O-2 Galactic languages
Galactic One:
A binary language. No sapient member of O-2 civilization has ever been unable to use some form of
Gal-One. The band width for Galactic One is notoriously narrow, but there are standard protocols for
multi-channel Gal-One communications. Multi-band Gal-One variants are quite important in
inter-order communication.
Galactic Two:
A relatively easy language to learn, but only about four times as fast as simple Gal-One. It is
popular as a trade language among Humans. The
Tymbrimi have a dialect based on Gal-Two, as do the
Urs.
Galactic Three:
Hard for Humans to pronounce, with high-pitched whistles
and trills and other sounds that Humans are not well-suited for producing. Many consider it very
elegant and expressive. Sentences have triple verbs, each one having the same approximate meaning as
the others. Spoken by the Gubru.
Galactic Four:
Faster than Gal-Three. Popular amongst avian species. Many
Neo-Dolphins learn some Gal-Four.
Galactic Five:
A language of grunts and growls, sometimes learned by Terragen traders who
must travel through J'8lek space.
Galactic Six:
Sibilant and gutteral, but fairly expressive. Spoken by
Thennanin and
Synthians.
Galactic Seven:
the language that Galactics wanted Earth to adopt. Instead Earth hired
Kanten, Tymbrimi and others to help translate the Library into Anglic.
Tymbrimi have a dialect based on GalSev.
Galactic Eight:
A language of hoots and honks, which gives Humans and
Neo-Chimpazees sore throats. Used by the
Jophur.
Galactic Nine:
A musical language of chimes. Spoken by the Kanten. Difficult for all
Terragens except Neo-Dolphins.
Galactic Ten:
A fluting language, also difficult for Humans and
Neo-Chimps to pronounce. Spoken by the
Brothers of the Night.
Tymbrimi have a dialect based on Gal-Ten.
Galactic Eleven:
A high-pitched "musical" language, somewhat similar to GalNine.
Kanten prefer Gal-Eleven. It is the primary language of
the Tandu. Among Terragens only Fins
can manage a competent conversation in Gal-Eleven.
Galactic Twelve:
Clan Soro favors Gal-Twelve.
The Inter-species Academy for Sophont Language and
Communication is the galactic institute with primary responsibility for setting and maintaining standards
in the Twelve sanctioned Galactic languages.
Note: The index of a Galactic language generally marks an increase in "bandwidth," and hence
the rate at which a given language can communicate information, all things being equal. That is, a
Gal-Four speaker can "say" much more in ten seconds (or can use much more redundancy) than can a
speaker using Gal-One.
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