The Dragonbone Chair
Page 90
Qanuc
Troll-language is considerably different than the other human languages. There are three hard “k” sounds, signified by: c, q, and k. The only difference intelligible to most non-Qanuc is a slight clucking sound on the q, but it is not to be encouraged in beginners. For our purposes, all three will sound with the k of “keep.” Also, the Qanuc u is pronounced uh, as in “bug.” Other interpretations are up to the reader, but he or she will not go far wrong pronouncing phonetically.
Sithi
Even more than the language of Yiqanuc, the language of the Zida’ya is virtually unpronounceable by untrained tongues, and so is easiest rendered phonetically, since the chance of any of us being judged by experts is slight (but not nonexistent, as Binabik learned). These rules may be applied, however.
i—when the first vowel, pronounced ih, as in “clip.” When later in word, especially at end, pronounced ee, as in “fleet”: Jiriki—JihREE-kee
ai—pronounced like long i, as in “time”
’ (apostrophe)—represents a choking sound, and should not be voiced by mortal
readers.
Exceptional names
Geloë—Her origins are unknown, and so is the source of her name. It is pronounced “Juh-LO-ee” or “Juh-LOY.” Both are correct.
Ingen Jegger—He is a Black Rimmersman, and the “J” is Jegger is sounded, just as in “jump.”
Miriamele—Although born in the Erkynlandish court, hers is a Nabbanai name that developed a strange pronunciation—perhaps due to some family influence or confusion of her dual heritage—the sounds as “Mih-ree-uh-MEL.”
Vorzheva—A Thrithings-woman, her name is pronounced “Vor-SHAY-va,” with the zh sounding harshly, like the Hungarian zs.
WORDS AND PHRASES
Nabbanai
Aedonis Fiyellis extulanin mei—“Faithful Aedon save me”
Cansim Felis—“Song of Joy”
Cenit—“Dog”, “Hound”
Cuelos—“Death”
Duos wulstei—“God willing”
Escritor—“Writer”: one of group of advisors to Lector
Hue Fauge—“What’s going on”
Lector—“Speaker”: head of Church
Mansa sea Cuelossan—“Mass for the Dead”
Mulveiz nei cenit drenisend—“Let sleeping hounds lie”
Oveiz mei—“Hear me”
Sa Asdridan Condiquilles—“The Conqueror Star”
Tambana Leobardis eis—“Leobardis is (has) fallen”
Timior cuelos exaltat mei—“Fear of death lift me”
Vasir Sombris, feata concordin—“Shadow-father, accept this bargain”
Hernystiri
Brynioch na ferth ub strocinh…—“Brynioch has turned away…”
E gundhain sluith, ma connalbehn…—“We fought well, my dear one…”
Feir—“Brother” or “Comrade”
Goirach—“Mad” or “Wild”
Sithi—“Peaceful Ones”
Rimmerspakk
Im todsten-grukker—“A grave-robber” Vaer—“Beware”
Vawer es do ükunde?—“Who is this child?”
Qanuc
Aia—“Back” (Hinik Aia—get back)
Bhojujik mo qunquc—(idiom) “If the bears don’t eat you, it’s home.”
Binbiniqegabenik ea sikka! Uc Sikkam mo-hinaq da Yijarjuk!—“I am (Binabik)! We
are going to Urmsheim!”
Boghanik—“Bukken”
Chash—“True” or “Correct”
Chok—“Run”
Croohok—“Rimmersmen”
Hinik—“Go” or “Get away”
Ko muhuhok na mik aqa nop—“When it falls on your head, then you know it’s a
rock.”
Mikmok hanno so gijiq—(idiom) “If you want to carry a hungry weasel in your
pocket, it’s your business.”
Nihut—“Attack”
Ninit—“Come”
Sosa—“Come” (imperative)
Ummu—“Now”
Yah aqonik mij-ayah nu tutusiq, henimaatuq—“Ho, brothers, stop and speak with
me.”
Sithi
Ai Samu’sithech’a—“Hail Samu’sitech’a”
Asu’a—“Looking eastward”
Hei ma’akajao-zha—“Bring it (the castle) down”
Hikeda’ya—“Children of Cloud”: Norns
Hikka—“Bearer”
Im sheyis t’si keo’su d’a Yana o Lingit—“For the shared blood of our Ancestors (Yana and Lingit)”
Ine—“It is”
Isi-isi’ye—“It is (indeed) that”
Ras—term of respect “sir” or “noble sir”
Ruakha—“Dying”
S’hue—“Lord”
Skei’—“Stop”
Staja Ame—“White Arrow”
Sudhoda’ya—“Sunset-children”: Mortals
Tsi anh pra Ineluki!—“By Ineluki’s blood!”
T’si e-isi’ha as’irigú!—“There is blood on the eastern gate’”
T’si im T’si—“Blood for blood”
Ua’kiza Tumefai nei-R’i’anis—“Song of the Fall of Tumet’ai”
Zida’ya—“Children of Dawn”: Sithi