Yeah, that makes sense; then again, you have to wonder about the processes in which one language dominates another. Reading Guns, Germs, and Steel this summer has made me think about that -- in what ways would the Air Nomad language unify the other languages (this is where you'd have to go into historical examples of language domination -- the Austronesian expansion might be a good place to start, even though that's not technically East Asia)? What if there's something inherent in the language that makes people gravitate toward it? And why would MEK dominate? After all, you've only explained elsewhere that it would, but it sort of presumes that the Earth Kingdom would be the big superpower, and I'm not so sure that's the case. And would such a language unification be decided, as opposed to something naturally occurring? (Of course, I think I might be reading something different in what you said for that last question, but it still stands.)
(And now you're really making me regret not taking linguistics this semester. Oops. :/)
It wouldn't help if I told you that this was originally intended to be a fic about Zuko and Iroh continuing to run their tea-shop, would it.
No, but if it helps it plays out differently in my head. As in, when Iroh dies, Zuko inherits the business and becomes supremely good at the art of tea, surpassing Iroh's skills and even inventing some of his own types. And he pursues a relationship with the girl he met in "Tales of Ba Sing Se," and he has to deal with the political upheaval of the Fire Nation's invasion and eventual defeat (now that he's on the receiving end), and he has to deal with growing older in a world becoming more technologically advanced and like the steampunk-esque place in Legend of Korra, and he has an encounter or series of encounters with world-traveler!Kuei (because I have to throw him in somewhere) that finally convince him that yes, living a mundane life as the humble owner of the best tea shop in Ba Sing Se is okay, that giving up his destiny was his destiny so to speak, etc. And lots of angst, identity stuff, philosophy, Kuei's bear, and young whippersnappers causing a ruckus in Zuko's shop thrown in for good measure.
.......Compared to your idea, though, it's not nearly as awesome. IT'S LESS SAPPY AND OUT-IN-LEFT-FIELD IN MY HEAD, I ASSURE YOU. XD I think reading "Reign Within" had a lot to do with it, though. On the plus side, I get to research teas and teamaking, which is both infinitely easier and more delicious! 8D
no subject
(And now you're really making me regret not taking linguistics this semester. Oops. :/)
It wouldn't help if I told you that this was originally intended to be a fic about Zuko and Iroh continuing to run their tea-shop, would it.
No, but if it helps it plays out differently in my head. As in, when Iroh dies, Zuko inherits the business and becomes supremely good at the art of tea, surpassing Iroh's skills and even inventing some of his own types. And he pursues a relationship with the girl he met in "Tales of Ba Sing Se," and he has to deal with the political upheaval of the Fire Nation's invasion and eventual defeat (now that he's on the receiving end), and he has to deal with growing older in a world becoming more technologically advanced and like the steampunk-esque place in Legend of Korra, and he has an encounter or series of encounters with world-traveler!Kuei (because I have to throw him in somewhere) that finally convince him that yes, living a mundane life as the humble owner of the best tea shop in Ba Sing Se is okay, that giving up his destiny was his destiny so to speak, etc. And lots of angst, identity stuff, philosophy, Kuei's bear, and young whippersnappers causing a ruckus in Zuko's shop thrown in for good measure.
.......Compared to your idea, though, it's not nearly as awesome. IT'S LESS SAPPY AND OUT-IN-LEFT-FIELD IN MY HEAD, I ASSURE YOU. XD I think reading "Reign Within" had a lot to do with it, though. On the plus side, I get to research teas and teamaking, which is both infinitely easier and more delicious! 8D