Kevin's Watch

Posted: **Fri Oct 16, 2009 3:51 am**

Stonemaybe wrote:something I've meant to investigate but can't remember the proper bit - what's the difference between 'HIGH speech' and low?

The way I remember it, High Speech originated in Gilead and the more civilized areas of Roland's world. It can be seen as akin to Olde English, in that it is a "sophisticated", ancient, dying language. Words like Char (Charyou Tree etc) are High Speech words. The grammar is denser than Low Speech, befitting "intelligent" nobles. Low Speech is more akin to standard English, but includes common phrases from High Speech like Thankee Sai, Ka etc. The grammar is less complex, befitting a more "common" tongue. I suppose a better comparison might be Latin and English?

Heres a breakdown of some High Speech words... www.stephenking.com/darktower/glossary.html

I highly recommend you read Robin Furth's extensions and explorations into the Dark Tower after you have finished the books. The graphic novels are also excellent.

Posted: **Fri Oct 16, 2009 4:38 pm**

I think they're more closely related to each other than Latin and English.

It's emphasis seems to change across the series though...when Roland challenges Cort in book one, it's just a very formal "thee and thou" type of speech. Only later do the "Latin" aspects of it come to the fore.

--A

Posted: **Sat Oct 17, 2009 12:23 am**

^Yea true. High speech is still comprehensible to us, at least it is when Kings writing it. But then, he could be translating it for us when Roland and Cort are speaking (merely adding the quantifier "in the High Speech"), and then when Roland's speaking to Eddie/Susannah etc, he speaks Low Speech, but smatterings of High Speech creep in there. Its been awhile since I've read the series so I'm not sure about this "translation" explanation though. I think the Olde English/English comparison is a better one.

Posted: **Sat Oct 17, 2009 8:16 am**

Yeah, probably better than the Latin/English comparison.

--A

Posted: **Sat Oct 17, 2009 9:38 am**

I got the impression (and as i said, there was one bit that gave me that impression, that I can't remember now!) that it was proper english/ slang english.

Posted: **Sat Oct 17, 2009 4:37 pm**

Or maybe like the Celtic and Welsh languages. Spoken by people who want to hang on to that history with pride, but forgotten by many.

I wish I could speak Celtic. /sigh.

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:27 pm**

I just found this in WaG

there was also a pony train.....
("Was the pony named Charlie?" Eddie Dean asked Roland.
("I think not," Roland said."We have a rather unpleasant word that sounds like that in the High speech."
("What word?" Jake asked.
("The one," said the gunslinger, "that means death."

I take this to mean that the High speech word for 'death' sounds like Charlie. If so, it's not Latin, French, German, Spanish, Korean or Japanese. Maybe High Speech doesn't have a RL equivalent after all.

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:05 pm**

Stonemaybe wrote:I just found this in WaG

there was also a pony train.....
("Was the pony named Charlie?" Eddie Dean asked Roland.
("I think not," Roland said."We have a rather unpleasant word that sounds like that in the High speech."
("What word?" Jake asked.
("The one," said the gunslinger, "that means death."
I take this to mean that the High speech word for 'death' sounds like Charlie. If so, it's not Latin, French, German, Spanish, Korean or Japanese. Maybe High Speech doesn't have a RL equivalent after all.

...

Stone Magnet wrote: Words like Char (Charyou Tree etc) are High Speech words.

Posted: **Thu Oct 22, 2009 8:42 am**

D'oh!

Thanks Menolly, and Stone magnet!

Posted: **Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:01 pm**

One thing that's made me smile throughout Wizards and Glass, is the speech patterns of the locals.

It is lifted from my part of the world - Derry and Donegal in Ireland, so it is. England has driven it out of my every day speech, so it has, but I still consider it my accent, so i do.

Posted: **Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:24 pm**

Well that's Wizards and Glass finished.

I enjoyed it, though not as much as Drawing. The whole melding fantasy and Western idea is a good one, I think, and this book is where it's done best so far.

There always seems to be a 'but' though! I really thought the bit with Roland Eddie etc in the alternative Kansas was nonsense! The Wizard of Oz bit came from nowhere (hmm I've made that criticism before) and it went nowhere either! And again, Mr Flagg proved disappointingly ineffective as a bad guy.

Salem's Lot next. This is gonna take a bit of strength. i caught a glimpse of the film as a kid, and that bit with the vampire floating outside the kid's bedroom knocking on the window freaked me out, and has stayed with me ever since!

Posted: **Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:45 pm**

Stonemaybe wrote:Salem's Lot next. This is gonna take a bit of strength. i caught a glimpse of the film as a kid, and that bit with the vampire floating outside the kid's bedroom knocking on the window freaked me out, and has stayed with me ever since!

heh.
At least you know 'Salem's Lot is about vampires.
I didn't, and had to be talked into continuing on with the journey in my Fresh Journey thread...

Posted: **Mon Oct 26, 2009 9:32 am**

Salem's Lot is excellent. You will not be disappointed. Well, maybe its too short haha.

Posted: **Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:29 pm**

Grrr. Enforced break to the series.

I was getting into Salem's Lot - couple of people had been bitten, but the storyline hadn't yet emerged. Took it on a stag weekend to Scotland, plane was delayed so we spent longer than expected in airport bar, took it out in plane and managed to leave it behind.

Can't wait without reading for a new copy to arrive so I've had to start something else.

Posted: **Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:41 am**

Hate to play the Devils Advocate here but...pirated Ebook? Anyway, I read Salems Lot AFTER Wolves of the Calla, and I turned out alright.

Posted: **Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:17 pm**

--A

Posted: **Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:39 pm**

Stone Magnet wrote:Hate to play the Devils Advocate here but...pirated Ebook? Anyway, I read Salems Lot AFTER Wolves of the Calla, and I turned out alright.

Look! I've stuck to Av's recommended reading order so far, and I intend to see it out! I mean, do you really think I would've finished Eyes of the Dragon unless there was a purpose?

Anyway, another 2nd hand salem's lot ordered, should be here Friday.

Posted: **Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:45 pm**

Stonemaybe wrote:
Stone Magnet wrote:Hate to play the Devils Advocate here but...pirated Ebook? Anyway, I read Salems Lot AFTER Wolves of the Calla, and I turned out alright.
Look! I've stuck to Av's recommended reading order so far, and I intend to see it out! I mean, do you really think I would've finished Eyes of the Dragon unless there was a purpose?

Anyway, another 2nd hand salem's lot ordered, should be here Friday.

Posted: **Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:30 pm**

Stonemaybe wrote:
Stone Magnet wrote:Hate to play the Devils Advocate here but...pirated Ebook? Anyway, I read Salems Lot AFTER Wolves of the Calla, and I turned out alright.
Look! I've stuck to Av's recommended reading order so far, and I intend to see it out! I mean, do you really think I would've finished Eyes of the Dragon unless there was a purpose?

Anyway, another 2nd hand salem's lot ordered, should be here Friday.

Incase you dont want to buy the last few books....

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http://www.warez-bb.org/viewtopic.php?t=888262

Posted: **Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:58 am**

^ Cheeky!

Kevin's Watch

The Drawing of Stonemaybe [Dark Tower spoilers]