Languages

The handling of language skills in RPGs troubles me. Mostly because I can't think of a better way to handle them.

There seem to be three basic approaches:

• Either a character knows a language or they don't. Example: D&D. (Some systems encapsulate literacy in a language in this, others handle it seperately.)
• A character has a single Linguistics skill, with the overall rank determining how many languages they know, and the total rank giving the level of proficiency in each. Example: Storyteller.
• A character has a bunch of language skills, one for each language. Each has its own rating. Moreover, the native language of the character has a high rating. Example: Rolemaster, Children of the Sun.

I haven't seen any games that have a skill allowing a linguist to puzzle through an entirely new language, although it seems obvious that this is something that they might well want to do. (Option 2, above, can easily be made to do this, and option 3 can include a Profession: Linguist skill or such-like, so this complaint is not entirely valid.)

The second problem with the systems as used is that typically a character will either blow his linguistics roll, and not be able to communicate at all, or will succeed, and speak perfectly. Now, part of this is for simplicity's sake - who wants to constantly have to deal with communication problems in a game, especially when the GM is trying to pass on a vital clue? Part of it is also just laziness, which is much the same.

It's tricky - other skills in an RPG are basically abstract, since the player doesn't have to describe how his character hacks a security system, or how he swings his sword at the orc's head. However, communication is clearly not abstracted, given that playing an RPG basically consists of a whole lot of talking.

As I said, I don't know of a really good way to handle this. And, unless you're running some sort of deep-space exploration game, there's probably not much call for detailed rules on this issue. Still, it bugs me.