Changes: Orion language

Revision as of 04:55, 24 September 2012

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 were High Orion and Low Orion. High Orion was used by the upper class and in diplomacy, negotiation and on formal occasions, while Low Orion was used in passing in everyday life, spoken by lower classes but used informally by all. While similar and with the same words, pronunciations were 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 were trickier than they appeared. ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}}) In the Orion language itself, this was called Kolari. Some Orions chose 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 enjoyed ornate speech and veiled insults. ({{rpg|Decipher RPG|Aliens}})
-The Orion language was full of double meanings, ambiguities, intentionally vague words and interpretations that depended on context. There were no single words for 'yes' or 'no', but were instead qualified as, for example, 'yes, if...' and 'no, but...'. It was said to be an excellent debating language, though with no direct answers. It was well-suited for concealing motive and meaning.
-It was also a good swearing language. Low Orion had more base words and vile epithets, but High Orion had a sophisticated cursing case that could be used to deliver delicate and elaborate insults in ambiguous terms. These were sometimes in verse, and counted as works of art, but were rarely heard by non-Orions.
-In general, Orions preferred not to use their language around others, as it could confuse aliens. Instead, they spoke the alien language to be polite and understand the other's way of thinking. ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-There was 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 was 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 tended to have a guttural, sibilant quality (this may be specific to [[Orion (reptilian)|reptilian Orions]]). In the [[Priam IV test]] at [[Starfleet Academy]], [[Cadet]] [[Tasha Yar]] attempted to operate a [[computer]] on an Orion boat, but didn't recognize the Orion language. When the computer issued a vocal query, she reacted 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 were 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|FASA RPG|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|FASA RPG|Termination: 1456|Decision at Midnight|The Triangle}})
-Many other civilians and members of non-aligned powers were 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|FASA RPG|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 difficulty 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.
-;''[[bhar]]'' : a term or rank for a ship's [[lieutenant]] or [[executive officer]] ({{n1|TAS|The Pirates of Orion}})
-;''[[caj]]'' : great family, clan (plural '''''caju''''') ({{rpg|Decipher RPG|Aliens}})
-;''cheltol'' : A term that discreetly translates as a 'capable male student'. ({{n|DS9|{{nd|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|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''delbaj'' : 'lieutenant' ({{rpg|Decipher RPG|Aliens}})
-;''dubi'' : 'slave'. This is a diminutive of ''dubyal'', or 'contractor'. ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge}})
-;''dubyal'' : 'contractor' (plural '''''dubyaln''''') ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge}})
-;''[[elt]]'' : a term or rank for a ship's [[captain]] or [[commander]] ({{n1|TAS|The Pirates of Orion}})
-;''etadubran'' : 'contractor-holders', 'the obligated'. These are slave owners and slave drivers. ({{rpg|FASA RPG|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|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge}})
-;''ganzu'' : The term [[ganzu]] seems to translate to 'revenge society'. (plural is also ''ganzu'') ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''gisjacheh'' : Possibly a profanity. For example, "this ''gisjacheh'' drug" that caused an Orion pirate ship a great deal of misfortune. ({{n1|TAS|The Pirates of Orion}})
-;''j'hordak'' : 'shadow', or less politely, 'hanger-on'. ({{rpg|Decipher RPG|Aliens}})
-;''-kar'' : 'House of -'. This suffix signified a mansion or estate, such as [[Keroskar]], the 'House of Keros'. ({{rpg|FASA RPG|Orion Ruse}})
-;''Klong'' : 'the Wall'. A term for the Klingons. ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''kohl'ash'' : An Orion word which means something akin to 'retreat'. ({{n|ENT|Age of the Empress}})
-;''koledru venari'' : 'thieves' honour', the code of the [[Orion Syndicate]] ({{rpg|Decipher RPG|Aliens}})
-;''korgasant'' : 'tentacled-mauler' The [[Korgasant]] is a predatory animal native to [[Daros IV]]. (plural '''''korgasanti''''') ({{rpg|FASA RPG|Orion Ruse}})
-;''lisk'' : 'associate' ({{rpg|Decipher RPG|Aliens}})
-;''lodubyal'' : 'life-contractor'. These are entertainment slaves, particularly [[Orion slave girl|slave women]] that work as courtesans and sex slaves. (plural '''''lodubyaln''''') ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge}})
-;''lodubyal ot'' : executive or mistress of a group of ''lodubyaln'' ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge}})
-;''magren'' : 'operator' ({{rpg|Decipher RPG|Aliens}})
-;''morakos'' : 'shadow-killer' The [[Morakos]] is a predatory animal native to [[Daros IV]]. (plural '''''morakoi''''') ({{rpg|FASA RPG|Orion Ruse}})
-;''morl'' : 'crewman' ({{rpg|Decipher RPG|Aliens}})
-;''muni'' : 'blends' ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge}})
-;''Oromente Qualfn'' : '[[Qualf III|Qualf]] Liberation Force' ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''[[poden]]'' : cities-on-stilts ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''[[pounla]]'' : underground cities (plural '''''plounla'''''; may be in error) ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''rhadaman'' : 'arch-executive' (plural '''''rhadamanen'''''). These are business leaders and starship captains, including [[piracy|pirate]] captains. ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''rhadaman anthus'' : 'prince of executives' ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''shodar'' : 'chief' ({{rpg|Decipher RPG|Aliens}})
-;''slethi'' : 'winged-torturer' The [[Slethi]] is a predatory animal native to [[Daros IV]]. (plural '''''slethii''''') ({{rpg|FASA RPG|Orion Ruse}})
-;''tabadi'' : 'matriarch' ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''tahedri'' : 'patriarch' (also '''''tahedrin''''') ({{rpg|FASA RPG|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|Decipher RPG|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|Decipher RPG|Aliens}})
-;''tiradosir'' : 'rapacious' ({{rpg|FASA RPG|Orion Ruse}})
-;''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|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-;''uta'' : 'master' (plural '''''utan''''') ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge}})
-;''vaj'' : 'empire' ({{rpg|Decipher RPG|Aliens}})
-;''[[Vyun-pashan]]'' : a type of Orion suicide ({{n1|TAS|The Pirates of Orion}})
-==Other translations and examples==
-The word 'stealing' in either the [[English language]] or [[Federation Standard]] was translated by the Orions into their term for 'getting paid'. ({{n|TOS|{{nd|Doctor's Orders}}}})
-'Discount goods' was the translation of the Orion word for things that did not work. ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Klingons}})
-There was no one word for 'spite' in the Orion language, and the concept of doing something for nothing was difficult to explain and for Orions to understand. However, they could easily conceive of it as a type of revenge and readily practiced it. ({{rpg|FASA RPG|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–''" [[Nyota Uhura|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]].
-The Orion language was often mistaken by the unfamiliar for Rigellian, the language of the [[Rigellian (furred)|Rigellians]]. ({{rpg|FASA RPG|The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge}})
-==Connections==
-{{languages}}
-[[category:orion culture]]
-[[category:languages]]