlings to learn the language even
if they didn't have a NWP slot available at the time (either by letting
them borrow against a future slot, or by making it expensive and just
giving it to them).

Finally, language should only be used as a barrier as long as it is fun
and makes the role-playing interesting.  Sooner or later, the players
should be allowed to find a way to overcome it.

Richard Gant
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To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence;
supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without
fighting.  In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take
the enemy's country whole and intact;  to shatter and destroy it is not so
good.  So, too, it is better to capture an army entire than to destroy it,
to capture a regiment, a detachment, or a company entire than to destroy
them.
     -Sun Tzu
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