Line #73 Main/LanguageOfTruth


1	->'''Beatrice:''' From now on, '''[[red:everything I speak in red is the truth]]'''. There is no need to doubt or question it.\
2	'''Battler:''' And I should believe you when you say that?
3	-->-- The introduction of the Red Truth in ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry''.
4
5	A Language of Truth is a particular language or form of communication in which lies are inherently impossible or inexpressible. This is a frequent feature of {{Telepathy}},[[note]]because, as [[HighMiddleAges scholastics]] said, lying is saying one thing and thinking another, so you can't lie if you think and speak in the same act[[/note]] but it can also appear for more overt languages. A LanguageOfMagic may be this or, slightly differently, it may ''cause'' anything said in it to ''[[RewritingReality become]]'' true -- this is known in RealLife as "magical notion of truth" . Beware, of course, the ConsummateLiar who is either outright immune or uses ExactWords and other forms of deception to get around this inconvenience.
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7	A RealLife Language of Truth [[http://www.crockford.com/wrrrld/wilkins.html can't]] [[https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Russell%27s_paradox possibly]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gödels_incompleteness_theorem exist]] -- not if you want it to be able to express ''every'' true statement. Consider:
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9	->This statement cannot be translated into a Language of Truth.
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11	[[LogicBomb Is this statement true, or is it false?]]
12	%% The primary focus of a trope article is the fictional trope -- short trope articles don't
13	%% benefit from big chunks of Real Life refutation.
14
15	Compare CannotTellALie, in which the inability to lie is inherent in individual characters. Works using this trope will often discuss ThePowerOfLanguage itself. It is common for {{Telepathy}} to be depicted like this, or at least to transfer knowledge, thoughts, and emotions directly and without any masks or varnishing.
16	----
17	!!Examples
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19	[[foldercontrol]]
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21	[[folder:Comic Books ]]
22	* ''ComicBook/TheChroniclesOfWormwood'': It is impossible to say anything untrue in the presence of Jay, who happens to be the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter if you're actually trying to deceive him (if, for example, you're testing the effect with a ridiculous lie like "My parents were secretly elephants"), you just can't finish the sentence. People who ''are'' trying to deceive him, even for polite reasons, have a tendency to [[BrutalHonesty say what they really mean instead]].
23	* ''ComicBook/ElfQuest'': Telepathy functions this way. Unfortunately for them, the BigBad's mind is so malicious that it's literally painful to receive her thoughts. So most elves use vocal speech with her instead, and she can lie just fine with words.
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26	[[folder:Fan Works ]]
27	* ''Fanfic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'': [[spoiler:Parseltongue, the language of snakes, is revealed to have this effect as neither Harry, Professor Quirrell or Voldemort were able to express direct deception through that language. It becomes an often demanded method of communication between the parties capable of understanding it to avoid such deception. This does not, however, prevent them from telling misleading truths.]]
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30	[[folder:Literature]]
31	* ''Literature/{{Belgariad}}'' and ''Literature/{{Malloreon}}'', by Creator/DavidEddings: It is impossible to tell a lie in the language of wolves. At one point a wolf wants Ce'nedra to stop talking. Garion tells her the wolf wants to sleep. When he tells the wolf to close her eyes to pretend to sleep, the wolf is amazed that is possible to say things that aren't true in the human language. (Interestingly, while the wolf's dialogue wasn't false, it ultimately turns out to been an expression of deception regardless.)
32	* ''Literature/BetweenPlanets'', by Creator/RobertAHeinlein: The language of the [[VenusIsWet Venerian]] "dragons" is called "true speech" and as one (human) character points out, doesn't even have a word for the concept of deliberate falsehood, meaning that Venerians (at least when they're speaking their own language) [[LanguageEqualsThought are unable to lie]].
33	* ''Literature/TheBaroqueCycle'': In ''Quicksilver'', philosophers are attempting to make a truly logical language which, when used correctly, makes it impossible to say things which are false. The idea is that it would work like algebra: valid algebraic transformations on correct equations always lead to other correct equations. This is a little bit different from some of the other examples, since it protects not only against the speaker lying, but also against the speaker mistakenly saying something wrong.
34	* ''Literature/BookOfTheNewSun'': The Ascians are a people whose language is composed of a bunch of Mao-esque revolutionary slogans. However, the book explicitly shows that Ascians are capable of uttering subversive statements even when bound by this language.
35	* ''Literature/EarthsChildren'': The language of the Clan is like this. It's a sign language which supposedly involved so much careful observation of body language and expressions that any signs of lying would be obvious. Clan members can in fact lie, but can't get away with it, so nobody ever bothers -- to the point where the main character Ayla is confused by lying the first time she encounters it.
36	* ''Literature/{{Embassytown}}'', by Creator/ChinaMieville: The Ariekei speak a very unusual language -- in fact, the oddness of the language is a central part of the whole book--but one of its features is that they can't really lie. Some of them are trying to learn, however, by starting a statement, and then saying the second half too quietly to be heard.
37	* ''Literature/GhattisTale'': Before they became {{Living Lie Detector}}s for law enforcement, the ghatti first had to learn what lying was, as like the Clan, their language is a gestural one in which successful lying is impossible.
38	* ''Literature/{{Hellspark}}'' by Creator/JanetKagan: It is technically possible to lie in Jenji, but the language is structured to provide as much accuracy and detail as possible, and is backed up by cultural and religious penalties for lying. Several times characters refer to speaking in Jenji as synonymous to telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
39	* ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'': In Mercedes Lackey's Velgarth novels, only the ''dyheli,'' an artificial race of deer-like sapients with truly phenomenal telepathic abilities, can lie with Mindspeech.
40	* ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'': The LanguageOfMagic cannot be used to lie. If someone speaks a statement in it, then they are bound afterwards to stick to its letter. Despite stating that elves are fond of half-truths and misdirection in the ancient language, it's never much of an issue. Although it is impossible to lie directly, lies can be told by thinking to yourself that you mean something else to what you are saying. [[spoiler:The language also doesn't contain any measures to stop a speaker from being ''mistaken''.]] Which partially explains how, in ''Eldest'', Eragon is able to compose a completely fictional story in verse that tells of a battlefield romance -- because he was thinking of Arya and it ''felt'' true. It's similar to what happens when Eragon tries to demonstrate a spell to take a sort of magic photograph by using it on Arya. It was supposed to be a perfect photo, and it's supposed to be really hard to fool the spell, but it... came out different, because of the way Eragon felt about Arya.
41	* ''Literature/{{Lensman}}'', by Creator/EEDocSmith: It is absolutely impossible to make an untrue state telepathically, and the recipient knows this, with absolute certainty. It is possible, however, to make a correct but uninformative statement, such as "I cannot divulge that."
42	* Creator/MarionZimmerBradley: In several works, being under the effect of a truthspell makes any language work like this. However, while you can't ''lie'', you certainly can say things that are not true provided that you believe them to be true. It's also specifically noted that in situations where an objective "truth" is ambiguous or nonexistent (for example, most political disputes), truthspells are next to useless.
43	* ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour'': Newspeak was a decidedly dark take on this, in that the goal was to make anything not deemed "truth" by the Party/Big Brother "unsayable". ([[SubvertedTrope It's not particularly effective, and the people who developed it had to be disappeared.]])
44	* ''Literature/ProbabilitySpace'', by Creator/NancyKress: One species experiences a consensual, shared reality, and can't say things that disagree with the consensus. It's not so much that they can't lie -- but they can't lie unless they all believe the lie.
45	* ''Literature/SectorGeneral'': The Kelgian speech and telepathic communication technically qualify. Kelgian languages are perfectly ordinary: the fun part is that their vocal speech is inextricably linked with the involuntary expression of emotions in the movements of their fur. The species developed no concept of lies. Or tact. They're not so hot on bedside manner, either. Telepathic contact is full awareness of the partner's psyche, making lies exceptionally pointless.
46	* ''Literature/{{Transpecial}}'': Downplayed. It's possible for a good actor to lie in the ky'iin languages, but it's much harder than it is in any human language because ky'iin communication is so dependent on body language.
47	* ''Creator/UrsulaKLeGuin'':
48	** ''Literature/{{Earthsea}}'': The Old Speech, except to some extent for dragons. The implication of the Earthsea Old Speech is that what is said in it, if it is not already true, ''becomes'' true, even if [[RealityWarper the world has to bend]] to make it so. The dragons are simply old enough and crafty enough to say false things in ways that won't change reality.
49	--->''While the Old Speech binds a man to truth, this is not so with dragons. It is their own language, and they can lie in it, twisting the true words to false ends, catching the unwary hearer in a maze of mirrorwords each of which reflects the truth and none of which leads anywhere.''
50	** ''Literature/{{Hainish}}'': Telepathy works this way. The only exception is an alien race named Shing (the aliens in ''City of Illusions''). Apparently, they used that ability to overthrow TheFederation and take over... until a thousand or so years later, they were defeated by a race which was capable of detecting their lies.
51	* ''Literature/WestOfEden'', by Creator/HarryHarrison: The Yilanè. Learning to speak is what makes a Yilanè yilanè (capable of speech), and the thought is what causes the body motions that make up their language unless they are completely still. Humans who learn the language, however, are capable of lying in it.
52	* ''Literature/YoungWizards'': The Speech is the language that defines the fabric of the universe. Even the [[BigBad Lone Power]] can't lie in it. Although as the Speech can express every concept, it includes both words and grammar which are inaudible, incomprehensible, or guaranteed to be predictably misunderstood by any non-omniscient listener. Beings on the order of the Lone Power have a lot of potential wiggle room, though the book series only exploits this to the extent of allowing the Lone Power conversational freedom in the Speech. When used in spells as the LanguageOfMagic, saying or writing something in the Speech is what ''makes'' something true, which makes truthful descriptions of things especially important.
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55	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
56	* ''Franchise/StarTrek'': This is played with and ultimately subverted in ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''. For a long time, Odo [[BlatantLies insists]] that [[MentalFusion linking]] with other [[VoluntaryShapeshifter Changelings]] "isn't about information exchange." Then they accidentally reveal the identity of a Changeling infiltrator to him, and the entire cast assumes this trope is in effect. [[spoiler: It isn't. The Changelings deliberately misled Odo.]]
57	%%** Played straight with most other forms of telepathy.
58	* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'' features an example in the episode "Hocus-Pocus and Frisby." The eponymous Frisby constantly tells BlatantLies about his accomplishments. Such lies range from the acquisition of degrees, attending prominent schools and being able to solve all sorts of mathematical equations. The town is privy to the fact that Frisby is a liar and chide him often about it. Others just marvel that he doesn't strive for any sort of consistency and point out that thus far he'd have to have been alive during three different eras for his tales to be true. An exception comes in the form of a pair of aliens. They believe every one of Frisby's lies. Realizing that he is about to be abducted, he confesses that he's little more than a big mouthed liar. The aliens explain to him that they don't understand the word "lie" and that there isn't a single equivalent in their native language that comes close to describing what that is.
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61	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
62	* ''TabletopGame/InNomine'': Celestial, the language of Heaven, is impossible to lie in. The demons don't like that, so after the initial fall they create a butchered version, called Dark Celestial, that can be used to lie, mislead, and deceive.
63	* ''TabletopGame/{{Numenera}}'' has [[ShapedLikeItself Truth]], a scholarly language which the Church says cannot be used to lie. Played with, however, in that not everyone buys this.
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66	[[folder:Visual Novels ]]
67	* ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'':
68	** Its most famous example is the red truth. '''[[red:If anything is said in red text, it must be true. If it's not true, it cannot be said in red text.]]''' An infallible language of truth sounds like an ''incredible'' power in a MysteryFiction -- but it's mostly used by supernatural beings to torment the protagonist with information that doesn't need to be evidenced or explained. In particular, while red truth can't be used to outright lie, it can (and will) be definitely used to mislead and deceive. One major reveal comes when a character tries to say something in red text and ''fails'', much to his own surprise.
69	** Less famous is the [[gold:gold truth]]. It seems to work exactly the same as the red truth, except with the additional requirement that the speaker "understand the rules".
70	** Zigzagged by the [[purple:purple truth]]: While most people cannot lie in purple, those who have committed murder can.
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73	[[folder:Webcomics]]
74	* ''Webcomic/GeneCatlow'': The "Sight of the Soul" telepathic communication works like this -- since it's direct communication between souls, it doesn't allow for lies, falsehood, or even withholding the truth. However, at least at one point, there existed a type of etherical being with a mind so insane and fractured that it was capable of lying through the Sight of the Soul...
75	* ''Webcomic/{{Outsider}}'': Communication done through ''sanzai'', the telepathy of the Loroi, is immediate, clear, and absolutely honest. Some Loroi prefer to use it exclusively, feeling that spoken and written language are inherently dishonest and untrustworthy. The issue is that ''sanzai'' is so absolutely truthful that it will not mask any nuance or feeling, meaning that tact is also impossible. Loroi diplomacy thus relies on specialized diplomats, who speak to one another verbally, while everyone else holds their tongues and keeps their thoughts to themselves... literally. This becomes the main problem with Alex being among the Loroi -- since he can ''only'' communicate via verbal speech, there are those who do not trust him since he is incapable of doing the perfectly honest telepathic communication.
76	-->'''Tempo:''' Captain Jardin, you will find that tact is a foreign concept to many Loroi. Our sanzai communication is direct and truthful... a Loroi conveys what is on her mind without varnishment or consideration... indeed, she feels it is dishonest to do otherwise. It therefore may not surprise you to learn that Loroi history has been one of endless bloodshed. That is why we have developed rules that leave negotiations to those specially trained for the task... and require others to hold their tongues during the process.
77	* ''Webcomic/{{Roommates}}'': Things said in double lined letters (the Voice of Truth & Magic) are true and not even subjectively true as it even makes mistakes and the like impossible. The only one who ever uses it is Jareth the fae roommate, mostly to magically bind himself to his given word. Considering that nobody tends to trust him and he has a SuperpoweredEvilSide this is a wise precaution. The one time when he was trying but not able to promise something in it that was actually a plot point.
78	* ''Webcomic/TalesOfTheQuestor'' recommends that if you're going to [[DealWithTheDevil cut a deal with ]][[TheFairFolk a fae lord,]] Latin is the language to do it in. Being a dead language, [[LiteralGenie meanings]] are fixed and specific. There's also a brief mention of floriography, or [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floriography the Language of the Flowers,]] which allegedly carries similar weight.
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Context Main / LanguageOfTruth