Vodor
| Vodor | |
|---|---|
| Type | Communications gear |
| Tech Level | TL–9 |
| Cost | |
| Size | |
| Weight | |
A Vodor is a technological device that can generate the sounds (...or auditory vocalizations) of the oral-aural languages of various sophonts. Dozens of models of various abilities, complexity, and price can be purchased on worlds throughout the Imperium of TL–9 or better. Pre-electronic vodors are available below TL-9, but tend to be species-specific and far less flexible devices.
Vodors are often paired with Language Translators.
History and background
Not all sophont species were created equal and many possess wildly different sets of vocal cords or biological oral apparatuses. In many cases, it is simply impossible for one sophont to approximate the speech of another so technological were created to fill these needs. Some species possess no vocal apparatus at all, such as Hivers, in which case the vodor fulfills a need that the species did not originally evolve naturally.
In other cases, such as that of humans and vargr, vodors are widely used by personnel with sophisticated language needs, who don't want to operate with the handicap of their native vocal apparatus. While very similar, human and vargr vocal cords cannot approximate the full range of each others speech.
Historical vodors
The first vodors in almost every civilization occurred before the advent of electronics. Most were specialized musical instruments often resembling elaborate whistles. Some are mechanical devices of ingenious perplexity. Many of these early devices were and are just as effective as later more sophisticated devices using higher TL's.
References and contributors
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science