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Writteninsanity t1_j9un3pq wrote

Reply to comment by WontFixMySwypeErrors in [WP] The aliens, it seems, do not consider us a sentient species because we are unable to 'keeneetaa'. We still haven't figured out what that means. by limbodog

As beautiful as that is (And I might end up stealing it lol) in the story it's more a brought up thing that humans having tons of living languages and needing universal translators between one another is WEIRD.

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xylophonesRus t1_j9vgb13 wrote

So, to "keeneetaa" basically means to easily communicate?

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Writteninsanity t1_j9vgjgu wrote

Think DND “common”

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Akasto_ t1_j9vod17 wrote

That would be more of a lingua franca that needs to be learned

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Writteninsanity t1_j9vplie wrote

I don’t know, I’ve definitely talked to grass that speaks common with speak with plants before 🤣

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Mitchelltrt t1_j9yfjqu wrote

Common is a learned language, though. It is explicitly developed from a mixture of Dwarven and Human languages, originating as a pidgin trade-tongue. This is why there is the completely separate "undercommon", which developed from Dwarvish and Elvish languages (specifically the language of Dark Elves).

There are a few languages in D&D that this does qualify, though, specifically Draconic and Primordial. Dragons (and kobolds, and other dragon-related sentients) innately understand and can speak Draconic. All elemental creatures from the Inner Planes are mutually intelligible, even if they are technically divided into four varieties. Celestial and Infernal are natively understood by beings of the Higher and Lower planes, though can be learned by others (usually clerics and warlocks respectively).

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shotsallover t1_j9xswz1 wrote

I kind of took it as an urLanguage. A basic or prototype language that we're supposed to be born understanding before we learn the language of our family/people/country.

It's also what people are supposed to be talking in when you hear of "speaking in tongues." But if it were a true urLanguage we'd understand what they're saying.

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Writteninsanity t1_j9ygoah wrote

That’s a better description than the thing I’ve been doing

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shotsallover t1_ja00niq wrote

Take it. UrLanguage isn't a new concept. It's been around since at least Biblical times.

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