Linguistics

Instead of 1/5th of Linguistics skill equalling character's 
chance to speak/read any language (IE 50% in Linguistics 
yields a staggering 10% chance to read Chinese or any other 
language).
<br>
Linguistics skill now works as followed: Divide Linguistics 
in half (round down) and ADD this amount to any language 
character has at least 10% skill. For a language the character
has no skill in, if PC makes his Linguistics roll, PC can then 
make a Know roll to understand that language. 
<br>
Example for first use of Linguistics: PC speaks Italian at 20% 
(Reads Italian at default 10%) and has Linguistics at 46%. 
46 ÷ 2 = 23% The PC can speak Italian at 43% and read at 33%. 
This first use of Linguistics assumes if the PC makes the 
initial roll, that entire conversation is fully understood.
<br>
Example for second use of Linguistics: Same PC has travelled 
to Egypt and is confronted by an Arab merchant. PC does not 
have any skill in Arabic. If PC rolls 46%  or less, he then 
gets a Know roll and being a well educated person (EDU 16) 
which added to his keen understanding of the etymology of 
words, now has an 80% chance of comprehending wha the 
merchant is babbling about. If the PC fails the Linguistics 
roll, he doesn't understand any part of the conversation. If 
the Know roll fails, the PC understands only the crudest gist 
of the converstation. The down side of this second use of 
Linguistics, is the PC must make the Linguistics/Know rolls 
to both listen to and to speak the unfamiliar language.