Re: VL: Old Vulcan
Saul Epstein 
Thu, 23 Oct 1997 19:12:18 -0500

From: Patrick J Ferree <pferree*juno,com>
Date: Thursday, October 23, 1997 5:06 PM
 
> On Thu, 23 Oct 1997 08:47:39 -0500 Rob Zook <rzook*informix,com>
writes:
> 
> >Expecting the kind of background which would take a Tolkien
> >to create from anyone at Paramount (except for maybe Okrand)
> >seems rather unrealistic. I agree they should work all these
> >details out and make every part of the universe consistent
> >with every other part - but as I've said before if the question
> >starts with "why don't they..." then the answer is always
> >"money". Time "is" money they say, and would require a
> >significant investment on Paramounts time.

Not only would such effort not make it money in the short term, which
is all it cares about, such effort doesn't match with its whole
philosophy of production.

> >In our construction though, I see no reason why we cannot 
> >work a little backwards and come up with some background.
> >Do a little creative etymology as it were.

Since our concern is to create a credibly natural language, it will
actually be more difficult and more time-consuming NOT to
(re)construct some of the historical linguistics of Vulcan. Not to
mention less fun for some of us.

> If there were a large group of people who could make such a thing
as
> creating or finishing a whole language, don't you think they should
do
> it? (eh hem)

eh-hem, back atcha.

> We all have the means to do it, the motivation, but perhaps
> not the time.  Is that the problem time? Say we did.  Say we did
complete
> the Vulcan language.  Do you think Paramount would market it?

Though I am not usually moved to such modes of expression, I feel
compelled to say that I don't give a rat's ass about what Paramount
does or doesn't market. The only effect Paramount's actions have is
to make it more or less money -- which has nothing to do with me.
Paramount owns the right to make money from Roddenberry's Vision, but
it does not own Star Trek.

> I, right
> now, hereby promise, if you think we could make it happen, I will
send a
> letter to the merchandizing department of Paramount Studios, asking
them
> if they would market it upon completion of the language.  I keep
> procrastinating as I am referring to the letters that are
unfinished, but
> I would move it to my second priority, maybe my first.
> 
> Who would want to do such a thing? So far: Would 1, Wouldn't 0

I am interested in elaborating the Zvelebil Construction and in
making the results available to the ST community, primarily through
online distribution -- interested as an "amateur," which is literally
one who does something out of love. I'm sure Paramount will be happy
to make as much money as they can from our work, if you can convince
them that there is any money to be made. Good luck.

--
from Saul Epstein
liberty <at> uit <dot> net
www <dot> johnco <dot> cc <dot> ks <dot> us <slash> <tilde> sepstein
"Surak ow'pha:per the's'hi the's'cha'; the's'pha:dzhar the's'hi
surakecha'."
							-- K'dvarin Ursw~l'at