Sunday, June 26, 2011

Catharese - 101

Over the next several weeks while on Sorn 5, Shre'ka will give both Paz and Mrrowl lessons on Catharese, the language of the Ra'van'ti people as well as the other known tribes. While the language is the same, most tribes tend to speak with varying dialects. The three usually meet at nightfall, during the evening meal, and anyone else who is interested is welcome to join them.

anna mawe (anna mah-weh) - literally "be at peace" or "may you have peace"; used as a greeting or as a farewell

van (vauhn) - "oneself" or "person, people"

te (tay) - denotes male gender

tan (tauhn) - denotes female gender

ma (mauh) - "parent"

ma'van'te - literally "parent person (who is) male" i.e. father

ma'van'tan - "parent person (who is) female"; mother

ha (hah) - "child"

ha'van'te - literally "child person (who is) male"; son

ha'van'tan - "child person (who is) female"; daughter
Please note: when referring to children not their own, most adults shorten these words to "ha'te" and "ha'tan" which mean "male youngster" or boy and "female youngster" or girl. The same word is spoken for plural or singular use.

So it follows that knowing

a (ah) - "sibling", then

a'van'te - "brother"

a'van'tan - sister

mri (mree) - "mate, beloved"

mri'te - "male mate, male lover"; husband

mri'tan - "female mate, female lover"; wife

'at (aught) is a suffix attached to many Ra'van'ti words that denotes respect

'ka (kah) is a suffix meaning "little, small" that denotes fondness, affection. For example, one might say a'van'te'ka, meaning "little brother" or an adult might say ha'te'ka to a male child, meaning "little one".

ro'at - hunter, warrior; "ro" meaning "to hunt, to battle";
Please note: Ra'van'ti children are not recognized as adults until they successfully kill a dangerous animal (that is, a large animal that could kill them without the use of venom, etc.) unassisted. Only then do Ra'van'ti earn the title ro'at.

mo'at - elder; "mo" meaning "having many years or much wisdom, old"
Please note: Mo'ats are most often trained for the position in which they will serve their tribe by the mo'at serving before them, but during unusual or rare occasions they can be elected by either the anu'at and other mo'ats of a tribe's council or by the tribe as a whole. Sometimes mo'ats are even self-appointed, usually after a duel or similar trial combat.

anu'at - leader; "anu" meaning "lead, guide"

ke'heh (kay hay) - no, negative

das (daws) - yes

dro - dead, soulless; Shre'ka called the Kaminoans in the lab "dro'ruk'naku, roughly translating to "soulless monsters lost in shadow"

mreh'vok ro (mray-vok-row) - "time (of) battle"; trial

masul (mauw-zul) - literally "water of dreams"; a potent intoxicant made from the roots of mosa flowers.

mas (mauwz) - dream, vision

ul (ool) - water

sa (sauh) - sky

shre (shray) - star

uuk (ook) - river

ruk (rook) - shadow, darkness; denotes one having lost their way or their spirit

Sa'uuk - Sky River; how the Ra'van'ti refer to the light aspect of the Force

Sa'ruk - Sky Shadow; how the Ra'van'ti refer to the dark aspect of the Force

Sa'ruk Mo'at - an elder of the Dark Side, a Sith Lord

Sa'uuk Mo'at - an elder of the Light Side, such as a Jedi Master

naku (nah-koo) - terrible or frightening monster

sa'naku - "terrible sky monster"

vek - vicious, savage, brutal

na (nah) - "of a pack or group"

vek'na - a cunning, vicious, and very dangerous land pack predator of Sorn 5

zas - wild, free, spirited

sa'uuk ah meh yah - Please note: This phrase has various meanings depending on the situation; "the Sky River is with us, me, him, her, etc.", "the Sky River be with you, him, her, them, etc."; basically "may the Force be with you".

So until the next lesson, sa'uuk ah meh yah!

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