Circuitry ideas for the Linguistically untalented

[ATGiltspire]

Throughout Adhomai and Moghes, away teams have encountered the natives who do not always speak Tau Ceti Basic. Now, currently, there is a circuit that translates heard statements into Tau Ceti Basic. My idea is that, with an upgraded PICP, we could have one that translates into Sinta'Unathi, Siik'maas, Nral'malic, Rootsong, Sol Common, and Freespeak. There could be a strict limit of only allowing one Microphone circuit per device, or the complexity of those circuits could be raised to represent the fact that they were not made in the basic programming language. This stops expedition teams from being entirely stopped by a lack of a translator for relatively common languages, as long as science or the machinist can provide the parts. This will help expeditions have a more fun time interacting with planetary ghost roles, and add a bit more flavour to interactions, as the devices are used to create a link between those that travel the stars and the people of the worlds we visit.

[Sparky_hotdog]

I support the concept, though I suspect it would involve rewriting how speakers work, as right now they just do the equivalent of a visual emote, which can't have a language. But anything to make people ask for circuits more often is a good idea in my book. Interacting with ghost roles or antags where you can't just speak Basic, be it through having a translation device, or a member of the crew, is always fun so I sipport this.

[ATGiltspire]

The current idea on how to get it to work would be similar to the current Microphone's translation feature, except it would work for a different language than TCB, and would give the little prefix from the Written Language version, so... "SOL" for Solarian Common, "UNA" for Sinta'Unathi, and... I don't really know the other ones. This would also be good for members of the crew who have a native language other than TCB, to give them things to talk about with other crew, and drive RP: "Why do you keep looking at that device?" "Oh, it translates to a language I am better at!"

[hazelmouse]

This is a cool idea! You could also use it for two way communications - on Moghes you could make a device with a large screen that translates both to TCB and Sinta'Unathi, for instance. I do have half a mind that the 'TCB' produced by circuits isn't actually subject to known language and may be legible to everyone, though I haven't tested that, though.

Edited June 8 by hazelmouse

[pocheto]

As someone who's worked with it, yeah, the TCB is just visual emotes and works for everyone.