Possibly ignorant question

Discussion in 'General Trek Discussion' started by I_like_andorians, Sep 10, 2018.

  1. I_like_andorians

    I_like_andorians Lieutenant Junior Grade Red Shirt

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    Forgive my ignorance, but I've always wondered what is earth's dominant or ultimate language.

    Is Earth's or human language solely English? Or is it still a mixture? Chinese and Russian and English? Or just English?

    There are plenty of episodes of multiple series where a universal translator is not present (for some reason or another). However the crew of said star ship can still translate to each other perfectly fine. (Even if from different continents).

    Does humanity have a dominant spoken language? Or are all languages forgotten and it's just ONE language?
    Any reference to this in star trek?

    <3
     
  2. Kor

    Kor Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Per TNG "Code of Honor," French has become obscure by the 24th century.

    Kor
     
  3. dahj

    dahj Vice Admiral Admiral

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    English, but the variant inwented by a little old lady from Leningrad. ;)
     
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  4. Captain Clark Terrell

    Captain Clark Terrell Commodore Commodore

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    I would assume that English is the dominant language, as the Klingons aboard the Pagh are told to speak it when Riker joins their crew.
     
  5. Nyotarules

    Nyotarules Vice Admiral Moderator

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    Mandarin, by the 23rd century Earth has over 2 billion humans of Hans descant but the Anglos don't realise it yet
     
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  6. I_like_andorians

    I_like_andorians Lieutenant Junior Grade Red Shirt

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    Oh that's cool. Do you know what episode that is? Would love to prove the husband wrong :)
     
  7. Captain Clark Terrell

    Captain Clark Terrell Commodore Commodore

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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 11, 2018
  8. I_like_andorians

    I_like_andorians Lieutenant Junior Grade Red Shirt

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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 11, 2018
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  9. Mysterion

    Mysterion Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Esperanto.
     
  10. flandry84

    flandry84 Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Technobabble.:biggrin:
     
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  11. I_like_andorians

    I_like_andorians Lieutenant Junior Grade Red Shirt

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    Oh wow!! Came here to know some thing fictional, and actually learnt some thing cool. How I've never heard of this I don't know!
    Thank you :)
     
  12. Nightdiamond

    Nightdiamond Commodore Commodore

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    See "The Changeling" TOS. Uhura is re-learning how to read.

    UHURA: See the dog. See the dog,
    CHAPEL: Sound it out.
    UHURA: R, r, run!
    CHAPEL: That's it, Uhura. That's very good. Now try the next one.
    UHURA: The dog has a, The dog, (says something in Swahilli)
    CHAPEL: Not Swahili, Uhura. In English. The dog has a ball. See? B, ah, ll. Ball. Now you go ahead.
    UHURA: The dog has a ball
    .
    CHAPEL: That's right! Oh, that's right, Uhura.
     
  13. Mysterion

    Mysterion Vice Admiral Admiral

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    You're welcome. I didn't think Esperanto was quite that obscure...
     
  14. I_like_andorians

    I_like_andorians Lieutenant Junior Grade Red Shirt

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    Perhaps it is the English education system. Or perhaps I am being an idiot. (Most likely both). Love learning languages, though I've never heard of Esperanto. Probably the most exciting thing I've learn this year, and will make it my mission to start learning it.
    Genuinely thank you :)
     
  15. Mr. Laser Beam

    Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I'm sure there are still many different languages spoken on Earth, but the dominant language of the Federation is clearly English.

    Oh yeah? Well, bonvoro alsendi la pordiston, lausajne estas rano en mia bideo...and I think we all know what THAT means.
     
    Last edited: Sep 10, 2018
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  16. Doc Mugatu

    Doc Mugatu Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    This should help you progress in your desire to learn the Esperanto language:

     
  17. Greg Cox

    Greg Cox Admiral Premium Member

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    In "Space Seed," Khan is surprised to hear the crew speaking English.
     
  18. Nerys Myk

    Nerys Myk A Spock and a smile Premium Member

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    Not sure he was surprised.
     
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  19. Greg Cox

    Greg Cox Admiral Premium Member

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    True, he's more puzzled and disoriented than surprised. English . . . in outer space?

    But it's another reference to English actually being spoken upon the Enterprise, as opposed to some future lingo.
     
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  20. marsh8472

    marsh8472 Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    I'm seeing "English" mentioned a lot like "you speak English", "in English..." etc..

    From Voyager episode "The 37's"
    NOGAMI: You are all speaking Japanese.
    HAYES: (the farmer) Sounds to me like you are speaking English.
    JANEWAY: It's because of a device we have. A universal translator. It allows us to talk to each other even though our languages aren't the same.

    Nogami said they were speaking Japanese when you can plainly hear them speaking English. Similarly we may be only hearing English as the audience when they're all actually speaking in another language.

    In "Little Green Men" we're shown Quark's point of view of what humans sounded like in 1947 before they got their universal translators operational again. It did not sound like English at all. So maybe "English" doesn't actually exist in the Star Trek universe.