Re: Tricky translations

On 1/17/05, H. S. Teoh <hsteoh@...> wrote:
> The Ebisédi live in the Ferochromon. The Ferochromon is a radically
> different universe from ours---different rules of physics, completely
> different structure, and completely different phenomena. The only
> familiar thing is that the Ebisédi themselves are (more or less) human
> manifestations in the Ferochromon, and that, at least where the
> Ebisédi live, there is a superficial resemblance to Earth. (But it is
> only superficial.)
>
> And the consequence of this? *Nothing* may be assumed about the
> Ferochromon without knowing it yourself. One of the most famous
> features of the Ferochromon is that there are no such things as stars.
> The closest phenomenon is the _Ka'l3ri_, which is more like a
> starburst or supernova than a star. However, the same phenomenon on a
> smaller scale also manifests itself as fountains or volcanoes. How
> _Ka'l3ri_ ought to be translated depends on the context.
>
> Another feature of the Ferochromon is that there is no such thing as
> water. There are liquids, for sure, but no equivalent of clear,
> translucent water. (Watch this one screw up a relay, it has a lot of
> potential. :-P) Also, there is no unique "Earth" on which the Ebisédi
> dwell. Instead, there is a plethora of "landmasses", floating
> continents of diverse shapes and sizes that fill the three realms (a
> "realm" in this context is 3D inhabitable space).
>
> Also, the concept of "food" is radically different from the Terran
> understanding... all matter can be eaten, provided it is in the right
> form and in the right energy level. The fiery hot matter ejected from
> a _Ka'l3ri_, once cooled down, can be enjoyed as a delicious meal. But
> you would not want to stand in the plasma rain with your mouth open as
> it descends upon the landmass, since you'd burn yourself VERY badly.
> It must be cooled down sufficiently to safe energy levels, and then
> collected and processed into forms suitable for consumption. However,
> it must not be left too long, as otherwise it degrades to energy
> levels too low to be of any use, and also crystallizes into rocky,
> indigestible forms.
>
> Oh, and there is no such thing as "air" in Ferochromon. Space *is*
> air... you breathe space in Ferochromon just as you breath air on
> Earth. Not many people will die of suffocation unless they drown in
> liquid (space occupied by matter is unbreathable) or get buried alive.
> However, there *are* equivalents of winds: transmittent fields of
> force which propel anything within range, thereby causing the
> equivalent of winds.
>
> Need I go on? Just about *anything* in language that describes the
> physical world cannot be assumed to have an equivalent in Ebisédian,
> because the universe it is spoken in is so different that almost none
> of these assumptions would hold.
>
> (And mind you, what I've described so far only covers the 3D
> inhabitable section of the Ferochromon... there are other sections
> where things behave in yet other radically different ways.)
Could you mail me any notes you have on FC Physics? (Either to
CONLANG, or to ConCult(ure), or personally, or on your site)  I have a
few ideas on how to put actual *equations* to it (something
Aristotelean).
Thanks,
Simon

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