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"Science fiction represents the modern heresy and the cutting edge of speculative imagination as it grapples with Mysterious Time---linear or non-linear time."
- Frank Herbert
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| Battle Language | ||
| A special-purpose language designed for both clear communication of information related to war, and difficulty of translation. |
The Atreides are a noble family, ruling over entire planets for many generations. Unfortunately, as the book remarks, "those below you always covet your station." When you have many enemies, you would do well to have a specialized language when you need to go to war.
| Jessica found the tiny receiver Idaho had left for them, flipped its switch. A green light glowed on the instrument's face. Tinny screeching came from its speaker. She reduced the volume, hunted across the bands. A voice speaking Atreides battle language came into the tent. " . . . back and regroup at the ridge. Fedor reports no survivors in Carthag and the Guild Bank has been sacked." Carthag! Jessica thought. That was a Harkonnen hotbed. "They're Sardaukar," the voice said. "Watch out for Sardaukar in Atreides uniforms. They're . . . " A roaring filled the speaker, then silence. |
| Technovelgy from Dune,
by Frank Herbert. Published by Putnam in 1965 Additional resources -
|
Special languages are common in times of war; they are called "codes." They were in common use in ancient times, although they may seem laughably simple today.
In recent times, there was an example of the use of an actual language as a code. The allies used American Indian Navajo language; this "battle language" was never broken.
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'Looks like she has bought the Avatar Construction Set and put together her own...'
'Across the ground something small and metallic came, flashing in the dull sunlight of midday.'
'A broken circle with arrows pointing to a right-hand flow appeared in the chalf.'
'The object seemed melted together like wax — nothing was distinguishable.'
'Midges have many capabilities. To the untrained eye, they look like sparrows.'
'I made disks of my own voice to the number of five hundred very carefully chosen words.'
'His sensors out and working, and the whirring of the tape that sucked up sight and sound and shape and smell and form...'
