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- THE COMPLEAT OLD TONGUE
-
- A compilation of the documents of me <abergman@minerva.cis.yale.edu>
- BAClubb <Bruce42288@aol.com>, Mark <mk0349@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu>, and
- Andrea Leistra <aliestra@leland.stanford.edu>. Also drawed upon is the
- long letter that Don Harlow <donh@netcom.com> was nice enough to send. I
- compiled, typed, and edited this document. I did not, however, find most
- of the words.
-
- LINGUISTIC COMMENTARY
-
- In an attempt to provide a definition for the majority of cases,
- certain linguistic assumptions were made that seem to be characteristic
- of the majority, although not all, of the Old Tongue statements in the
- series. These are assumptions about word order. The first is the
- characteristic word order of the sentence: predicate-verb-subject.
- Many of the sentences follow this with the notable exception of
- "Tia mi aven Moridin isainde vadin." In my opinion. For more information
- on this exception, see the corresponding entry. It has been suggested
- that I also assume that the adjective would preced the noun, but there
- are numerous examples that seem to contradict this, so I have elected
- not to do this. By looking at the cross-referenced phrase, one can
- draw one's own conclusions. Many assumptions have also been made based
- on the idea that "an", "in" and "en" all seem to indicate pluralization.
- One of the major problems with attempting to compile this list is that I
- do not believe that Mr. Jordan made an effort to provide a basis for the
- Old Tongue until after _The_Eye_of_the_World_. This is evidenced by the
- failure of phrases like "Tia mi aven Moridin isainde vadin" to follow
- established word order.
-
- EXCLUSIONS
-
- After thinking about it, I have decided to not include phrases
- from the Language of the Fourth Age, the Ogian Language and the Trolloc
- Language.
-
- Key: ? indicates uncertainty
-
- Words and fragments:
-
- a = /preposition or article/
- a'dam = the leash /see "dam"/
- a'vron = watcher /see "vron/"
- aan = one
- aan'allein = one man /see "aan" and "allein"/
- aethan ?= shelds /see "aethan dor"/
- aiel = dedicated
- ailen = ??? /see "ta'maral'ailen"/
- ain ?= is /see note 1/
- al = /article/
- al'cair'rahienallen = Cairhein /See "cair", "rahien" and "allen"/
- alcair = the golden
- algai'd'siswai ?= the spear fighters /see "gai" and "siswai"/
- alantin = brother
- aldazar = the eagle /see "dazar"/
- aldieb = westwind
- algode = cotton
- allein = man
- allen ?= hill
- allende = ??? /see phrase "Muad'drin tia dar allende caba'drin rhadiem"/
- aman ?= dragon
- an = /pluralization/ /see note 2/
- angreal = /tool of the power/
- aridhol = ??? /a city of the second covenant/
- asmodean = ??? /contraction of real name?/
- atha ?= person
- atha'an ?= peoples /see "atha" and "an", "atha'an miere" and "tuatha'an"/
- aven ?= call
- avende = tree
- avendesora = the Tree of Life
- avendoraldera = Cutting/Sapling of Tree of Life
- ayende = release/freedom
- balthamel = ??? /a Forsaken/
- be'lal = ??? /a Forsaken/
- bekkar ?= blood
- cab ?= free /see note 3/
- caba = horse
- caba'donde = a horse to ride /see "caba", "donde"/
- caba'drin = cavalry/horsemen
- caballein = free man /see "cab" and "allein" and note 3/
- cadin ?= clothes /see "cadin'sor"/
- cadin'sor = working clothes
- cair = gold
- cal = red
- caldazar = red eagle /see "cal" and "dazar"/
- calhar = red hand /see "cal" and "har"/
- calichniye = welcome
- car = chief
- car'a'carn = Chief of Chiefs /see "car" and "carn"/
- carai = for the honor /or/ honor
- carn = chiefs
- chalinda = sweet girl
- cor = night
- corenne = return
- cue = heart
- cuebiyari = /rel. to heart/ /see "cue" and phrase "valdar cuebiyari"/
- cuendillar = heartstone
- da = ??? /see phrase "da'es daemar"/
- da'shain = /see note 4 and phrase "da'shain aiel"/
- dadaranell = ??? /see phrase "mafal dadaranell"/
- daemar = ??? /see phrase "da'es damear"/
- daghain = ??? /see phrase "Mordero daghain pas duente cuebiyar"/
- dai = battle /see note 4/
- dal = bowl
- dam = leash
- damane = leashed one /see "dam" and "aan"/
- dar = ??? /see phrase "Muad'drin tia dar allende caba'drin rhadiem"/
- dar = sister
- darei = spear
- dareis = spear
- dazar = eagle
- demandred = ??? /a forsaken/
- din = brother
- do ?= over /a preposition/
- doon = ??? /see phrase "seia doon"
- domashita ?= warms /see phrase "Ninte calichniye no domashitsa"/
- don = ??? /see "gai'don"/
- donde ?= to ride /see "caba'donde"/
- dor ?= red /see "aethan dor"/
- dore ?= dancer /see "n'dore"/
- dovie = /rel. to luck/ /see "dovie'andi" and "dovienya"/
- dovie'andi ?= dice /see "dovie" and phrase "Dovie'andi se tovya sagain"/
- dovienya = luck
- drelle = river of
- drin = soldiers
- duadhe ?= water
- duente = ??? /see phrase "Mordero daghain pas duente cuebiyar"/
- e = and
- en = /pluralization/ /see "jeade'en", "shae'en m'taal" and note 2/
- es = ??? /see phrase "da'es daemar"/
- ellisande = rose of the sun
- faile = falcon
- far = of
- ga ?= is /see phrase "Kodome Calichniye ga ni Aes Sedai hei"/
- gai = battle /See note 4/
- gai'don = ??? /see "gai", "tarmon gai'don"/
- gai'shain = pledged to peace in battle /see "gai" and note 4/
- gaidin = battle brother /warder/ /see "gai" and "din"/
- graendal = ??? /a forsaken/
- hailene = forerunners
- hama = mountain /See phrase "Hama N'dore"/
- har = hand
- hei = always
- in ?= /pluralization/ /see note 2/
- inde = no /or/ not /general negation/
- isain = is /see note 1/
- isainde = isn't /contraction/ /see "isain" and "inde"/
- isha ?= betrayer /possibly no 'a'/
- ishamael = betrayer of hope /a Forsaken/ /see "isha" and "mael"/
- jeade = /contranction of "jenn" and something?/ /see "jeade'en"/
- jeade'en = true finder
- jenn = truly /or/ true
- jhin = ??? /see "so'jhin"/
- ji = honor
- kardon = green skinned fruit from a leafless spiny plant
- kiserai = glory
- kodome ?= here /see phrase "Kodome calichniye ga ni Aes Sedai hei"/
- lanfear = daughter of the night /a forsaken/
- logoth ?= waiting /see phrase "shadar logoth"/
- los = forward
- m'taal ?= dogs /see phrase "shae'en m'taal"/
- ma = /contraction/ /see "ma'vron"/
- ma'vron ?= watchers over the sea /contraction/ /see "miere" and "vron"/
- machin = ??? /see phrase "machin shin"/
- mad = ??? /see "sha'mad"/
- mael = hope
- mafal = ??? /see phrase "mafal dadaranell"/
- mahdi = seeker
- mahdi'in = seeker(s) /suffix is pluralization?/
- mai = maiden(s)
- man = /related to sword or blade/ /see "mandarb", "manshima"/
- mandarb = blade
- manetheren = mountain home
- manetherendrelle = waters of mountain home /see "manetheren" and "drelle"/
- manshima ?= sword /see "man", "Suravye ninto manshima taishite"/
- maral = ??? /see "ta'maral'ailen"/
- marath ?= those who must /see "marath'damane"/
- marath'damane = those who must be leashed /see "damane"/
- mashadar = the creature in Shadar Logoth /see "shadar"/
- mashiara = beloved of heart /or/ a love lost
- mesaana = ??? /a forsaken/
- mi = my
- mia = my
- miere = ocean/waves
- misain = am /see note 1/
- moghedien ?= spider /a forsaken/
- mordero = ??? /see phrase "Mordero daghain pas duente cuebiyar"/
- Moridin ?= death /see phrase "Tia mi aven Moridin isainde vadin"/
- muad = foot
- muad'drin = /see "muad" and "drin"/
- muaghde ?= meat
- n'dore ?= dancers /See phrase "hama n'dore"/
- nei ?= knife /see phrase "sovin nei"/
- ni = ??? /see phrase "Kodome calichniye ga ni Aes Sedai hei"/
- niende ?= lost /see phrase "Sa souvraya niende misain ye"/
- ninte = your
- ninto = your
- no = me /first person singular pre-verb direct object pronoun/
- oosquai ?= whiskey /or some other alchoholic beverage/
- ordeith = wormwood
- pas = ??? /see phrase "Mordero daghain pas duente cuebiyar"/
- rahien = dawn
- rahvin = ??? /a forsaken/
- rhadiem = ??? /see phrase "Muad'drin tia dar allende caba'drin rhadiem"/
- rhyagelle = those who come home
- sa = /superlative prefix/
- sa ?= in /see phrase "Sa souvraya niende misain ye"/
- sa'angreal = very strong Power channel /see "sa" and "angreal"/
- sa'sara = "superlative" dance /see "sa" and "sara"/
- sag ?= time /see "sagain"/
- sagain = it's time /see "sag", "ain" and "Dovie'andi se tovya sagain"/
- sai = /related to power/
- saidar = female half of power /see "sai" and "dar"/
- saidin = male half of power /see "sai" and "din"/
- sam ?= destroyer
- sammael = destroyer of hope /a forsaken/ /see "sam" and "mael"/
- sara = dance /see "sa'sara"/
- se = themselves /reflexive pre-verb pronoun/
- seia = ??? /see phrase "seia doon"/
- semirhage = ??? /a forsaken/
- sene ?= as/like /see phrase "Sene sovya caba'donde ain dovienya"/
- serenla = stubborn daughter
- sha = ??? /see "sha'mad"/
- sha'mad = ??? /see phrase "sha'mad conde"/
- shadar = shadow /see phrase "shadar logoth", "mashadar"/
- shae ?= dog /see "shae'en"/
- shae'en ?= dogs /see phrase "shae'en m'taal"/
- shaiel = she who is dedicated /see aiel/
- shain ?= peace /see note 4/
- shambayan = chamberlain
- shan ?= lord
- shar = ??? /see "tai'shar"/
- shari = /plural of "shar"/
- shatayan = chatelaine
- shen = band
- shoufa = dustveil
- siswai = spear
- siswai'aman = spear of the dragon /see "siswai" and "aman"/
- so = ??? /see "so'jhin"/
- so'jhin = /hereditary upper servants of the blood/
- sor ?= working /see "cadin'sor"/
- sorda = rat
- sorei = runner(s)
- sovin ?= hands /see phrase "sovin nei"/
- souvraya = my own mind /see phrase "Sa souvraya niende misain ye"/
- sovya ?= another /see phrase "Sene sovya caba'donde ain dovienya"/
- staera = copper scraping stick
- sul ?= holder /see "sul'dam"/
- sul'dam = leash holder /see "dam"/
- suravye = ??? /see phrase "Suravye ninto manshima taishite"/
- sursa = chopsticks
- t'mat ?= tomato
- ta = /rel. to pattern/
- ta'maral'ailen = web of destiny /around ta'veren/ /see "ta"/
- ta'veren = focal point of pattern /see "ta"/
- taal = ??? /see "m'taal"/
- tai = ??? /see "tai'shar"/
- tai'shar = true blood
- tain = /plural of "tai"/
- taishite = ??? /see phrase "Suravye ninto manshima taishite"/
- tarmon ?= last /see phrase "tarmon gai'don"/
- tel'aran'rhiod = world of dreams /or/ unseen world
- ter = ??? /see "ter'angreal"/
- ter'angreal = director of power /see "angreal"/
- ti = to
- tia = to
- toh = obligation/duty
- tovya = roll /probably third person plural reflexive form/
- tuatha = /contraction involving "atha"/
- tuatha'an = Traveling People /see "tuatha" and "atha'an"/
- vadin = bar/barrier
- val ?= guard /see "valdar" and "valon"/
- valdar = /rel. to "guard"/ /see "val" and phrase "valdar cuebiyari"/
- valon ?= guard /see "val" and phrase "tar valon"/
- vron = watcher(s)
- wansho = builder(s)
- ye = I /or/ /exclamatory fragment without meaning/
- zemai = maize or corn
-
- Note 1: "Misain", "isain" and "ain" all appear to be forms of the verb "to
- be".
-
- Note 2: "An", "in", "on" and "en" all seem to indicate pluralization in
- some context or another. It is possible that the "-n" suffix is all that
- is really needed.
-
- Note 3: "Caballein", it has been suggested, might be a contraction of
- "caba" and "allein" meaning "horseman". The use of it as "free man" would
- then be a cultural thing. This would avoid the creation of the new word
- "cab" meaning "free".
-
- Note 4: "Dai" and "gai" seem to both mean battle. Also, "Da'shain" and
- "Gai'shain" are very much alike. "Shain" seems to mean something along the
- lines of "sworn to peace". There is also "Dai Shan" which sounds somewhat
- alike but means "Battle Lord". Draw your own conclusions.
-
-
- Phrases:
-
- aes sedai=servant to/of all
- My guess is that this phrase should probably be translated
- "to all servant". Thus "aes" would probably be a contraction of
- "a" and the word meaning "all". "Sedai" would then mean servant.
-
- aethan dor = red shields
- An aiel warrior society. Possibly the "-n" ending indicates
- that "aethan" means shields, and thus "dor" would be another
- word for "red" in addition to "cal".
-
- al caldazar = the red eagle
- The sign of Manetheren. "Cal" means "red", and "dalzar" means
- "eagle".
-
- al ellisande = the rose of the sun
- The sign for Aemon's wife, Eldrene. "Ellisande" can probably be
- divided into two words, but I have no idea how.
-
- alcair dal = the golden bowl
- An aiel meeting place. "Cair" means "gold" and "dal" means bowl.
-
- atha'an miere = the sea folk
- Probably literally "people sea" as "miere" means "sea", "atha'an"
- is the pluralization of "atha" meaning "person"
-
- Caballein misain ye = I am a free man
- Probably literally "Free man am I". "Cab" means "free",
- "allein" means "man", "misain" means "am", and "ye" means "I".
-
- Carai an caldazar = For the honor of the red eagle
- "Carai" means "honor", "an" is a preposition in this case, probably
- "of", "cal" means "red" and "dazar" means "eagle".
-
- Carai an ellisande = for the honor of the rose of the sun
- "Carai" means "honor", "an" is a preposition meaning "of" and
- "ellisande" means "the rose of the sun".
-
- cor darei = night spears
- An Aiel warrior society. "Cor" means "night" and "darei" means
- "spears".
-
- da'es daemar = the great game /or/ the game of the houses.
- I have no idea what any of the two to three words in this phrase
- mean.
-
- da'shain aiel = the original name for the aiel
- "Aiel" means dedicated. See note 1 above for interpretation of
- da'shain.
-
- dai shan = battle lord
- "Dai" means "battle", "shan" means lord. See also note 1 above.
-
- do miere a'vron = the watchers over the sea
- Probably literally "over ocean, watchers". "Do" means
- "over", "miere" means "ocean" and "vron" means "watchers".
-
- Dovie'andi se tovya sagain = It's time to roll the dice
- "Dovie" seems to be related to "dovienya" which means "luck".
- Following the normal sentence order, this probably means
- "Dice themselves roll time it is." Thus, "Dovie'andi" means
- "dice", "se" is a relexive pronoun "themselves", "tovya" is
- a conjugation of "to roll", "sag" means "time" and "ain" means
- "is". The only two that cross-reference, however, are "ain" and
- "Dovie'andi".
-
- duadhe mahdi'in = water seekers
- An Aiel warrior society. "Duadhe" means "water" and "mahdi'in" is
- the pluralistaion of "mahdi" which means "seeker".
-
- far aldazar din = brothers of the eagle
- Probably literally "for the eagle, brother". An Aiel warrior
- society. "Far" means "for", "dazar" means "eagle" and "din" means
- "brother".
-
- far dareis mai = maidens of the spear
- Probably literally "for spear, maiden". The Aiel female warrior
- society. "Far" means "for", "darei" means "spear", and "mai" means
- "maiden".
-
- hama n'dore = mountain dancers
- An Aiel warrior society. I am guessing that the "n" on the second
- word indicates some form of pluralization. Thus, "n'dore" means
- "dancers" and "hama" means "mountain".
-
- Inde muaghde Aes Sedai misain ye = I am no Aes Sedai meat.
- Probably literally "not meat Aes Sedai am I" with the Aes Sedai
- modifying the preceding noun. "Inde" means negation, "muaghde"
- means "meat", "misain" means "am" and "ye" means "I".
-
- jenn aiel = the "true" aiel
- Probably literally "truly dedicated". The name for the "tribe" of
- Aiel who built Rhuidean. "Jenn" means "true" or "truly", and "aiel"
- means "dedicated".
-
- Kiserai ti wansho = glory to the builders
- "Kiserai" means "glory", "ti" means "to" and "wansho" means
- "builders".
-
- Kodome calichniye ga ni Aes Sedai hei = Here is always a welcome
- for Aes Sedai
- Probably literally "Here welcome is for Aes Sedai always". "Kodome"
- probably means "here", "calichniye" means "welcome", "ga" probably
- means "is", "ni" probably means "for" and "hei" means "always".
- This is a phrase from _The_Eye_of_the_World_, so neither the word
- order, nor the words seem to be standard, ie "ga" is not related to
- the "ain" family of "to be" verbs.
-
- Los caba'drin = horsemen/cavalry forward
- "Los" means "forward", "caba" means "horse" and "drin" means
- "soldier"
-
- Los valdar cuebiyari = Heart-guard foward
- "Los" means "forward" and "valdar cuebiyari" means "the heart
- guard".
-
- machin shin = the black wind
- The wind in the ways. No idea on word order.
-
- mafal dadaranell = old name for Fal Dara
- No idea on any word.
-
- Mia ayende, Aes Sedai = release me, Aes Sedai
- Probably literally "my release/freedom, Aes Sedai". "Mia" means
- "my" and "ayende" means "release/freedom".
-
- Mia dovienya nesodhin soende = ???
- Probably literally "My luck ??? ???". If the normal word order
- holds, "nesodhin" is the verb and "soende" is the subject. Mat
- says that this sounded like a "fervent wish".
-
- Mordero daghain pas duente cuebiyar = ???
- "Cuebiyar" could be related to "cuebiyari" which might be related
- to "heart". See "valdar cuebiyari".
-
- Muad'drin tia dar allende caba'drin rhadiem = Footmen prepare to pass
- cavalry.
- Probably literally "Foot soldiers to ??? ??? horse soldiers ???"
- "Muad" means "foot", "drin" means "soldier", "tia" means "to" and
- "caba" means "horse"
-
- Ninte calichniye no domashitsa = Your welcome warms me
- Probably literally "Your welcome me warms" with the direct object
- coming before the verb. "Ninte" means "your", "calichniye" means
- "welcome", "no" means "me" and "domashita" means "warms". Again,
- this is a phrase from _The_Eye_of_the_World_, so it does not
- follow the standard word order.
-
- rahien sorei = dawn runners
- An Aiel warrior society. "Rahien" means "dawn" and "sorei" means
- "runners".
-
- Sa souvraya niende misain ye = I am lost in my own mind.
- Probably literally "In my own mind lost am I". "Sa" probably means
- "in", "souvraya" probably means "my own mind", "niende" probably
- means "lost", "misain" means "am" and "ye"means "I".
-
- seia doon = black eyes
- An Aiel warrior society. No idea on word order.
-
- Sene sovya caba'donde ain dovienya = Luck is a horse to ride like any
- other.
- Probably literally "As/like another a horse to ride is luck".
- Thus, "sene" means "as/like", "sovya" means "another", "donde"
- means to ride, "ain" means "is" and "dovienya" means "luck".
-
- sha'mad conde = thunder walkers
- An Aiel warrior society. No idea on word order.
-
- shadar logoth = shadow's waiting
- The present name for Aridhol. "Shadar" probably means "shadow" and
- "logoth" probably means waiting.
-
- shae'en m'taal = stone dogs
- An Aiel warrior society. Because of the plural "en" ending, "shae'en"
- probably means "dogs", and thus, "m'taal" probably means "stone".
-
- shen an calhar = the band of the red hand
- "Shen" means "band", "an" means "of", "cal" means "red" and "har"
- means "hand".
-
- sovin nai = knife hands
- An Aiel warrior society. Because of the plural "in" ending, "sovin"
- probably means "hands" and thus, "nai" probably means "knife".
-
- Suravye ninto manshima taishite = Peace favor your sword
- Probably literally means "??? your sword ???". No idea on the
- unknown word order. "Ninto" means "your" and "manshima" probably
- means "sword" as "man" is also present in "mandarb".
-
- tain shari = true bloods
- An Aiel warrior society. "Tain" is the plural of "tai" and "shari"
- is the plural of "shar". No idea on word order. See also "tai'shar".
-
- tar valon = tower guard
- "Valon" is probably related to "val" which probably means "guard",
- thus "tar" probably means "tower".
-
- tarmon gai'don = last battle
- "Gai" means battle which seems to imply that "tarmon" might mean
- "last", but "last battle" may not be a correct translation.
-
- tia avende alantin = Ogier
- Probably literally "to the trees brother". "Tia" means "to",
- "avende" means "tree" and "alantin" means "brother".
-
- Tia mi aven Moridin isainde vadin = The grave is no bar to my call.
- The phrase on the Horn of Valere. Probably literally "To my call,
- death isn't bar". "Tia" means "to", "mi" means "my", "aven"
- means "call", "moridin" means "death", "isainde" means "isn't",
- and "vadin" means "bar" or "barrier". Another interpretation of
- this stems from the fact that the above does not conform to the
- fairly standard predicate-verb-subject word order. Under that
- interpretation, this would probably literally be "To my call,
- barrier isn't call" changing the meaning of "Moridin" to "barrier"
- and "vadin" to "death". My personal opinion is that the
- capitalization of "Moridin" indicates that it means "death" as
- there is relatively little reason to capitalize "barrier". This
- is a sentence from _The_Eye_of_the_World_, so the nonstandard
- word can be justified.
-
- valdar cuebiyari = the heart guard
- "Val" probably means "guard" and "cue" means "heart". The
- interesting thing here is that "dar" means "sister". I am not
- sure what to make of this.
-
- There are probably numerous errors in this file as it is based on a
- lot of speculation. If you find any, can you please e-mail me at
- <abergman@minerva.cis.yale.edu>.
-
- Thank You
-
- Aaron
-