One-Voice
One species' normal is another species' disability
Talking with only one voice box! I mean, could you even imagine? Barbaric.
Background
Two throats are better than one
Kliasta are unique among the people of Neyush in that they speak with a syrinx instead of a larynx. Where everyone else--humans, vena, even the reptilian tilkens--uses a singular voicebox to vocalise, kliasta effectively have a smaller voicebox in the opening of each lung.
Solo Duets
As a result, their dual-singing, double-trills, and overall melodic speaking are world-famous. But what happens when someone that relies on two of something for day-to-day life loses the use of one of them?
Cause
Unfortunately, One-Voice has no preventable cause. While throat injuries can cause it, they are likely to result in much worse outcomes if they have reached the syrinx.
It more commonly appears as a genetic condition, skipping and striking generations seemingly at random.
Symptoms
The inability to communicate is the largest symptom. Most Kliastan languages rely on intervals between produced notes in the same way some langueages rely on tones. With only one voice box, speaking them is simply impossible.
Genetic One-Voice, whether congenital or appearing later in life (much rarer), is often accompanied with:
- Swelling of the affected side of the throat
- Asthma
- Development of a stutter
The stutter appears to be the result of the brain still attempting to create two streams of sound at the same time, through the same voice box, and oddly stays with the kliasta even if they are lucky enough to have an artificial syrinx made.
Treatment
Shunned outcasts
Until very recently, there has been no treatment at all; sufferers have simply been forced to live with the condition. Kliastan languages all rely on two simultaneous voiceboxes, so they are rendered mute as far as society is concerned.
Magitech to the rescue
A travelling monoduga had a breakthrough last year in their invention of an artificial syrinx--an odd metal box that, when strapped to the neck of a suffering kliasta, channels energy from the sphere of the Settler to simulate a second voicebox, speaking with the kliasta's own missing voice.
They were inspired by a a reported case of someone curing themselves of One-Voice through training themselves to become a Settler Speaker. They have also kept the secret of its construction to themselves, maintaining a monopoly on the incredibly valuable tech.
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Ah man that would suck, glad there's a cure now (even if expensive and not perfect).
Too low they build who build beneath the stars - Edward Young
Yeah, life's better when you're rich no matter what universe you're in.