Correspondence Scholarship, Class Two [Tuesday Morning, June 17th]

[theexdisgracedacademic]

When the students arrived to their domed classroom, there was a broad-shouldered clay man standing before them. A pair of goggles were awkwardly affixed to her face. The hour to begin arrived, but no other tutor came with it.

The Clay Substitute laid her hands upon the podium. "PLEASE. OPEN YOUR TEXTBOOKS TO PAGE-"

Much the same as last week, there was a hubbub in the hall outside. The door slammed open, and one figure marched another to the front of the class. The Beleaguered Dean, swathed in a coat of thick tweed and a thicker coat of nervous sweat, was all but pushing The Ex-Disgraced Academic back into their pace behind the podium.

The Academic wasn't missing a beat in the argument: "-can't at all see what the issue is, so long as they learn the material-"

"You cannot offload your duties to an Underclay aspirant!" The Dean's fury is only matched by the fearful tension in his voice, "And an unfinished one at that! How did you get it up here-"

The Academic's eye widened in almost-honorable affront. "You can't prove that this perfectly capable worker is unfinished, can you?"

"No, but I can certainly prove that it's not on the faculty list." The Dean wiped his brow. "Get on with it, man!"

The Clay Substitute barely moved, but the grinding of her turning head rumbled through the floor. "I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE PAID IN FULL, REGARDLESS OF HOW LONG CLASS WENT?"

Coin was exchanged, and, the Dean ushered The Clay Substitute out of the room. The Academic hissed through their teeth, clearly ready to vent their terrible mood at the first faces to cross theirs.

They turned to look at the class. And smiled a terrible smile. "Good morning."

Targets acquired.

"So! You've all decided to return for a second week. I suppose it can't be helped. Any damage you incur from here on out is upon your own heads." They began their lecture. 

“English is a phonographic language, as the distinct letters of the alphabet each represent units of sound. The Correspondence is logographic, meaning that similar to the languages of the second and fourth cities (and the Khanate, of course), Correspondence Symbols each represent units of meaning.”

 

 

In bold, rapid strokes, The Academic scrawled a symbol onto the chalkboard:

They whirled around, pointing an accusing claw at anyone unfortunate enough to still be moving their pens. “Do not copy this into your notes! If you fancy yourself cheeky and attempt to copy it whilst my back is turned, I will still know, so do NOT try me.” They turned back, circling the image. Anyone foolhardy enough to ignore the command would earn immediate combustion to their notebook, and a quick, scathing look of satisfaction from The Academic.

“This is the symbol for “an unmappable direction. It is one of the more frequent symbols to be found in practical human application of The Correspondence, as well as in architectural engravings ranging from first city ruins all the way up to lapsarian London. It is also exceptionally flammable. None but the most expensive of papers can contain it.” And with a terrifically wicked smile: "Chalkboards are fine, though." 

They continued. “The Correspondence is a purely semiotic construct. There are currently no known pronunciations or verbal applications for these signs-“ The Academic covered a bark of laughter, and then continued, “-apologies, but I would hate for my lectures to contradict the well-documented research that the Ministry of Public Decency has gently requested I adhere to."

The Academic pushed their current chalkboard up and out of the way, revealing an unblemished second layer. They added a tidy column of six simple symbols. "There are one hundred and eight basic radicals, and we've discovered twice as many in total. But for this course, we will begin with six."

 

 

And, after writing these on the board, the academic turned to the students. “These you may record in your notes, however-“ their tone sharpened, slicing through the momentum of those who may have rushed to begin- “confine each radical to its own sheet for practice.  None of these, alone, is a complete symbol. But some can be converted very easily into real Correspondence symbols, and it is vital that you do not accidentally do so. Spend the rest of today's duration memorizing and practicing these radicals until you can reproduce them by heart. You'll know if you're doing well, because you paper will become warm to the touch once half-full. I will also be writing additional complete correspondence symbols on the other chalkboards. Your homework is to discern which of these six parts of speech each of the symbols is.”

The Academic pointed once more at the spray bottles on each row of desks. “At any sign of smoke, you are to douse the offending student’s work, without hesitation. Last week was not a one-off exercise. Consider this both a basic safety precaution, as well as your first taste of operant conditioning. Get to it!”

 

Comments

Lecture

[theexdisgracedacademic]

Was your character silly enough to take the bait and try to write a symbol in their notes? Is your character brave enough to ask the peevish professor a question?

Re: Lecture

[theanachronistictailor]

Goggles already in place, the Tailor had begun to transcribe, as last week, but stopped just as quickly as they started at the reprimand. A lopsided U sort of shape had already formed on their notebook--they scratched it out quickly. Notes of a different order were taken.

Logo graphic ?
- Symbols = meaning
- 2nd + 4th Cities

"Chalkboards are fine, though."

Their brow twitched. Okay. So that was hanging over them a little. Alright, fair enough. In any case.

108 base radicals. 2x more ?

The Tailor looked up from their notes to the new symbols, and then realized something with a sinking heart. Whilst the symbols were discernible, and the first board's symbols were very cleanly rendered, the homework assignment revealed, to their great consternation:

The Professor's handwriting was atrocious.

The Tailor's teeth clicked shut in their mouth. They were not going to say a damn thing. (It was not as though they had any room to talk. But then, which of them was the expert in the field?)

Re: Lecture

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

So the Clay Man was a substitute? Well, with that feeling she was getting from the Academic, maybe that was for the best.

Or not, as the noises from the hall rang out. She popped another humbug in her mouth since it seemed a fine way of calming her last time. The familiar feeling was coming back, of the arrival of a predator. A feeling which increased when their gaze fixed on the class.

She did not try to write the symbol even before the Academic's warning. She had made that mistake before and nearly destroyed many important books in the process.

There were a few parts she raised an eyebrow at but which she could read between the lines as the Academic keeping in line with the Ministry of Public Decency and not necessarily being the truth. Which is disappointing, but not surprising on the subject of the Correspondence.

She raised her hand and asked, trying her best to convey her actual meaning, "Emissary, if we wanted to study outside of class time on our own time, what would be the best and most efficient way to do so?" AKA a way that isn't hampered by the Ministry of Public Decency's restriction over the truth and what can be taught.

Re: Lecture

[theexdisgracedacademic]

“Excellent question! Though your class materials will have important notes, one of the major difficulties in studying The Correspondence is that committing research to paper is difficult. Thus I would highly advise additional research trips to the Forgotten Quarter. Studying the ruins there will allow you to see how Fourth City scholars employed The Correspondence.” The Academic took the class roster from the podium, raising it aloft. “You can also go straight to the Benthic library and ask to see the lead correspondence plaques. You’ll need to show a proper ID, but I’ve submitted the class roster to the library for special permission.” The Academic smiled. “If you are denied access, calmly write down the name of the offending librarian, and put it through the slot on my office door. I will have a word with them, and ensure you are properly remunerated for your lost time.” The smile widened. “They will not make that mistake a second time, mark my words.”

“Also, as this is a language, I encourage each of you to use it as frequently with one another as is safely possible. We’ll soon have you able to write letters, and there is absolutely no better instructor than direct communication.”

Re: Lecture

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

As the Academic spoke, the Maven made sure to write out their suggestions. She had made many explorations into the Forgotten Quarter, it had in fact been her primary means of researching the Correspondence. And while the Brash Devil wasn't able to explain the nuances, he had been able to clarify certain baseline things (like "what does this symbol mean"). The library, however, would hopefully be a great resource for research; perhaps she could organize a study group with the rest of the students, they could collectively study the plaques? That could fall under what the Academic was talking about as well, with using the Correspondence to communicate with each other and practicing together! She was beginning to get very excited at the thought.

Re: Lecture

[the_brash_devil]

The Brash Devil watched the exchange with mild amusement. He would give the class this, at least it wasn't boring like some of the classes around here.

His attention started to wane at the Academic's use of words like "phonographic" and "logographic". If they meant the English language was long-winded, they could just say that.

His attention was grabbed as the Academic began writing Correspondence on the board. The heck was this dialect? And that phrasing?? And what was that about 'no known pronunciations or verbal applications for these signs"'???

After awhile he couldn't keep his comment inside anymore:

"What the fuck? Why are you writing it so weird?"

Re: Lecture

[theexdisgracedacademic]

Oh look, an urchin had wandered in off the street. How tragic! The Academic stood in front of the podium and leaned down, so the little fellow could see them properly.

“Would you care to explain what you find ‘weird’ about this symbol? As a scholar, I am always fascinated to fill in the gaps found in my own extensive knowledge.”

Look out. Their face is too serene, their tone too calm. It’s a trap.

Re: Lecture

[the_brash_devil]

The Devil either did not see the trap or was too arrogant at catching this high-and-mighty scholarly type in a mistake to care.

"I mean it's weird! How are you teaching the Correspondence and you can't see it?!" he stood up defiantly, "Where did you learn Correspondence, from the Masters or something? Is that why it sounds all old and outdated, or is that just how they do it in their little club? Is the point of this class to teach the Correspondence wrong?"

Re: Lecture

[tolpen]

Well, so much for hoping that they would get a teacher rather than the sore loser of the PMC.

Still, he is already drawing the first diagonal line into his notebook before- Yeah, no, the Mycologist is not drawing that on paper.
Instead he leans back in his chair and skeptically listens to the lecture. The enthusiasm he had when he walked into the class has evaporated like milk in the sun. Yes, including leaving something sour and rotten behind. Is it too late to run after the Clay Substitute, pay her double whatever she's been offered and beg her to come back? She doesn't even have to be good, for grief's sake! All that would be asked of her is delivering the lecture without holding the class in obvious contempt for merely existing.

With a sigh he guts out the notebook of some loose papers to have practice material. But before he even touches his tools a thought occurs to him. He raises his hand.
"How large part does this homework contribute to the final grade? And, I believe I had missed thine words on the matter the last time, how is this class graded?"
He didn't miss shit. The Ex-Disgraced Academic merely hasn't bothered to answer that question when it was first given. The Mycologist's warm smile is a touch too tight-lipped as he recalls it.

Re: Lecture

[theexdisgracedacademic]

The Academic’s eyebrows popped up. “How charming! I suppose you would expect to be graded on your pursuits, wouldn’t you?” They covered their mouth, thin claws failing to cage ripples of laughter. “Well, let’s not fret about percentages, shall we? If you demonstrate proficiency in the final exam, then you’ll pass. I suppose homework isn’t necessary at all, but I wouldn't advise skipping it."

The Academic toyed with a piece of chalk. "I don't believe in busywork, or constructing an elaborate and falsely-subjective metric for success. And this class size is small enough that we don't need to utilize such a mindless method, anyway. On week four, we will discuss what utility The Correspondence can play in the personal endeavors of each student. In the final month of classes, the bar for the first step in general competency will become apparent for each of your use cases. Perhaps it will be a red science use, or letter writing. We'll outline those on week four." The Academic shrugged. "This isn't grammar school-" a laugh- "well, I suppose it very literally is a grammar class. But telling you whether you have high or low marks is next to useless. You'll come out of this class with a knowledge of exactly where and how well you understand how to employ the most dazzling language known to any creature."

The Academic delivered this last bit with a shrug. They were working very hard to act like they didn't care about this class, like they're ill-prepared for it. They certainly didn't have a proper curriculum. But it did sound like they didn't mind each student having a different practical goal. That's a lot of personal investment for a class and subject they're trying to not teach.

Re: Lecture

[theliedpiper]

The Piper blinked. Not that they had been concerned about passing - this was more or less just another hobby to pass the time, one they were just as likely to forget in a few months - but they'd expected the (rather terrifying) professor to have different ideas.

Hmm. If they weren't being graded after all, maybe they'd actually put some more effort into this.

Re: Lecture

[theanachronistictailor]

On week four, we will discuss what utility The Correspondence can play in the personal endeavors of each student. In the final month of classes, the bar for the first step in general competency will become apparent for each of your use cases.

That... Shit. Something like panic stiffened the Tailor's stance. They'd struggled last week, had struggled every time, to find some reason why this class would go on to mean anything to them. It was one thing to want to know secrets--they could hardly abide not knowing secrets some days--but was that really such a personal mission? Why did they have the feeling that the line they'd used last week, wanting to improve status through education, wouldn't be good enough?

(The Chimeric Professor had told them, last week, the Correspondence was the language of the Natural Laws. Had mentioned transgression. But did any of that matter to the Tailor?)

This would be... something they would have to figure out. The idea filled them with a deep worry they swallowed and ignored for now.

Re: Lecture

[tolpen]

The decidedly polite expression slowly thaws into something bordering genuine interest. Could it be that this person actually has a degree of teaching competency? Is that, Hell have mercy, individualistic approach to students?
Even more curious is this growing discrepancy between the desire to give as much informationnot as effectively as possible and the desire not to teach at all. That is something the Mycologist- Something he will do nothing about. He has sought out this class as a distraction from his day-job. Absolutely no sticking claws in people's fractures.

Instead he marks into his notes Wk. 4, and circles it for a good measure.

The Soft-Eyed Mycologist offers their teacher a slight bow of his head: "Please accept my gratitude for this exhaustive answer."
He makes another note into his notebook. He does like to keep track of his gratitudes, after all.

Re: Lecture

[themorbidsocialite]

The Morbid Socialite made a single mark of the represented symbol before catching himself. Wasn't the Correspondence highly flammable? It was as the Academic was giving their warning that he scratched out the singular mark and wrote a stark, pen-pressed reminder that this language caused fire. Instead, they quickly marked down how the symbol appeared, what the markings resembled, to better remember how they looked at a later date.

'C+hatted V+accent marks+Latin four = unmappable direction?'

For a moment, they did note that there was no known verbal use, but quickly added quotations around it, citing only 'MoPD' underneath.

With the first six radicals noted down and their meanings copied to the side, the Socialite looked up at the notice of homework and paled. Most of the prior portions of the Correspondence had been clear and concise. The homework examples, however... The Morbid Socialite prayed to whoever would listen that their educated guesswork might be close to correct.

Re: Lecture

[theidiosyncraticmechanic]

OI! WHO IS THIS THEN. "OI, WHO AR' YOU!" they got no idea what that interaction just was, just that if you want answers, well, they haven't been exactly raised in a house.

The atomizer already separated into a carefully balanced on its spritzer container of water and the bottom half. goggles placed messily on its head (it doesn't even look like they are connected in the back, the straps loose on the sides), it has it's screwdriver in it's hand like a pencil as it copies the symbol on the silver bottom of the atomizer. already grinning at the bad idea that is forming in its head.

"'no known pronunciations or verbal applications for these signs.' Now I know that ain't right, I hear zailor's haunted whispers of the sorrowful echo of Fluke's all the time on da docks" honestly, thinking about it was giving them a headache

Re: Lecture

[theexdisgracedacademic]

“You’ll want to check your notes from last week regarding that point!“

The Academic checked the layers of chalkboards, before finding the correct one and pulling it down. With nobody else using the classroom, everything unerased remained, and the safety rules from last week were pulled into view.

“The study of this language is only nominally legal. I have been given impeccably strict definitions as to the limits of what may be taught in this class. As such, it is my duty to inform you that The Correspondence absolutely cannot be spoken aloud. To insist otherwise is to flout and make an utter mockery of the entirety of The Ministry of Public Decency. It would be perfectly ▙̷ ̷▞̷▚ ̷▜̷▛̷ ̷▜̷▛̷ ̷▚▘ ̷“

What came out of The Academic’s mouth was several things. It was certainly a fireball. It erupted like the exhale of a man quite adapt with smoke rings. But the sound of it dealt 4 change points of Nightmares to all within earshot was positively dreadful and deeply unsettling. The scratching within the walls of your home while you tried to sleep.

The Academic reached under the podium for a glass of water. Add a raspy throat to the strained muscles surrounding it. “As I said, it would be fantastically illegal to even suggest such a thing. And anyone who might want to learn how to do it would need to study their radicals with great gusto. Only an exceptional student could even dream of it.”

Oh, well. How could one expect them to resist a setup like that? They’re only human.

They’re mostly human. But the other 4% isn’t any more mature, either.

Re: Lecture

[theidiosyncraticmechanic]

"OI, why didn't ya say so :p" They, of course, knew about the safety rules by experience, they still put their goggles on properly, not for any respect for the language, but for what's about to happen as they carefully screw on the bottom of their atomizer, now with 'an unmappable direction' burning on the inside of the bottom--

The lingering headache felt like it just got a spike down it's hemispheres, the words at least smelt less like zalt water and more like... brimstone--it absentmindedly noticed between the shake in it's hands pushing away the objects immediately on it's desk into someone else's to make room for it's head. "Oooi, point taken... whatever narc's your bark..."

Hopefully silver won't be a great conductor of heat before it becomes a problem.

Re: Lecture

[ticktopis_observatorium]

The Professor is always up to hear more against the MPD, but then the Academic Speaks and the Professor's mind recoils in morbid delight. Oh, the rapture in their expression as it fades... The Rubbery Astrolexicographer was right. This encephalic gland makes Correspondence sound like music!

A Nightmares increase has been aggravated by a "Boon" they are "wearing"

"Ah..." tries to mutter, too enraptured. Maybe too intense of a first experience. Tears run down their eyes, not smearing the makeup in the slightest. At least it's actually waterproof, thank you F.F.

Re: Lecture

[the_brash_devil]

"Your accent sucks," The Brash Devil couldn't resist the jab.

Re: Lecture

[ticktopis_observatorium]

The Chimeric Professor listened to the explanation they already knew a little and nodded, nodded nod- Wait! Oh, at the mention of the PDM they almost snorted in response, and nodded in a slightly different way. Then the six base sigils are written and they were already arranging the six different pages and putting on the goggles. The shapes are known in form and meaning, but practicing calligraphy is always a welcome experience, especially if a misspelling can be the difference between burning or not. Let's see...

1. A circular yet open shape. Makes sense, knowing it's a language of stars. They most certainly would interpret an individual as a circle, or a sphere... Or maybe the orbit? After all, Kings can't be without kingdoms. Also possesses an angle. Perhaps because individuals are such because they are capable of action?

2. An angle makes a verb. Perhaps to mark a direction, thus purpose, action... Wait! Following the star analogy, an angle means the deviation of a body in orbit, thus displacing resources, which means action. Clever.

3. An inverted T for concepts. A surface? Something standing on it? Or perhaps a landmark, a reference? This one's tricky... But different enough to be easy to spot.

4. Two peripheral lines for adjectives. Then again, follows the logic, representing a simplified halo perhaps, as a quality from a star.

5. Similar to an adjective but with traits of a verb, proper for an adverb. An angled halo, quality that becomes action, or perhaps the other way round.

6. Again another open shape, this time square, for places. Maybe to represent a plane, in the Cartesian sense? Did Descartes discover the Judgement layout of space, or were them who inspired the thought? Better not to get deep on that. Yet open... Why no closed shapes? And why it almost resembles a Parabola?

It's habitual for the Professor to have reflections like this when leaving the mind unrestrained. They thought about this every time Correspondence was on the table, and yet the only way to actually know was to ask some cosmic etymologist. So far no devil has been accommodating enough. A thought that takes them to glancing at the present Brash Devil. No, definitely not the kind to ask about that either.

Without noticing a page has supported too many sigils (the Professor started writing the same in the same page again and again) and it started to sizzle. A quick spray from the atomizer solves the problem. Now, what can they make from the first sigil?

The open almost-circular shape around lacked an angle, so no individual, checks. The two lines (or simplified halo) to show the adjective, and the inner shape of a place to take the part of subject. Then a straight line on top of the angled verb, a negation. So the surrounding shape must mean a map. Curious hybrid between place and person. The conceptualization of a place? Its individuation? It deserves consideration...

Re: Lecture

[theliedpiper]

A plume of flames erupted from the Piper's parchment before they even finished the symbol. For once, it hadn't even been on purpose. They'd gotten so excited they'd immediately set to copying the chalkboard before hearing the professor's warning. Luckily they were currently wearing their flame-resistant mask and homemade goggles, but their shirt might be a lost cause. Ow.

Re: Lecture

[the_brash_devil]

Once again the Brash Devil jumped because of the Piper, grabbing the atomizer to spray the Piper all over, "Damn it don't just put the Correspondence to regular paper!!!"

Re: Lecture

[theidiosyncraticmechanic]

"JEEPERS PIPPER" The Mechanic flinches and jumps out of it's seat and arms flying to cover it's face.

Seemingly as though it appeared from a hammer space, or perhaps was always there, behind its head, the mechanic in the same motion brought down a welding mask before grabbing it's own, recently modified atomizer. pressing the top, and in the same instant, that top flying off like a bullet and a burst of steam following and getting the job done on technicality.

Re: Lecture

[the_dye_stained_socialite]

The nature of shorthand, such as it was, meant that transcribing Correspondance sigils, who pronunciation was clearly being intentionally hidden, could not be automatically transcribed. Thus, they were spared the teacher's temper for another week.

Despite their frustation at this obvious lie, Thursday listened carefully to the Emissary's instructions. The information, though new, was not difficult for them to understand. Someone very near and dear to Thursday's heart (whom they would never admit had become an adoptive father to them) taught language as well. His specialty was phonetics, but he had a great knowledge of language and its composition, and he had passed this knowledge along like a family heirloom. Still, they grumbled to themself about not being allowed the knowledge to verbally practice.

Re: Lecture

[leviathanlovely]

Notes were being taken as words hit the air... It came as no surprise as embers procked the page and The Pupil made quick work to douse it, falling suit with a hand full of careless others--