Task 12: Xenolinguist

[Prof. Amy Lupin 9]

It's only been in the last century that humans made space their permanent home. Other species have inhabited the galaxy for millennia.

 

Your destination is home to a species that tends to keep to themselves and seldom go off-world. Your captain has instructed you to gather information about this species and about their language in case you encounter any of them. While most species speak Common, it always goes a long way if you can greet them in their own language. Most species also appreciate it if you’re willing to participate in their customs and traditions.

 

For this task, we’d like you to describe this species, including their name, any prominent characteristics as well as some details on their language and customs. Also share words for "hello" and "thank you" – these can be in the form of symbols (graphics) as well.

 

Post your submissions below by 23:59 HOL time on 28 February to earn 10 rubies.

[Galena May 7]

Beepibops are an ancient species living in the Autoelectron planet for millennia. They were only discovered recently because of their tendency to stay secluded. They live in one of the most sparsely populated planets across galaxies. Only 5000 Beepibops are known to exist so far. Their primary food source is starlight, they eat by directly trapping light and heat energy from their nearest star into panels and then connecting these panels to capacitors inside their heads. They can use this energy for a long time before they need to recharge again. Since a proper recharge is mandatory for their survival, they are significantly protective of their nearest star and have a custom of conducting a tour to their nearest star on a spaceship, every decade, as a mark of respect to the star. They believe that they'll only exist for as long as their star does. This tour is like a pilgrimage for them.

They aren't exactly immortal, but their life span is a hundred centuries, before their capacitors start failing to charge up and they die. The dead aren't buried, but their robot-like bodies are dismantled and the parts are used in their hospitals to mend physical injuries on Beepibops that are alive.

Beepibops speak the Beep-bop language which has only two sounds, Beep and Bop. Their words are formed by some sort of Morse code, but more complex. The absence of a sound makes as much sense as the presence of it, for example, Beep Bop means yes, but only Bop means no, indicating that the absence of Beep in this case is very significant.

"Beep Bop Beep Bop" in their language means Hello, or rather more like "You are welcome into our land" (this is the closest to Hello in their language, they don't have a specific word for Hello). You can also say "hello" to them, i.e. greet them, by saying the same, but be prepared to welcome them into your own planet if they take you too literally.

"Bop Beep Bop" is a sign of gratitude, and it means "thank you". If they tell it to you, they are grateful that you brought them a shipment.

"Bop Bop" is a sign of trouble or danger, or they are warning you if they say it to you. If you hear a lot of "Bop Bop" from all directions on their planet, you should probably run.

Edited February 10 by Galena May

[Helenarosequeen Granger 0]

Species name of alien - Tentaglia

Appearance - Two long ropy bandy legs, long ropy body, and long ropy arms of different lengths but same one inch width all over, round and flat disc like head with slit like eyes, no ears or mouth, one slit like semicircular nose, and multiple special organs called antennae tentacles on their head. These organs look like several tentacles giving them a Medusae-like appearance. These tentacles are organs for hearing and talking and receiving information. These tentacles have several holes called receivers, which look like octopus suckers and are used as ears. These tentacles also have a single wide rim at the top end, which is a mouth. They are emerald green in color and luminous, all over, meaning their bodies emit green light. They give off an odor like burning diesel.

Traditions and customs - Their favorite tradition is the tentacle dance. It involves many maneuvers like waving their tentacles, intertwining their tentacles with each other, and doing somersaults then walking upside down using their tentacles as feet. They perform the tentacle dance to greet distinguished guests.

Language and communication - Tentaglia possess natural legilimency and occlumency, thus they communicate among themselves by mind reading and regulating what information they don't want to be read from their mind. They can control their Legilimency and block out others from reading the bits and pieces of information they don't want others to hear. They can even understand other space languages and read the minds of other species, but to read the minds of other species, they must touch the other species or have touched the other species beforehand to transfer the foreign language coding into their own minds by a mere non-invasive instant touch-and-retrieve data transfer operation. They can also speak through their mouths, thus they have a language of their own, which is called Tenticklish. It sounds like a high-pitched laugh from a distance. The word for "Hello" in Tenticklish is "Hululalahahaha" said in a high-pitched voice, and that for "Thank You" is "Tarantatarantra", but remember you got to say it in a high-pitched voice. Low-pitched voices are only used during funerals and mourning events on their planet, so it is said to be rude to talk to them in a low-pitched voice. Their planet is probably best visited by female humans, whereas male humans best visit them during mournings.

Edited February 13 by Helenarosequeen Granger

[River Fenwick 4]

The species of my destination are known as Demeterians, home to the planet of Demete. They're slender, with a silver skin tone and large indigo eyes, and they stand about eight feet tall on average for an adult of this species. Their primary language is called Clakki, which consists of many clicking, popping, and whistling sounds, which almost sound like a melody of its own. The pitch often indicates their words, such as higher pitches, which frequently are questions, and lower pitches, which are usually statements. To say "hello" in their language, it's a fast click followed by a long whistle (typically four beats long). To say "thank you" in their language, it's a lower popping sound followed by a repeated clicking sound lasting three beats, finishing with a slow click.

[Scarlet Robloutain 0]

The Thalassians are an amphibious species known for their smooth, iridescent skin that ranges from deep blue to emerald green. They have webbed hands and feet, and their large eyes are adapted for both underwater and surface vision. Thalassians primarily inhabit the vast oceans of Thalassa, living in underwater cities built from bioluminescent coral and other marine materials. They have a long lifespan, often reaching up to 300 years.

 

The Thalassian language, known as Thalassian, uses a flowing, wave-like script that mimics the movement of water. It is both spoken and written, with a melodic tone that resembles the sound of the ocean. Common phrases include "hello," pronounced as "Aqua," and "thank you," pronounced as "Maris."

 

Thalassians have rich customs and traditions. When greeting someone, they place their right hand over their heart and bow slightly, a gesture that signifies respect and openness. They celebrate the "Festival of Tides" annually, which involves music, dance, and the release of bioluminescent creatures into the ocean to create a mesmerizing light show.

 

Thalassian cuisine is rich in seafood and sea vegetables, and they have a tradition of sharing meals with guests as a sign of hospitality. They are also known for their intricate coral sculptures and beautiful underwater music, played using instruments made from seashells and other marine materials.

 

Culturally, Thalassians have a deep respect for the ocean and its inhabitants. They practice sustainable living and have strict laws against overfishing and pollution. Their traditional medicine uses marine plants and minerals, which are highly effective in treating various ailments.