I Speak A Little

A modular mini-game for foreign languages in RPGs

Description:

Two or more characters in the scene wish to have a conversation, but they do not share fluency in a single language. Perhaps one has studied the language of another. Perhaps both have studied, but have not mastered, a third language. This mini-game attempts to emulate (without any dice rolling), the limited communication that follows. Note: we assume that players are actually speaking the same language, e.g. English, but their characters are trying to have a conversation in game.)

What you need:

At least Two Characters

At Least Two Players

Pencil and Paper

How to Play I Speak a Little:

First, determine on a scale of 1-10 how skilled each character is at the language in which they will attempt to communicate. For example, player one, Ness, is playing Willis, who is fluent in Common, so Willis is a 10. Player two, Steven, is playing, Orknaught, who understands some Common, so Orknaught is a 5. Player three, Kris, is playing,Iluvriel, who knows very little Common, so Iluvriel is a 2. Now, for each character, consult the chart below:

How Much is a Little?

1. Pick 10 one- or two-syllable words. Write these words down. These are the only words you know in Common. Your sentences can be up to two words long. Good luck.
2. Pick 20 one- or two-syllable words.  Write these words down. These are the only words you know in Common. Your sentences can be up to three words long
3. Your vocabulary is still poor. You know all one- and two-syllable words in Common, except those that in English, use the letters D, U, C, H, or Y. If a word uses one of these five letters, your character doesn’t understand it. Your sentences can be up to four words long.
4. Your vocabulary is okay. You know all one- and two-syllable words in Common, except those that in English, use the letters U, C, H, or Y. If a word uses one of these five letters, your character doesn’t understand it. Your sentences can be up to four words long.
5. Your vocabulary is decent. You know all one- and two-syllable words in Common, except those that in English, use the letters C, H, or Y. If a word uses one of these five letters, your character doesn’t understand it. Your sentences can be up to five words long.
6. Your vocabulary is good. As long as a word has three syllables or less, you know it, except those that in English, use the letters C or Y. If a word uses one of these five letters, your character doesn’t understand it. Your sentences can be up to five words long.
7. As long as a word has three syllables or less, you know it. Your sentences can be, at most, six words long. Pick two letters, you often switch these letters in the middle of words.
8. As long as a word has five syllables or less, you know it. Your sentences can be, at most, seven words long. Pick two letters, you often switch these letters in the middle of words.
9. Your character often misunderstands figures of speech, but otherwise has good understanding. Phrases like, “put your foot in your mouth,” or “you scratch my back, I scratch yours” seem to confuse your character. He may use his own figures of speech.
10. You are fluent in this language. Your character is as good at this language as you are at English.

So in our example, Ness would play Willis like a normal speaker. Whenever Orknaught speaks, Steven must limit himself to using one or two syllable words, and do his best to avoid words with the letters C, H, and Y. Steven must also use sentences with five or less words. Kris on the other hand must stick to the list of twenty words she has written down.

Note: Some people might find it difficult to self edit quite this much. If these limitations slow conversation down too much, try this alternate list of 1-10.

Alternate List:

1. Pick ten one-syllable words. Write these down. They are the only words you know. Your sentences are one word long.
2. Pick twenty-one syllable words. Write these down. They are the only words you know. Your sentences are at most one word long.
3. Pick twenty-one syllable words and ten-two syllable words. They are the only words you know. Your sentences are at most two words long.
4. You know all one syllable words and twenty two-syllable words. Write down these two-syllable words. Your sentences are at most two words long.
5. You know all one- and two-syllable words. Your sentences are at most two words long.
6. You know all words with three syllables or less. Your sentences are at most three words long.
7. You know all words with four syllables or less. Your sentences are at most four words long.
8. You know all words with five syllables or less. Your sentences are at most five words long.
9. You know all words with six syllables or less. Your sentences are at most five words long.
10. You are fluent in this language. Your character is as good at this language as you are at English.

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