Re: Heyas all!

On Thu, 25 Mar 1999 13:01:06 -0500 Padraic Brown
<pbrown@...> writes:
>On Thu, 25 Mar 1999, Trace Erin Kern wrote:
>
>> English/Terran/etc dictonary and generate a translation dictionary.
>> So yes this would be more of a relexification program.
>
>I think such a project would be ideal for the purpose.  One small
>quibble, though: don't assume that militarism = harsh gutterals
>or that reptillian = sibilants.  I think Latin, for example, is quite
>the opposite from harsh gutterals in sound, yet their legions
>conquered everything from Northumbria to Morocco and on
>over to Dace and Arabia.  You may rather consider things like
>shape of species' vocal tract, sinuses, length of jaw, existence
>(or lack) of soft tissues in order to figure out the sounds that they
>can produce.  Then consider the types of sound their culture and
>language prefer.  These two levels ought to be easy enough to insert
>into the program.
My mistake. I misquoted his advice. He was giving that advice not in the
construction of their language, but rather their names. That a
militaristic society would likely have shorter, rank driven names. While
a more relaxed species might have softer, perhaps longer names.

But again, biology plays a big part in what a species can and cannot
pronounce. I've often gotten sick at reading otherwise very fine
sci-fi/fantasy, but the aliens ability to speak perfect Terran allways
nixed me. Yes they may be using translator technology, but with some
species, they won't be *capable* of reproducing the same sounds a human
could.

As for the gutteral and sibilant languages.My assertion that a reptillian
species might likely have a sibilant sounding language is true, assuming
that their tongues and mouths are shaped like Terran reptiles, snakes
especially.
A canine species might be a better canidate for a gutteral language, as
would felines.

>> >        How would you handle the syntax of languages here? I think
>> >that's a thing which can't be handled with an automatic program.
>>
>> Good point. See above.
>
>Unless the writers of these stories or short series really _need_ to
>deal
>with syntax and other complex issues, why bother?  If they can get
>along
>with a few words sprinkled here and there, and maybe a few short
>sections
>of connected speach, I don't think they would need any more than a
>word
>generator such as you describe above.  You could also have it
>generate
>"short" words and affixes that could be liberally scattered amongst
>the
>main words to give the look and feel of Genuine Authentic Grammar. :)
This is exactly what I was thinking. This way you could write what the
alien says, then have the interpreted sentence, all with translations of
context in effect.

Trace Erin Kern  -  TraceFox@juno.com
~Hah'Rooqh Tah'Khrine, Eayl Noh'Tahl~
~May you go in peace, all your journey~

___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]