re: Mantongue

From: Chris Holden <chris.holden_at_lineone.net>
Date: Sun, 05 Jul 1998 01:21:50 +0100


Okay, lets get a few things staight . . . Modern linguistic theory _does not_ claim that all languages are based on one original 'mantongue' type speak (i.e., from where humans originated) -- just try and find some real links between Indo-European and any Amerindian language, and you'll find that hard to maintain. It's difficult! IMO The point is, language in Gloranthat is _MYTHICAL_, not _evolutionary_ like the real world, where more than one language may have evoilved for different reasons. Okay, so in Glorantha it's evolutionary depending on race/religion as far as humans are concerned, but that _doesn't_ mean human language is based on a historical progenitor -- it's based on a mythical progenitor. For instance, 'mantongue' for Hsunchen may mean something completely different to 'mantongue' to an Orlanthi -- it may mean the original mortal tongue to one, and the speech of humans to the other . . . i.e., the myth facts of history vary depending on the myth you believe -- kind of like real life -- religion (Bebel, or eveolution). But Mantongue still exists, whichever you believe. So, for the Orlanthi, Mantongue could be the parts of language comon to all Gloranthans (as some parts of all European languages are based on Indo-european).
To a Hsunchen, Mantongue could be the original language spoken by all mortals (with the man rune).
For a Brithini Mantongue could be 'his' i.e., the 'true, pure' language, uncorrupted by heresy.
For a Praxian, Mantongue could be the language which all tribes have in comman - -- even the ones not in the pact.
For a Godlearner, mantongue could be a contruct that describes the original speech, as spoken by (the construct) Grandfather Mortal to his children, but which has changed since the dawn due to the geographical seperation of his children.

Oh, by the way -- this is my first go, and it's all _my opinion_.


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