Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 9, 2021 22:11:06 GMT -5
(A shot of a picturesque island off the Coast of Britain)
I've come to the British Isles in my ongoing quest to learn all I can about the World's languages. Today, I'm off to learn about a language that is so rare, it is only spoken on a single island off the coast of Great Britain. While I'm here I'm going to explore a language that despite having only a few thousand speakers, has a history and culture just as rich as any other I have encountered in my travels. This... is Ordos, and today, I'm here to learn about Ordonian.
*Title sequence begins, now our host is speaking while on camera
"I'm Wilbert Davidson; professor of linguistics at the University of Virginia. There are over 4,000 languages in the world, but most people speak just a small fraction of them. I'm on a quest to document those languages that the rest of us may never hear about in our lives. Like traditions, food and architecture, language is an integral part of culture, and its my job to ensure that languages are preserved before they are lost forever. This... is Rare Languages."
*We cut to Professor Davidson coming off a boat as he lands on Ordos"
"I'm here on Ordos to learn about a language that has been thriving for centuries right off the coast of a major English speaking country. Here on Ordos I plan to experience just a mere fraction of what its culture has to offer. My guide for this episode is a fellow linguistics professor, for the University of Ordos, and I look forward to the time I'm going to spend with him... ah! There he is!"
*Davidson runs, to greet a man in a suit; he is in his early 30s and looking happy to see our host.
"Professor Wallis, I presume?" Davidson asked, as he came up to the man.
[Yes, I have been waiting for you; welcome to Ordos] ! he said as he shook Davidson's hand.
Gordon Wallis may be 34, but as one of the top professors at his university already, I know I am in good hands with him. And luckily, this time around, I do not need an interpreter on hand
"Now, I understand that as far as Ordonians go, with few exceptions you are a bilingual people?" Davidson asked.
"Indeed" Wallis said as he switched to English. "From a young age we are taught to embrace both English and Ordonian, though right away I must correct a common mistake most visitors make. You see, we are not "Ordonians," we are "Ordosians" and while we aren't offended, we hope you keep that in mind going forward" Wallis explained.
"My apologies, I'm still getting used to it" Davidson said after a few laughs.
"It's quite simple really- On Ordos you will find Ordosians speaking Ordonian; that's all there is to it" Wallis said in response.
"Well, I'm ready to learn all about your language, shall we get started?" Davidson asked.
["Absolutely! Come, let us go to the University; where better to learn about our fine language"] Wallis said as the two began walking towards the campus.
I asked Wallis about Ordosian Culture as we walked the mile or so to the University
"I've that your people aren't exactly known for their pride; are you not proud to be Ordosians?" Davidson asked with concern.
[We Ordosians are proud in our own way; I want you to remember this phrase: "Ordosian Humility." Historically, our rulers valued intellect and humility over strength and pride; as such those values passed down to the people, and to this day we Ordosians refer to our "pride" as humility, and we act as such. We are passionate about our home, but we do not let it go to our head] Wallis said as the two passed locals going about their day.
"I'm going to need you to tell me that again in English soon; I still don't know the first thing about Ordonian" Davidson quipped as Wallis laughed.
"Well, I got a little ahead of myself. On Ordos, we switch between the two languages so fluidly often times you'll have conversations where one party is speaking English and the other is speaking Ordonian, as if they were talking in one language. And that doesn't even factor in the dialects"
"Ordonian has dialects?" Davidson asked, surprised.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves; once we are in my office we can start from the beginning" Wallis assured.
Frankly he had a good point; it was best to wait and tackle this language one step at a time before diving into it
*commercial break*
I've come to the British Isles in my ongoing quest to learn all I can about the World's languages. Today, I'm off to learn about a language that is so rare, it is only spoken on a single island off the coast of Great Britain. While I'm here I'm going to explore a language that despite having only a few thousand speakers, has a history and culture just as rich as any other I have encountered in my travels. This... is Ordos, and today, I'm here to learn about Ordonian.
*Title sequence begins, now our host is speaking while on camera
"I'm Wilbert Davidson; professor of linguistics at the University of Virginia. There are over 4,000 languages in the world, but most people speak just a small fraction of them. I'm on a quest to document those languages that the rest of us may never hear about in our lives. Like traditions, food and architecture, language is an integral part of culture, and its my job to ensure that languages are preserved before they are lost forever. This... is Rare Languages."
*We cut to Professor Davidson coming off a boat as he lands on Ordos"
"I'm here on Ordos to learn about a language that has been thriving for centuries right off the coast of a major English speaking country. Here on Ordos I plan to experience just a mere fraction of what its culture has to offer. My guide for this episode is a fellow linguistics professor, for the University of Ordos, and I look forward to the time I'm going to spend with him... ah! There he is!"
*Davidson runs, to greet a man in a suit; he is in his early 30s and looking happy to see our host.
"Professor Wallis, I presume?" Davidson asked, as he came up to the man.
[Yes, I have been waiting for you; welcome to Ordos] ! he said as he shook Davidson's hand.
Gordon Wallis may be 34, but as one of the top professors at his university already, I know I am in good hands with him. And luckily, this time around, I do not need an interpreter on hand
"Now, I understand that as far as Ordonians go, with few exceptions you are a bilingual people?" Davidson asked.
"Indeed" Wallis said as he switched to English. "From a young age we are taught to embrace both English and Ordonian, though right away I must correct a common mistake most visitors make. You see, we are not "Ordonians," we are "Ordosians" and while we aren't offended, we hope you keep that in mind going forward" Wallis explained.
"My apologies, I'm still getting used to it" Davidson said after a few laughs.
"It's quite simple really- On Ordos you will find Ordosians speaking Ordonian; that's all there is to it" Wallis said in response.
"Well, I'm ready to learn all about your language, shall we get started?" Davidson asked.
["Absolutely! Come, let us go to the University; where better to learn about our fine language"] Wallis said as the two began walking towards the campus.
I asked Wallis about Ordosian Culture as we walked the mile or so to the University
"I've that your people aren't exactly known for their pride; are you not proud to be Ordosians?" Davidson asked with concern.
[We Ordosians are proud in our own way; I want you to remember this phrase: "Ordosian Humility." Historically, our rulers valued intellect and humility over strength and pride; as such those values passed down to the people, and to this day we Ordosians refer to our "pride" as humility, and we act as such. We are passionate about our home, but we do not let it go to our head] Wallis said as the two passed locals going about their day.
"I'm going to need you to tell me that again in English soon; I still don't know the first thing about Ordonian" Davidson quipped as Wallis laughed.
"Well, I got a little ahead of myself. On Ordos, we switch between the two languages so fluidly often times you'll have conversations where one party is speaking English and the other is speaking Ordonian, as if they were talking in one language. And that doesn't even factor in the dialects"
"Ordonian has dialects?" Davidson asked, surprised.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves; once we are in my office we can start from the beginning" Wallis assured.
Frankly he had a good point; it was best to wait and tackle this language one step at a time before diving into it
*commercial break*