Practical Diplomacy, Friday, April 5, 2019

[sith_happened]

'"Right, so when you're conducting high level diplomacy, you will be assigned either a protocol droid--if such things exist in your galaxy--or a translator," Anakin began, "so you're not required to speak all of the languages in the known universe. However, I find it helpful to at least know some of the basic, especially if the negotiations are especially crucial."

He waved his hand at the board, where he'd listed a few phrases he found useful. "Here are some of mine: hello, goodbye, thank you, please, bathroom, idiot, kill them and make it look like an accient."

He then turned his attention to the class. "What would you add to the list?"

Comments

Answer the question

[sith_happened]

What other words and phrases would be essential to know for yourself and not wait on a translation of?

Re: Answer the question

[justice_undone]

Breq had always felt that those of her officers who decided to learn other languages did a lot better work during annexations, said:

"Your food is delicious. That was a delightful performance. You have no reason to worry."

Re: Answer the question

[sith_happened]

"I especially like 'you have no reason to worry'," Anakin said. "That can be used multiple ways--both as a threat and as an actual piece of reassurance."

Re: Answer the question

[justice_undone]

"Yes," Breq said. "Gestures is also a culturally defined expression that should be taken into consideration. And facial expressions."

The advantage of having to pay attention to using that generally was that learning different ones was easier.

Re: Answer the question

[unusual_sith]

"Yes and no would be useful," Lana added.

Re: Answer the question

[sith_happened]

Anakin grinned. "I left those out on purpose so you had something easy to contribute."

Re: Answer the question

[unusual_sith]

Lana rolled her eyes. "In that case, what about 'get lost' and ruder variations? Or aren't those diplomatic enough?"

Re: Answer the question

[chirpchirpchirp]

"Take cover," Vette offered. "Or 'grab on to something, I'm opening the airlock.'" She wrinkled her nose a little. "And any and all things that might fall out of a Hutt's slimy maw. You can't trust those slugs as far as you can throw them."

Diplomacy!

Re: Answer the question

[unusual_sith]

"Is there anything a Hutt won't say?" Lana asked. They weren't exactly known for tact.

Re: Answer the question

[chirpchirpchirp]

"Sure," Vette replied. "Please, thank you, I'm sorry..."

Re: Answer the question

[unusual_sith]

Lana snorted. "Point. I think the nearest to 'thank you' is probably just 'glad you didn't make me madder' or something."

Re: Answer the question

[chirpchirpchirp]

"Yeah," Vette replied, her voice going a little tight even while she kept a fairly casual expression. "It's something like that."

Re: Answer the question

[unusual_sith]

Lana searched for anything else to change the subject. "Oh, remind me later on - we had pirates in that 'New You' class. Sort of. I took video of them; I thought you'd laugh yourself silly."

Re: Answer the question

[chirpchirpchirp]

Vette's brows raised a little, but she was happy to latch on to the distraction.

"Pirates, huh? I'll have to do that, then." A pause. "Thanks."

Re: Answer the question

[unusual_sith]

"You're welcome," Lana said. "They were certainly...something."