Re: Updated conscript

On Tue, Nov 21, 2000 at 12:25:12AM -0600, Andrew Chaney wrote:
[snip]
> Well, if "magic" is as much a part of life as science & physics, then the
> possible writing implements is almost limitless... :^)  Especially if the
> Experts were the rulers and could dictate what was written & how it was
> written.
Well, "magic" in the universe of the Ebisedi isn't what you might construe
it to be. Although it does have rather odd (from our POV) characteristics,
it's also firmly grounded in physics, which limits its possibilities
somewhat. (Only "somewhat" because the physics is admittedly rather
strange. But then, some people would think quantum mechanics of the real
world is even stranger -- fact is stranger than fiction after all! :-P)

As far as the monarchy and the Experts are concerned... the Experts have
always been a special group of their own, and through the course of the
history of the Ebisedi, they have both been welcomed and persecuted by the
monarch. The conlang described on my webpage was spoken during the late
Kingdom Era, the last days of the monarchy, where the Experts were very
much welcomed by the King. Many Experts were appointed as elite soldiers
(a Grand Expert was the King's counsellor and close friend, no less).
During these "glory days" of the Experts, they were in charge of the
educational system, which is why this language became so widespread -- it
was originally a semi-conlang (yes, even in its internal history) derived
from local lingos, and used only among the Expert inner circles.

So yes, they were effectively "dictating" how the language was written or
spoken... but there wasn't anything really spectacular about it; it's just
as mundane as teaching children to use pens for writing.  (Which is why,
again, I hate using terminology like "magic", since it really gives the
wrong impressions :-/ )

[snip]
> It seems like I read about a similar system of color-writing somewhere else,
> but I can't think of where it was...
I seem to recall seeing something about it as well... but can't remember
what it might be.

OTOH, since we're talking about conscripts and writing systems, I remember
one very fascinating conscript that is written using *embroidery*. Well,
one form of it, that is. I don't remember offhand which conlang it was,
but it was absolutely amazing. If the creator of that conscript is reading
this by any chance, speak up! (hint, hint) :-)


T

--
Real Programmers use "cat > a.out".