TNGs Darmok but the alien meme language has subtitles

What if you could understand the Tamarian language in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode 'Darmok'?
I'm #captrobau and I like to make interesting videos about sci-fi and stuff. Don't forget to like this video and subscribe to my channel if you want to see more videos like this.

[@tayzonday]

3:19 No, “Uzani - His Army” means they tried to flank the beast from two directions and close in at the same time to stab it as a strategy. Go back and watch that fight. Then “Shaka when the walls fell” means that strategy failed. (Partly because Picard started to get beamed away)

[@CaptRobau]

I think you might be right Tay! Thanks for the contribution!

[@matvangogh]

Shaka when the walls fell means 'I failed." Watch the lower Decks series that has the Tamarian Lt. He says that when he tries to hit on another crew member and he fails

[@flairthedark6000]

Fun thought: What would the human equivialnt of "Shaka when the walls fell" be? We got plenty of history and mythos to pull from for that. Edit: 10 months later and people are still coming with their takes on it XD

[@DMphobia]

@@flairthedark6000 Agincourt, when Henry charged.

[@5uperM]

I didn't expect Tay to be a TNG fan.

[@DoctorCVC]

“Riker, his leg over chair”: tamarian words describing peak male performance

[@Doughy_in_the_Middle]

No, that means, "My tailor is an idiot and this spandex is too tight on my nether regions."

[@Tahkaullus01]

Thought it meant "My spinal injury means I have to do this."

[@cologne2792]

@@Tahkaullus01 Yes indeed. " Riker, his back, poorly"

[@fastertrackcreative]

@@Tahkaullus01 Honestly despite being a result of an unfortunate injury on the actor's part it does make for an interesting addition to his character. Picard is a very by-the-book formal type whereas Riker is not quite so much.

[@AmirBrooks]

Wesley, his mouth closed

[@ChadFaragher]

1:49 When Picard says "Picard of the Federation. Of the starship Enterprise. Of the planet Earth!" The subtitles should have said the equivalent translation as the Children of Tama would have understood it, which would be like the way my dad describes movies...something like: "You remember that one guy? who did that thing? you know, with the other guys?"

[@Dadum-bass]

The best youtube subtitle mess up I've ever seen comes from a scene in "Hacksaw Ridge" as Desmond gets the last body off the ridge and the Americans open fire. . . Absolutely hilarious subtitles KZbin threw in there.

[@tyrongkojy]

@@Dadum-bass Um, what were they?

[@Dadum-bass]

@tyrongkojy the scene as vince Vaughn gets off the ridge and says "Dawson's still up there!!" before Dawson comes over the edge and Japanese soliders pop up to try shooting him. . . American soldiers on the ground start firing at the Japanese. The subtitles? [Glorious music] [Japanese feeling the full might of America]

[@tyrongkojy]

@@Dadum-bass Ha! That's awesome.

[@Killer_Kotomibro]

Pacha, when the light hits just right

[@GBart]

The Tamarian captain was willing to give his life to establish peaceful relations with another species. That dude was really dedicated

[@ey5373]

And for a civilization they have never met. Guy was like, "We heard you're a chill civilization. We want to be bonded friends."

[@ens0246]

Literally brings a tear to my eye. More powerful than any scene of torture porn that hack now in charge has made.

[@quinnzykir]

A Chad

[@intellectually_lazy]

yeah, he was a regular captain kill me

[@jollythejackalope]

@@zer0dahero No It would be like two pirates meeting on the open sees, not being able to understand one another's language, so they both. BOTH. Put their lives on the line, in order to try and change that. Don't get me wrong, what you're describing IS both horrible and horrifying. And very much a thing that does - to an extent - happen in real life, but it just doesn't apply in this case

[@hyrinshratu]

I've always loved how Dathon resorts to the tried and true "I WILL SPEAK LOUDER AND SLOWER SO THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND ME" trope

[@Justforvisit]

Well, to make words more clear and better followable is a common and not even so uneffective strategy for decoding unknown lingua, since you can empathize waaay more on feelings and intentions of tone this way.

[@tteros5998]

To be fair, it can help non-native speakers. You're likely not aware of it, but in English specifically, there's very little in the way of observable pauses or breaks between words in the way that it's spoken. Pausing to pronounce each word clearly, and seperately from the others, can help in translation immensely.

[@keith6706]

@@tteros5998 This easily demonstrated by seeing "slang" writing. "Dontchaknow" is one example that springs to mind. For native (North American) English speakers it's pronounced as a single word.

[@orboobleck5366]

I also love Picard just nodding and smiling, trying not to be rude.

[@TuhljinTampergauge]

The bigots are the ones who leap to the conclusion that doing this is unhelpful and rude. It works plenty of times and even when it doesn't, it isn't usually rooted in bigotry.

[@1873Winchester]

It's like a whole planet communicating in nothing but community in-jokes and memes. I see that happening from time to time in real life and I think of this episode.

[@omargoodman2999]

There are some hypotheses that Egyptian hieroglyphics were, in addition to an alphabet/syllabary/logographic script, it *also* could represent an entire concept similar to a meme, but you needed to be familiar enough with it to "catch" the meaning; and that "meme" image could _also_ be used as just a plain letter, too. So, just as we put letters together to make "lol" but we recognize "lol" as a memetic term and a "word unto itself", even though it may have _originated_ as an acronym for "laughing out loud" no one *really* thinks of it that way anymore; it just doesn't encode in the brain like that. It's just *lol* as a stand-alone term with stand-alone meaning, but not _really_ a "word"; just used as if it were. But imagine if it went the other way, if a more visual meme, like a picture, could be reduced down to a letter or syllable. Like if "Awkward Side Eye" could be used to replace the letters "ase" in a word. There's actually a related concept called a Rebus. For example, a picture of a "bee" and a picture of a "leaf" could be put together to indicate the word "belief". Just replace simple pictures like bee or leaf with complex memes that require background awareness of what they mean. They *do* say "a picture is worth a thousand words"; if you could just "say" the name of a meme, and everyone around you immediately understands like, an entire TVTropes page worth of info-dump contextualizing what you're trying to say, then I'd say that's just amazingly hyper-efficient languaging right there. MPRMS.

[@MarkGoding]

Many Chinese characters are in jokes from song dynasty scholars.

[@andrewhggj3695]

There is a Gene Wolfe book in which a whole society of people talk like this, I wonder if this is where the writers got the idea...

[@AngelEmfrbl]

@@andrewhggj3695 which came first, the book or the episode?

[@ey5373]

omg. I hope our society doesn't turn into that. Just people throwing gifs at each other all day to communicate and language as we know it becomes too bothersome and complex for the new generation. Heck, I see it now. a lot of the new generation weren't taught cursive. Boggled my mind because when I was taught, my teacher stressed so much to me how important it was to learn cursive handwriting.

[@polishedpebble4111]

"Picard, his face in palm" = disbelief, annoyed, exasperated

[@pwnmeisterage]

Riker, on the bridge. Riker, the captain's parrot.

[@TherealSBlair]

Data - We actually had this one down until we met that ship

[@flairthedark6000]

this is an accurate example since it (The language) uses phrases of mytho to express a single meaning, in a way it is not a langauge so much as being an elaborate emoji system utilising phrases from a mythos to communicate... Someone correct the HELL out of me if im WAY off here....

[@flairthedark6000]

@@darkmagician2521 under the requisits of the tamarian langauge itself im not sure it is metaphorical, tho it could be im focused more on the meaning rather than wether or not it is metaphorical...

[@darkmagician2521]

@@flairthedark6000 You're not. Their language is of what you mentioned that is being very metaphorical when not deriving from mythos. Interestingly, it's as if the Tamarian language is treated like art specifically abstract in a way like an artwork done by an artist like Pablo Piscasso. To sum it up, the Tamarian language is abstract art in language form.

[@jimgilbert9984]

"Picard and Dathon, at Elledril." A great honor for Picard, and being the amateur archeologist and sociologist that he is, Picard recognized the significance and solemnity of the metaphor.

[@TekTrekgamer]

Well said.

[@jimgilbert9984]

@@TekTrekgamer Thank you. "Timba, his arms wide."

[@BenjaminSpencer-m1k]

Essentially they had added to the alien language with their story. Once the people had learned it they would recognize what it had meant.

[@jimgilbert9984]

@@BenjaminSpencer-m1k I could see them teaching their children about Darmok's story and how that would lead to the story about Picard. Also, perhaps if they gathered around campfires like we do, Darmok's story would also naturally lead to Picard's story.

[@BenjaminSpencer-m1k]

@@jimgilbert9984 it's a really interesting concept, they may actually be super culturally advance as well as scientific simply because their form of communication.

[@Grak70]

I can’t be the only one who gets emotional when Picard tells the story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu.

[@KamenRiderGumo]

You're not. This is a powerful episode. Were it not for "The Inner Light", this would be the absolute peak of TNG.

[@DanielAppleton-lr9eq]

@@KamenRiderGumo I'm familiar with the Epic of Gilgamesh & it is INTERESTING. I even thought of ways / tried to come up with ways to make it " family friendly " & it is NOT easy.

[@TasteTheD]

When he utters Gilgamesh and chuckles to himself. very moving. I love that guy.

[@DanielAppleton-lr9eq]

@@TasteTheD His people devised this whole test. They're likely proud of it. It seems a trifle extreme, but whatever works.

[@TekTrekgamer]

@@KamenRiderGumo - This is a solid conclusion.

[@savagebear4374]

I finally understand the difficulty the writers went through writing the script for this episode.

[@zombieregime]

Lets not forget the actors. They had a handful of words, thats it. The rest was all acting through half an inch of foam latex. .....Also, the white blood was pretty neat.

[@Justforvisit]

Producer: "So, is writing the script for this episode going well?" Writer: "Shaka, when the walls fell..." Producer: "What?" Writer: "Temba, his arms wide" Prdoucer: "WHAT?!"

[@savagebear4374]

@@Justforvisit 🎯

[@fastertrackcreative]

@@Justforvisit 🤣

[@yester30]

Chaos and struggle in the writing room.

[@AvatarRiku]

The race that communicates entirely in memes

[@ThePigKnight]

Millennials, when the computers rose. Shaka when the walls fell.

[@MimesAgainstHunmanity]

@@ThePigKnight 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Sukat, his eyes uncovered

[@cmillerg6306]

Us. You mean, when Literacy Failed, at Internet

[@andypetrovich2155]

Cat, his paws on the piano.

[@isaackellogg3493]

Kek, the frog, the prophecy. The Man Orange.

[@cricket1043]

My favorite TNG episode. I always hoped that the TNG writers would have expanded with more episodes involving the Tamarians. Shaka, when the walls fell.

[@HunhowsShadowStalker]

The animated series "Lower Decks" has a recurring Tamarian Starfleet officer called lieutenant Kayshon.

[@armand531]

It's a travesty there was never a follow up TNG or even a DS9 episode with Tamarians.

[@Kefka.]

@@armand531 There is a follow-up on "Lower Decks" as ??? wrote above.

[@the-quintessenz]

I love the way Deanna and Data tried to use the computer to understand their language as a side plot. It's like trying to create an AI prompt. The entire episode is basically a cautionary tale on that.

[@CynicalOldDwarf]

The writer, his tears flowed

[@seraphinaaizen6278]

One thing I liked about the exchange between Picard and the first officer is that, even without subtitles, you knew what they were saying to each other because the episode prepped you for it. You understood some of the Tamaran language because Picard learned some of it, and you learned it as he did. It's a similar technique to the tv Shogan, where the main character slowly learns Japanese over the course of the show. And as he picks up various words and phrases, the audience picks them up too. Such that some parts of the show can feature exchanges in Japanese, and the story can still be followed.

[@GiskardRevenlov]

Shōgun Sorry, had to.

[@captainLoknar]

It was another epic episode. Very challenging to the audience. Trusting the audience to get it. Now compare this to the crap that gets put out in the star trek or star wars franchise these day😅

[@NinjaSushi2]

​@@captainLoknargood point. Back in the day we had smarter audiences and they assumed to that.

[@Anon1376642]

​@@NinjaSushi2 No, the audiences are not much dumber today than back then. While it's true that the general world wide lead poisoning caused thanks to capitalism has lowered the intelligence of the entire human race, people aren't too stupid to get things like this. The change you imagine is your bias, the great series and films of older generations are what survives and remain, there are smart shows and movies these days too. The dumb shit from back then don't live on. If there's a change it's more likely the culture of hollywood, advertisement is different and much more prevalent so it's easier for the producers to artificially float whatever culturural fad they want to the top and keep beating dead horses until Beelzebub screams.

[@DavidSharpMSc]

Wakarimasu, anjinsan?

[@piotrd.4850]

One of most moving and creative, anti-trope (universal translator) episodes. Scene with Picard at very end, performing Tamarian salute.... new series should have Tamarian dagger, Mintakan cloak and Ressikan Flute.

[@prince-solomon]

The new Picard series is a disrespect to TNG and especially to Picard. Modern writers are post-modernist devils destroying & deconstructing everything we liked and adding nothing to it. Contradictions to established lore, foul language, gore & violence, alcoholism and super-emotional outbursts...that's the new Picard show for you.

[@KairuHakubi]

how's one outta three

[@termitreter6545]

Yeh Picard series kinda missed that mark. Its mostly just miserable and cynical, often in the dumbest way possible. Guess thats Star Trek now.

[@KairuHakubi]

@@termitreter6545 that's all of life now. can't be too surprised it makes its way into media.

[@numberyellow]

@@KairuHakubi Yeah, but there was widespread cynicism when TNG was on the air, and the writers didn't seem to have any trouble maintaining Roddenberry's hopeful vision of a brighter future. What we have now, for the most part, is talentless cringelord hacks who are more interested in pushing agendas and ideologies, than telling good stories.

[@Hasshodo]

0:51 where the First Officer begins to disagree, sounds more like "Beam Down? We're still trying to communicate!" to the reply "Yeah, and we're failing"

[@benedixtify]

The genius of this episode is how they followed the premise "what if they can't understand someone, even with a universal translator?"

[@DanielAppleton-lr9eq]

Universal translator, without purpose. Picard, palm on face.

[@BlackTortoiseOfTheNorth]

😂😊

[@0megacron]

I think the translator was translating the words (which is why we hear English), but like they said, without context you wouldn't understand the use of the words. Or, as Troi explained it, "Juliet on her balcony" means nothing if you don't know who Juliet was or why she was on the balcony.

[@ffreed]

@@0megacronAnd I’ve heard people complain, “then how do Tamarians teach all this to each other?” They miss something important that’s right there in the episode: the Tamarian cultural references are based in a rich oral tradition of storytelling. That’s illustrated when Picard ends up telling the story of Gilgamesh over a campfire. The Tamarians tell stories to each other as a generational practice and cultural trade, but they don’t write it down, in much the same way a lot of Earth cultures have oral storytelling traditions. Which is why when the Enterprise crew try to search records for what “Darmok” could mean, they find all kinds of indirect references, but not the actual story itself.

[@wegner7036]

@@ffreedHow do they tell stories to each other without a preexisting vocabulary of references?

[@pwnmeisterage]

TNG at 1080p looks great! I never realized before that Tamarian officers decorate their uniforms with pretty rivets and fishing lures.

[@TankR]

Given the metaphorical nature of their communication structure, I often wonder what their trinkets mean. Are they religious sigils, superstitious talismans, is one like a photo symbolizing Dathons family, or children, or parents, or even his military carrier.....Its sad they never explored the Tamarians deeper.....

[@ironhead2008]

@@TankR Well, I suspect they might have a religious component: remember how Dathon removed them and arranged them around him before going to sleep.

[@TheUnknownHarbingers]

​@@TankR I have not seen it but they reappear on Lower Decks.. not sure what they explore though

[@idiocyincorporated7635]

@@TheUnknownHarbingers unfortunately not much. though the character is recurring and it goes a little into said character trying to learn English. Sometime accidently speaking in metaphor when he meant English. As they are my favorite one off aliens from TNG i really enjoy seeing them in lower decks.

[@omargoodman2999]

@@TheUnknownHarbingers I don't know if it was on LD or in a different series (or maybe just a different TNG episode I can't recall), but the Tamarian language has been explored a little more from what I've heard. Basically attempts at coding it into the Universal Translator and how they could make a match for the specific metaphors and their general meaning at first, but then found out there were certain nuances such as the intonation of "how" the phrase was pronounced that gave context to what, specifically, you intended to _mean_ when you used it. So a single phrase could have potentially dozens or hundreds of nuanced different interpretations depending not on _what_ you say, but *how* you say it. And we have a similar mechanic in English. Consider the following nominally identical sentences, but each with the stress on the indicated word. I never said she stole my money. never said she stole my money. I said she stole my money. I never she stole my money. I never said stole my money. I never said she my money. I never said she stole money. I never said she stole my . The same sentence, but the nuance of _how_ you say it will give it very different implication.

[@oFetfa]

I really don't understand why I'm so fascinated by this episode. To the point I get teary eyed

[@TankR]

Because Dathon gave his life trying to communicate with the Federation. It was that important to him. All of us have experienced a seeming inability to connect with someone, getting them to click into our intent and such. This is a great episode for anyone that has ever had an issue figuring out how to convey inner thought to another who has no frame of reference for what you are trying to express....

[@marvelsandals4228]

@@TankR Yes, to Dathon, teaching Picard the meaning of one word was more important than his own life. He voluntarily went to his own death, just to make sure Picard understood that "Darmok and Gilad at Tanagra" was the word for "friend." The event was also of such great significance to their people, that it coined a new word into their language "Picard and Dathon at Eladril" a NEW word for a new bond between their peoples and their breakthrough of communication

[@ksol1460tv]

Me too.

[@zhaoliang4217]

There is very well acted, and a mystery. But also it is somewhat unique, not much like this except maybe the movie Arrival.

[@gdavis]

@@marvelsandals4228 the idea that dathon wanted to communicate as much as picard makes him a kindrid spirit. Another race of people who were explorers at heart.

[@Aloha_XERO]

One of the most important episodes that stayed with me all my life as a communicator of understanding different languages

[@Aloha_XERO]

Beautifully crafted … thank you for this

[@TheGunnarRoxen]

Brilliant. Doesn't diminish the brilliance of the episode but adds another level for once you've seen it. Thanks for making it.

[@CaptRobau]

You're very welcome!

[@gdavis]

i like this because it speaks to the tamarian's basically wanting and worried about the same thing as the federation. they just want to know about this vast federation of planets but can not speak to them.

[@furtim1]

Arguably, since the same phrase meant numerous things, it was a heavily tonal based language. That said, the whole premise is absurd. How would they tell these stories in the first place with other metaphors? Well, that would lack all nuance. How do you build an interstallar ship with plans composed of metaphors? How would you even repair a car? How do you tell the mechanic to bring you a chrome coated #3 metric socket wrench with the extended head and magnetic insert using metaphors?

[@DanielAppleton-lr9eq]

@@gdavis They must've been isolated for centuries or millennia. " Tama, the children, secluded ".

[@rebbrown7140]

​@@furtim1I think you're missing the point.

[@Wraithage79]

I was expecting jokes, but this is really brilliant. Very well done!

[@CaptRobau]

I was able to constrain myself and not have the Tamarian captain call him 'the bald one' 😊

[@johnpooky84]

I was kind of expecting a "Hitler Rants Parody" at first, too, but this is superb!

[@muchanadziko6378]

@@CaptRobauI got chills when watching the episode when they finally communicated. I understood the vague meaning of these sentences. But with this translation of yours it really hits different.

[@notthemoon]

What if the subtitles were our memes

[@muchanadziko6378]

@@notthemoon they are In Dawkins' sense of "memes"

[@sandorsbox]

This is one of my favorite episodes because of this lesson in xenolinguistics. Having a language like that seems incredibly convoluted and implausible. The very broad and generalized language would make communicating abstract concepts very difficult. We saw that one phrase would have several generalized uses but specifics were really hard to convey. Even so, when you present such an enigma and then suddenly "Sokath! His eyes uncovered!" It is exhilarating

[@fnhatic6694]

I suspect that in order to make the message a bit more clear, the writers simplified it down to eight or so phrases. If they had a phrase for every unique event it would likely come across as too random, while repeating over and over "Shakra, when the walls fell", "Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra", and "Mirab, with sails unfurled" helped the audience learn what was going on.

[@DanielAppleton-lr9eq]

Champollion probably had the same difficulty decoding the Rosetta Stone. Before that the Egyptian language was just strange symbols, squiggles, eyes, birds that made little sense. Even the scribe weren't sure what they were writing down.

[@chevronlily]

You just made me realise that the word Eureka! Is basically a Tamarianism.

[@DanielAppleton-lr9eq]

@@chevronlily Because Archimedes ( ? ) originated the phrase, making it semi - historical ?

[@explodingplant2]

@@DanielAppleton-lr9eqyeah because he utterred it when his eyes unconvered and when people utter it now they're specifically evoking that tale to convey they're in the same situational & emotional state

[@MrPanopapa]

Anyone who was ever seriously challenged by language and cultural barriers can relate to this episode. A true TNG masterpiece.

[@sweypheonix]

Which means we can just say "Picard and Dakon on TNG"

[@Alvin-1138]

The late Paul Winfield (played police captain in the original Terminator) did a great job. He conveyed the emotions perfectly which kept our frustration levels tolerable.

[@judgeprime3730]

This captain risked his life (ultimately dying) in the hope he could grt through to the Enterprise crew. Incredible sacrifice and risk, a noble man. Lucky he got Picard.

[@apollodiomedes203]

This is where Babylon 5 did first contact situation better. Universal translator is not perfect and as we saw here, it can totally fail. Earth Aliance in B5 have developed a very simple first contact language based on universal mathematic concepts. If Picard had something like this, everything we saw here could be avoided.

[@the_kombinator]

He could have gotten a Klingon, depending on their disposition, it stood a chance of going well.

[@judgeprime3730]

@@the_kombinator good point. If he got Martok he would probably be good, if he got Duras… Can you imagine this poor Captain with a Pakled?

[@the_kombinator]

@@judgeprime3730 I'd feel bad for the Pakled - they'd probably be more confused.

[@TheSparkly1982]

Chakotay would have been a good candidate too.

[@thatenglishgentleman]

This episode perfectly exemplifies the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein's quote regarding talking to a lion. Although you know the language and words being used, the way in which those words are used and their context would be as alien to you as a foreign language.

[@DanielAppleton-lr9eq]

It's like expecting a dog to understand English. I've seen my cousin do this. Dogs understand your tone, body language, & facial expression ( s ) & that's pretty much it.

[@ministryofwrongthink6962]

I love how the alien language mixes in phases we understand yet don’t make sense. It gives the same feeling that someone who doesn’t understand english would hear, essentially putting us in the alien’s shoes as much as Picard’s

[@metazare]

Much of this is shockingly close to what I've always imagined was being said in this episode.

[@paulsmart4672]

They did a great job with the Tamarian language, to the point that the viewer starts to get it by the end of the episode.

[@muchanadziko6378]

Out of the sentences they spoke I only could not understand „River Tamak in Winter” and maybe two others.

[@KororaPenguin]

​@@muchanadziko6378 How much noise does a frozen-over river make?

[@Ryvaken]

@@KororaPenguin I think it was more to do with action. Rivers are usually not loud in the first place, but a frozen river does not flow, no matter how mighty its usual current. You will stop, you will halt, you will be still.

[@Tamlinearthly]

@@KororaPenguin: Yep. In this context it clearly means, "I don't want to hear anymore of that," but more broadly it can be probably be used for any number of variations on "desist," "not now," "this isn't the time/not your place."

[@BenjaminSteber]

A perfect blend of absurd and profound. Not even Futurama had anything as batshit crazy work to such a sublime…I can’t even think of the words…Dave when the monolith opened.

[@larkohiya]

Computer when denied access 😢

[@orbismworldbuilding8428]

Spoken tongue of english majors

[@nicholaswhitman4620]

Applause, then the academy stood

[@VaultWeasel]

@@larkohiya Microsoft Support when walmart gift cards were offered.

[@Hamachingo]

My wife's name out your mouth - speak further and I shall dispense physical harm

[@Jayfive276]

“Seven of Nine, her outfit skin-tight” - the deployment of fanservice

[@rozzgrey801]

Marina Sirtis, her fangs bared - jealousy.

[@ananousous]

T'poll, her bum nice

[@FlamingBeret]

"Picard and herself, when the flute played" - arosal

[@DanielAppleton-lr9eq]

@@rozzgrey801 Deanna Troi, no help, useless.

[@Killer_Kotomibro]

Sisko, the records deleted - To confront and accept a dark truth

[@wmfthehorseman]

The more I watch this episode, the more I am fascinated by the creativity of the writers!

[@DanielAppleton-lr9eq]

Q, the never - ending trial.

[@CaptRobau]

This has been a video that I've been wanting to do for a while now. I tried to interpret the Tamarian sentences as running sentences based on the situation. Just as an 🍆 (eggplant emoji) can mean one thing when talking about the farmer's market and another when texting your date, so can "Mirab, with sails unfurled". One moment it is as simple as saying you want to leave. Another time it is a more directed command to your helmsman to chart a course out of the star system. I imagine the Tamarians would use minute differences in pronunciation, inaudible to us viewers, to communicate these nuances. Or perhaps pheromones or limited telepathy.

[@ElysaraCh]

It's probably more simple than that - just inflection and body language to display intent.

[@flairthedark6000]

Funny how I came to a similar conclusion that the language wasnt a langauge and more an elaborate emoji system 2 months ago and i NEVER saw this comment... The idea that its meaning is very sensitive to context could be very on the mark. The portion regarding inaudiable nuances/pheremones/limited telepathy is unfortunatly just speculation as the episode gives no indication of such and as far as im aware temarians never popped up again in star trek, maybe in the mmo but thats a big pond to be checking.

[@neiana]

@@flairthedark6000 It's the first meme language, actually

[@TankR]

As someone who doesnt really get people, expressing intent physically as well as vocally/tonally, and reading that in others has been my life. Sprinkled with successes and failures. This episode, the over arching context of the story, the implications far and beyond some silly TV show......It strikes me on a level that is hard to explain. I really enjoyed your interpretations. A few even gave me a newer deeper understanding of their expressions (like the campfire 'im not getting through to this guy, I cant understand a dang thing he says' scene) Good work, mate. I only wish there were more Tamarian episodes for you to translate. Perhaps do one also 'subtitling' the unsaid inner thoughts being expressed...idk... Either way, your time making this is certainly appreciated! 😎👍

[@SamBrickell]

After we go to the farmer's market, you and I will have 🍑🍆 to eat.

[@followerofjulian1652]

Thank you for making this. It's important for people to understand that translation isn't just matching lexical items; it's understanding the meaning the lexical items are supposed to convey. Your subtitling achieved that for an episode I never enjoyed or really understood -- until now. ❤

[@descendinguniverse]

That`s just awesome! It`s actually quite unique episode in a way that they wanted to establish their relations with Federation so badly their captain decided to take such a risk. Others are usually more reluctant. Unless I missed something, might as well rewatch the whole episode

[@descendinguniverse]

​@@Astraeros thoughtful analysis

[@KenZchameleon]

This was beautifully done.

[@CaptRobau]

Thank you very much!

[@jaimebabb9968]

So there's a very old Star Trek pc game called "Birth of the Federation" where you're basically trying to build up one of five galactic powers by settling planets and getting minor species to join your alliance. One of the neat little touches that I love is that, when the Tamarians join your alliance, their diplomacy text reads: "The beast at El-Adril. The stories by the fire."

[@dmgroberts5471]

I've always been very fond of the Tamarians and the way they communicate. Brilliant concept, a people who tell you pieces of their history with everything they say.

[@BlueSmoke216]

I love how "Picard and Dathon" has become a part of the Tamarian language. Dathon will be forever remembered because his story is now that of first contact. A layer on top of the existing metaphors of their great epic. The same way Star Trek fans can simply say the date "April 5, 2063."

[@TekTrekgamer]

Star Trek fans can also can say "Darmok and Jelad at Tenagra" and know exactly what that means. Not just that it is an episode, or that it is part of our cultural lexicon but that it genuinely MEANT something to Captain Picard. He connected with Captain Dathan. It's beautiful.

[@jaderulz2000]

Cochrane, La Forge and Riker, on the Phoenix.

[@Zodroo_Tint]

@@jaderulz2000 Never happened. Illogical.

[@jaderulz2000]

@@Zodroo_Tint 😂

[@BubuBORG]

Cochrane and Solkar at Bozeman.

[@bitduelist]

This episode was incredibly well done, the way this episode brings in the audience with Picard to try and understand the language is genius. It started as gibberish but by the end we could understand the dialogue between Picard and the Tamarian first officer.

[@dmgroberts5471]

The Tamarian captain also does an excellent job of matching his tone and intonation to the _meaning_ of the phrases. He must have said "Darmok" close to 100 times, but the intonation is always different and full of the appropriate emotion. He nicely portrays that he _is_ saying something.

[@DanielAppleton-lr9eq]

@@dmgroberts5471 You'd need a Reader's Digest course in Tamarian history, folklore & legend.

[@marygabaree622]

That was a BEAUTIFUL interpretation of their conversation. I think that it’s pretty close to what was actually said. This was my favorite STNG episode of them all-& I have seen them ALL. I love this episode.

[@elijahbutterfield4869]

This episode is one of my favorites. Two captains working togetherness to survive, the idea of a language being based around historical events, and most of all Picards telling of the Ballad, and it's symbolism within this story. "Gilgamesh and Enkidu at Uruk"

[@DanielAppleton-lr9eq]

The episode *is a lot* like Gilgamesh in space.

[@TekTrekgamer]

@@DanielAppleton-lr9eq - Which I imagine was the literal point the writer was making. When two men face a common threat it can bring them together. Later in Enterprise Trip and Malcolm are stuck on a shuttle and they think they are alone. The enemy is much like the beast on Eledreal only it is time. The great hardship though learning to communicate and cooperate despite their differences bonded them forever.

[@justinbiag1929]

Imagine a Tamarian trying to deflect an accusation from one of the boys... "Yo man, is something going on between you and Jake?" "Two men, five feet apart in hot tub."

[@luckiller019]

>that epizode when they actually had to work their ass to comunicate with non english speaking alien clasic

[@DeltaEcho303]

Well done. My interpretation of the last two lines were: Picard: "I'm willing to continue a peaceful dialogue if you are." Tamarian First Officer: "Another time. We've all been through enough today."

[@Philterbank]

I thought he was offering to give back the knife...

[@HunhowsShadowStalker]

"Temba, his arms open" means to offer something. "Temba at rest" means either accepting or politely refusing said offer, depending on the context.

[@ironhead2008]

I always thought Picard was offering to go back down their with the First Officer and finish what He and Dathon started.

[@i_am_nica]

​@@Philterbank I also thought he wanted to give the knife back

[@silentmagician9386]

McCoy, his true profession, clarified.

[@kaitlyn__L]

I always took “Sokath, his eyes open!” to mean more “he gets it!” or “he finally sees!”, even though “it worked” works in this case as Picard would have to “get it” for it to work. Just an age old localisation (for function) vs direct translation (for syntactical info) conundrum.

[@ugolomb]

In my own mind-translation, I heard Picard's "Temac, the River Temac, in Winter" as "Shut up! As in, close your mouth and stop talking!"; and the Tamarain's "Sukath, his eyes uncovered" as "By Jove, I think he's got it!"

[@muchanadziko6378]

I thought it meant something in this sort as well Though to be honest, „River Tamak in Winter” was the one I strugled the most with

[@ugolomb]

@@muchanadziko6378 The Tamarian captain already uses this expression to silence his first officer near the beginning of the episode; I'd translate that one "Be quiet! I have spoken!" or something like that. Picard's tone is more urgent and agressive, hence my rude translation (which actually comes from Riker, in a different episode)

[@philmorton4590]

I thought it was, 'foolish and embarrassing, a wrong course of action' a man fell in the river in winter. The thought meant his idea was strongly rejected by the captain.

[@muchanadziko6378]

@@ugolombOh? Riker transaltes Tamarian in one of there later episodes? Do you remember that episode's name?

[@ugolomb]

@@muchanadziko6378 He's not translating Tamarian, he just uses this expression. (the episode is Future Imperfect, Star Trek TNG Season 4 Episode 8; kzbin.info/www/bejne/eojUZYWgmqaJjrc&ab_channel=HD_Picard )

[@dereklarner6298]

This episode vexed me when I first saw it because I wanted to know exactly what the aliens were trying to say. Having subtitles like this, back then, would have taken a lot of the enjoyment out of the episode, strangely enough…at least that’s what I believe

[@CptPatt]

“When the walls fell” seems to be pulling a lot of weight in their language.

[@thomrade]

Its the equivalent of "fuck"

[@odinlindeberg4624]

​@@thomradeIt means failure, as far as I can tell.

[@spencersholden]

As seen on Lower Decks, the universal translator does eventually get to where it can translate Tamarian to a decent level. Without Picard it probably would have taken another 100 years.

[@davidreese8032]

This was great. Beautifully done. Wish it was longer.

[@CaptRobau]

Thank you. Thought about doing all the scenes, but YTs copyright system can get pretty strict at times and I thought it might diminish the impact as certain things are repeated. So I chose to make it short, but sweet and choose out some varied bits from the Tamarian dialogue.

[@Awesomethingness]

Good. Now subtitle everything said by the crew into Tamarian.

[@madnimrod2489]

I've only seen this episode once, but it stuck with me for years just cuz of how clever their language is. I just love it.

[@dasboot6935]

I really wish they would have made at least one more episode with these people but four maybe even five episodes more would have put it over the top. It is my favorite episode ever and it just seems if the writers had, had a clue what we viewers wanted more of that they would have obliged us.

[@Fricasso79]

It's all very well saying "Shaka, when the walls fell" whenever something goes wrong, but I'd like to know how they have any memes specific enough to say something like "Pass me the type 3 phase inverter, we need to re-route auxilliary power through the secondary antiproton matrix to generate a chronoton bubble in the forward deflector array," or whatever you need to do to solve spaceship problems in a Star Trek future.

[@lemoncholly]

"Shaka, when he passed the type 3 phase inverter"

[@josephrankin6055]

I'm certain that if the Chinese can use their written language this isn't a problem since its basically the same thing as the language the Tamarians use in this episode.

[@Heeby-Jeebies]

There's a lot of necessary creative license here. I approve.

[@kamenwaticlients]

Wow I still remember all of this and translate in my head. I remember seeing this as a kid when it aired. It stuck with me. Still my favorite TNG episode.

[@morgan_morris1997]

This was such an interesting episode. What I loved about TNG is that it genuinely made you THINK. This alien civilization is intelligent, but they speak entirely via metaphor, and the Federation can make heads or tails of it. So much of what we do or say or think is considered “correct” until we realize that there’s always different ways of doing things.

[@OpenMawProductions]

Trying to apply specific nuance is quite difficult, but one thing that I find fascinating about the episode is that by the end you start to think like the Tamarians, you don't need the subtitles to understand the conversation between Picard and Dathon's first officer. It's clear, at least in emotional and intellectual terms, what is being said. As Picard says in his final log, they still have a long way to go before they can truly communicate fully. A door was opened.

[@IONATVS]

As far as updating the universal translator to improve mutual communication, the first step for Tamarian->Federation languages would be to preface the Tamarian metaphors and allusions with a simple “Let us do like” or “This is like” depending on whether the allusion is made as a suggestion or a statement to make the grammar clear, then build a dictionary of their standard phrases and translate them as literal phrase + description of event being alluded to. So “Let us do as Darmok and Jalad at Tenagra, where they slew the beast together!” Keeps the originally intended nuance, while clarifying the meaning for Federation crews. The Federation -> Tamarian program would need to be more complex, as every concept federation languages have would need to be accounted for with an associated metaphor. But if there’s a concept that needs to be translated with no appropriate Tamarian meme available, the best method to add one would probably be to find an appropriate memetic event in Federation cultures and essentially show them a quick video of the event and state a descriptive title for the event-Spock in the Reactor Core, Kirk at the Kobiashi-Maru, etc. Now that they’ve figured out HOW the Tamarian language works I see the Tamarians and Federation engineers quickly bridging the gap in their communications

[@KororaPenguin]

"Derpy, when the orb hit." -- Non-lethal self-sacrifice. "Adric, over Yucatán." -- Thinking you failed when you really succeeded, with connotations of death. "Molly and Bellatrix at Hogwarts." You've messed with the wrong person's kid. Explain yourself to your Maker in person.

[@meganofsherwood3665]

​@@KororaPenguin I really like that last one!😂

[@Vigriff]

@@KororaPenguin That last one is rather badass.

[@KororaPenguin]

​@@Vigriff And "Captain Needa, aboard the Executor" means a commanding officer knowingly and willingly laying down life itself to protect the crew.

[@Hoshimaru57]

I watched this episode with my uncle, whom I’ve never really been able to get along or connect with. I got him a puzzle for Christmas and tried to give it to him using this, but utterly failed. He appreciated it anyway.

[@teamdoghouse82880]

All jokes aside, this was an amazing episode of ST:TNG. I watched it again not too long ago. I had forgotten just how great the show was.

[@DisIzDaName]

How does a technological society like that work though? "Hey, Damak, what's 1+1?" "Julad, when his balls dropped!" I mean, scientific notation and calculus must have some seriously esoteric memes to make it work.

[@TankR]

Amazing translation of not just the intent of the phrases, but expanding them to a deeper descriptive literary form. They werent simply being hard headed. When Picard was stating "Picard of The Federation, Of Earth" you could tell Dathon could recognize the 'person in relation to place' form but just as we had no frame of reference to their people and places, Dathon could not give meaning to what an 'Earth' or 'Federation' was, for all he knew they could have been the same thing. It might as well have been "I am a carrot, a juicy carrot, from the cat box." There was no reference to pantomime, hand signals without context are easily misread. It wasnt until Picard heard the beast, saw the danger that the tone in Dathons voice began to form the context they needed to understand one another. Dathon and Picard both in dire need for communication, on the cusp of understanding, yet falling back down worryingly close to a combative end, refusing to fail forging a new relationship through spilling eithers blood. Dathon is one of those characters that hits me unreasonably hard....Honestly well up watching this episode sometimes....He gave his life, risked all out war between two powerful societies, to be slain and die in the dirt far from home, never to see his family again, because making the connection was that important to him. If the faction rolls were reversed I like to think the Federation captain that died would have been given the highest honors. I hope Dathon's family will know the story of Dathon and Prcard at El-Adrel, and may it be told in every language across the stars until time itself collapses. FanFIc (not that kind) ending I play in my head when Picard offers the knife and is allowed to keep it: "[looks at knife in hand, back at crew, at screen, back at hand] May this weapon symbolize the battle within us all, to conquer the beasts of doubt, and whether stranger or friend, new or old, become better people to each other. [grips knife] Picard and Dathon at El-Adrel. Picard...[moves arm with knife to cross chest over heart while rasing the other slightly palm out, in heavy sorrow laced tone]...my arms wide. [Tamarian gets handed a data pad, reads it and adjusts stance to a chin up chest out honor stance and says in a friendly tone] Goodbye, Captain. [captains nod at each other as channel closes]" They REALLY needed to do more Tamarian episodes....so much unexplored territory in handling new boarder line familiar situations.....

[@blahblahsaurus2458]

Picard, a juicy carrot, in the cat box. Temba, his arms open.

[@meganofsherwood3665]

Love that headcannon ending! You knwonthe dialog is good when you read it in the character's coice!

[@ViperKillerWannabe]

I would also have liked to have seen more episodes with the Tamarians, but I think in the end we got just the right amount. I have a feeling at some point the universal translator would just start making everyone hear their own language in perfect context, so some of the magic would be lost.

[@TankR]

@@ViperKillerWannabe Actually, that would be interesting as eff, have some filler C plot bit about writing a subroutine that looks for relevant situations in the listeners language. I imagine the translation for Klingon would be pretty epic.

[@TankR]

@@meganofsherwood3665 Its a bit froo froo, was probably in a lofty mood that night. Either way glad you liked it 😎👍

[@DarkAtHearts]

I love how they brought this language into the Star Trek Lower Decks and even added newer phrases.

[@THarSul]

everyone always talks about how good picard's performance was on this episode, but we've got to give the folks who played the tamarians some credit too, it takes talent to emote properly while speaking a bastardized version of a language, and they all did a very solid job of portraying the emotions and ideas, even though we couldn't comprehend their language until the very end of the episode.

[@tonoornottono]

this episode honestly makes me sob. i know it’s silly but just the idea of an entire people speaking in these evocative myths is so moving to me.

[@madfreeman501]

I can't believe you translated it , well done awesome job , this is one of my favourite episodes thank u

[@CaptRobau]

You're welcome

[@sonomancer]

Best thing is that, because this episode was so well written, if you watch it all the way through you start to understand the language yourself...

[@johnjones928]

When this episode first aired I was dabbling in Japanese kanji and it immediately dawned on me they were speaking in metaphor even before Picard said as much. What initially frustrated me was how the Tamarians expected the Enterprise to understand their language without a syllabus or frame of reference but I think the act of Picard at least trying to understand was an important part of building the kind of relationship they were looking for. You could imagine the Romulans, Cardasians or even the Vulcans on some level wouldn't have even attempted to put the effort in.

[@hughsmith7504]

I almost wish we could see this play out with a Klingon captain. I could see it going badly if the Klingon really thought he was being challenged to a dual, but I also see it play out where the Klingon gets the idea even faster, as the idea of forging friendship with a dangerous hunt would not seem out of place. The Tamarians are no push overs either, I could see them impressing the Klingons as warriors as well.

[@johnjones928]

@@hughsmith7504 The Klingon's would turn the whole thing into an opera.

[@stevenscott2136]

I imagine the Klingon cheerfully accepting the duel, the action being interrupted by the beast, the Klingon gleefully switching to ally with Dathan against this new enemy, and the episode ending with both of them totally wasted on blood-wine in the captain's quarters, trading Tamarian myths for Klingon operas.

[@Rensune]

Picard literally becoming a word in their language (for Diplomacy)

[@johnnyb1936]

Now I wish the episode had these subtitles, but only after picard realizes how their language works

[@TroyConvers5000]

Having finally made friends with The Children of Tamar, we never heard from them again. True friends. 😅

[@italianmiltyfriedman6264]

People forget, the universal translator is not translating their language correctly, so the word we hear are the translators failed attempt to translate the alien language. Dathon isnt speaking english words. Their language doesnt have to be based on metaphors, the universal translator is only able to use those words from the limited data.. its not chat gpt after all

[@rpbeens]

I love the fact that “meme” is being used in its literal socio-psychological meaning in the title. This was a legendary episode.

[@magnusdiridian]

Picard: Worf, his day to die, on the ocean. Shaka, when the four lights fell, and WESLEY, his mouth closed!!

[@theprojectproject01]

Oh, like that last one is believable. Sheldon, his face red.

[@HupfderFloh]

Worf, when the barrel fell

[@argonwheatbelly637]

Nokazi upon Galesh?

[@timhrklittimothyherrickvid169]

Brilliant. Thank you. Such a great episode, this makes it better and makes us wish for a film of these aliens with subtitles.

[@timothyhiggins8934]

Still hard to understand that language, but this was great!

[@CaptRobau]

Thank you.

[@gwgux]

This is one of my favorite episodes of TNG! It's a great story of the lengths one will go just for communication. I was young back when this first aired so it did take me a while to finally get what they were saying, but when I finally did my interpretation is pretty much on point with what I saw in the subtitles here.

[@abs1519]

A KAt sEnt Me

[@robertbeier5521]

Imagine we spoke like this with human history. New York, when the towers fell. Caesar, his army. London when the fire burned. Rose and Jack, on the ocean. Neil and Buzz, on the Moon. Icarus when he flew. Icarus when he fell.

[@shakaama]

why the hell does this episode make me emotional? I know it's just people acting.

[@ZannNewman]

Shaka.. when the walls fell

[@chrisburrelljr9270]

We also cry over a foam rubber puppet named grogu from mandalorian

[@robertodeleon-gonzalez9844]

Actually, I think "Shaka, when the walls fell" means something like "failure". "Tamak! The river Tamak... in Winter" could be "stop". You see, rivers seem to stop flowing in Winter, then their surface waters turn to ice. "Tenba - his arms open" would mean "I give you this". "Tenba - at rest" then was correctly translated as "keep it". You know, I'd love to show this episode to students of Communications or Translation Studies, then have them puzzle over the Tamarian language.

[@billyte1265]

3:45 Remove the end screen cards for godsake! Why did you put them there while the clip is still playing??? They block the video I came here to watch with one I don't want to see!

[@Altorin]

this is by far my favorite episode of TNG. I LOVE the performance of the captain, and these subtitles are actually really great

[@somedude5414]

COMPLETELY unworkable as a society and form of communication, but GOD DAMN! what a great story and performance that episode was!!!

[@wrybreadspread]

Quite so. Unsuitable for conveying scientific and techn(olog)ical data.

[@elonwhatever]

@@wrybreadspread It may be that they have multiple sets of languages. One meant strictly for communicating, one for sciences/precision, one for arts, etc.

[@wrybreadspread]

@@elonwhatever That also occurred to me...mere moments after I commented...which I would be hard put to verify the honesty of said statement of mine...like Penelope, the character on Saturday Night Live who likes to one-up everyone else's exploits and accomplishments.

[@elonwhatever]

@@wrybreadspread ow I do not doubt you had that thought, it's not an unreasonable one to have

[@wrybreadspread]

@@elonwhatever A non sequitur. Took the liberty of glancing at your page. Trekspertise. Two steps from hell. History buffs. But in particular Lindsey Ellis. I miss Ms. Ellis. As an admitted self identifying reactionary, I was nevertheless drawn by her laid back snark. My favorite upload of hers was about Mel Brooks and how comedy (done properly) is a legit and appropriate takedown of nazi Germany. And it infuriates the hell out of me that she herself was taken down by Twitter indignation for some comparison she made to the Raya movie. Felt like getting that of my chest. KZbin at one point...the early 20-teens...was a more humane place. People could actually leave text messages to each other. Like zukerman-land. Said my piece. Vaya con Dios.

[@bettycrocker6692]

Thank you for the subtitles! For years now I've been puzzling over some Tamarian phrases, speculating that they may have double meanings according to context, as some single words do.

[@theprojectproject01]

I love how he starts over, but M u c h m o r e s l o w l y So the Federation wierdos can understand him.

[@georgehillyer7959]

As someone who both interprets and translates I have to say you have no idea how often people think this works.

[@TuhljinTampergauge]

@@georgehillyer7959 It sometimes does work. Let's not lie about it. It's silly to pretend slower, clear speaking can't help. People complaining about it the most tend to be TRYING to find offense.

[@georgehillyer7959]

@@TuhljinTampergauge I am not taking offense. If you do not understand a language, it does not matter how slow or clear you say something, you do not understand the language. Speed and clarity have nothing to do with understanding.

[@331Grabber]

This is the only episode in all of ST that actually makes meeting a new species and culture look difficult purely for logical reasons. Both sides were trying to be friends instead of one being superior or one being hostile. Great writing. Too bad we never saw the Tamarians again.

[@werehyenataur]

This would've been waaaaaaay better of an episode with these subtitles... I implore you to tell Star trek. I'm... I'm actually crying so fucking hard right now... I have mentally disabled friends that are hard to speak to... this episode means so much to me right now... Thank you...

[@CaptRobau]

My dad lost much of his ability to speak in his final days, so I can imagine how this relates. Happy to have made something that means something to people.

[@HunhowsShadowStalker]

The whole thing with the episode is that we aren't supposed to know what they're saying. Like Picard, we're supposed to figure it out on our own. It defeats the purpose if we get a translation of it.

[@Vigriff]

@@HunhowsShadowStalker I'm with you on that. No sense on having a fun puzzle to solve if it was all spelled out to you.

[@TankR]

The world would be a much better place if, instead of assuming we have all experience and conceptualized the same events in out lives, we took the time to understand what has shaped us, what drives us, why we are who we are and what we do. To self reflect, to communicate our thought processes, to listen to the processes of others, to see the human and their complex twisting journey. So many people in my life alone, never mind all I see outside it, put on the masks of what they believe society wants them to be when ultimately they display the worst of it. And yet the people who are assumed to be avoided are the first to jump into action, regardless of who you are or the problem at hand, because even if their personal inner thoughts arent pretty and nice or even agreeable with anyone else, its simply the right thing to do. Its what they expect of society. To have the freedom of thought and expression, and to preserve that for everyone as (they would hope) everyone would preserve it for them. I dont have to want to invite you to my pool party to defend your ability to go to any you have been invited to or even have a pool party of your own (even if im not invited. thats fine, i dont want you at mine either. but have a good party, man.) In this world of extremes if we truly wish to avoid tyranny and oppression in any form what we need is to embrace those in the middle of the road, not the hard this-or-thats. Be willing to accept people will engage with/in things you dont like, as they are free to do where it is legal to do it. Recognize your impact on others as youd have their impact on you recognized. Make concessions for the people you dont agree with so everyone's interests can be maintained and expressed. Act with integrity, honor, respect, especially in civil situations. It is on all of us to make this place a world worth living in now, otherwise our children will only find the ruins we leave them. Be the change you want to see. Be better to each other. If only so someone else doesnt have to feel threatened at every turn. No one is obligated to help you, but be willing to assist someone in need when you can, where you can, if you can. It only takes one kind gesture to dissipate the angst and fear the clickbait overlords spoon-feed us every day at every turn. Learn to take a jab, grow a skin, express accepting humility, be generally supportive, avoid attributing to hatred, conspiracy, and malice what can easily be explained through exasperation, confusion, and ignorance (in that no one knows what the other is doing, we have to guess based on past experiences, if the brain is constantly exposed to negative fearful threatening events and imagery, where do you think its going to go? Learn to stop that. Some people have bad days, but dont let yourself be the punching bag unless you are willing to be(as a big scary brick shit house of a boy, I can take redirecting an outburst, letting them get it out, and then as a big teddy bear hugging it out after, but not everyone can or needs to do that)). The worlds is a big scary mixed up crazy place, lets stop making it worse, ok? .....and that might mean not voting for the guy with your teams letter after their name if it means everyones letters will be honored and protected..... We are approaching the cliff, people are starting to fall, ask yourself, do you really want someone who will simply push to push, or would you rather be surrounded by people willing to do the hard thing of sitting down, talking and understanding each other to work towards a solution that provides the most benefit possible? If your answer is all for one......well there is nothing left for us then, we might as well embrace and jump together...... ......I swear I meant that to be shorter......

[@johnpooky84]

@@TankR A large paragraph, with "Enter" key used. A large paragraph in pieces.

[@charlesajones77]

I never understood why the Tamarians can use words like "walls" and "river" in their metaphors, but they can't just speak normally. Of course, if you consider Lower Decks to be canon, then yes, they can learn to speak normally.

[@Feasco]

Picard, learning to speak Tamaranian it goes both ways, and takes time

[@dertyp3463]

I absolutely loved this episode. when i binged tng i watched this episode at least 3 times in a row. it's incredible how you understand the conversations after you get the concept and rewatch it. besides that you can easily use this (even with own phrases) in rl as code language only you and someone in the know would be able to understand. i find the concept just fascinating

[@unncommonsense]

Picard, his face palmed.

[@johnathanmonsen6567]

This concept irks me, because it seems to me like it BARELY misses. Like, it's an interesting idea, but the fundamental thing is, I can't see a language like this actually working. If your language ONLY consists of story titles, how do the children learn the stories themselves? Even in the most dedicated channels, we can't communicate entirely through meme references, we have to provide context to give those memes meaning, whether to begin with or to change it. You can only gain so much through context. Plus, it's infeasible for there to be literally a story for EVERY possible statement.

[@dreamsprayanimation]

Could be that context isn’t the same in terms of the translation. For example in Spanish all things are given feminine and masculine qualities, there isn’t a reason for it there just is. The stories also may be derived from instinct and not learned at all.

[@johnathanmonsen6567]

@@dreamsprayanimation ...Stories don't come from instinct. Grammatical gender is on a _very_ different level to intuit than an entire story. The former is a weird quirk, it does not carry the entire meaning of the language. The language being presented here is _only_ communicated through oblique references to stories; not even full summaries. There's a rather stark limit to how much of that you can intuit from the physical context of usage, it's not robust enough to make up an entire form of communication.

[@benyseus6325]

Discovery, when the spore drove.

[@teamdoghouse82880]

Years ago, I took a stab at writing Tamarian Erotica: Marsek, When the Tower was erected. Baesha, the chasm flooded. Baesha, the chasm wide. Or something. I remember it being funnier than that.

[@CaptRobau]

It works :D

[@flairthedark6000]

I dunno wether to be shocked or impressed. I will opt for both in this case.

[@teamdoghouse82880]

@@flairthedark6000 Impressive and shocking? I'll take it! 😂

[@literallyanangrymoose7717]

Shaka, when the walls fell.

[@ZannNewman]

Darmok, as the Tower rises!

[@NoblePathwaysHQ]

This was one of THE BEST TNG episodes of all time! ❤ These subtitles were cool ! Thanks for that!!!

[@alienlife7754]

Once you get a little background it wasn’t that hard to tell what they were saying. Their language would be very limiting though.

[@TheKyrix82]

We have people who can hold entire conversations using just the word 'dude' with different emphasis and intonation, so you'd be surprised

[@purebloodedgriffin]

It is possible that they were consciously limiting their vocabulary

[@cmillerg6306]

Right, how would they ever get the right medicine at a pharmacy?

[@imveryangryitsnotbutter]

​@@cmillerg6306 Rinos, when the forest is in bloom. (I need something for my hayfever.)

[@TuhljinTampergauge]

@@imveryangryitsnotbutter Now invent one hundred thousand different sayings to cover a tiny fraction of the possible combinations of products and dosages. See the problem?

[@brianweeks87]

Sokaath! His eyes opened! Understanding has been achieved. You see it now! I enjoy studying linguistics, and this episode has been a favorite of TNG for me since I first watched it.

[@kev3d]

I never understood how the language works. I understand that it's *supposed* to work by metaphors and myths used to describe things, but wouldn't there have to be a non-metaphorical language to undergird the phrases? For example if you say "when the walls fell" the speaker would have to understand "when", an adverb meaning a moment in time, "walls" a noun, and "fell" a past tense verb. Even if Starfleet doesn't understand the context of the metaphors, the aliens ought to understand the humans because humans are speaking with the same nouns and verbs and so on. Unless the aliens speak in NOTHING but Metaphors and the original meaning of the words has been lost. But if that's the case they are simply using newer words to convey meaning and the universal translator should work accordingly. So either the universal translator isn't working right, or something is amiss in how the language is constructed. For example let's say one of these aliens was in a quake and his house was damaged. How would he say "when the walls fell down"? Would he say just that? (If so then the words have kept their original meaning) Or is there a whole other set of metaphors to use? "The bird flew under" or "7-11 has great deals on slurpees" Whatever. Presumably the aliens understand mathematics...how does one express numbers purely in metaphor?

[@imveryangryitsnotbutter]

300 of Noah, from elbow to finger (300 cubits). Or 300 of Noah for short.

[@imveryangryitsnotbutter]

@@RockBrentwood In-person demonstration, live performance, a series of illustrations, video, any non-literary visual medium really. Take your pick.

[@richardryley3660]

It's important to remember this is what the Universal Translator is providing. So it is able to get as far as providing the words, but breaks down at providing the needed context of the words. Presumably, after this event, the translator was updated to provide the conversion from metaphor to meaning. Probably by feeding the Tamarian history into the databank.

[@TuhljinTampergauge]

How could you say anything complex? You don't. This "language" can't work. It's absurd and people are trying to justify it with ridiculous arguments as if it were their political ideology they were spoonfed by the state: that the arguments are total non sequiturs doesn't bother them because it's the accepted canon and that's that.

[@imveryangryitsnotbutter]

​@@TuhljinTampergauge Imagine trying to start a political flame war on a video about a fictional language.

[@teenspirit1]

Finally, my eyes are open. Very nice interpretation.