For #StarTrekDay:
It might surprise you to know that one of TNG's most famous episodes drives linguists up the wall, because the whole premise of "Darmok" is that this one species is uniquely reference-driven in their speech. In reality, *most* languages rely heavily on cultural context. It shouldn't have been a shock to anyone.
(But it's still a good episode. π)
Let's give it a try, though: Can you Darmok-ify recent news or culture in a way anyone who lived through it would understand?
Oh, you have good friends! π π
The Orange his rage uncaged
The DA stands on strong walls
The election, a fire of uncertainty
Yes! Now that has all the makings of a future Anglo-Saxon epic about the ruin of kings (or their mediocre modern day equivalents). π We get the cultural metaphors we deserve, I guess. π
@MLClark The humans have cycles in history just like they have cycles with their art.
Experience and interperation can only get so broad on their native hardware which is why I think themes have a tendency to repeat.
If the human race is able to survive their infancy, it will natively come with it the birth of art, along with the new problems and solutions that drive that expression.
Art is a reflection of being, and being is a reflection of art.
"If the human race is able to survive their infancy"
And if it cannot, there will come soft rains, and the world will go on: ever so many other wonderful critters living and dying in the curious ruins of a species they'd never known... & being none the lesser for human absence.
(But absolutely. This is why my SF novel in progress is drawing from Thucydides: his history of war politics 2,400 years ago could've been plucked from the pages today. Human nature hasn't much changed.)
@MLClark There is this amazing arc in TNG starting with Encounter at Farpoint. Q accuses humanity of being a cruel and savage race.
In All good things, they find themselves back in the court room. "The trial never ends"
Picard is only able to save the human race by allowing his horizons to expand.
That's when Q says, the final frontier is not around you, but within you.
It is a beautiful take on human nature and progress.
Four Seasons Total Landscaping
Impeccable. May we always have opportunities to slip this nonsense into general conversation. π
@MLClark September, when the Towers fell.
Absolutely. A terrible, but also perfect example.
Agreed! The Simpsons era was big for that. Before meme culture online, I knew tons of fellows who... didn't really seem to know how to communicate outside of Simpsons references. Every conversation! Every opportunity!
It's a fascinating part of how we communicate - because we're not just looking to share information; we're also trying to confirm a shared experience of reality. We all just want to know that we belong.
@MLClark @Heucuva8 @XSGeek I knew people like that, but with Monty Python references.
Or with Shakespeare, or Plato, or the Bible for that matter. You'll be having a conversation, and half or more of their responses were something witty someone else said. But we all knew who they meant, so we knew what they meant.
: )
@AskTheDevil @Heucuva8 @XSGeek
Exactly. :) Do you have a cultural touchstone you think your speech patterns lean on more than others?
@AskTheDevil @Heucuva8 @XSGeek
All of the ones you already mentioned are cultural touchstones - mainstream media, philosophy, the Bible, the Bard...
But if nothing springs to mind, that's fine! I also try to speak without "meme-ing" too much. It makes code-switching between speaking contexts easier, if I'm not always referencing specific media to get my point across.
@MLClark *calling the police to report a violent crime and the perpetrator fled*
Fani Willis, her letter to Gym Jordan! NPR, when the blue checks fell!
Ok, but mine's a downer. π€·
The poles, when the penguins drowned.
Athens, when the fires burned.
Paris, the goals dashed.
Humans, their eyes closed.
Oof.
Paris, the goals dashed - or spurned.
π
That one hits hard.
I was originally going to give a few examples that included Bucha, so the "downers" are more than welcome here. Thank you for these.
We will be remembered for our exceptional conduct - but not, necessarily, our best.
@MLClark Remember, we can Darmokify hope too.
@MLClark Spurned is better.
@MLClark It kinda falls apart when you need to ask a question, e.g., "I'm going to the grocery store, is there anything you'd like me to buy for you?"
Not to mention what coitus by metaphor would be like ...
π Shaka, when the walls fell, takes on a verrrrry different meaning in the bedroom!
@MLClark Darmok and Jalad at the rodeo ... π
@MLClark
One evening, after some drinks, 2 friends and I started translating Shakespeare to the original Tamarian. Even better than Klingon.