Difference between revisions of "Language"

Revision as of 18:08, 21 December 2004

This article deals with Language as it relates to NationStates. For more general information, see the Wikipedia article on this subject.

Language is a system of communication or reasoning using representation along with metaphor and some manner of logical grammar. Many languages use gestures, sounds, symbols, or words, and aim at communicating concepts, ideas, meanings, and thoughts.

This article deals with the use of language on the forums, the ins and outs of the national languages of NS nations, roleplaying conventions relating to language, the use of language in gameplay and nationsstates slang.

National languages

Prevalence

English is the primary language of NationStates and the language that is generally used on the forums. However, it is used by different nations in different ways. In Gameplay it is usually the medium of communication except in regions based around certain RL nations. (See below for more on regional language) In Roleplay, a great deal of nations have English as their primary language. This is likely because a majority of the NS players are from English-speaking countries such as the United States, Great Britain, Canada and Australia. Rather then attributing historical developments in roleplay (such as RL English settlers), the language is often, but not always, assumed to have always been there. In this sense, Anglosaxon culture is dominant in NS Earth and beyond.

There have been some attempts at forming an alternative Lingua Franca; many Elvish nations speak Quenya and in the roleplaying circles around them it is sometimes used as a language of diplomacy. Many Quenya-speaking nations are part of the VERITAS alliance. More common then Quenya, however, are the RL languages. German and Russian feature prominently amongst them, but French, Dutch and Spanish are also quite common.) There can be a wide range of different reasons for choosing a certain RL language (see choice of language

A very interesting asset to linguistic diversity are the nation-specific languages, which are often made up as a constructed language (conlang). Often these languages are merely "nationian" with no real sentences behind it, but some players have made up entire languages for the game. A good example is Rejistanian. Some nations do not even limit themselves to national languages alone, but have different languages for different regions inside their nations. These can be different constructed languages, different RL languages, or a mix.

Regional languages also exist in regions which are dedicated to a RL nation (Such as the Nederland region for the RL Netherlands or France for RL France). There are also regions which are dedicated to languages themselves, such as the Deutschsprachige Region.

Choice of language

Why choose a certain (RL) language?

• Background player
• Characteristics of nations ("communist --> Russian" etc)
• Other reasons?

Roleplay conventions relating to language

Virtually all Roleplay is in English and the language for interaction between characters of different nation is often also English, at least OOC. Sometimes, English is used OOCly while assuming that the characters are speaking an IC language that is either fictional or incomprehensible to other players. (An example of a fictional language is "Celdonian" in Celdonia, which is functionally similar to English.) Using another language is sometimes indicated by using a different colour for the spoken text when players do not want to assume away the language barrier but still want other players to understand what their characters are saying.

• Assuming everyone speaks English
• (alternatively) use of coloured text
• (alternatively) posting in that language
• Something about the use of rude language

Language in gameplay

• language regions (Esperanto)
• National regions speaking a non-English language (Nederland and Dutch). While many non-native speakers have nations in predominantly english speaking regions and take part in english based forums, there exist regions in Nation States created by and for specific languages. These players may be less likely to take part in the wider forums and UN debates but have created regions as varied as those made by English speaking players.
• Uses for secrecy/invading and such

NationStates Slang

Bit must include links to Game terms, Forum terms