Re: Voyager "Displaced" Vulcan ritual McReynolds Thu, 18 Dec 1997 16:20:36 -0600 -----Original Message----- From: Saul Epstein To: vulcan-linguistics*shikahr,com,inter,net Date: Thursday, December 18, 1997 3:56 PM Subject: Re: Voyager "Displaced" Vulcan ritual >It just seems to demonstrate an indifference on the part of that show's >writers to existing lore. I know Kaas Waan only appeared in a TAS episode, >but still. > >It also seems to demonstrate an over-fondness for dental fricatives, a sound >not included in the ZC. I seem to remember them naming a large body of >water -- whatever THAT means -- "Zaroth," or something similar. > >I'm probably being influenced by a generalized distaste for the show, >though, so there's no need to take me entirely seriously in this matter >unless it meets with overwhelming agreement. The question we have to ask ourselves is simple: are we creating the language of the Vulcan people, or are we just constructing yet another conlang with a basis in a sci-fi show? Personally, I would rather try and include EVERYTHING we can. Luckily, we almost always hear ceremonial words and phrases that probably date to pre-Reformation times and may be borrowed from other languages on Vulcan. So, if a smattering of words exhibit un-ZC sounds, does it really matter? I think it would make the language more real and believable. As I've done once or twice before, I can see a parallel with Okrand's {tlhIngan Hol}. He created a language for Paramount that they consistently ignore or misuse on the shows. Does he rewrite the entire language based on a few freak words or phrases? No. He does, however, acknowledge them in his new book, stating that many of the words heard on the show, due to their ceremonial nature, are from a much older dialect. Similarly, the only time we've ever really heard ANY modern Vulcan spoken was in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn, between Spock and Saavik. All other Vulcan heard was either a.) part of a ritual or ceremony, or b.) a single isolated word. So, my vote is to include all the Vulcan we can, even if some of it is archaic or not in common usage. in other words, we shouldn't ignore Voyager, even if the show itself sucks. (Although season 4 is a BIG improvement... but that is another subject entirely). -McReynolds