Re: illithid phonetics

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.

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