Ktuvok-ese?

Cypress · Post by **Cypress** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 9:39 pm

What is the language of the Ktuvoki? Does it vary from swamp to swamp?

Shm Jay · Post by **Shm Jay** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 10:25 pm

And did it borrow the word "Porridgeton" for anything?

Aurora Rossa · Post by **Aurora Rossa** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 12:00 am

Whenever I see Ktuvok, I am reminded of Tuvok, from Star Trek: Voyager.

con quesa · Post by **con quesa** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 12:22 am

Whenever I see Ktuvok, I am reminded of Tuvok, from Star Trek: Voyager.

So it's not just me...

Post by **zompist** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 12:54 am

Unfortunately, I don't have any information on ktuvok languages. There's at least one per empire.

(BTW, but if Tuvok is from Voyager, it's much later than ktuvok. And much less interesting a word.)

Cor · Post by **Cor** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 12:57 am

con quesa wrote:
Whenever I see Ktuvok, I am reminded of Tuvok, from Star Trek: Voyager.
So it's not just me...

Me too!

gear · Post by **gear** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 4:43 am

zompist wrote:Unfortunately, I don't have any information on ktuvok languages. There's at least one per empire.

(BTW, but if Tuvok is from Voyager, it's much later than ktuvok. And much less interesting a word.)

The word ktuvok associates in my mind with the Finnish word kuvottava, which means disgusting, as well as its various forms.

vec · Post by **vec** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 2:40 pm

Cor wrote:
con quesa wrote:
Whenever I see Ktuvok, I am reminded of Tuvok, from Star Trek: Voyager.
So it's not just me...
Me too!

Or me

DF · Post by DF » Fri Jun 11, 2004 6:31 pm

Funny, I'm not reminded of any other words...indeed, some other words remind of 'ktuvok'.

There have been other topics before about the ktuvok languages where I think zomp gave some ideas about ktuvok phonemes (not sure if he was serious though

). Try searching for them.

Warmaster · Post by **Warmaster** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 7:32 pm

I wasn't remined of tuvok actually, despite being a resonable voyager fan, i speak them slightly differently anyway, but i'm surprised i missed that really

DF · Post by DF » Fri Jun 11, 2004 8:10 pm

Zompist in an old thread wrote:Possible ktuvok phonemes: the snap of a slave's femur... the fricative hiss of necromantic spectres... the squirty sound of an imploding fish

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 10:39 pm

Mark also said once or twice--on the old VV board, I think--that he imagined the ktuvok language as "percussive" (probably involving clicks and thumps that would carry well underwater), as opposed to Eteodaole, the language of the ilii, which sounds like music to human ears.

Both species need to be able to communicate both in air and underwater; in terms of the underwater forms, the "songs" of whales and dolphins (which can include both iliu-like notes and whistles, and ktuvok-like clicks and groans) might provide a general idea.

p@,
Glenn

butsuri · Post by **butsuri** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 7:13 pm

Amulek wrote:
Zompist in an old thread wrote:Possible ktuvok phonemes: the snap of a slave's femur... the fricative hiss of necromantic spectres... the squirty sound of an imploding fish

Since then I've always wondered if these are terms used by ktuvok grammarians.

So Haleza Grise · Post by **So Haleza Grise** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 1:54 am

butsuri wrote:
Amulek wrote:
Zompist in an old thread wrote:Possible ktuvok phonemes: the snap of a slave's femur... the fricative hiss of necromantic spectres... the squirty sound of an imploding fish
Since then I've always wondered if these are terms used by ktuvok grammarians.

Somehow I doubt that there exists any such creature as a ktuvok grammarian. How's that going to attract a mate?

Actually, I think that could be a real problem in acquiring materials on ktuvok languages. Field work could be very difficult, unless you were a really enterprising iliu spy with a tape-recorder that works in a swamp.

gear · Post by **gear** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 3:19 am

So Haleza Grise wrote:
butsuri wrote:
Amulek wrote:
Zompist in an old thread wrote:Possible ktuvok phonemes: the snap of a slave's femur... the fricative hiss of necromantic spectres... the squirty sound of an imploding fish
Since then I've always wondered if these are terms used by ktuvok grammarians.
Somehow I doubt that there exists any such creature as a ktuvok grammarian. How's that going to attract a mate?

There are only so many femurs per slave you can snap. Teach them grammar so they know their lot in life.

Shm Jay · Post by **Shm Jay** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 8:49 pm

So Haleza Grise wrote:Since then I've always wondered if these are terms used by ktuvok grammarians.

Somehow I doubt that there exists any such creature as a ktuvok grammarian. How's that going to attract a mate?[/quote]

How do human grammarians attract mates, or do they have the same difficulty

Drydic · Post by **Drydic** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 7:33 pm

Shm Jay wrote:
So Haleza Grise wrote:Since then I've always wondered if these are terms used by ktuvok grammarians.
Somehow I doubt that there exists any such creature as a ktuvok grammarian. How's that going to attract a mate?

How do human grammarians attract mates, or do they have the same difficulty

[/quote]I do think that the problem would be about the same, if you relied on your professional knowledge alone.

butsuri · Post by **butsuri** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 8:59 pm

Of course, it's the incongruity of a ktuvok grammarian that makes it such an appealing idea. Certainly ktuvok nature would seem to militate against such a career, but I imagine eccentrics can arise in any society... How would they transmit their work, though? Do modern ktuvoks employ scribes among their slaves?

Drydic · Post by **Drydic** » Sun Jun 20, 2004 4:07 am

butsuri wrote:Of course, it's the incongruity of a ktuvok grammarian that makes it such an appealing idea. Certainly ktuvok nature would seem to militate against such a career, but I imagine eccentrics can arise in any society... How would they transmit their work, though? Do modern ktuvoks employ scribes among their slaves?

"Transcribe that conversation, slave, or feel the wrath of my Bonecrusher!"

gear · Post by **gear** » Sun Jun 20, 2004 5:09 am

Drydic_guy wrote:
butsuri wrote:Of course, it's the incongruity of a ktuvok grammarian that makes it such an appealing idea. Certainly ktuvok nature would seem to militate against such a career, but I imagine eccentrics can arise in any society... How would they transmit their work, though? Do modern ktuvoks employ scribes among their slaves?
"Transcribe that conversation, slave, or feel the wrath of my Bonecrusher!"

The Ktuvok Grammarian hits! -- more -- You die. Would you like your possessions to be identified? [y/n]