Post by Naga on Nov 14, 2004 23:43:10 GMT -5
"Do not fear," said Msaliti, "my askaris do not speak Gorean." The word 'askari' is an inland word, which may be translated roughly as 'soldier' or 'guardsman'.
Explorers of Gor, page 152
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"I have told him what you said," said Ayari. The speech of Kisu was closely related to the inland speech, and Ayari had no difficulty in communicating with him. It was harder for me, of course, for I was not that familiar with the inland speech. The inland and Ukungu speech, I suppose, would have been regarded linguistically as two dialects of the same mother tongue. The distinction between a dialect and a language is, at times, a conceptual one. In a series of villages, each village may be able to understand those proximate to it but perhaps those in the first village cannot understand at all the speech of the tenth village. Thus one would think that the first village and the tenth speek different languages. Yet where shall the lines be drawn between them?
Explorers of Gor, page 247
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More impressive to me was Ayari's capacity to read the drums, though, I am told, this is not difficult for anyone who can speak the inland speech fluently. Analogues to the major vowel sounds of the inland speech are found in certain of the drum notes, which differ, depending on where the hollowed, grooved log is struck. The rhythm of the drum message, of course, is the rhythm of the inland speech. Thus, on the drum it is possible to duplicate, in effect, the vowles and intonation contours of inland sentences. When one adds to this certain additional drum signals corresponding, in effect, to keys to the message or certain consonantal ciphers, one had, in effect, a direct, effective, ingenious device at one's disposal, given the drums relays, for long-distance communictaion. A message may be conveyed by means of drum station for hundreds of pasangs in less than an Ahn.
Explorers of Gor, page 219
Explorers of Gor, page 152
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"I have told him what you said," said Ayari. The speech of Kisu was closely related to the inland speech, and Ayari had no difficulty in communicating with him. It was harder for me, of course, for I was not that familiar with the inland speech. The inland and Ukungu speech, I suppose, would have been regarded linguistically as two dialects of the same mother tongue. The distinction between a dialect and a language is, at times, a conceptual one. In a series of villages, each village may be able to understand those proximate to it but perhaps those in the first village cannot understand at all the speech of the tenth village. Thus one would think that the first village and the tenth speek different languages. Yet where shall the lines be drawn between them?
Explorers of Gor, page 247
------------------------------------------------------------
More impressive to me was Ayari's capacity to read the drums, though, I am told, this is not difficult for anyone who can speak the inland speech fluently. Analogues to the major vowel sounds of the inland speech are found in certain of the drum notes, which differ, depending on where the hollowed, grooved log is struck. The rhythm of the drum message, of course, is the rhythm of the inland speech. Thus, on the drum it is possible to duplicate, in effect, the vowles and intonation contours of inland sentences. When one adds to this certain additional drum signals corresponding, in effect, to keys to the message or certain consonantal ciphers, one had, in effect, a direct, effective, ingenious device at one's disposal, given the drums relays, for long-distance communictaion. A message may be conveyed by means of drum station for hundreds of pasangs in less than an Ahn.
Explorers of Gor, page 219