Language learning

[*Wiro]

When I get off my arse and finish it, there will be a Cantr TOS that will, among many things, detail the rules regarding language learning. I promise that I won't CA2008 it.

lolololol.

Okay, cool.

[Elros]

Who is to say that they only know one language each, and who is to say what that language is?

The player makes that choice when they spawn a new character. There is a dropdown list of languages. That's a choice, and a definition once it has been made. The rules quite clearly state that the character is created with knowledge of that language and that language only.

Oh, well my mistake then. I had never seen that before...

I only play English characters myself, but I am fluent in 3 languages in real life and I work as a translator for the Sheriff's Department. So, technically I could have spoken several languages in the game, but I was not aware that there were written rules against that... I will keep that in mind in the future.

[Dudel]

Who is to say that they only know one language each, and who is to say what that language is?

The player makes that choice when they spawn a new character. There is a dropdown list of languages. That's a choice, and a definition once it has been made. The rules quite clearly state that the character is created with knowledge of that language and that language only.

Oh, well my mistake then. I had never seen that before...

I only play English characters myself, but I am fluent in 3 languages in real life and I work as a translator for the Sheriff's Department. So, technically I could have spoken several languages in the game, but I was not aware that there were written rules against that... I will keep that in mind in the future.

Hence the topic is to make said rule MORE OBVIOUS to others.

As it is, my view, clearly needed as half of the active forum members don't even seem to know this rule.

[SekoETC]

You may choose a language other than English to play your character in if you`re at least somewhat fluent in that language. Your character is not allowed to speak, read, write in or understand any other language than the one you registered him or her with, unless (s)he encounters speakers of another language in the game and you actively roleplay a language learning process for a minimum of two years. So choose wisely.

From the page for creating a new character. Actually I think I edited that in some point since the old version was a bit unclear, but that's what it says now.

[Dudel]

I don't know Seko, that's not very obvious.

[Piscator]

You may choose a language other than English to play your character in if you`re at least somewhat fluent in that language. Your character is not allowed to speak, read, write in or understand any other language than the one you registered him or her with, unless (s)he encounters speakers of another language in the game and you actively roleplay a language learning process for a minimum of two years. So choose wisely.

Perhaps that's better?

[Joshuamonkey]

Unfair advantage as not EVERYONE (player wise) is bilingual. I don't like it!

If you know how to use it right, an online translator can be very helpful. Even though it is a rough translation, that's all your character should know anyway, kind of. I admit I still use an online translator to help my high school knowledge of Spanish, even though I have a 95 year old Spanish character, though she also knows German, but not English. However, it seems that English is a common way to emote between languages, since so many people know it, plus you can online translate the emoting.

[catpurr]

So living for 2 cantr years in a place where a for the character foreign language is spoken is enough for the character have learned it?

[Piscator]

Well, you should also rp learning the language as far as I know. Just waiting until the two years are over and than start talking the language would not be the ideal way to do it.

And welcome to the forums.

[catpurr]

well I guess this means, speaking rather bad at the beginning and gradually get better of the course of 2 years.

[Piscator]

Yes. Some additional exchange of vocabulary and so on would show some style. I also think that two years is the absolute minimum.

[*Wiro]

If you give a damn about RP you won't RP some lame basic language learning and then speak it pretty much completely well, but instead put a considerable amount of effort in it and take your time in setting boundaries further away to test your character's new language skills.

[catpurr]

Well I think its fair to have a bit faster development in vocabulary than seeing directly in game.

I'd roleplay language learning that way:
* Go to a foreign city. Do not read any notes. And only do your stuff by using pointing and gestures, emotions. Like point at me, tell my name, and such.
* After a some ingame months maybe a year, use very primitive vocabulary, infinitive constructions, only present tense, "I sad", "I work banana", etc. (Still do not read any notes and pretend to not understand what other characeters talk to each other) if they don't talk in a primitive way to you.
* After the second year be a little more fluently but still speak rather primitevly. No too complicated sentences, etc.
* After three years be as good in the language as you are in real life.

Does that sound fair enough?

[Piscator]

I think so. Ideally, you also try to find someone who can teach you the language.