#keeng

[mensministry]

Keeng Seafood Restaurant, Long Thành, Vietnam,

BambuBuild

[sleights-of-hand]

What about Keeng Ra'at from Fallout 2?

Good news! Despite having not played Fallout 2, I am always down to draw a creature or perhaps some sort of monster.

[delafiseaseses]

Heh, yeah good old Klamath. Not a bad place if you like hunting, eating, and skinning geckos all day! Heh heh. It's a pretty dull place, but I hear there was a bit of excitement when this tribal from Arroyo came to town years back. All before my time, though. -Klamath Bob on Klamath

Which Klamath Quest or Quests do you reckon Bob meant by 'excitement'? If I was to guess I'd say he's talking of the slaying of the Rat God Keeng Ra'at or maybe Smiley's rescue.

Hell, maybe it's about how The Chosen One fixed Whiskey Bob's still? Maybe Klamath Bob is Whiskey Bob, Jr., think about it. Two Bobs, alcohol professions, both from Klamath. That is, of course, a joke, mostly (but it's possible). Also, I guess that quote means Bob is probably under 40. Maybe a little over 40, but too young to remember 2241.

Y'know, I initially thought "What did the Chosen One really do that'd merit being brought up randomly 40 years later?" then I remembered "Oh, yeah, they stopped an intelligent talking Mole Rat who was laying siege to Trapper Town with an army of Rats." and I kinda felt silly apparently thinkin' that was "not unusual". I guess that's the power of spendin' a lotta time with somethin', it's oddness can seem usual. It seems strange the first time, but so did sexist post-nuclear war Roman wannabes at first and when was that last time you thought about how weird that was?

[ratethatrat]

fallout 2 rat (god)

5/10

THAT'S A BIG DUDE. His tail is but the stub of a bone (so... a tail... but not tailing enough to tail) and his muscley, human-like appendages concern me. Though not more than the pile of bones around him. Those red eyes are nature's warning sign to stay away (besides the big beefy arms and size and piles of bones). Not quite rat like, but an impressive specimen regardless!

(submitted by @fetidcursedswamp)

[skeletood]

IM GUNNA REEVE OH GOD

[spoonbenders]

reigen and teru both have psychosis. i know they do. they gotta

[coolvietnamlove]

Dine Under a Dramatic Thatched Bamboo Canopy, Long Thành, Vietnam: A cascading bamboo lattice shelters diners at the new Keeng Seafood Restaurant in Long Thành, Vietnam, with a nod to the local ecology. Architecture studio BambuBuild designed an elegant hall with a thatched roof evocative of a ship’s prow, supported by columns reminiscent of nipa palms, a riverside plant common in South Vietnam

[lovemoroporo]

keeng luzkl and turnip head (?)

[nginiamhim]

nitrus brio has one (1) fan and eet has already gone to hees head.

n.gin had to put a deliveree man eento the ‘forever peet’ for tryeeng to deliver keeng merchandise (crowns and etceteras) and a tattoo gun to the castle tower (nitrus brio area).

[worldwidewebzy]

IF YOU’RE RESURRECTING DEAD ON PLANET JUPITER DOES THAT MEAN YOU’RE STUPIDER? XDDDDDDD (IM JOKING IM JOE-KEENG!!1!1!1!!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!11!1!11!1!1!11!)

ERM... NUH UH UH! *summons a crowd of zombies to kill yuo* /lhj

[etherealspacejelly]

KEENG JULIEEENNN I LAV U KEENG JULIAANNN

idk what this is either

wtf is mort doing in my inbox :0

[kingdomofwildwood]

Pond isn't giving Locke the kind of reactions he hoped he'd get. Pond's always been a bit of a crybaby, a bit of a whiner, and if you push him hard enough, he bawls. It's really funny.

But today, he's not whining. He's not crying. He's just getting this stupid look on his stupid face--

And eventually, Locke loses it.

"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, POND? You're not the king of this town, you don't get to swan in acting all high and mighty and pretend nothing bothers you--"

"Oh, but you are wrong, mon ami. It is you who is not ze Keeng of zis town."

"Quit smiling like that, it's creepy-"

"Non :)"

[444names]

Names generated from female Gaelic forenames

Adania Adhna Aedeabhne Aelen Aevann Aeveevshan Aibhan Aifental Aileenn Ailiarla Ailionn Ailislin Ainainn Aineveng Ainna Ainnonane Airailin Aireagh Aireennach Aireeownya Airen Airsheach Aisea Aisean Aishoch Aisiona Aitia Aitian Aitiara Aitlin Aitre Aitreen Alaila Amath Ananne Anialuin Aricin Ashora...

Bailey Baina Baitrigh Balliany Banner Baraitia Bebrean Bebrear Beidweny Belbh Belin Beriar Beryne Beteen Binaoiseara Bliara Blilin Blilinn Blinnock Boonaha Breach Brean Breana Breann Breara Breasachra Breaseosa Breeosa Breney Bridwen Brina Brinnean Broanya Broiley Cadhbh Cadhna Caidern Caidhe Caigannaed Cailb Cailbebre Cailiney Cailisliad Caina Cainaoislia Caine Caireel Caisa Caith Caithleen Caitri Caoilinn Caoin Caoinslaive Caraidh Careeridh Casagh Casina Cassin Cassinda Cassiona Catriger Ceabeid Ceach Ceallysa Ceamaela Ceann Ceiltianned Ceitlisene Chann Cialuinne Ciassidh Ciava Ciney Cingan Cinneandan Clean Cleer Cleila Clendana Cliareenzie Clidairsh Clighseaga Cloanned Cloda Cobebinne Cobigach Colin Colinne Corcah Corch Corlaigh Corlaoisla Cormea Corne Deanna Dearla Dearsty Deevshoc Deibrin Deibrona Deidhlen Deila Delidh Demmaurag Derne Doira Dolla Dolma Dolmada Doona Doonneley Dorene Duilionoren Duinte Eabeth Eafan Earase Eareen Edymphnagha Eibhinsead Eiganva Eilasaith Eiley Eiligeenzie Eleagwina Eleasallan Eleen Elilin Elishona Ellia Ellsa Eriamhany Erionn Ethia Ethionain Evann Eveen Fawna Finan Fineen Fineiley Finey Finnora Finseowana Finslin Fiofra Fionandag Fionn Fionnorvenn Fiosa Flaoin Flona Flora Frabain Gemmadhne Geriadhe Goganna Goganvala Goganya Goren Gorryne Gragan Grean Grearda Idhbhinn Ionagannely Iridhbhin Irsty Isheach Islin Islinnock Islion Islisana Jachan Jemeann Karaibina Kardreara Karla Katheenne Katreen Katrion Kayle Kaylea Kayleane Kayleave Kayleen Kayleeney Kaylende Keelly Keeng Keenn Keennedbhia Keennedeile Keerna Keernan Keiren Keley Kelife Kellanda Kennaisora Keragana Keriofra Khock Khorla Kiear Kiney Kinne Kirse Kirseag Korailany Koread Korrnach Korry Krine Krowann Laidhna Lailisodh Lashona Laurda Leerna Lidann Lidhbhea Linneran Lintirdin Lionana Lislineas Luilbhe Luine Luineach Luiranna Lysalle Mabariciana Machra Maderrna Madhna Maedan Maedebigan Maelia Maelval Maeva Maganna Maife Mailey Mailia Mainshona Mairinne Maise Maithlisla Malailsa Malidh Malie Mallaura Malleen Malmacha Malva Maoil Maoireen Maurag Mauran Mauryna Meafawn Mealmorrn Meana Meany Mearse Megana Meghsen Melean Melinnainn Mhawna Moisamh Molind Molionslach Molmolmain Morch Mordan Morea Moreach Moren Morla Morlan Morlania Morne Morry Morryney Morve Morvlan Moyna Moyreellain Mualea Muinna Muinock Muran Murandeas Murda Mureamhann Myfan Naidhneene Nieagan Nocht Nogael Nolin Norryneen Oonna Orcaoir Orealvina Orionsead Orlaoireng Pawnya Pawria Probhnealva Prosa Quigemeadbh Quilidhne Quilinseach Reach Reagwin Reena Reeneadbh Reeval Rhoch Riadag Rionnait Rionsheen Roananney Robeidin Robethna Robigshock Robynealla Roilann Roilbhna Rynagan Seamalving Seava Seonagach Seosha Seownagh Shann Shean Sheen Shenn Shock Shondan Shonne Shontianya Shorn Sibhlaire Sibinn Sibéallanah Sidelvinne Sidinn Sieach Sieagh Sileann Sileibh Siliada Siliar Sineeng Sinerne Sinne Sinnoreen Sinollise Sinshan Siona Sionne Sionock Sionse Siosa Slaury Slialvin Slianna Sliliarag Slinnuann Sobinsen Sodag Sodhbhan Sonach Sorcainna Sorla Sualidin Suanna Suireen Suirsty Sydoona Síleagana Síleen Síley Tallier Teach Teamh Teany Teari Tearneena Teelagan Teennabh Teeny Teganya Tialla Tierrna Tirean Toife Trena Tuinney Zarabeteeva Zarse

[cd-covington]

Two questions for you, if you don't mind!

I'm working on a story that's set in a future version of the real world. Can you give me any advice on how modern languages might change going forward? Are there any sort of "trends" in phonology that might continue?

Also, the world consists of several post-human races that have differentiated to fill ecological niches. Some look and act more like buffalo, others like arthropods, et cetera. I want them to all speak different [accents?|dialects?] of the same language, but I'm having trouble keeping consistent the sounds that each race can or can't make. It's also difficult to make them feel unique without restricting their vocabulary down to only a few phonemes. Do you have any advice on developing phonetic restrictions?

Hi literal-bot! Thanks for your questions!

Predicting language change is extremely difficult. Language change occurs in all aspects of a language, including sound/phonetics, semantics, inflection, and vocabulary. We can describe what a language looked like at a previous point in time and compare it to itself at another point in time, or compare related languages to each other at the same point in time. (Assuming that we have written material for all of them. The oldest texts that are more than inscriptions on tools or stones that we have for the Germanic languages date to the 9th century CE. Except the Gothic Bible, which dates to the 4th century, but Gothic is the only attested East Germanic language, and that entire branch is extinct. Then there’s 500 years of, like, “I built this stone in honor of my son who died at sea” or nothing at all.) Since you asked about sound change, that’s what I’ll focus on here. Also, I can only speak with any expertise about the Germanic languages (mainly German, but you can’t avoid learning about English if you study linguistics in the US), so specific examples will vary if you’re talking about, say, French or Māori or Mandarin. I have plans to cover this extensively in my book, and a full discussion would be way too long for a tumblr post, so this is going to be more superficial than I would like.

Sound change can occur with consonants. That’s why English has day, Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish have dag, and German has Tag. It’s also why the Germanic languages have fish and brother, but Latin and its descendents have piscis and frater. (And then there’s Swiss German.)

Vowels can also change, of course. There were vowel changes that occurred before the Germanic peoples had writing that gave Germanic languages the historical [o] sound in brother (that has since shifted further in the West Germanic languages) instead of the [a] sound in Latin frater. The Great Vowel Shift is why English spelling makes no god damn sense.

There are several sound changes occurring in US English right now, as well as a wide variety of regional variations. (UK, Australian, and New Zealand Englishes also have their own sets of vowel changes and regional variations that I am not expert in and cannot discuss.) You could take any of these and make them the dominant variation in your future society.

The most notable sound change is referred to as the Northern Cities Vowel Shift, and it could be the next big thing. The first step was documented in the 1960s (but probably started in the 1930s), a tensing and raising of the [æ] vowel in trap to something more like trep, and there are now 6 documented shifts.

Another major ongoing vowel change is the cot/caught merger. (If you pronounce these two words the same, congratulations – you have the merger, like most North Americans! I do not.) Regional variations in vowel sound include monophthongization in the South (I –> ah) and the pin/pen merger.

I’ve been noticing a couple things when I watch movies or peer-reviewed tiktoks or when I talk to people, and I don’t know if they’ve been studied yet. The first is a tensing of the /i/ vowel in words like king or going to sound more like an /e/, like keeng or goeeng. I don’t have any data on who’s doing it, so I can’t speculate on what region it comes from or how old the people who do it are. If nobody over 20 is doing it, it’s a more recent change than if the cutoff is 40. But I heard it from grad school friends who were in their mid-20s at the time (five years ago), so it’s not SUPER recent.

The other thing is super cool to me, because it parallels the first Germanic sound shift. The [k] sound in words like cool or clear is becoming more heavily aspirated and maybe even becoming a fricative. Which is exactly what happened like 2000 years ago! First, what is aspiration? Aspiration is the presence of a puff of air when you release a stop, like /p t k/. Put your hand in front of your mouth and say top. You’ll feel a little puff after the /t/ and /p/.  Second, what’s a fricative? That’s sounds like /s f h/, where the air moves through a constriction. So, the [k] is already aspirated because of how English works, but maybe it’s a little hard to distinguish sometimes, so you add a little extra /h/ to it, and eventually you get enough in there that it’s almost [x] – the sound in German ach.

So, phonologically speaking, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Start with the pages I linked and pick something you like, then take it further. What happened in the past is likely to happen again. But on the plus side, whatever you decide, nobody can tell you you’re wrong. If you have institutional access (I do not), this reference encyclopedia looks amazing. If your outgoing language isn’t English, try searching for some variation of “ongoing sound change in X” until you find something.

Your second question overlaps slightly with one in my inbox (whose answer should go up on Friday), so I’ll have a more detailed answer then. But for now, here’s a VERY superficial preview (and I have about 5000 words on this in my current book draft, so this is the idk 200-word version of something that’s already a highly condensed version of half a semester of grad school, so, uh, I hope this makes sense.)

As you’ve already pointed out, mouth shape affects what sounds a creature can make. But real-world linguistics only studies human speech, for obvious reasons, so what do you do when a bison gains language? One thing you can do is sketch out their vocal tract and figure out which human sounds just aren’t accessible to them. How muscular are their lips/jowls? Will they be able to round or purse them to make /oo/ sounds? Will labiodentals ([f v]) be possible?

I like the way this graphic shows the human vocal tract over the IPA chart, because it puts the two things right next to each other. It doesn’t explain what the articulations are, but this (very dry) page does. So you have your human vocal tract and your sketch of your non-human vocal tract (to the same scale), and if you overlay them, you’ll find places that can make interesting differences in what speech sounds are or aren’t available between one species and the other.

If you think this is interesting, consider backing my Kickstarter, where I’ll be writing a book about how to use linguistics in your worldbuilding process. Or if tumblr ever sorts out tipping for my account, leave me a tip.