When Wayfarer's avatar, the robot for convenience called "Brannock," meets Kalava's crew, it utters incomprehensible sounds (pp. 199-200), then speaks again "...in an equally alien tongue." (p. 200) However, on the third try, Kalava recognizes language from a place that he has visited, "'...the Shining Fields!'" (ibid.) Thereupon, after a silence, the "thing," i.e., the robot, speaks in Kalava's own language, "...the Ulonaian of Sirsu.'" (ibid.)
How is this possible? Brannock had not known that there were human beings on this Earth of the remote future. Suddenly he can speak at least four languages and is able to address Kalava in Ulonaian as soon as he hears the man say a few words in that language?
When Kalava has agreed to accompany Brannock on a dangerous quest, Ilyana the skythinker wishes the man forever well, "'...in this world and afterward, out to the stars.'" (p. 205)
Thus, this chapter, like the last, ends with the word, "...stars." (XII, p. 248) (See Leaf And Stars.)
Kalava accompanies Brannock to the summit of Mount Mindhome but not all the way to the stars. However, Ilyana expresses an aspiration. Hopefully, this new human race will find its way to the stars.
Much later: See An Answer To A Linguistic Query.
9 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Hmmm, here it's possible Anderson made a mistake in having Brannock know four of the languages used in the remote future of Earth. Unless Wayfarer downloaded them into Brannock's data banks?
And I absolutely agree with the last sentence you wrote here! Again, I'm reminded of the conclusion of THE FLEET OF STARS.
Sean
Sean,
But Wayfarer did not know that Earth was inhabited, let alone what languages were spoken.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
True. I have to regretfully conclude PA most likely made a mistake here. UNLESS Brannock's powers of computerized analysis were so sophisticated he could decipher a language using only a small sample.
Sean
Sean,
But he did not have any samples of the first three languages he spoke. And there would have been no connection between these new languages and any earlier languages known to Wayfarer/Brannock.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Then I have to conclude Poul Anderson made a rare mistake here. Rather odd, too. Pity!
Sean
Either a mistake, or the data was in something they got from Gaia.
Or he could have been observing things somehow? Did Wayfarer drop mini-probes?
Dear Mr. Stirling,
I like your suggestions! They help to "save the appearances" in GENESIS. Something to keep in mind the next time I read GENESIS: data from Gaia or mini probes dropped by Wayfarer.
Sean
I knew that there had to be an answer but it did need more explanation.
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