Can’t find what language…

[Arpy]

I’m trying to remember a line from TNG where Picard says that so and so speaks a number of difficult languages, including this, that, (maybe) Romulan, and _______ (!). I tried Googling “difficult Star Trek languages,” but it keeps showing me languages actually made up for the franchise (e.g. Kingon) instead of this obscure line referencing difficult in-universe languages. Anyone remember what the line was or what episode, or remember more about what situation it was spoken in?

 

[Bad Thoughts]

The Icarus Factor. Picard is describing the first officer Riker would have in the Ares.

 

[Brobdingnag]

The Icarus Factor. Picard is describing the first officer Riker would have in the Ares.

Thank you. I was racking my brain trying to remember in which episode I heard that line.

 

[Tim Thomason]

From Chakoteya:

That is an understatement, Number One. The last time I saw Commander Flaherty, he spoke forty languages. As I recall, among the more exotic were Romulan, Klingon, Giamon, Stroyerian.

A Stroyerian showed up in the A Time to... series, but other than that, there's been no references to the Stroyerians or Giamons in non-canon Star Trek that I can see.

 

[dupersuper]

From Chakoteya:


A Stroyerian showed up in the A Time to... series, but other than that, there's been no references to the Stroyerians or Giamons in non-canon Star Trek that I can see.

It still seems unlikely in the extreme he could pick up new languages faster than the universal translator...

 

[Brobdingnag]

With the omnipresence of the UT, I wonder why they even bother to learn more than one language...

 

[Farscape One]

Flaherty might be a descendant of Hoshi...

 

[Tim Thomason]

With the omnipresence of the UT, I wonder why they even bother to learn more than one language...

Geordi was also mentioned to be a polyglot, although not to that level, and it seems to be just a fun pastime and hobby, not a profession or occupation in the 24th century.

 

[Alice_27]

Geordi was also mentioned to be a polyglot, although not to that level, and it seems to be just a fun pastime and hobby, not a profession or occupation in the 24th century.

I'll bet it sure helps though when the UT isn't working

 

[at Quark's]

With the omnipresence of the UT, I wonder why they even bother to learn more than one language...

Learning another language (or more than one) also makes you more aware how the language you speak is just one 'grid', and that many other 'grids' are possible, each with their own 'feel' and way of conceptualizing things, which can be an interesting and perspective broadening exercise in itself. There might also be people who do this just for fun, or as a kind of mental gymnastics, to keep their brain in shape.

Perhaps learning another language in a time of ubiquitous UT is similar to how some people today still prefer to do calculation by head, in an age where everyone has access to electronic calculators (e.g. as a function on your mobile phone). Most people won't bother with it, but a minority will.

 

[Alice_27]

Learning another language (or more than one) also makes you more aware how the language you speak is just one 'grid', and that many other 'grids' are possible, each with their own 'feel' and way of conceptualizing things, which can be an interesting and perspective broadening exercise in itself. There might also be people who do this just for fun, or as a kind of mental gymnastics, to keep their brain in shape.

Perhaps learning another language in a time of ubiquitous UT is similar to how some people today still prefer to do calculation by head, in an age where everyone has access to electronic calculators (e.g. as a function on your mobile phone). Most people won't bother with it, but a minority will.

I agree! The UT is a great invention but it is not fail-safe. The Tamarians speak in metaphor which the UT was NOT able to understand. Had linguistics been studied more maybe Dathon would still be alive.