22 replies to this topic

[Sebastian Thrawn]

As i can read in the Romans and Hardware Readouts... the official Language there is German (as u see at the Last Name of the Leader Familiy--> Steiner, at the name of some Meachs like Blitzkrieg)

So the Lyrans are similar to the Germans today i think ?

but at the Faction infos here on the Page i read this:

Dominant Languages: English and German (official)

does this mean German is the official Language (Government Language) or both (English and German ? )


Both istn right in the canon, this are NOT the Federated Suns ! Can it be they changed it in the reason that mostly here are native english speakers ?

Dont misundestand me, there are very much english speakers in the Steiners Empire, but its not the official Language !

[Chuggernaut]

English was the official language of the Star League, and so it has persisted as the language used for interstellar commerce. So the LC's official languages are German and English, like Canada has English and French. I mean, you know how much money we'd lose if people didn't know English? We can't have that.

[KageRyuu]

I know right, and technically it's the Federated Commonwealth, so both English and German are the official languages.

[Sebastian Thrawn]

But at the explanation here at the page, i can read at the federated suns thers only english. With your argument, there must stand there englsih and german, too...

@chuggernaut: Loose money ? thats NOT the Steiner Way


sry for my bad language, but im not a native speaker

Edited by Sebastian Thrawn, 26 June 2012 - 11:45 PM.

[Chuggernaut]

KageRyuu, on 26 June 2012 - 11:42 PM, said:

I know right, and technically it's the Federated Commonwealth, so both English and German are the official languages.

It's not, actually, until Hanse and Melissa bite it. Hopefully before that happens we can put an end to this stupid Federated Commonwealth idea. We all know where it ends up.

Anyway, the "English" spoken by the FS is pretty different from Star League Standard English. It used to be called "Anglo-French" but the Davions needed to be more like Space America to be blander or something.

[Dozer]

The dominant language of the Mechwarriors: Atlasian (AT-LAY-SE-AN). The language consists of a series of grunts, clicks, whistles and sighs that communicate complex ideas in a very short time, usually between Alpha strikes and fusion reactor explosions.

Edited by Dozer, 27 June 2012 - 12:12 AM.

[Endless Ike]

ENGRISH!

[Fire for Effect]

It is probably gerlish (or in german dinglisch) a strange mix betwenn 2 languages german and english what is used most often in day to day business.

Since the Blue Fist is modelled around core western europe and germany was/is after all a major player it was reasonable that they (the developers 30 some years ago) choose german as official language. Since other cultures are (or were; scandinavian culture has just rebelled and seceeded) also part of the Lyran commonwealth it is safe to assume that all speak english and german and some additional languages fitting to their personal cultural ancestry.

Federated suns is english only.

[Victor Rykers]

Sebastian Thrawn, on 26 June 2012 - 11:32 PM, said:

Dominant Languages: English and German (official)

does this mean German is the official Language (Government Language) or both (English and German ? )

What's wrong with being bilingual? Lyrans are known for being traders, hence it makes sense that they can communicate with potential customers (a.k.a. neighbours). Daily use will be different depending on the planet. You might run into Lyrans who mainly speak Italian and only basic German or English. You might run into Lyrans who speak German and Spanish and only few words English. I never considered the successor states that homogenous. If you're growing up on Tharkad, Skye or Furillo will change which you consider your 'native' language and many (especially traders) will grow up bilingual at least (probably know some basics of every major language of the IS, like "buy", "sell" and "good price my friend").

Edited by Victor Rykers, 29 June 2012 - 06:54 AM.

[Paul Stern]

if i think of the lyran commonwelth, i have a little bit a picture like the eu in front of my eyes. kind of a multicultural european confederation like faction. but thats only a picture i am associating...

[wizzard]

The official languages of the Lyran Commenwealth are German and English. It is hard to say which language is more common. Based on some quotes from the Battletech novels both languages are used in daily use. For example Phelan Kell could understand the Rasalhague dialect "swedanese" because german and swedish have a common base. But he had no trouble to adopt the english of Clan Wolf which seemed a bit "old fashioned" for him.

Victor Steiner-Davion was also raised (at least) bilingual. There are some references in the novels (e.g. Hohiro (?) greets him in german).

Anastasius Focht aka Frederik Steiner also spoke german because he mentioned a little problem with the different meanings of words in german and italian (german "kalt" -> english "cold" -> italian "freddo" vs. "warm" -> "warm" -> "caldo").

And the last fact is that all "old" Lyran military ranks where based on the 20th century german "Bundeswehr" ranks. This also means that the ranks had german (Like "Hauptmann" or "Gefreiter").and not english names. Otherwise some Mech names ("Hauptmann") would make no sense.

German seems to be at least the language of the Lyran "high society" and the military and is probably the main language on Tharkad. On other worlds like Skye, english seems to be the main language of the common people.

[Bluey]

Who cares we are mech pilots as long as our comrades speak same language on battlefield it doesnt matter.

[exiledangel]

just a correction on the clan wolf and ghost and widowmakers were the only other ones to speak english the rest of the clans was russian from the old star league.

[Sebastian Thrawn]

wizzard, on 29 June 2012 - 02:11 PM, said:

The official languages of the Lyran Commenwealth are German and English. It is hard to say which language is more common. Based on some quotes from the Battletech novels both languages are used in daily use. For example Phelan Kell could understand the Rasalhague dialect "swedanese" because german and swedish have a common base. But he had no trouble to adopt the english of Clan Wolf which seemed a bit "old fashioned" for him.

Victor Steiner-Davion was also raised (at least) bilingual. There are some references in the novels (e.g. Hohiro (?) greets him in german).

Anastasius Focht aka Frederik Steiner also spoke german because he mentioned a little problem with the different meanings of words in german and italian (german "kalt" -> english "cold" -> italian "freddo" vs. "warm" -> "warm" -> "caldo").

And the last fact is that all "old" Lyran military ranks where based on the 20th century german "Bundeswehr" ranks. This also means that the ranks had german (Like "Hauptmann" or "Gefreiter").and not english names. Otherwise some Mech names ("Hauptmann") would make no sense.

German seems to be at least the language of the Lyran "high society" and the military and is probably the main language on Tharkad. On other worlds like Skye, english seems to be the main language of the common people.

Thats a very goof explantion, think i can accept it

[Sky walker]

Guess they all speak English with german language

ps. Did you know that Lyran fist is actually... taken from Polish soldiers emblem in BTU?

[Theodor Kling]

exiledangel, on 29 June 2012 - 07:34 PM, said:

just a correction on the clan wolf and ghost and widowmakers were the only other ones to speak english the rest of the clans was russian from the old star league.

Wrong. They all speak Star League English, although some still learn the other languages of their ancestors.

As for the Language in the Lyran domain: Like a lot of others already said: German and English are both the official languages. LIke Canada has two, or South Africa if I remember corectly.
Apaprt from that there are lot´s of local dialects as should be expected in such a huge political entity. Most notably in the novels some worlds in the Skye March speak mostly Gaelic languages due to their Scottish or Irish ancestors.

[Ubertron X]

Als treuer Lyraner sollte man natürlich beide offizielle Sprachen beherrschen.

(A loyal Lyran should of course have mastered both official languages)

[Jardoval]

Sky walker, on 30 June 2012 - 06:41 AM, said:

ps. Did you know that Lyran fist is actually... taken from Polish soldiers emblem in BTU?

huh, there are polish soldiers in the boston teachers union?

[Endless Ike]

Jardoval, on 03 July 2012 - 02:05 AM, said:

huh, there are polish soldiers in the boston teachers union?

solidarity

[Elkarlo]

wizzard, on 29 June 2012 - 02:11 PM, said:

And the last fact is that all "old" Lyran military ranks where based on the 20th century german "Bundeswehr" ranks. This also means that the ranks had german (Like "Hauptmann" or "Gefreiter").and not english names. Otherwise some Mech names ("Hauptmann") would make no sense.

Nein es sind die Preussischen Ränge.
Und im Lyrianischen Commonwealth ist Deutsch Amtssprache, alle Gesetze und Edikte müssen in Deutsch verfasst werden, und werden nur ins Englische übersetzten. Das sieht man sehr deutlich wenn Katrina Steiner-Davion später regiert lässt sie das explizit aufleben um sich von den Davion Erbe abzuheben, da im Vereinigten Commonwealth Englisch die Dominante Amtssprache war.

No that are Prussian Rangs.
And in the Lyrian Commonwealth is German sie Official (Law) Language, all Law and Edicts hat to be made in German and than translated into english for common language. That comes very clear when Katrina Steiner-Davion the German Language uses in the Lyrian Commonwealth to make her seperation of her Davion heritage clear. In the Federated Commonwealth English was the Dominant Official Language and German only secound Language.