Newbie here, quick question "Language and You"

[rodic]

Sorry in advance if this has been discussed in length, I can't seem to find a coherent easy to read thread on this topic.  I played Arm a tiny bit back like 6 or 7 years ago and Frankly don't remember much.

Would anyone be kind enough to point me to documentation or threads, that better explain words, phrases, and general stuff related to Language?

Like would a character actually say "Fuck?"
Does fuck mean the same thing?
What about a term like "JESUS H. CHRIST"

I've gleaned something about Tek's balls, but I hate to actually speak to another player and ruin the immersion for them.

Also, I have  hard time, it seems, just from observing... understand people who "Do 'his s'hit cuz, got no 'dea wat ya sayin'"


Is this often?  I only over heard this once, but I wince at the idea of trying to make sense of that.   Like my natural tendency to type things out and to make sure I'm understood might be ingrained in me.   Also I rather actually role play as oppose to spend half my time creating some Rosetta stone to understand PC's.    Is there some type of convention that I could follow to help?

Sorry again if this has been discussed, the search feature return a few hits, but I wanted to find some coherent and relevant to the current player base.  I haven't interacted with anyone so far, but as I start to get a hang of the emote system and getting my barrings, I'd like to keep the immersion for the other players.  They are already tolerating my newb presence. 

[bcw81]

First off, let me link you to - http://www.armageddonmud.org/help/view/Curses

That should get you started on your journey to being a potty mouth.

As for 'fuck' - Yes, that is a fine term to use in game. It isn't a proper noun and we are playing in English.

As for 'Jesus H. Christ' - No, that relates to an earthen divinity/mythological structure. There was no concept of Jesus in Zalanthas. You might decide to say "Highlord Quintus Tektolnes!" instead (Though, that might net you in massive trouble for taking the king's name in vain.)

For the people who speak in apostrophes - I tend to take that as an IC thing. If they can't speak the Highlord's Sirihish, then they're probably not too far up on the ladder of notable people. It happens. It isn't horribly common, but it is around. You'll see it a lot more in the 'Rinth than, say, in Tuluk.

[LauraMars]

A character would say FUCK.  FUCK is a word with no real cultural overtones other than being a dirty word that means sex.
 
A character would absolutely not say Jesus H. Christ - Jesus is a religious figure and does not appear anywhere in the mythology of Zalanthas.

Tek's balls is fine as a swear word, though it's more common among southerners.  Supposedly, "Muk's balls" is the equivalent for northerners, but is probably considered far more dirty/disrespectful, given the general population's feelings of love for their God King.

If you meet people who talk in slang, like a cowboy or a cockney or a criminal from a black and white gangster movie - well, that's their style.  There's not a lot you can do to change it.  You don't have to feel obliged to talk like them, if you're not comfortable doing so.

It may take some getting used to, especially if english is not your first language, but not EVERYBODY is going to use a made up slang.  There's no real "convention," since everyone chooses to write their character's speech differently.  As an example of a common trend, many characters will drop the "g" on words ending in "ing."  Fightin', sparrin', ridin'.

Hope this helped!

[valeria]

Since it's a text based game, some people put apostrophes and things in their character's speech so that people understand they're low class, provincial, or whatever, from the pronunciations.  I can read the things with abundant apostrophes more easily if I try to read them aloud.

[QuillDipper]

Also, I have  hard time, it seems, just from observing... understand people who "Do 'his s'hit cuz, got no 'dea wat ya sayin'"

[bcw81]

Huh... So, reading over the curses helpfile again, and I see "Hellpits of Suk-Krath - Hell." I suppose if that's okay, straight up 'Hell' wouldn't be too far off to say. (Not to mention the cultural overtones one could garner from the idea that anyone even has a concept of 'hellpits'.)

[rodic]

First off, let me link you to - http://www.armageddonmud.org/help/view/Curses

I glossed right over that, I thought it was related to magick. 

The Jesus thing was more or less looking for the Arm equivalent,  I didn't expect earthly religious figures to make a sudden appearance.

Thanks! 
Lets hope when my character first opens their mouth, they at lest sound like they belong.  Before a horrible death and being robbed of my boots.
Can't wait.

Huh... So, reading over the curses helpfile again, and I see "Hellpits of Suk-Krath - Hell." I suppose if that's okay, straight up 'Hell' wouldn't be too far off to say. (Not to mention the cultural overtones one could garner from the idea that anyone even has a concept of 'hellpits'.)

Figured Drov was the game equivalent to hell.   Well the more you know.

[RogueGunslinger]

Holy shit I learned some new Zalanthan curse words. This is a good day. Thanks guys.

[bcw81]

First off, let me link you to - http://www.armageddonmud.org/help/view/Curses

I glossed right over that, I thought it was related to magick. 

I feel like that helpfile should be renamed "Slurs" or something. Curses does sound a lot like magick, especially with the in game magick.

[Drayab]

Check out this thread (and links therein) for a pretty through discussion of the topic. Unfortunately, there still isn't a single good repository for this knowledge, though that was the original point of the thread I'm linking here.

http://gdb.armageddon.org/index.php/topic,45624.0.html

[BleakOne]

Welcome to Armageddon.

[Qzzrbl]

Also, I have  hard time, it seems, just from observing... understand people who "Do 'his s'hit cuz, got no 'dea wat ya sayin'"

It's also perfectly legit to ICly not understand what these people are saying.

[Harmless]

It's a lot of customs and habits that have been made up, tweaked, and spread organically across the game world mostly from player to player contact.

At some point, almost two decades ago or so, I bet only a few people from a few places kind of invented these dialects you hear and they spread.

I bet it's possible for some diehard old-school veteran to tell us where every bit of whatever originated, cause some guys have played this game forever. I bet the rinth IS where a lot of it came from... because, similar to the real world where we borrow heavily from african american slang, Rinthis were probably culturally appropriated over time.

[Lizzie]

If someone's verbal roleplaying is indecipherable, go ahead and RP that you can't understand him. However it is that -your- character would respond to:

The guy with rocks in his mouth says, in sirihish, "'n y'do' ha' 'is gu's swo' t'n y'j't got' say 's."

Then just react to that. Maybe you'll just stare at him.
Maybe you'll ask him to repeat himself - and keep asking him until you can understand what he's saying.
Maybe you'll just ignore him because clearly he's defective.
Maybe you'll alert the templars because you think he's chanting some magick words and the tavern is about to fall down.
Maybe you'll insult him and tell him you can't understand a fucking WORD that he's saying and maybe he autta take lessons from a gith because you can understand them better than him.
Maybe you'll have a way conversation with him and HOPE his mind isn't as stupid as his mouth.

[rodic]

Check out this thread (and links therein) for a pretty through discussion of the topic. Unfortunately, there still isn't a single good repository for this knowledge, though that was the original point of the thread I'm linking here.

http://gdb.armageddon.org/index.php/topic,45624.0.html

Much Data
Thank
Wow

[Ourla]

Check out this thread (and links therein) for a pretty through discussion of the topic. Unfortunately, there still isn't a single good repository for this knowledge, though that was the original point of the thread I'm linking here.

http://gdb.armageddon.org/index.php/topic,45624.0.html

"An Error Has Occurred!
The topic or board you are looking for appears to be either missing or off limits to you."

[Nyr]

Check out this thread (and links therein) for a pretty through discussion of the topic. Unfortunately, there still isn't a single good repository for this knowledge, though that was the original point of the thread I'm linking here.

http://gdb.armageddon.org/index.php/topic,45624.0.html

"An Error Has Occurred!
The topic or board you are looking for appears to be either missing or off limits to you."

Fixed.  Basically you're the only Visualization Specialist and the board Player Collaboration is newer than that title.

[Ourla]

Thank you! I will fill the gameworld colorfully with my newfound cusses.

[Yummri]

I started a thread like this on Social Etiquette, it was similar questions. That might help you with some other questions you might have. It certainly did me.

[Fujikoma]

'S 'op'n y' ken unners'nd wh's bein' s'd.

[BleakOne]

'S 'op'n y' ken unners'nd wh's bein' s'd.

-Does fake sign language behind Fujikoma-

[rodic]

'S 'op'n y' ken unners'nd wh's bein' s'd.

You know, I don't mind dropping a G or doing "dis" instead of "this" for example.

But I've seen a couple of people so far it take it too extremes and its more of annoyance then anything.  Especially considering that we all mostly are speaking the same language.
If it helps people get into their characters more... I can't blame'em, but If I choose to avoid you because I rather do something else besides play apostrophe wars.

Also to me its comes of as "trying" to hard.  Maybe yes, maybe people sound that way... but OOCly I can't understand you... and then it spills into IC I can't understand you, when realistically unless we were from very different parts of the world. I would.  Two south sider Allanakians (SP?) wouldn't have wildly different dialects, especially if they came from the same neighborhoods.  Just my two cents.

Also call me a bad rp'er but I rather spend time with character actions and interactions then finding new ways to litter my speech with apostrophe's.  It's a very minor annoyance really, and some I've dealt with in other games. I honestly don't understand, it doesn't really add much to the experience in my opinion.  It just kind mucks up a scene as everyone tries to figure out what the fuck you are talking about. 
Kind of my opinion on overly flowery emotes and descriptions that just scream "I OWN A THESAURUS!". I've seen it push to comical proportions, I got nothing against people who like it... but don't be surprised when I'm taking extra time to go figure out what half the words in your descriptions and emotes mean.

I have nothing against people playing the way they want to play, more power to you.  But it is a little disheartening that I'll avoid interacting with you for very OOC reasons.
But I'm still a newb anyways.

I got boots... COME AT ME. 

[Drayab]

Yeah, some people have overwrought character descriptions that I find tacky.

Yeah, some people talk like they've got rocks in their mouths.

It's largely a matter of style, and I'm just glad that I have somebody to play with.

[manonfire]

Back in the day, it seemed like every slightly nodding rugged individualist PC adopted that manner of speech, and it was crazy annoying.

Easy fix, though.

Code Select Expand


The weary, beardfaced manonfire says, in exasperated sirihish, "Why are you talking like you've got a mouthful of gith cock?"

[Fujikoma]

I'M A MOTHA-FU----' T-REX!

Sorry, just the most intelligent contribution I could think of. Seriously, people bitch about improper punctuation, capitalization, grammar, too many fancy words, too few... I'll admit a minor, minor annoyance to me, but nothing I can't look past and try to get the most out of. You know how when you first start listening to death metal and you're just like "what is this strange collection of screams and growls?", but after you listen to enough of it you can make out the words in a song you've not heard before? Consider it a mental exercise and suspend your disbelief just a little more. Sometimes you get a great work of literature, other times you get a hollywood action blockbuster. If you want to enjoy it, you will. If you don't, you won't... But don't put all the blame on others. Unless it's a musical, then, I understand ( ).

[Voular]

Does 'JESUS H. CHRIST' not remind anyone else of Jagged Alliance 2?

Also don't do the whole fake cockney accent just because you're a ranger or some shit. It gets tiring quick.

[RogueGunslinger]

As long as I've been playing the game I've never seen someone talk as bad as the examples they tend to provide on the GDB.

[rodic]

As long as I've been playing the game I've never seen someone talk as bad as the examples they tend to provide on the GDB.

I  will admit, in the few hours I have had to actually play, I over heard two characters one time... and another character wandered a bit in the territory, but it wasn't -has- bad, but there was a few phrases/words that gave me pause, mouthing/saying them out loud helped, although it caused my wife to kind give me a weird look (although that is normal... I do play MUDs after all).

At this rate I think we are having fun with it in the thread.  I highly doubt any person with reasonable sanity could maintain it for extended periods of time... Their apostrophe key would demolished.

Main reason I brought it up, I was wondering if the player base had a unwritten or defacto convention or style for it that I hadn't seemly caught on to.

So far I've noticed dropping the "g" is popular, and makes clear sense.  words like "something" become "sum'tin"  for example, aren't so bad.  Mainly its for my own role play. I don't want to be the only commoner running around with perfect speech and pronunciation.  I know its no crime to be a newbie or new, or unfamiliar, but I also don't want to interrupt the play or be too out of place that it is jarring to other players. 

From memories long past, and to the ones I'm experiencing now. This perhaps the most engaging game I ever played/play, I just want to join in the fun, and get a hang of the world, the culture, and the setting.

Coded stuff, and procedures on how to do certain actions are easy.  Talking to other players, role playing correctly, and being actually a part of the world in a meaningful way, takes not only time, but a tad bit of study and dedication.

[Fujikoma]

I try to come up with a different manner of speaking for each character, it's difficult, and sometimes I have to go to extremes. I'm not sure there's anything set in stone, I'm likely doing it wrong, but I just take some shit I've read IG and cram it together with other shit and run with it. I don't know, it's just an odd habit of mine, I don't want any character t feel too much like the last one. Emotes, however, can be habitual and bleed over, those I find more difficult to change.

If there is a guide for speech patterns and such, I would be most interested to see it, so maybe I don't look like such a honking dumbarse when I start typing.

[RogueGunslinger]

Some people use accents with commas, some people don't. It's entirely up to you and there isn't any standard.

Definitely not an indicator of being a noob.

[solera]

I don't want to be the only commoner running around with perfect speech and pronunciation.

I haven't altered my written accent much because I'd still find it awkward. I try to watch my vocabulary and speech style eg for a Rinthi kid, I'd stare hard at my screen before I used a three syllable word, and I'd try to keep my  grammar sloppy.
I have to say, for long life characters, this tends to bleed over into RL at times.  

[Large Hero]

Yeah, when you're playing a character that might have a written accent, like a Rinthi, it's far more important that you act like a dirty alley rat than use apostrophes.

[long live miley cyrus]

I've said local dialect stuff that got other people's attention without my noticing it.

I always hear rinthis as sounding like down-on-their-luck 18th century british folk for some reason. Orphans, beggars and whatnot from that period.

[CodeMaster]

I've said local dialect stuff that got other people's attention without my noticing it.

I always hear rinthis as sounding like down-on-their-luck 18th century british folk for some reason. Orphans, beggars and whatnot from that period.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPGRUrvuNGk

RIP Jack Wild