Re: illithid phonetics

On Tue, 3 Apr 2001, Roger Mills wrote:

> Yoon Ha Lee wrote:
>
> >On a not very related note, Piers Anthony suggests in _Omnivore_ (okay,
> >it isn't the greatest SF, but it's better than a lot of his more recent
> >stuff) that a telepathic species would actually have a *dis*incentive to
> >"invent" (spoken) language.
>
> In the con-universe which the Kash inhabit, the most talented telepaths come
> from a planet with _not quite enough_ oxygen in its atmosphere.  They are
> humanoid, have bluish skin, and have to be careful on planets like earth.
> They probably once had spoken language, but gave it up to save breath when
> they discovered their telepathic ability; now their vocal cords have
> atrophied amd they do not speak.  The little squeaks (meep!) of which
> they're capable don't match up to their intimidating appearance,
> intelligence and psychic powers.
(delighted)  MEEP!
...OC, I don't have bluish skin, am not telepathic (...I hope), and am
definitely not physically intimidating...but I do meep.  =^)

YHL