The Language Issue
Wednesday, November 18. 2009
Problem: Naif from present-day Earth is thrown into an interstellar society. How can he communicate verbally?
Solution: Well, no tidy one yet. That's why it's an issue for me. I can think of several possibilities:- Magically, everyone is able to understand one another. (The Babel Fish solution.)
- English happens to be almost exactly the same as the common language "out there." (The Buck Rogers solution.)
- We labor through every attempt at verbal communication, using translators (beings or computers), trying other means of getting the message across (learning a new language or using hand gestures), and/or becoming very frustrated. (The "Me Tarzan" solution.)
- We ignore it. Look, a three-headed monkey! (The Guybrush Threepwood solution.)
Currently, I'm using a version of #1 above. I essentially have a technological "Babel Fish" that's presented to the protagonist upon his arrival in this new setting with its bewildering languages. I'm not entirely happy with this solution though.
Now, I don't just insert the Babel Fish and then move on with the rest of the story in Guybrush Threepwood mode. I do actually use the "universal translator" device as a part of the story from time to time. So it's not entirely a "magical" solution, a hand-waving means of dismissing the problem.
But still, it just feels so contrived to me. It also seems to point directly back to Douglas Adams, which I'm not entirely comfortable with. ("It's an homage, not plagiarism!") This is not an uncommon problem in speculative fiction, but I can't for the life of me think of anyone that's dealt with it in a general, logical, scientific way.
Can anyone point me to the obvious Heinlein / Asimov / Card solution that I'm missing?
Problem: Naif from present-day Earth is thrown into an interstellar society. How can he communicate verbally?
Solution: Well, no tidy one yet. That's why it's an issue for me. I can think of several possibilities:
Now, I don't just insert the Babel Fish and then move on with the rest of the story in Guybrush Threepwood mode. I do actually use the "universal translator" device as a part of the story from time to time. So it's not entirely a "magical" solution, a hand-waving means of dismissing the problem.
But still, it just feels so contrived to me. It also seems to point directly back to Douglas Adams, which I'm not entirely comfortable with. ("It's an homage, not plagiarism!") This is not an uncommon problem in speculative fiction, but I can't for the life of me think of anyone that's dealt with it in a general, logical, scientific way.
Can anyone point me to the obvious Heinlein / Asimov / Card solution that I'm missing?
Solution: Well, no tidy one yet. That's why it's an issue for me. I can think of several possibilities:
- Magically, everyone is able to understand one another. (The Babel Fish solution.)
- English happens to be almost exactly the same as the common language "out there." (The Buck Rogers solution.)
- We labor through every attempt at verbal communication, using translators (beings or computers), trying other means of getting the message across (learning a new language or using hand gestures), and/or becoming very frustrated. (The "Me Tarzan" solution.)
- We ignore it. Look, a three-headed monkey! (The Guybrush Threepwood solution.)
Now, I don't just insert the Babel Fish and then move on with the rest of the story in Guybrush Threepwood mode. I do actually use the "universal translator" device as a part of the story from time to time. So it's not entirely a "magical" solution, a hand-waving means of dismissing the problem.
But still, it just feels so contrived to me. It also seems to point directly back to Douglas Adams, which I'm not entirely comfortable with. ("It's an homage, not plagiarism!") This is not an uncommon problem in speculative fiction, but I can't for the life of me think of anyone that's dealt with it in a general, logical, scientific way.
Can anyone point me to the obvious Heinlein / Asimov / Card solution that I'm missing?
Jimmy on :
Brent on :
Also, we need to be able to express some deep concepts about quantum mechanics and love pretty quickly in the story, so advanced vocabulary is required. If I could "unplug" the plot for a few months, then come back when the protag was edu-ma-cated, then the classroom thing might work. As it is, he has to hit the ground running, so to speak.
Besides, I really have no good explanation as to why the various beings he meets off-Earth would speak the same language. So they don't; they all use some form of the "Babel Fish."
BTW, FWIW, I consider the Star Trek solution (TOS, anyway) to be a blend of #2 (Vulcans speak English?) and #1 (Universal Translators).
Jimmy Anderson on :
Good luck!