Adjusting to life among Centaurs

[korora]

Suppose two Humans, from the States, have stumbled through a one-way gate into a world of Centaurs. The language is strange, modesty is different, and everything is designed for tall, fast runners. I suppose that it could facilitate acclimatization if they met a linguist, but there would confusion and non-comprehension at first (and considerable blushing on the Humans' part).

How long would adjusting take? Assume some Centaurs, at least, are willing to assist.

Eudyptula albosignata

[choosybeggar]

About six months for the general living and . I'm not sure about the language barrier. I haven't dealt with it in any of my own work, so I haven't thought about it much.

[birdnerd]

The ESL(English as Second Language) literature says that it takes 1-3 years to acquire the basics of a new language. The more complicated aspects of the language, 5-7 years. You can reduce the numbers some if the language has similarities to the speaker's native language and increase it if not.

Now, that's for someone learning English, and that's not in an immersion situation like you describe, though.

For someone who's highly motivated (y'know, like living depends on it) with a diligent teacher, You could probably cut both numbers in half. Increase the time if someone isn't particularly motivated or has to teach themselves.

[myrthman]

Curious: in this world of centaurs, is it an advanced civilization like ours today (only different sizes, shapes, etc.) or one in a more traditional fantasy setting? For some reason, I'm picturing centaurs on a sort of subway train, commuting to and from work.

[korora]

I've worked out that they're civilized. I haven't quite worked out the technological level, but they do have some scientific knowledge.

Eudyptula albosignata

[rebelshade]

Is there magic in this world setting? You could have a spell or magic item that allows them to understand the language if they don't have 6 month to a year to learn. But that would only work if magic was in your world.

[korora]

Fae, though a subspecies of Homo sapiens, have a natural ability that could be called magic (Leeval is the Suvvov word, not to be confused with tlæzel*, sorcery). I have not decided what the parameters are. One thing I have decided is that Fae fly magically.

Incidentally, there are Fae in Suvvo, which makes some matters of accommodation easier; there may be actual beds.

By the way, there has been travel between these worlds before; the Fae were evidently originally from Earth (Their origins, however, are lost in the mists of time). Connections between the worlds are rare, however. Humans are heard-of in this part of the world, as the Sturnic Fae are part-Human (long story, involving a large party of Roman travellers and a short-lived gateway). Some of the Romans were devout Christians, some not. And the brother and sister are not the first through that less-than-two-centuries-old one-way gateway, so the Suvvov people know more or less what Humans need; that should ease some things. A Suvvov-as-a-second-language teacher who knows English--even no later than the English of the nineteenth century--will be a big help.

Eudyptula albosignata

* The tl is pronounced like the Klingon tlh.

[Kristen]

A centaur who speaks like a Charles Dickens character would be fun.

[korora]

Another thing: What are some effective ways to accelerate acclimation to a culture where less is worn generally? Not everyone is as understanding as the host family.

Eudyptula albosignata

[metalikhan]

Wouldn't some of that depend on average climate of the Centaurs' world?

Assuming their metabolism is closer to equine than human, the Centaurs would be able to stand a cooler climate . A horse's body temperature is normally 99-101 degrees F; a human's normal temp is 98.6 F (range 98-100) . But once they understood the human arrivals couldn't thrive as well without more to keep them warm, they might be more tolerant.

But if the climate tends to be warmer than our world, the burden of assimilation with the existing culture falls to the humans. How long it takes them to "go native" depends entirely on who they are as characters.

Consider the explorers and missionaries who first arrived in Africa or South America. Some acclimated and went native rather quickly, others did more slowly, and still others didn't at all. Some tried to transplant their own "civilized" culture and persuaded the natives to adopt at least a few of its trappings.

Hope some of that helps.

[Kessie]

It's not like centaurs wear pants, so I doubt that being much of an issue. Unless you also have fauns, which would be its own set of weirdness. Centaurs don't wear shirts much, although I do have to wonder about the anatomy of a female centaur, since womens' breasts and horses' udders are in completely different locations. If female centaurs don't have human breasts, why would they need to worry about modesty? (I ponder this when I run into dinosaur or bird anthros with female figures ... and they're not mammals ... yeah.)

As for the language barrier, have it be close enough to English to pick up quickly. If it's a barrier to the story, make it straight-up English and call it an alternate dimension.

[Kristen]

Kessie, that's a great observation about the anthros. LOL

[Bethany J.]

Jun 11, 2011 19:36:09 GMT -5 myrthman said:

For some reason, I'm picturing centaurs on a sort of subway train, commuting to and from work.

I love it! Centaurs with technology! I would read it.

Regarding the female modesty thing others have mentioned - whether the centaurs have breasts or...um...teets?...would depend on how they feed their babies. Do the centaur young stand upright like colts to drink, or do their mothers cradle them in their arms? I am having a hard time visualizing a baby centaur because human babies are generally chubby, and colts are so lean and gangly. I would *imagine* centaur babies would be rounder and more helpless than baby horses; therefore, their mothers would hold them in their arms, and would have human breasts. Just some friendly musings from a lactating mother. I'm trying to imagine nursing a centaur babe...wow, it would be so awkward! Are their (2!) spines and necks strong right from birth, or are they pretty limp, like human babies? Sorry, I am on a complete tangent here. It's fun to ponder!

Whether you decide they have technology or not, this story sounds intriguing, Korora!