Orcish Language
Git Enigmatic
I've prolly asked this here before, but I can't remember...
Does anyone have any leads on an Orcish language? We have Klingon, we
have Elvish...I just haven't been able to find anything on Orcish!
Er, actually it'd prolly be Orkish, because I think I saw it mentioned
on a Warhammer web page...
Whichever game it applies to, does anyone know of a source where I can
find info?
Thanks!
--Git.
Chris Pierson
In article <56o7po$4...@news.tcd.net>, Git Enigmatic <gr...@coffey.com> wrote:
>I've prolly asked this here before, but I can't remember...
>
>Does anyone have any leads on an Orcish language? We have Klingon, we
>have Elvish...I just haven't been able to find anything on Orcish!
>Er, actually it'd prolly be Orkish, because I think I saw it mentioned
>on a Warhammer web page...
Well, a couple of years ago, when I was fresh from several very
interesting linguistics courses, I tried my hand at designing a few
fantasy languages -- some elven dialects (including drow), various dwarven
tongues, goblin, hobgoblin, kobold, and orcish. I can't make the lexicon
available at the moment, but if you need anything (anything fairly short,
anyway) translated ...
--
****************************************************************************
Chris Pierson ** Films to watch for: Swingers, Albino Alligator, Shine,
Game Designer ** Mother, Breaking the Waves, Prisoner of the Mountains
****************************************************************************
J. McGuire
Git Enigmatic wrote:
>
> I've prolly asked this here before, but I can't remember...
>
> Does anyone have any leads on an Orcish language? We have Klingon, we
> have Elvish...I just haven't been able to find anything on Orcish!
> Er, actually it'd prolly be Orkish, because I think I saw it mentioned
> on a Warhammer web page...
Itz only Warhammer Orkboyz what can't spell ther own namez.
> Whichever game it applies to, does anyone know of a source where I can
> find info?
There have been a couple of articles on it in Dragon...I don't have the
references available at the moment, hopefully someone else will have the
issue numbers handy.
Now, I'm going to have an Orc _font_ available fairly soon...but it's
all pictograms, which won't help you much. Maybe I'll write up a
language to go along with it, in all my copious free time.
On a related note, try Jeff Henning's "Model Languages" page -- I think
it's still at: http://expert.cc.purdue.edu/~ladyslvr/modlgs.html
-- Jean
Wintertree Software | Remember to remove the spambot-blocker
http://www.io.com/~wtsoft | from my address before replying via email
"If not me, then who? If not now, then when?"
Phase
In some of my writing, I was tempted to use different real world
languages for the different fantasy races. But I figured it would
be somewhat insulting if I gave Japanese to the elves, and then
went and gave a dumbed-down German to the goblins. (: So I made up
some rules for the grammar of both languages, and a frequency for
the distribution of phonetics. It would take me some time, but I
could probably put some of it online if you're interested.
Keep in mind that culture has a _great_ influence on language
if you go about designing one. The language and culture you
have also has a great influence on your thought processes.
Me giving the elves Japanese would have made the elves very
much like nihonjin.
-
Phase FX - http://www.cs.sc.edu/~jason-e
swimming in the starry sea / with purple sky, and summer breeze
I stretch and grin, sinking then / into waters, lovely, deep
Sean
Git Enigmatic wrote:
> Does anyone have any leads on an Orcish language? We have Klingon, we
> have Elvish...I just haven't been able to find anything on Orcish!
> Er, actually it'd prolly be Orkish, because I think I saw it mentioned
> on a Warhammer web page...
I might be totally off base on this, but I seem to recall an
Orcish/English dictionary in 'The Orcs of Thar', a D&D Gazetteer now out of
print. I'll check.
--
Sean Nicolson se...@netidea.com
Git Enigmatic
I170...@VM.SC.EDU (Phase) wrote:
Yeah, I'm definitely interested. It'd be great to see what other
people have come up with. :)
--Git.
Chris Pierson
Yikes! I didn't realize there were so many losers like me who actually
went to the trouble of designing languages for a _game_. :)
Maybe we should have the First RGFD Invitational Orcish Translation
Showdown. Someone (I recommend whoever actually started this thread) posts
a brief but interesting passage for translation into orcish, and everyone
who's actually designed their own language posts a translation. It'd be
interesting, at the very least, to compare what different people think
orcs sound like. :)
Git Enigmatic
cpie...@tiac.net (Chris Pierson) wrote:
>Yikes! I didn't realize there were so many losers like me who actually
>went to the trouble of designing languages for a _game_. :)
>Maybe we should have the First RGFD Invitational Orcish Translation
>Showdown. Someone (I recommend whoever actually started this thread) posts
>a brief but interesting passage for translation into orcish, and everyone
>who's actually designed their own language posts a translation.
Uhm...OK.
ORCISH 1010 01, QUIZ CHAP. 1.
Translate the following into orcish:
1. Tell the goblins to go impale themselves.
2. DAMN! The basilisk is free!
3. My mother is not as fat as you say, scum.
4. When you see them, set the trees afire!
5. I don't think the sore is going away, Gratnakk.
Answers, as relevant to the dialect spoken by the orcs of the western
continent of Edsuria and the northern reaches of Palotar, follow as
soon as the Orcish Linguistic Association releases my missing notes...
--Git.
J. McGuire
Johnny Rotten wrote:
>
> Git Enigmatic wrote:
> >
> > I've prolly asked this here before, but I can't remember...
> >
> If my memory's correct, there's a little bit of information in one of
> the appendices on an Orcish language, but I'm not sure how helpful it'll
> be.
>
Look into "The Languages of Tolkien's Middle Earth" by Ruth S. Noel.
It's a MUST READ for gamemasters, even ones with nary an elf nor an orc
in their campaigns.
Johnny Rotten
Git Enigmatic wrote:
>
> I've prolly asked this here before, but I can't remember...
>
> Does anyone have any leads on an Orcish language?
You might want to pick up a copy of Tolkien's _The Return of the King_.
If my memory's correct, there's a little bit of information in one of
the appendices on an Orcish language, but I'm not sure how helpful it'll
be.
JRotten
Rotten Dragon
ChAoS
When in doubt (or if in my case you just don't know) make stuff up.
1. Tolsk ec Groskez A vo impalzar Ghemzolfz.
2: VORSK! ec Casilari ez Ecapen
3: Tai Morgre ez nein aht Emplumpan aht tu Tecen, Spoorg.
4. Vhen tu visen ghem, lignar ec gruens!
5. Et Dath mentari ec festair ez dispearen, Gratnakk.
>
> --Git.
Chris Pierson
In article <56tga0$p...@news.tcd.net>, Git Enigmatic <gr...@coffey.com> wrote:
>
>Uhm...OK.
>
>ORCISH 1010 01, QUIZ CHAP. 1.
Entries are translated into Northern (Civilized) and Southern (Savage)
dialects of the Orcs of Vargod. Yes, even Southern Orcish can be
pronounced, with effort (it helps if you have tusks, though).
>Translate the following into orcish:
>1. Tell the goblins to go impale themselves.
NORTH: Jogheok tso ver'raezerq tskehnaz qentsorterq.
SOUTH: Cuxaok vrgraizrq tskahnoz qantsurtrq.
>2. DAMN! The basilisk is free!
NORTH: RREKKO! Tsiu 'athererra kerkh!
SOUTH: RRAKKU! Gothararro krx!
>3. My mother is not as fat as you say, scum.
NORTH: Khez kherngerg zaq tsoda shevver ker gho rregak, tsorekh.
SOUTH: Xrngrg xaz zoq tsudo savvr kr rragok xu, tsurax.
>4. When you see them, set the trees afire!
NORTH: Lazzo dho qadeok qen, erzkozngeok tso 'ukherq!
SOUTH: Lozzu qodaok dhu qan, rzkuzngaok gixrq!
>5. I don't think the sore is going away, Gratnakk.
I love this one. :)
NORTH: Ev dozar zaq tsiu tsag tagakh, Gratnakk.
SOUTH: Duzor zoq av tsog togax, Gratnakk.
Jason Hatter
Git Enigmatic (gr...@coffey.com) wrote:
: ORCISH 1010 01, QUIZ CHAP. 1.
:
: Translate the following into orcish:
: 1. Tell the goblins to go impale themselves.
Dabu!
: 2. DAMN! The basilisk is free!
DABU!
: 3. My mother is not as fat as you say, scum.
Zogzog dabu zog.
: 4. When you see them, set the trees afire!
ZOG!
: 5. I don't think the sore is going away, Gratnakk.
I got a hurtie.
--
Jason (who is in a weird mood right now 8) )
http://www.cris.com/~towonder/
RPG stuff at http://www.cris.com/~towonder/rpg.html
featuring Sailor Moon V at http://www.cris.com/~towonder/fanfic.html
Dave Harper
gr...@coffey.com (Git Enigmatic) wrote:
>I've prolly asked this here before, but I can't remember...
>Does anyone have any leads on an Orcish language? We have Klingon, we
>have Elvish...I just haven't been able to find anything on Orcish!
>Er, actually it'd prolly be Orkish, because I think I saw it mentioned
>on a Warhammer web page...
>Whichever game it applies to, does anyone know of a source where I can
>find info?
One of the MERP supplements has an "elvish dictionary" that also
includes about 5 pages of Orcish. Can't remember the name of it
offhand, but just a small book...
MH-AB
In article <56r64a$o...@news-central.tiac.net>,
------------
cpie...@tiac.net (Chris Pierson) suggested:
>Yikes! I didn't realize there were so many losers like me who actually
>went to the trouble of designing languages for a _game_. :)
>
>Maybe we should have the First RGFD Invitational Orcish Translation
>Showdown. Someone (I recommend whoever actually started this thread) posts
>a brief but interesting passage for translation into orcish, and everyone
>interesting, at the very least, to compare what different people think
>orcs sound like. :)
Ok. Let's do it. Of course, if we're all *losers* for designing this language, who is going to be the *winner*? :)
Rancorr Blackmane,
Forakk'ku Ork kam'ta soo kittar
----------
"I mean, there aren't that many shoppin' days 'til Christmas left!" -- Jack Nicholson, in the sequel to "Terms of Endearment".
Jimmy Kerl
Chris Pierson wrote:
>
> Yikes! I didn't realize there were so many losers like me who actually
> went to the trouble of designing languages for a _game_. :)
>
Didn't Tolken write an entire elvish language with 2 different alphebets!
By the way, his alphabets were *very* well designed.
> Maybe we should have the First RGFD Invitational Orcish Translation
> Showdown. Someone (I recommend whoever actually started this thread) posts
> a brief but interesting passage for translation into orcish, and everyone
> who's actually designed their own language posts a translation. It'd be
> interesting, at the very least, to compare what different people think
> orcs sound like. :)
Maybe a song 'bout the hard life of orcs :)
> --
> ****************************************************************************
> Chris Pierson ** Films to watch for: Swingers, Albino Alligator, Shine,
> Game Designer ** Mother, Breaking the Waves, Prisoner of the Mountains
> ****************************************************************************
Jimmy
Charles Brouillette
>
> ORCISH 1010 01, QUIZ CHAP. 1.
>
> Translate the following into orcish:
> 1. Tell the goblins to go impale themselves.
Gaff ul gnees aloc pearit yapac
> 2. DAMN! The basilisk is free!
HACMAK Ul granmate ji wik
> 3. My mother is not as fat as you say, scum.
Ki titer ji gat vag hugi vag cy ballck, oaze.
> 4. When you see them, set the trees afire!
Senow cy vimu yap, zunvi ul grethin inbal.
> 5. I don't think the sore is going away, Gratnakk.
Xe qungat idei ul ouac ji locmi meil, Gatnax.
Chuck
Ian Sinclaire
J. McGuire wrote:
>
> Johnny Rotten wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > I've prolly asked this here before, but I can't remember...
> > >
> > > Does anyone have any leads on an Orcish language?
I know that Dragon had an article on the language of orcs sometime in
the mid 1980's. I have it some where, but I have no idea where. If
memory serves it was a pretty informitive.
They also had one on Thief's cant. That one was in the #60's, I don't
know what that has to do with the orcish language, but I was on a roll.
Ian Sinclaire
ChAoS
>Maybe a song 'bout the hard life of orcs :)
Their is an orcish marching song or whatever. Where theirs a whip, theirs
a way. It was on one of the animated tolkien movies.
John Langton
Dabu, zub zub, What, WHAT! STOP POKING ME!
SORRY, playing a bit too much warcraft and warcraft 2 lately.
MH-AB
In article <56tga0$p...@news.tcd.net>,
-----------
gr...@coffey.com (Git Enigmatic) wrote:
>ORCISH 1010 01, QUIZ CHAP. 1.
>
>Translate the following into orcish:
>1. Tell the goblins to go impale themselves.
Tellum play pungie.
>2. DAMN! The basilisk is free!
Uh-oh.
>3. My mother is not as fat as you say, scum.
Mugmug no flabbie, lawyer.
>4. When you see them, set the trees afire!
Smellum, play matches.
>5. I don't think the sore is going away, Gratnakk.
Yuck.
Rancorr Blackmane,
Hedge Linguist.
Bill Barney
Languages are very important in my campaign (much to the dismay of
my players who have spent a lot of proficiency slots that way) but
I am far too lazy to come up with my own languages. What I do is
use foreign language fonts, many of which are available on the web
(just do a web search for fonts, or look for some PC software archives
such as simtel20, or whatever simtel20 is called nowadays).
Fonts I have found include Armenian, Burmese, Tibetan, Korean (the
phonetic alphabet--hangul, I think it's called), Cyrillic, Hebrew,
Greek of course, Egyptian heiroglyphics, Inuit, and probably some
others that I can't think of. Chinese-Japanese-Korean characters are
also available in shareware/freeware word processors for those
languages, though they are not as easy to use unless you know the
language. Japanese Katakana fonts also exist.
The idea is you type text into your word processor, change the font, and
you have an incomprehensible inscription or scroll to hand to your
PC's. If you have any players who obsess over puzzles, they will find
that they can probably decode the messages using letter frequencies.
You can also let them find a multilingual "rosetta stone" which
will help them translate some things. (If you like giving players this
sort of challenge you might want to make the "Comprehend Languages"
spell conveniently unavailable or put the inscription inside an anti-
magic shell.)
By the way I have also found a Klingon font; I have also seen Tolkien
Elvish and Dwarvish fonts for a Mac but haven't found them for a PC
yet (I'm sure they exist, just haven't looked too hard yet). Given
the large number of fonts out there, I am sure there must also be a
public domain font maker program with which you could make your own
fonts. (If anyone knows where to get one, please post!)
Bill at UCI
p.s. oh yeah, I even found Tsolyani! :)
stephenJ
That's a neat idea...
Death Walks Among You
My PC group was lucky(?) enough lately to capture a goblin named
Burglecat, from whom they learned a smattering of Goblin.
In standard adventurer fashion, they decided to keep him bound hands and
feet for the week or so they had him. They quickly discovered that
goblins have frequent bowel movements. Soon party members were taking
turns whenever Burglecat had to "go smeagol" (the Goblin term).
Turns out you can go a long way on just one word of a language.
"Smeagol" is now an established part of the group's vocabulary.
The party got to like Burglecat so much that when they got him back to
town and the local ruler wanted to execute him on general principles,
they stuck up for him and took him out to the wilderness to release...
Ernest
Lord Thomas Lancaster
Thats's funny we ran across a similar thing with an adventurer who was so
determined that there should be treasure in a particular hydra's lair that
she started tunneling through all its droppings. The dwarf fighter in the
party quickly dubbed her shies-en-dieger (roughly translated means she who
digs in shit, or shitdigger) Novel, but the term has lived on for years.
-Lord Thomas C. Lancaster
Christopher Pound
In article <575jqb$l...@news.service.uci.edu>,
Bill Barney <bar...@halo.ps.uci.edu> wrote:
>Fonts I have found include Armenian, Burmese, Tibetan, Korean (the
>phonetic alphabet--hangul, I think it's called), Cyrillic, Hebrew,
>Greek of course, Egyptian heiroglyphics, Inuit, and probably some
>others that I can't think of. Chinese-Japanese-Korean characters are
Truly weird fonts for _Empire of the Petal Throne_ are available
via FTP from nexus.prin.edu. While you're there, check out all the
fabulous source material available for this, the 2nd and still the
most elaborate gameworld TSR has ever had anything to do with.
--
Christopher Pound
IS Network Management, Rice University