Difference - Request dialect help vs Practice language skills ?

[Hoenir;]

Is there any major difference ? From what i've seen, dialect gives any sort of word, while language depending on the npc you can learn specific words ? Sometimes i get some stuff while i use the practice language.

is that right ?
Dialect help - any random word
Language skill - Specific words from a category

if so, which one should i use or i just does not matter ?

[Guyver8]

1) you can only practice if you've learned some words of that race
2) practice can give you rewards for the right answer either units, nanites, trade items or blueprints
...but the right answer depends on the race trait (most of the time), so aggressive for vy'keen, trade for gek and scientific/exploration for korvax

[Hoenir;]

Originally posted by Guyver8:

1) you can only practice if you've learned some words of that race
2) practice can give you rewards for the right answer either units, nanites, trade items or blueprints
...but the right answer depends on the race trait (most of the time), so aggressive for vy'keen, trade for gek and scientific/exploration for korvax

oh i see, thanks for the answer

[Finaryman]

oh? i thought that was only to choose type of word.

[Kyutaru]

Practice language is sort of like communicating words to the entity and getting their reactions. The same word on the same race can have very different effects because different members of the race will interpret the word differently. After all, you can't exactly explain your meaning to them as they will take the words as their culture and ways hits them, not how you intended it. It's a good simulation of how words can fail to convey meaning between people from different life paths. Things that can happen are losing rep, gaining rep, gaining credits, gaining nanites, gaining random modules, gaining resources, or nothing happening at all. Some words are more likely to cause negative effects, like aggression words which are often interpreted as hostile (imagine walking up to a random person and saying "BLOOD" or "DEATH" with no familiar body language to operate off of). Each race has different safe words to focus on, with the Gek favoring words related to trading while the Korvax are researchers and appreciate words related to tech. But some words are sensitive to cultures like Echo is for Korvax and may be interpreted as both good and hostile depending on the person you're speaking to.

They're different and you should be using BOTH.

Dialect help always gives you a word of your choice. Practice language then gives you a chance to rep up with the faction or gain some goods as long as you don't use a triggering word. But it's mostly random even if you do try to stick to positive only words.

[fidelio]

request dialect help is a freebie, in that it's the same as using a knowledge stone, you're guaranteed to learn a word. no attention or skill is required.

practice language skills makes you work for success. considering the profession and context clues usually provides a clear best answer to pick to say, but it requires reading and comprehension rather than button mashing.

for me, practice language skills is for fun and flavor, but for time efficiency and utility, since the menus and text can't be made to appear instantly, it's quicker to learn words requesting dialect help from more people than to practice language skills with fewer.