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How can a beverage make a person understand an entire language?


Any insights?


My 150 (or so) favorite movies:
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070122364/

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Normally most beverages can't (even though a lot of beer will make you speak in a language that no one can understand). The only insight is that it was lazy screenwriting by the writers who decided they needed to throw out much of the original novel's concept of how John Carter learned the language. Of course it also makes zero since why the Barsoomians would have such a liquid anyway.

Starman, waiting in the sky. He would like to come and meet us but he thinks he would blow our minds

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It's also a ripoff of the language learning scene from the Asylum Princess of Mars.

Requiescat in pace, Krystle Papile. I'll always miss you. Justice was finally served.

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Haha, Yes it was! ;-)




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I drank a bunch of Tequila once and spoke Spanish for the next three days without knowing it.

The real answer is it's a lazy, convenient plot device, with similar mechanisms used in just about every sci-fi movie or television show ever made. In the movie they called it the "voice of Barsoom" or something like that without further explanation. This indicates it could be some type of "water", maybe laden with a certain mineral, produced by the planet that allows people to understand the language that evolved there. If they were going to use this they could have at least expounded on the concept a bit more. But I don't really expect more than that from this type of CGI-fest big-budget popcorn film so I just take it in stride for what it is.
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Alternatively they could have taken a page out of the book--shocker, I know--and had Carter learn the language because a native Martian teaches it to him.

Requiescat in pace, Krystle Papile. I'll always miss you. Justice was finally served.

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That definitely would have been a pleasant surprise. In fact, if they'd thought about it they could have at least montaged him spending a few months there learning the language, culture, getting acclimated, etc. Instead we get a magic potion. Again, for me this type of device is par for the course with this type of film. I don't go in expecting much in the way of cleverness. That way if there is I'm pleasantly surprised. It's far too rare, unfortunately.
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I'm something new entirely. With my own set of rules. I'm Dexter. Boo.

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if they'd thought about it they could have at least montaged him spending a few months there learning the language, culture, getting acclimated, etc.


This is what they did in "The 13th Warrior" for Antonio Banderas' character learning the Viking language. It's not difficult to do and only takes like 30 seconds.

For me, the whole magic potion ruins one's suspension of disbelief, which is needed for watching sci-fi/fantasy. I was hoping there was a good explanation for it, but apparently not.


My 150 (or so) favorite movies:
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070122364/

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You know, even Farscape apparently would have considered the Voice of Barsoom to be idiocy since the writers at least establish advanced technology allows for the creation of nanites that can translate all but the most complex of languages.

Imagine that. Coming up with a quick language-learning plot device that actually makes sense (even if couched in fictional technology).



Requiescat in pace, Krystle Papile. I'll always miss you. Justice was finally served.

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Farscape! I miss that show, even its zany moments. A very creative production. I won't presume to know what the creators of Farscape would say about the Voice of Barsoom, but I have to agree that introducing nanites into the mix makes it more plausible and less silly. It's still a bit of a cop out, but it's one of the better uses of this plot device, and it provides an explanation other than magic water (although again, within the context of John Carter, I personally can accept the silly concept of magic water, meaning it doesn't really bother me, but while simultaneously agreeing something a bit more clever could have been devised, or at least some sort of brief explanation). Man I miss that frilling show. I may need to break out my DVD set here at some point.

Great example of it done better! I'm glad you mentioned this.
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I'm something new entirely. With my own set of rules. I'm Dexter. Boo.

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Imagine that. Coming up with a quick language-learning plot device that actually makes sense (even if couched in fictional technology).


There is a translator, soon to be available, that uses ear buds and translates 4 languages instantly as 2 people of different languages converse. There are plans for more languages in the near future.

I would say an implanted device will be available in less than 10 years based on the rapid changes to technology.

Here is a blurb from World Translation Center.

May 27, 2016

Waverly Labs has come up with a device, which they call The Pilot system, that fits into the ear and provides real-time translation. It allows for translation in four different languages: English, Spanish, French, and Italian. It will be available to the public in September 2016, but the company is accepting pre-orders. “The Pilot” will retail for $129.

The device, along with a convenient app, allows users to select their preferred language and begin receiving translation within moments. The Pilot system comes with two earpieces, one for each of the conversationalists. This could provide travelers abroad a new way of communicating. It is sure to be a revolutionary step in translation.

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Nice find. Microsoft, Google, and few others (including Skype, also now owned by Microsoft) have apps that already translate dozens of languages in real-time, although of course it still requires saying each thing twice (a second time by the "translator"). That's a far cry from nanites that help everyone hear the same language as they speak it (and somehow make their mouths form the words of the other language), but it is pretty cool.

And very useful for when I travel to Japan.

The Pilot seems to take things a step further by pairing two earpieces to an app, which may provide better efficiency during translation if it works as planned. Although, I wonder why they didn't just design something to be used with exist translating apps? Maybe they feel their translation is more accurate. Or here's a bit from the first URL below that may indicate what differentiates this from other existing, more mature apps:

While the details are currently scarce, it's likely the ear pieces will pick up your voices, send it to the app via Bluetooth, and then come out as translated speech in the other person's ear
In this way, with two paired earpieces also acting as microphones working in unison, perhaps the conversation will be integrated a bit better, and it doesn't require two apps (I'm guessing) on two different mobile devices (or sitting a single device between you, which can pick up background noise), maybe even with some of the processing occurring the earpieces themselves (I'm speculating). If I'm understanding this correctly, though, it probably would make the process more efficient than can be done now with those existing apps.

Wonder how long it'll be before one of the big boys buys this out?

http://mashable.com/2016/05/17/pilot-translate/#IgRMwYs3AZqn
https://www.wareable.com/hearables/pilot-waverly-labs-translation-earbud
http://www.gizmag.com/waverly-labs-pilot-in-ear-translator-translation/43359/
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I'm something new entirely. With my own set of rules. I'm Dexter. Boo.

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It's pretty simple:

1. Writer sits at word processor without any ideas
2. Writer gives up thinking of how to get the exposition out of the way
3. Writer gets drunk, starts speaking gibberish and thinks it makes perfect sense
4. Writer thinks that's a great idea, keys it into the script and presses send
5. Writer wakes up in the morning with a hangover and as the realisation dawns on him that yes, he really did send that dumb idea last night, starts to worry that he'll get fired
6. Writer suddenly remembers he's working for Andrew Stanton and he'll probably think it's a great idea even if he's sober
7. Andrew Stanton does indeed think it's a great idea and not 'lazy storytelling' that's 'taking the easy way out'
8. Writer opens another can of beer to celebrate



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Voice of Barsoom

This was really cheesy. Then to compound the sorry screenwriting, Tars Tarkus acted indignant that Sola had given John Carter the magic liquid. Carter went through the whole preparation process the baby Tharks went through, including the dusting with talcum powder, which was another cheesy moment, so why was anyone surprised he was given the Voice of Barsoom.

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It can't. It's a stupid, lazy plot device that makes no sense at all.
Why would anyone need a magic potion to teach their own young their own language?

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The same reason there are people flying around on Mars. It's not real.

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The same reason there are people flying around on Mars. It's not real.


We know it is fictional, but why be so grossly sloppy in the screenplay's writing?

Many fictional stories require suspension of belief, but You know this is simply convenience rather than thoughtful writing.

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In the novel, Sola taught Carter the language. Imagine that. Learning a language via a teacher. It boggles the mind, I know.

Requiescat in pace, Krystle Papile. I'll always miss you. Justice was finally served.

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LOL. No shit. Just plain dumb.

I liked the movie.

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