HC Discussion Time: Turian Language
First of all: All of the turian languages and dialects are difficult to learn for non-turians because they rely of a lot of sounds that cannot be rendered via an alphabet of sorts. It contains different clicks, purrs, trills, squawks, growls and much more, and are meant for dual vocal chords. Not forgetting subvocals which provide additional emotions or other information most translators will not translate.
Turian languages are usually non-gendered, but are instead characterized by a VERY strong emphasis on social tier, similar to the different levels of politeness employed in Japanese, where honorifics and certain figures of speech are used depending on who one is talking to and in which situation one finds themselves in. So from early on, turian children will be taught how to address their friends/ family/ workmates/ bosses/generals etc. Obviously there’s a special way one has to address the Primarchs too, though most don’t bother with keeping that knowledge active, given the chances of meeting a Primarch are so slim…
Turians are able to speak non-turian languages to a certain extent (similar to parrots, who can learn to imitate human languages), though they are unable to voice certain letters such as F, V, B, P and other labial sounds and fricatives due to their rigid mouth plates and the jaw gaps.
They can speak Galactic Standard, which is a very simple language containing only vowels, consonants and other sounds. Standard is designed to be voiced by all species, albeit obviously, turians speaking Standard will have a strong turian tinge
Obviously, as with humans, there used to be a myriad of turian dialects and languages on Palaven alone before turians reached space flight
Colonies (or rather, the first settlements on newly colonized worlds) took on the main language of the settlers and developed their own dialects
When the Hierarchy decided on Cipritine as the planetary capital and main seat of government, they also decided on one main language that should be learned by all citizens- this mash-up of different languages, similar to a turian Esperanto, is nowadays known as Palaveni and compulsory to learn for every turian, no matter where they are born
Meanwhile, in the colonies, older languages survived and evolved into a myriad of different hues of colony pidgin, resulting in specific local dialects that cannot be understood by non-natives without a translator (and sometimes only with the most sophisticated translators- basic models might need an extended language pack)
‘Hick’ or ‘Redneck’ accents exist in Hierarchy space as well, and have a connotation of being ‘backwards’- many youngsters from minor settlements (where no big war heroes or similar have come from) prefer to keep their translators on because of that reason. Bias against hick town accents are real in space as well!
On Hierarchy Navy ships and in the ground forces, it is compulsory to keep translators on at all times while on duty. While everyone is required to learn and speak Palaveni as well as Galactic Standard, it facilitates the transmission of orders if everyone has their translator on.