Orc Speech Reformation (Proposal for Trial)

[Smaw 2376]

Orcish Speech

 

 

Let's cut to the chase here. Being frank, the use of Blah makes many Orcs seem retarded, which creates misconceptions about characters and causes new players to have increased difficulty with getting into an already challenging RP race. I would like to propose some form of reformation to the usage of "Blah", both to allow new players easy access, and to allow veterans to be taken a little more seriously in their day to day conversations.

 

I'd also like to address the issue of writing in Orcish, and how Blah should not be applied to such a task.

To begin, let's explore what we currently have:

 

 

What is Blah?

 

"Blah" is used to refer to the form of speech which Orcs use in the present day, predominantly due to the large tusks protruding from their mouths, which make it difficult to pronounce certain words. It also derives in some form from the ancient tongue of the Orcs, "Old Blah" or Black Speech. 

 

The latter of the two is a separate and well formed language independent of common, which is used most often in the present day by the Shamans, for it is the tongue of the Spirits.

 

Typically, Blah is a botched form of common, which derives from the aforementioned intrusions within an Orc's mouth. A sentence in old Blah would translate as such:

 

"You fool, you've spilled all of the food!"  becomes  "Lat glob, latz spiledh alh uv dah grub!"

 

Now, personally, I don't feel like butchery to such a degree is completely necessary, and need not apply to writing at all, since Blah in its usage is primarily due to tusks. Additionally, such speech would not be used by Goblins, since for the most part they lack the tusks to cause such an issue.

 

Instead: "Lat fool, lat has spilled all ov tha' grub!" flows a little better, is easier on the eye, and far more comprehensible by the uneducated.

 

Writing

 

For some unknown reason, the vast majority of the Orcish player-base has taken to writing in Blah as well as speaking it. I understand that this likely comes from the idea that Orcs are uneducated, but to spell to such a bad degree makes little sense, and is in all it's entirety, retarded.

 

Instead, I would propose writing with normal spelling mistakes, like you would see today with our language.

 

"Do not Enter!" becomes "Do not Enta!" and so on, instead of "Duh nub Entah!", which in all honesty makes little sense.

 

Old Blah

 

Now, Old Blah is particularly interesting, and sounds a lot cooler and in-tune with Orcish culture than the nonsense spewed from Blah. I would suggest expanding on common phrases, and utilising Old Blah almost exclusively when in private meetings, or during raids so as to make intentions unclear to outsiders.

 

Words such as "lat" do stem from Old Blah, and would still be applicable within the reformed language, which I would suggest comprises mostly of accented words, instead of outright misspelling. 

 

 

Physiology

 

Goblins

 

They do not have the tusks required to prevent them from speaking common, and should be encouraged to speak as normally as possible. This would further allow them to serve diplomatic roles, and enhance their inventive RP with co-operation from other races. I would suggest they stick to accents, so that the lack of education inherent in the culture is still reflected through them, as well.

"What are you doing there?" Becomes "What ya' doin' there?" and so on.

 

Uruk

 

Should use Old Blah variants where common is impossible, such as when pronouncing "you" or anything ending in an F, reflective of their physical issue. Other than this, I would stick to accents and common for the most part.

 

"What are you doing there?" becomes "What are lat doin' there?"

 

Ologs

 

Considering their mental disablement, I would consider keeping Blah as it is for them, to better reflect their idiocy and general inability to function on a mental level.

 

"What are you doing there?" remains "Wud lat dooin' theyarh?"

 

 

It's not a very in depth guide, but it's something I'd like to see develop organically. Myself and many of the leaders of what remains of the Orcs feel that the current system of Blah is seriously hindering RP and RP progression for new players interested in becoming Orcs.

 

We would like to present this as a trial for any willing, and if successful, intend to implement it more seriously.

[LatzMomo 2088]

no thanks, it's fine how it is, good post tho

[Publius 4098]

blah's been a major thing keeping me out of giving a uruk a serious whirl but idk how much would be lost in changing it, I'd say this is one of the more productive trial idea's

[Panashea 3327]

For once, I'm going to have to disagree with Bunny. The language makes everyone assume we're idiots, and dissuades a bunch of a majority of new players or anyone interested in orcs. The way it is leaves us unintelligible idiots. If someone truly wanted to remain seeking the old way, there'd be nothing stopping them. I'd say this way would help new players.

[Nug 2011]

Just now, Bunny :) said:

no thanks, it's fine how it is, good post tho

i disagree, if it was "fine how it is", a post like this wouldn't have to be made. i think smaw's proposal is necessary for getting people to fully consider playing an orc and staying with them. good luck with getting this thru to other orc players!!

[herculean_wud 3662]

eh idk...

[Pixelation4 24]

How much harm is actually going to come from a trial, worst case scenario, no one accepts it and it flops.  Best case scenario, we reform blah, making it deeper (in terms of different speech for Goblins and Ologs), while also less autistic, which in turn draws new players in because we don't sound like retards.

[Shalashask 1112]

As much as I like blah I think it is the main barrier from preventing players creating orcs. It would also set goblins apart more as they can serve as diplomats as you suggested. I guess in the lore you could write something about a new era of orcs developing after the last ones were genocided. 
 

[DrakeHaze. 2524]

But Orcs are retarded?

[Thatpyrodude 2008]

I've always wanted to play an orc but not wanting to deal with silly blah, this version would definetly make me give it a second thought 

[Slothtastic 761]

I am currently fine with the blah. But if it will be changed to something else than I will change the way I speak unless I just wanna keep speaking the old blah

[𝕾𝖙𝖆𝖗𝖌𝖚𝖘𝖍 2451]

I think having a revision of the language would be good when it comes to attracting other players. Most people I've spoke to talked about how they would play an Orc but didn't want to go through the process of learning how to speak, though there are some basic words that I think we should keep like nub yub and ug but other than that revising it like so would in no way affect how any other Orc may speak. If you'd like to speak as in depth as you can with Blah feel free, though many other Orcs may be able to interpret what you say those who aren't used to Orc roleplay may not.

[erikur 91]

this can always improve the liability of making a orc to new players, so yes +1

 

[Rammer 388]

It has been said already but it'll help with bringing in new players and as Smaw said outside RP'ers uneducated in Blah so I gotta give it a +1

[2samspan 241]

2 hours ago, Shalashask said:

As much as I like blah I think it is the main barrier from preventing players creating orcs. It would also set goblins apart more as they can serve as diplomats as you suggested. I guess in the lore you could write something about a new era of orcs developing after the last ones were genocided. 
 

They already can. Goblins are perfectly capable of speaking common if they have small/nonexistant tusks. When I played a goblin, I spoke common when not around other Orcs, albeit with an accent.