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Gorean Book Quote Requests
Requests 1-173 were asked and answered back when there were only 25 books.
Also, some of the early questions were unintentionally truncated and cannot be restored. However, the answers are shown in their totality.
[ Quote Request ]
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| Q # | Question |
| 150 | "This girl would like to know if you know of any words that back up the kassar language in the books she was told there was a few but nothing to base a language on, this girl can't find nothing. she begs for any help to end a debate"
Answer
Hello,
The "Kassar Language", as it is shown on many web sites, with English word = Kassar word cross references is completely made up. There is nothing within the series to substantiate an entire language. In fact, there is nothing to substantiate a Kassar language at all.
Now, I'm not going to argue whether or not someone can make up a language and call it "Kassar". What I am going to do is give you the facts and some simple reasoning from what the books really DO say. You also have my permission to pass along this information should you see fit to do so.
Tarl first mentions any hint of language of the Wagon Peoples on page 9 of Nomads of Gor when he says:
I knew they spoke a dialect of Gorean, and I hoped I would be able to understand them.
He first catches sight of one of each of the four tribes of the Wagon Peoples on the next page and then identifies one as being of the Kassar tribe on page 14 when he says:
The third rider placed himself, reining in suddenly, pulling the mount to its hind legs, and it reared snarling against the bit, and then stood still, its neck straining toward me. I could see the long, triangular tongue in the animal's head, behind the four rows of fangs. The rider, too, wore a wind scarf. His shield was red. The Blood People, the Kassars.
At the top of page 15 Tarl then utters the first words to the four:
"Tal!" I called, lifting my hand, palm inward, in Gorean greeting.
As one man the four riders unstrapped their lances.
"I am Tarl Cabot," I called. "I come in peace!"
I saw the kaiila tense, almost like larls, their flanks quivering, their large eyes intent upon me. I saw one of the long, triangular tongues dart out and back. Their long ears were laid back against the fierce, silken heads.
"Do you speak Gorean?" I called.
In a moment, Tarl hears his first words spoken by a Kassar, still on page 15:
From my left came a cry. "I am Conrad, he of the Kassars." He threw the chain mask from his face, back over the helmet and laughed.
Ok, let's stop and think on this now. Could Conrad have been speaking some "special" language and Tarl simply translated it for us? Not likely. First of all, how would Tarl have understood what Conrad said? Tarl does not stop and go into how he has later learned a new language and is now translating it. In other words, Tarl makes no mention of Conrad speaking in a different language.
Then you might wonder if Tarl has ever spoken of differences in language anywhere else and by comparing other text we can establish some pattern. Yes, he has:
Initiates do not eat meat, or beans. They are trained in the mysteries of mathematics. They converse among themselves in archaic Gorean, which is no longer spoken among the people. Their services, too, are conducted in this language. Portions of the services, however, are translated into contemporary Gorean.
Marauders of Gor Book 9 Page 26
"Mitakola," I said. This, in the language of the Kaiila, means 'my friend'."
Blood Brothers of Gor Book 18 Page 268
Yet in the language of the Innuit, or of the People, the word 'igloo' or 'iglu' designates more generally a dwelling or house.
Beasts of Gor Book 12 Page 336
Gorean speech is no less complex than that of any of the great natural language communities of the Earth nor are its speakers any the less diverse. It is, incidentally, a beautiful language; it can be as subtle as Greek; as direct as Latin; as expressive as Russian; as rich as English; as forceful as German. To the Goreans it is always, simply, The Language, as though there were no others, and those who do not speak it are regarded immediately as barbarians. This sweet, fierce, liquid speech is the common bond that tends to hold together the Gorean world. It is the common property of the Administrator of Ar, a herdsman beside the Vosk, a peasant from Tor, a scribe from Thentis a metalworker from Tharna, a physician from Cos, a pirate from Port Kar, a warrior from Ko-ro-ba.
Priest-Kings of Gor Book 3 Page 52
There are, of course, many languages spoken on Gor, but that language I have called Gorean, in its various dialects, is the lingua franca of the planet. It is spoken most everywhere, except in remote areas. One of these remote areas, of course, is the equatorial interior.
Explorers of Gor Book 13 Page 100
Obviously, Nomads of Gor focuses mostly on the Tuchuk tribe of the Wagon Peoples. The Tuchuks certainly spoke and understood the common Gorean language:
I turned to Kamchak. Speaking in Gorean, I said to him, "I can understand her."
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Page 37
Nowhere does Tarl mention a specific Kassar language. Could there actually be one? Sure. But if there had been one it certainly seems reasonable that it would have come to light.
Words such as Ja'shi, en'la and se'la do not appear in the source text. As I showed above, there really is a language of the Initiates, the Kaiila and those of the equatorial interior to name a few. Why not come up with a whole language based on one of these? Could it be because that wouldn't be "cool"?
Could you and I sit down and come up with a selection of vowels and consonants and form these into a means of us communicating? Yes, we could.
Would it then be proper, just because we call ourselves Gorean, to now refer to this as Gorean?
No.
I wish you well,
Fogaban
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