The Fictional Linguistic Dilemma

[dr_tectonic]

So, a question for y'all what read SF:

We have a (human) character from a fairly ordinary background who gets dragged off to strange and interesting places. Logically, the (also human) people in the strange and interesting places would not speak the same language. But these characters need to be able to communicate -- have conversations, even -- because otherwise it's all very boring.

[Poll #1003564]

Comments

[ocschwar.livejournal.com]

Other: make the language acquisition an integral part of the plot. And make it a both-ways thing.

[dcseain.livejournal.com]

That was done well in The Color of Distance by Amy Thomson.