Utility
It is worn around the neck of a person and allows any sound which passes it to be translated into the language of the wearer, and anything they say is translated into sound waves which move directly to the linguistic part of the brain of the hearer.
Discovery
The original story of the discovery of the technology which makes the Universal Translator possible is not known by the
Vellich. They don't know about the years of work dedicated to creating the technology and then decades of refinement to create the item as it appears today.
Nor are they aware that the
Universal Translator was not in fact a gift from the Great Spirit (see
Where The Spirits Come From), but a low-grade model abandoned by the
Jakunguh when they left
Vellikka deciding the planet was not going to be the tourist hot-spot they were hoping for.
No, what the Vellich know is that several Universal Translators have been found in various
Place of Spirits across the world, and that since their discovery they have been treated as the wondrous and unlikely items that they are and treated with the according reverence.
Availability
Across the universe, this model of the Universal Translator has long since fallen out of fashion and as such is uncommon amongst the more advanced civilisations. On
Vellikka there are 27 working Universal Translators and a further 12 that no longer function for a variety of reasons.
Complexity
To the Vellich, the technology stored within the Universal Translator is akin to magic, thus the awe that these items inspire.
In the grand scheme of things, however, the technology is relatively straightforward, and once you have received the appropriate training, likely at a
Peacekeeper academy for engineering or similar, constructing your own basic Universal Translator is probably a first year project.
"Once you have aligned the vibrations of the sounds with the vibrations of the mind, the rest is extremely basic."—
Professor M'Cail
Introduction to Waves, Book II
Social Impact
On Vellikka, the social impact of the Universal Translator was huge. It allowed not only for an advancement in the education of children - those who had struggled to understand what was being asked of them could now clearly communicate their frustrations and confusions - it also became a great conflict resolution tool. Only used on the rare occasions that it was necessary, a
Storyteller or
Rulers might bring out a pair of Universal Translators to help two individuals understand each other better. The devices allowed the listener to hear different words to those that the speaker is using, therefore overcoming a lot of the standard misunderstandings which might occur or potential offences which may be taken.
Comments