Languages

Languages

Since the Exodus, societies and races are mixed more than ever. As a result, the majority of language has merged to improve communication and help industry reach larger markets that span the stars. However, certain languages are still preserved either by isolated cultures, historical posterity, or having been developed to express special information.

Ancient Common

Ancient hybrid language shared by most major species on Blimnor, found on historical documents

Dwarven, Ancient

Traditional language spoken only by dwarves among other dwarves. The Dwarven alphabet has changed little from its ancient origins. The largest change is the shift from dwarven script being written top-to-bottom to being written left-to-right. This move was highly-controversial at the time, since the runes are designed to draw a continuous vertical line through the script, symbolizing the dwarven values of history, lineage, continuity, and of course, digging. However, as computer technology coded mostly to display information in other languages from left-to-right become more popular, the dwarven language was adapted. The archaic format is still used in ceremonies, formal documents, and honorary epitaphs. Another social phenomenon among dwarven society is the deliberate misuses of the archaic form, writing phrases from bottom-to-top as a way of making text obscene and heretical. This is often used by dwarven outcasts as a way of delivering threats, curses, or rebellious manifestos.

Dwarven, Simplified

Modernized evolution of ancient dwarven, used by dwarves when speaking in mixed company

Dwarven Phrases

• Bakke - slow but inexorable

• Barduhm - provincial dwarf, honorary dwarf

• Blimdoul - resilient

• Caerbad - finished, completed, resolved

• Dampf - Hazardous or unwelcome gasses, also a exclamation or insult

• Degraf Aggarlem - heat that one becomes accustomed to

• Dek - hammer or other weapon or tool which is swung

• Denadin Arelroth - Successor, female

• Denadin Roth - Successor, male

• Drivstoff - engine fuel

• Fjot - barren

• Gollf - Lost in space

• Hrag - sword or other weapon or tool that is thrust

• Kanon - projectile weapon

• Menk - soldier, warrior, or weaponsmith

• Tekno - electronics, also a genre of music

• Tor - mountain

• Vorduhm - true dwarf, culturally pure

• Zeste - full of energy

Elven

Dead language with a negative stigma, associated with ancient and superstitious beliefs.

Exodian

The Exodian language uses an alphabet derived from ancient languages. The modern standardized symbols are drawn using a grid pattern to maximize their legibility and make it easier for machines and computers to produce. While hand-written Exodian is still in use in some places, most text is typed or printed, so calligraphy is rare. The alphabet is also designed so that no letter can be mistaken for another regardless of orientation, which is essential for being able to visually identify markings on the exterior of spacecraft or space stations.

Familial

A variant of Exodian, Familial is a language that incorporates a number of archaic words, grammar, and pronunciation, evocative of ancient religious scripture. Familial is used primarily by high-ranking members of The Family or as formal communication between professionals. It uses the exodian alphabet, but the script itself is in a cursive, flowing into each other in stylized and curved shapes.

Goblin

Goblin language developed as a creole between orcish and prehistoric goblin nashgsh. As a consequence, it used orcish script at the time of the exodus.

Gnommish, Ancient

Dead language voluntarily retired in favor of ancient common, difficult to learn or understand even for those fluent

Halfling

An ancient language used by halflings. It is mostly disused except by older halflings or as exodian slang.

Halfling Phrases

• Boppa - lazy person, also term of endearment for fellow halflings

• Bum snook - destruction of a ship such that it can be easily savaged

• Bummy tippin - an unfavorable share of a job's payout, also generally bad situation

• Fammy tippin - equal share in a job's payout, also generally a good situation

• Fishwalk - EVA in space

• Fishsuit - Pressure suit

• Gnomedome - A tense altercation where all the combatants are standing at a safe distance from each other and implying physical violence

• Goggle - Derogatory word for gnomes

• Gookin - a member of a halfling's extended family

• Gooturf - home planet or alternately any familiar and comfortable place

• Hagzone - a cabin dedicated for smoking leaf, or that smells strongly of leafsmoke

• Hole - cabin or living quarters

• Itchfoot - a feeling of wanderlust or a sudden disappearance

• Juce - Sudden acceleration

• Kin keep - Communally owned things

• Oinks - derogatory word for orcs or any member of the Gor Adukk Ma

• Poopsuit - a government employee, law enforcement, or anyone who makes rules

• Poppy - gunshot wound

• Schemar - derogatory word for an employee of the Schematic for Cosmic Order

• Scoop - loot, stolen goods, or legitimate salvaged cargo

• Sprouts - derogatory term for elves

• Squatties - derogatory term for dwarves

• Stuffed - carrying a concealed weapon

• Swampy - drunk or under-the-influence

• Tag - Personal decorations, flare, or mementos

• Tec - Weapons or tools; short for tecton or technology

• Topkin - derogatory or endearing term for tall people

Human

Dead language belonging to an extinct species native to Blimnor

Netcode

A language spoken primarily by metropolitan gnomes or net workers. It uses exodian words, phrases, abbreviations, and numbers. It is also the language most commonly used to write computer programs due to its clarity, strict grammar, and attention to detail. People not fluent describe it as "Normal words said out of order", due to the way code is spoken, and also from its odd repetitive sentences.

Introductory Netcode

Taught to young gnomes or apprenticed net workers, introductory netcode primarily focuses on simple linear scripts. It also makes ample use of commentary in plain-speak exodian to help clarify.

Standardized Netcode

Adult gnomes or more experienced net workers use a standardized netcode that adapts introductory netcode into a more object-oriented grammar. The strict grammar and approved vocabulary make it the most efficient, widely-used, and least prone to error.

Dialectal Netcode

The most experienced net workers often develop more specialized dialects of netcode, sometimes through the use or disuse of certain phrases, because they apprenticed under a particular net coder, or because they've come up with a more efficient version of the language. Net Historians can even identify the net worker based only on segments of their code, once they've developed a dialect.

Orcish, Modern

A standardized version of orcish refined for clarity, commonly used by military personnel and official language of the Gor Adukk Ma.

Orcish Phrases

• Adukk - Feeling of competency and confidence when faced with hypothetical impending warfare

• Akket - Attention!

• Akketkom Ma- I am in command

• Buppa - Struck in a weakspot

• Creepotta - Sniper

• Douga - Take cover, or without cover, go prone

• Douga Jour - Fortify position

• Fresh ... Potta - Aim, fire weapon

• Gor - Sworn allegiance to an enormous army

• Goupa - Rendezvous

• Grank - Grenade

• Goupa shash - Landing zone

• Keddak - Personal nemesis or target for revenge. Also a traditional duel.

• Koppek - Copy/roger

• Kravekmok - Ambush

• Lakunashash - Spaceship

• Ma - Me, mine, I, I am

• Oug - Dead

• Oug Adukk - Alive and well

• Ouga frek - Almost dead

• Ouga nada - Lightly injured

• Ouga oug - Definitely dead

• Potta - Fire weapons

• Potta bahg - Covering fire

• Pottapotta - Fire weapons for maximum effect

• Rash Ga - Advance quickly

• Rash Kraven - Advance backwards (retreat)

• Rash Snee - Advance stealthily

• Supa - Big or important

• Tragg Uf - Our squad

Orcish, Formal

A hybrid of tribal and modern orcish with an emphasis on emotive expressions, declarative phrases, and punctuative exclamations.

Orcish, Tribal

Ancient orcish language with tribal dialects, only spoken as part of traditional rituals or rural orcish families