Speaking in Tongues [22/02] The Library, Friday afternoon

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal might have seemed a little distracted, today. Not for any reason at all, really.

"Well, I thought that we could do things simply today. I have an idea or two for the next weeks, but we all need to have a bit of language in common for them to work. The best way to learn a language is to use it. So, for today, let's just talk. We can have conversations, about silly things, or serious things, or anything you want.

Pair up with someone and help them with a language they don't know, teach them some words and phrases, and then try them out." He rubbed his temple, looking a touch amused. "Any accidental offence should be ignored, please. Try not to, but sometimes it simply happens. I once called a Rethwellan dignitary a small, blue turnip, for example."

[ooc: the teaching part can be handwavey, feel free to jump into potentially amusing conversations as people don't quite get the language they've learned right the first time.]

Comments

Re: Chat!

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

Hoshi wasn't usually a giggly person, that that made her giggle. "I think when I get back from my trip to San Francisco, I'll have to find some pop music for you to listen to," she said.

Re: Chat!

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"If you like," he said with a faint smile. "I'm afraid I don't know much music. Just what Andrew's shown me, mostly."

Re: Chat!

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"It's no problem. I like music. There's a lot of interesting stuff I've found in this time period," said Hoshi, smiling.

Re: Chat!

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"This time period?" he asked, surprised.

Re: Chat!

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"I'm from the future," Hoshi explained, or at least tried to. "It's 2008 right now and I was born in 2129."

Re: Chat!

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"The future of Earth, I'm assuming," he said. "I'm not from Earth."

He shook his head.

"I should teach you something in return."

He started, then, to show her a basic marketplace greeting in Arjiki.

It seemed to flow easier today.

Re: Chat!

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

Hoshi's face lit up. "You're not from Earth? Cool!"

She listened carefully, then repeated the greeting.

Re: Chat!

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Generally," he agreed before realizing she'd meant the other use of the word.

"Er, yes. My world is called Oz. If you've met Professor Ambrose, the O.Z. he speaks of is the same place, though many many years in my future."

Re: Chat!

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"I haven't met him yet," said Hoshi. "Does he have the same skin patterns as you?"

Re: Chat!

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He blushed both pink and purple, depending on the spot.

"No. And I normally just look this color,"and he pointed to the pale skin in between the blue diamonds. "This is just the island, apparently. From what I've heard."

Re: Chat!

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"I understand. In my time period, we're just starting to see visitors from other planets. I've seen people with pointed ears and others with forehead ridges, so your skin patterns aren't that unusual to me," said Hoshi.

She shuddered. "I'm very well acquainted with Fandom weirdness."

Re: Chat!

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He raised an eyebrow.

Re: Chat!

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"During midterms last semester, I got attacked by a vampire, a monkey and a couple guys rowing a canoe and clubbing people, all in the same week," explained Hoshi.

Re: Chat!

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

...

"What is it with monkeys? Honestly."

Re: Chat!

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"They were all over town that day. Thank goodness it didn't last," said Hoshi. "The vampire was worse. It almost bit me, but another student came along and fought it off."

Re: Chat!

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I'm not familiar with vampires," he admitted. "But I have enough familiarity with monkeys."

He sighed.