• Archpawn@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    Kenkus can only use words they’ve heard before. This implies that other races aren’t limited like that, and automatically know all the words in their language. So you can’t just make up words.

    • Signtist@bookwyr.me
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      1 day ago

      But the entirety of language is just words that someone made up. If you recognize a set of syllables as a word that has a specific meaning, then it’s a word you understand, even if it was just made up and taught to you seconds ago.

    • mic_check_one_two@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      1 day ago

      No, it’s because kenkus can’t make up words. The entire race was robbed of all creativity by Tharizdun’s Curse of Oblivion, so they can only imitate what they’ve already seen and heard. But other races don’t have that curse, which means they can make up new words. If a kenku heard that freshly made up word, they’d be able to use it.