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Okay so this is what went down in my linguistics class yesterday and today:
Our professor told us the week prior we would have an "immersive experience" and yesterday told us what we would be doing.
We’d be playing a game in order to learn how languages and dialects change.
Our professor told us the week prior we would have an "immersive experience" and yesterday told us what we would be doing.
We’d be playing a game in order to learn how languages and dialects change.
We were split into groups or "families" of two because of our class size and were told to take 1 out of 6 words he’d given each group and change it into a new word. Then we all came back together and shared our words and for the rest of the game we’d use those words instead of
the actual English words.
Eventually our groups split into "regions" and began to form dialects (we were told to slightly alter the 6 words). Then we’d come back together and have a conversation but stick to our group's word changes, not the original new words.
Eventually our groups split into "regions" and began to form dialects (we were told to slightly alter the 6 words). Then we’d come back together and have a conversation but stick to our group's word changes, not the original new words.
I also forgot to mention that this takes place on a planet called Zelus, and we’re a colony from Earth looking for resources to send back to Earth.
During this meet-up, a new resource is found (yay!) and the groups got to vote on a new name for it.
During this meet-up, a new resource is found (yay!) and the groups got to vote on a new name for it.
That’s where it ended yesterday. Today, the Zoom meeting kicked the professor out and we had to start the class over (luckily that happened at the beginning of class).
As the game went on, the resource had been extremely hard to find, until one family chosen at random found a
As the game went on, the resource had been extremely hard to find, until one family chosen at random found a
huge mine of the resource. That family became the ruling family of Zelus. Their votes now counted as 4 votes. The other families (me included) formed a coalition and combined our dialects into one dialect so we could understand each other easier.
The ruling family however decided to standardize the language (which meant THEIR dialect was now the "correct" and "educated" dialect). So - as the game instructed - our coalition decided to send one of us to learn this dialect and teach it to the others.
Me, not wanting to miss out on anything that might be happening, quickly shouted "I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!" and off I was sent to the breakout room with the ruling family. The professor then popped in and said, "You’re actually not going back, you’re staying with the ruling family
and support them now."
So I inadvertently betrayed the coalition
Oops.
Anyways we all camp back together for further instruction from the professor. I had been instructed to tell them I was staying with the ruling family (which I did.)
So I inadvertently betrayed the coalition
Oops.Anyways we all camp back together for further instruction from the professor. I had been instructed to tell them I was staying with the ruling family (which I did.)
"Tensions," if you want to call it that, had been growing after a storm hit and the coalition lost everything. They came to us for interviews for jobs, housing, etc. which we were instructed to deny them.
At the end of the interview I had with one of my former colleagues, I said
At the end of the interview I had with one of my former colleagues, I said
after denying them aid because of their dialect, "Have a nice day." then left the breakout room (as instructed) to go back to the main chat room, where I was struggling to not laugh.
There’s a revolution and all, then a final attempt at peace with a party where we attempted to
There’s a revolution and all, then a final attempt at peace with a party where we attempted to
get them to join our side.
No one did. Then one of the coalition members "assassinated" a ruling family member (as most likely instructed). The coalition was rounded up, said their final words (a warcry), and sentenced to death (no one actually died THIS IS A GAME).
No one did. Then one of the coalition members "assassinated" a ruling family member (as most likely instructed). The coalition was rounded up, said their final words (a warcry), and sentenced to death (no one actually died THIS IS A GAME).
And thus their dialect died with them.
The whole point of this was to show how dialects and languages change and sometimes die over time.
At the end I said "I’m glad I inadvertently betrayed everyone" and one of the coalition members jokingly said "We should’ve gotten Crown" XD
The whole point of this was to show how dialects and languages change and sometimes die over time.
At the end I said "I’m glad I inadvertently betrayed everyone" and one of the coalition members jokingly said "We should’ve gotten Crown" XD
Anyways we all had a good time. I liked how this lesson was taught. And I don’t think I’ve ever participated this much is a class before, I’m usually the quiet one with not much to say.
Hopefully everyone found this somewhat interesting.
Hopefully everyone found this somewhat interesting.
