Tyrean Martinson has a new book out! Congratulations and thanks for the Guest Post today. Take it away, Tyrean.
Sci-Fi Trope: Say What?
Language Barriers Lifted with Ease
Tropes can be symbolic and helpful for our understanding of plot and characters. We can use them, bend them, or try to avoid them. In science fiction, language barriers are often lifted with ease at the beginning of an alien-human interaction because attempting to break a language barrier could take up most of a book or film.
There are various ways science fiction films, books, and stories lift the language barrier quickly so humans and aliens can interact.
- Language barriers are lifted by the combination of an interpreter and a computer translator like in many episodes and films in the Star Trek universe.
- Language barriers are lifted by a technological “universal” translator, as in some versions of Star Trek, Men in Black, and Doctor Who.
- Language barriers are lifted via translators or droid translators, as in Star Wars.
- Language barriers are lifted by an alien life form, like the Babel Fish in The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
- Language barriers are ignored and not mentioned, as in Stargate.
Arrival is an example of a film where the language barrier is lifted through an arduous process, and this process is one of the main focal points of the film.
In Liftoff, I didn’t have a great deal of time to spend on this, so I handled it in three ways: a downloaded universal language, aliens who could speak English, and dialogue about how slang can be confusing.
Liftoff: The Rayatana Series, Book 1
A spaceship in disguise,
An Earth girl searching for a sense of home,
And a Thousand Years’ War between alien races,
All collide on a summer afternoon.
An old movie theater welcomes Amaya in and wraps her up in the smell of popcorn and licorice. But one sunny afternoon during a matinee, the movie screen goes dark. The theater rumbles.
Amaya gets trapped in the middle of an ancient alien conflict. Angry and frightened, Amaya entangles herself in a life-changing cultural misunderstanding with Sol, a young alien who keeps omitting key information, even while they’re on the run from his enemies.
What will it take to survive a battle between alien races involved in an ancient war?
Liftoff is a fast-paced read for fans of Code 8, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Cobra Kai.
Release Date: November 10, 2020
Paperback ISBN: ISBN: 978-0-9889933-8-9
Ebook ISBN: ISBN: 978-0-9889933-9-6
Copyright Tyrean Martinson November 2020
Publisher: Wings of Light Publishing, Gig Harbor, WA, USA
Professionally Edited by Chrys Fey
Cover Art and Interior Design by Carrie Butler
LINKS: Kindle Barnes and Noble Kobo Smashwords Goodreads
About the Author: Tyrean Martinson is an author and teacher from Washington State. As a former fencer and kickboxer, she enjoys writing fight scenes in fast-paced novels and novellas. As a teacher and writing tutor, she loves to get students writing and reading comfortably by any means: talk-to-text, short writing assignments, short stories, novellas, and adventures. She wrote her latest novella, Liftoff, for herself during COVID, but realized it also fits a dream she’s had for a while: to create a short, fast-paced read for teen/YA readers who love popcorn movies, adventure, and sweet romance.
Author Links: Blog Newsletter Instagram Twitter Facebook
J Lenni Dorner says
I frequently wonder about languages when enjoying sci-fi or fantasy.
Or when gaming. “Common”– What if we had one common sign-language that all of Earth could use? If there was at least one way nearly everyone could understand each other? Would we be a better world? Okay, that’s a bit philosophical for a blog comment.
I hope your November went as well as it could and that you’ll experience joy in the coming holiday season.
There’s a giveaway on my blog that ends today, if you’re interested.
Jeff says
Interesting insights into handling language in sci-fi. Also nice to see Chrys Fey’s name as an editor! Congratulations Tryean (and Chyrs).
http://fromarockyhillside.com
Liz A. says
Yeah, the language thing is always something they try to get rid of pretty quickly. Although, in the Stargate movie, that was an impediment, if I recall correctly. But for the series, yeah, they just pretended it didn’t exist.
Botanist says
There’s also the option of lifting the learning barrier through extremely fast learning, as in The Fifth Element. Congrats on the new release!
Elizabeth Seckman says
Slang would be hard for an alien!
Jemi Fraser says
And you did such a good job! Loved the way you combined those elements to make it natural within the story!
Tyrean A Martinson says
Hilary – thank you!
HR – Yes, I tried to leave a little space for imagination. 🙂
Alex – very true!
C. Lee – thank you for hosting me!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’m intrigued by how Tyrean handled the slang confusion.
Elephants Child says
Good luck Tyrean. I am loving seeing your latest work blazing across the blogosphere.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It’s always exciting to see a friend launch a book!
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee and Tyrean – it sounds as though you’re drawing us all in – congratulations and good luck with this publication. Take care – Hilary
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’ve decided I could use four eyes and two brains. With that added equipment I might be able to read half of the books on my TBR list.
HRSinclair says
Congrats Tyrean! I like the idea and when some keeps leaving out information can lead to a lot of fun.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Missed information is always a great literary device. One of the reasons Shakespeare has had such a long run, heh?
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
You certainly didn’t have time to make it as convoluted as Arrival!