From: millerl@wharton.upenn.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: RQ: scripts and written language
Date: 14 Dec 92 01:58:04 GMT
Organization: Newt World Order

Here's my proposal for changing the read/write language skills to skills
in individual scripts, or alphabets, and requiring both script and
language knowledge in order to read or write. Note that ideographic
languages, such as the Chinese characters, would count as languages
rather than scripts, and for the purposes of the game there would be no
associated script skill, unless the GM wanted to ascertain the artistic
quality of brushstrokes.

Script: Scripts in use in Genertela include: Western, Pelorian, and Orlanthi.
     Any lettered person may use any script in order to write any language
     which they know, so a literate orlanthi could use the Orlanthi script to
     write Sartar, Tradetalk, Lunar and would be able to read what he had
     written. In order to read this, another would need to know both the
     script and the spoken language, the script in order to translate the
     written symbols into sounds, and the language in order to understand the
     sounds. Note that before the advent of the printing press spelling and
     punctuation wasn't standardized, it was up to the individual, so reading
     will always be more laborious than we moderns might think, and may be
     extremely difficult when trying to interpret those with especially
     eccentric ideas on spelling and punctuation.

     Levels of mastery and abilities (levels of mastery are, apprentice from
     30% to 59%, journeyman from 60% to 89%, and master from 90% on up).

     30% -- apprentice level script, good enough to work as an apprentice
     scribe or copyist but may not be able to understand some texts that have
     eccentric choices in spelling and punctuation. When reading a text the
     apprentice must read aloud, and often must repeat a passage several
     times until the correct pronunciation and emphasis becomes obvious. It
     takes twice the usual time to read a text, and a skill roll is
     necessary. The apprentice will read long documents slowly. Someone who
     knows a script at this level cannot read a texts without vocalizing or
     subvocalizing.

     60% -- journeyman level script, good enough to work as a scribe or
     copyist. can read written text at the usual speed, which would allow
     reading of a scroll or book slightly slower than it would be spoken
     aloud. They must read texts aloud, unless they are intended to be very
     easy to read, but can usually get the meaning of a phrase the first time
     through. A journeyman scribe may read without speaking the words at half
     speed if he subvocalizes, or at one tenth speed if he refrains from
     speaking at all. This may still be useful if the scribe suspects that a
     curse lies on those who speak the words of a particular text.

     90% -- master level script, good enough to work as a supervisor and
     instructor of scribes and copyists. The master may read written text
     quickly, more quickly than he may speak it aloud. The master generally
     subvocalizes whatever he reads, but familiar or especially easy to read
     texts, especially those in a language with which the master scribe has
     also mastered, may be read without doing so, and at a vastly increased
     speed. The master may read a text that he would normally subvocalize at
     half speed if he consciously refrains from speaking the words, for
     instance to avert a curse.

Comments?

-- 
whoah,
+++++++++++++++++++++++23
Loren Miller                           internet: MILLERL@wharton.upenn.edu
Mediocrity is a hand rail.                         -- Baron de Montesquieu