Changes: Orion language

Revision as of 18:22, 21 November 2010

Flars was a word in Orion Trader's Tongue, apparently meaning "bravery" or "strength". The pirate Krulmadden, convinced that there was fissionable material to be plundered on Talin IV, decided that he would take his ship there and "show our flars" to the Starfleet blockade assembled there. (TOS novel: Prime Directive)

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+'''''Flars''''' was a word in [[Orion language|Orion]] [[Trader's Tongue]], apparently meaning "bravery" or "strength". The [[piracy|pirate]] [[Krulmadden]], convinced that there was [[Nuclear fission|fissionable]] material to be plundered on [[Talin IV]], decided that he would take his ship there and "show our ''flars''" to the [[Starfleet]] blockade assembled there. ({{n|TOS|{{nd|Prime Directive}}}})
-'''Orion language''' referred to a number of [[language]]s used by the [[Orion]] [[civilization]]s of the [[Alpha Quadrant|Alpha]] and [[Beta Quadrant]]s.
+[[Category:Alien words]]
+[[Category:Orion culture]]
-==Variants==
-The major divisions of the primary Orion language are [[High Orion]] and [[Low Orion]]. High Orion was used by the upper class and in diplomacy and formal documents, while Low Orion was used in passing in everyday life. While similar, pronunciations are different. High Orion often sounded musical and lyrical, with flowery terms, precise rules for grammar and careful shades of meaning. Low Orion, however, had more nasal and exhaled language sounds, broader vowels and was generally much simpler and cruder. Both are trickier than they appear. ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}}) In the Orion language itself, this is called Kolari. Some Orions may choose to speak older and more antiquated or poetic forms such as High Kolari or Imperial Kolari, primarily to score social points or confuse non-speakers. In any language, they enjoy ornate speech and veiled insults. ({{rpg|ST|Aliens}})
-The Orion language was full of double meanings, ambiguities, intentionally vague words and interpretations that depend on context. There are no single words for 'yes' or 'no', but are instead qualified as, for example, 'yes, if...' and 'no, but...'. It is said to be an excellent debating language, though with no direct answers.
-It is also a good swearing language. Low Orion has more base words and vile epithets, but High Orion had a sophisticated cursing case that can be used to deliver delicate and elaborate insults in ambiguous terms. These are sometimes in verse, and count as works of art, but are rarely heard by non-Orions. In general, Orions prefer not to use their language around others. ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-There is a 'backcountry' dialect that is spoken by provincial commoners. ({{n|TOS|Crossroad}})
-[[Trader's Tongue]] was a variation used in business.  Related to this was the written language, [[Trader's Script]], as well as [[Trader's Measure]]. ({{n|TOS|{{nd|Prime Directive}}}})
-Another variation was [[Yrevish]]. [[Ambassador]] [[Spock]] felt that it was important to have an interpreter fluent in Orion Yrevish in the [[Federation]] delegation to [[PojjanPiraKot]]. ({{n|TNG|sub={{st|Double Helix}}|Red Sector}})
-A common Orion language is called [[Orion Prime]]. In an [[alternate reality]], [[Cadet]] {{ar|Nyota Uhura}} spoke to Cadet {{dis|Gaila|Orion}} in it. ({{n1|TOS|{{dis1|Star Trek|2009}}}})
-Orion language tends to have a guttural, sibilant quality and many soft consonant sounds. Once, while on a [[cadet]] training scenario, [[Tasha Yar]] was surprised to find an operating [[computer]] system on an Orion vehicle. When the computer issued a vocal query, she responded with the common [[Human]] exclamation "ssh", which matched one of the computer's Orion language voice commands. This set off an alarm, as the Orion signal for danger was apparently to hiss like a snake. ({{n|TNG|Survivors}})
-==Interpreters and speakers==
-Due to the large number of [[Starfleet]] encounters with Orions beginning in the [[22nd century]], many members of Starfleet are schooled in spoken Orion. Notable personnel with instruction in this language included [[Nyota Uhura]], [[James T. Kirk]], [[Wanda Worrenstill]], [[Marvin Wanglestien]], [[Kristine Reardon]], [[Stoan]], [[Jack Thompson]] and [[C'Raal]].  By the [[24th century]], Orion language was a second year elective course at [[Starfleet Academy]]. ({{rpg|ST|Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook|The Strider Incident|Decision at Midnight|Star Trek: The Next Generation Officer's Manual}})
-[[Klingon]]s also learned Orion to help in their dealings with that civilization. [[Klingon Empire]] personnel with instruction in this language included [[Madra tai-Vurstic|Madra ''tai''-Vurstic]], [[Kagga sutai-Formorax|Kagga ''sutai''-Formorax]], [[Kepel zantai-Venonn|Kepel ''zantai''-Venonn]] and [[K'Zinh sutai-Velai|K'Zinh ''sutai''-Velai]]. ({{rpg|ST|Termination: 1456|Decision at Midnight|The Triangle}})
-Many other civilians and members of non-aligned powers are noted to have been instructed in Orion, such as [[Kellie Louise Baker]] of [[Baker's World]]; [[Bhind'rr]] of [[Lanroche VIII]]; free traders [[Thorapolis Creole]], [[Wilton Tull]] and [[Linda Robbins]], [[Dirk]] of [[Remfry]], [[Jonny Farlo]] of [[Jonny's Retreat]], [[Jonas Elley]] and [[Lee Willson]] of [[Mantiev]]; [[Captain]] [[Patch]] of the ''[[Dark Phoenix]]''; [[Jean Carislon]] of [[Jemison]]; [[Q'Kuattr]]; [[Zeenne]]; [[Selene Trikaka]] and [[T'planna]]. ({{rpg|ST|Decision at Midnight|The Triangle}})
-[[Manager]] [[Friel]] of [[Wagner Trading Post]] was prone to swearing in Orion, with passable pronunciation. She did so once in the [[2260s]] upon hearing that a merchant [[starship]] convoy had been attacked by [[Klingon]]s. ({{n|TOS|Dreams of the Raven}})
-[[Hikaru Sulu]] also knew some Orion curses, and used them when experiencing difficult piloting in [[2270]], testing the {{class|Wraith}} [[shuttlecraft]]. ({{n|TOS|sub=The Lost Years|Traitor Winds}})
-==Glossary==
-Coming from a range of sources, these terms may not all be from the same Orion language. Most are those have known translations.
-;''[[caj]]'' : great family, clan (plural '''''caju''''') ({{rpg|ST|Aliens}})
-;''cheltol'' : A term that discreetly translates as a 'capable male student'. ({{n|DS9|Twilight}})
-;''chuulak'' : Back country dialect term for a type of Orion public execution by slow torture to deter others. In an [[alternate timeline]] [[25th century]], [[Adajia]] recalled that a [[Consilium]] [[master]] was going to order mentally incompetent [[Thad Smith]] executed by ''chuulak'' for dereliction of service to the [[Consilium Institute]]. ({{n|TOS|Crossroad}})
-;''cluros'' : 'cold' or 'coolness'. [[Cluros]] is an Orion code of conduct. For example, to keep one's ''cluros'' is to keep one's cool. ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''delbaj'' : 'lieutenant' ({{rpg|ST|Aliens}})
-;''dubi'' : 'slave'. This is a diminutive of ''dubyal'', or 'contractor'. ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge}})
-;''dubyal'' : contractor (plural '''''dubyaln''''') ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge}})
-;''etadubran'' : 'contractor-holders', 'the obligated'. These are slave owners and slave drivers. ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge}})
-;''F'deraxt'la'' : A term for the [[Federation]], pronounced as to rhyme with "Federation" in the [[Trader's Tongue]], referring to a person born of three parents, all of whom were related. The adjective form of the noun was '''''f'deraxt'l'''''. ({{n|TOS|{{nd|Prime Directive}}}})
-;''fesin'' : 'hutch'. A training house for the ''lodubyaln''. ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge}})
-;''ganzu'' : The term [[ganzu]] seems to translate to 'revenge society'. (plural is also ''ganzu'') ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''j'hordak'' : 'shadow'. Less politely, 'hanger-on'. ({{rpg|ST|Aliens}})
-;''Klong'' : 'the Wall'. A term for the Klingons. ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''kohl'ash'' : An Orion word which means something akin to 'retreat'. ({{n|ENT|Age of the Empress}})
-;''koledru venaru'' : 'thieves' honour', the code of the [[Orion Syndicate]] ({{rpg|ST|Aliens}})
-;''korgasant'' : 'tentacled-mauler' The [[Korgasant]] is a predatory animal native to [[Daros IV]]. (plural '''''korgasanti''''') ({{rpg|ST|Orion Ruse}})
-;''lisk'' : 'associate' ({{rpg|ST|Aliens}})
-;''lodubyal'' : 'life-contractor'. These are entertainment slaves, particularly [[Orion slave girl|slave women]] that work as courtesans and sex slaves. (plural '''''lodubyaln''''') ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge}})
-;''lodubyal ot'' : executive or mistress of a group of ''lodubyaln'' ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge}})
-;''magren'' : 'operator' ({{rpg|ST|Aliens}})
-;''morakos'' : 'shadow-killer' The [[Morakos]] is a predatory animal native to [[Daros IV]]. (plural '''''morakoi''''') ({{rpg|ST|Orion Ruse}})
-;''morl'' : 'crewman' ({{rpg|ST|Aliens}})
-;''muni'' : 'blends' ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge}})
-;''Oromente Qualfn'' : '[[Qualf III|Qualf]] Liberation Force' ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''plounla'' : underground cities (plural apparently '''''pounla'''''; may be in error) ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''poden'' : cities-on-stilts ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''rhadaman'' : 'arch-executive' (plural '''''rhadamanen'''''). These are business leaders and starship captains, including pirate captains. ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''rhadaman anthus'' : 'prince of executives' ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''shodar'' : 'chief' ({{rpg|ST|Aliens}})
-;''slethi'' : 'winged-torturer' The [[Slethi]] is a predatory animal native to [[Daros IV]]. (plural '''''slethii''''') ({{rpg|ST|Orion Ruse}})
-;''tabadi'' : 'matriarch' ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''tahedri'' : 'patriarch' (also '''''tahedrin''''') ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-:''[[The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge]] makes ''tahedrin'' the singular and turns ''tahedri'' the plural. According to the pattern of pluralism established in it and [[The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge]], where ''n'' is added to form the plural of various occupations (eg. ''dubyal''/''dubyaln'', ''uta''/''utan''), then ''tahedrin'' ought to be the plural form of ''tahedri''. Following this, ''tabadin'' would likely be the plural of ''tabadi''.
-;''Thakolarivaj'' : 'Great Orion (Kolari) Empire' ({{rpg|ST|Aliens}})
-;''Thana Kolari'' : [[Orion]] term that meant 'Extended Orion', where 'Orion' is called 'Kolari'. These words refer to the area of space occupied by the Orions, excluding the [[Rigel system]]. ({{rpg|ST|Aliens}})
-;''uktas bo urndo'' : 'blasters and book-keepers'. An Orion sentiment referring to military and political control versus trade and economic forces. One must fall before the other, though it doesn't specify which. ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''uta'' : 'master' (plural '''''utan''''') ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge}})
-;''vaj'' : 'empire' ({{rpg|ST|Aliens}})
-==Other translations and examples==
-The word 'stealing' in either the [[English language]] or [[Federation Standard]] is translated by the Orions into their term for 'getting paid'. ({{n|TOS|Doctor's Orders}})
-There is no one word for 'spite' in the Orion language, and the concept is difficult to explain and understand. However, they can easily conceive of it as a type of revenge and readily practice it. ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge}})
-"Shandaken, ''dgr'xt en. K'laxm f'dactla en str'ln axltr'dn. Pr'dyn dgreilt jarras'tla en axm b'rerr–''" [[Uhura]] translated this message and said "He's telling them [lead by Police Commander [[Shandaken]]] to give up. He says he wants them to go back to Orion, where they can all be charged with high treason–" ({{n|TOS|Death Count}})
-==Loan Words==
-After developing a love for the culture of [[Earth]] up to the [[20th century]], the Orions picked up some slang words of the [[Human]] languages, particularly from Russian and American. ({{rpg|ST|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-[[category:orion culture]]
-[[category:languages]]