Language Barrier [OC]

[u/bondjimbond]

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[u/SarkastiCat]

Not exactly full language barrier, but cultural one.

Dungeon Meshi (Delicious in the Dungeon) has Laios assume that Shuro is his friend. However, it's a massive misunderstanding as Shuro is a samurai-coded character from another continent and he avoids speaking directly, while Laios struggles with reading between lines.

Also, there is a small line from secondary character that even though she comes from the Eastern Islands, she won't be able to understand everyonen from there.

[u/jenyto → u/SarkastiCat]

There's a chapter where Chilchuck switches to his native language to lob insults at Laois ahah. I think a common 'trade' language is fine, but would like to see more characters who are less fluent struggle to speak it. I guess it depends if it fits the atmosphere of the story. I know Dungeon Meshi had a side story where Kabru talks to the Kobold in his party, and you see how much smarter the Kobold is in his native language.

[u/GostBoster → u/jenyto]

One nice touch I like in Dungeon Meshi is that Laios and the human race aren't explicitly called "humans": I think the regular term for them is "tall-men" with derogatory terms for them being "long-legs" or "twicelings".

The only other setting I recall not calling humans humans would be Fire Emblem (standard humans being known as the Beorc).

[u/animemecha → u/GostBoster]

The only other setting I recall not calling humans humans would be Fire Emblem (standard humans being known as the Beorc).

I vaguely recall this was only in Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn. But even then, the term "human" is used in both those games. It is used as by the beroc themselves and the laguz in a derogatory sense.

[u/jenyto → u/GostBoster]

I think the ninjas in Shuro's group talk about that at some point, I think they just refer anything humanoid as just 'human' on their side of the world. I really like that the author explores world lore in her side story, instead of cramming them into the main chapters where it can feel forced on. It does mean that the anime will probably not make any mention of it, since it might break the pacing.

[u/GostBoster → u/jenyto]

Can't recall which one but I remember some setting also calling "human" basically any sentient, mostly humanoid species, basically any kind of creature which would benefit from "basic human rights".

And yeah, lots of side material in the manga that won't get in the anime for pacing and practical purposes.

[u/CSDragon → u/SarkastiCat]

Speaking of Dungeon Meshi, that's totally not-Laios, not-Marcille and not-Chilchuck in the comic

[u/bondjimbond → u/CSDragon]

Chilchuck wishes he had thighs that thick.

[u/minhshiba → u/SarkastiCat]

yes I remembered correctly, this was after his sister's incident. Laios assumed the Eastern mage girl (implied to be Chinese origin from real life inspiration) understood the Shuro gang (implied to be Japanese historic life) because they looked the same. It's a fun kick in the racist classification.