[voice]

[unetrustworthy]

I was wondering...how many other people here can speak other languages?

[But then, she paused and there was a slight jostling of the camera as she shook her head.  Sorting out her thoughts.]

No,  not speak.  That doesn't really help any, with everything always being translated for us.  More like...read.  I was wondering...what languages everyone here can read?  Since written words have never been translated.  Not since I've been here.

Comments

[unetrustworthy]

You sound like you don't plan on being here that long.

[no_light]

Well... I would hope I am not. But lately there have only been more people from my world arriving, none leaving, so I'm trying to prepare for all possibilities.

[unetrustworthy]

I hadn't planned on being her for very long, either.

[Just saying.]

If you're prepared for anything, then it can't hurt to prepare for being here longer than you thought. So if you want to learn the language, you might as well start now.

[no_light]

[ Can't deny that logic. He nods. ]

You make a good point. It would be better not to waste any more time. Currently, I have little else to do but learn. [ And serve tea, but he's trying not to think about that. ]

Where, or how, did you learn?

[unetrustworthy]

[And what's wrong with serving tea?]

I used to have teachers. [People she trusted. People who were no longer here.] They taught me the basics, and from there, I started browsing the library and markets for any books in English and Kedanese I could. English was a lot easier to find than French, so it was never too hard.

[And, of course, Kedanese was everywhere.]

Some of those books, I've read so many times I've practically memorized every page.

[no_light]

[ He has a list. ]

I have never heard of English or French before today. Is English widespread among the foreigners? And do you think it would be possible to find a teacher for kedanese? It's my priority. Other foreigner languages not so much.

[unetrustworthy]

Apparently, it is. Many of those I've met in the past speak it. And more than half the written broadcasts over the Network have been in English.

[At the latter question, however, Midii frowned.]

I...don't know. I haven't been able to find any. The two I had left a long time ago, and I've been getting by with having some of the local shopkeepers translate small excerpts for me in between deliveries.

[no_light]

That doesn't sound very encouraging. [ He sighs irritably. Problems and more problems and yet more obstacles. It makes you want to scream. ] Once I have a more stable income I'm going to see if I can hire a kedan teacher. They should be willing to teach for money.

I have no interest in learning this English right now, I would rather learn to read kedanese. I have great interest in the library, and other written kedan pieces.

[unetrustworthy]

Then that's what you should learn.

[They apparently had two contrasting opinions regarding English, but she couldn't fault him for his reasoning. Some people preferred to learn only one language at a time, and if it was a choice between the two, why not the language of the world he had been brought to?]

If you do find someone who's good at teaching...do you think you could let me know? Preferably outside the school; they wouldn't let me read any of the good stuff. Only school texts.

[no_light]

Of course. I will keep you informed. This conversation has been very enlightening to me as well.

[ Which makes her a useful contact, and thus deserving of keeping informed if he does, indeed, find a teacher. ]

Are you seeking to teach? I understand you don't know much yet, but probably more than most.

[unetrustworthy]

[She hesitated. Understanding why he might ask, and yet...]

I'm not sure I'd be a very good teacher.

[no_light]

I'm sure you would be better than none. At the very least, you are familiar with the difficulties unique to us foreigners.

[ But no point in pressuring her. ]

Think about it. We can speak again another time.

[unetrustworthy]

[She nodded. That seemed fair.]

I will. Think about it, I mean.

[She had no doubt they would see one another again. Barring the sudden disappearance of one or both, the city was not that small. It could even happen by chance.]