Elvish Language

[sadelyrate]

Elvish Language

I haven't posted in these forums before, preferring lurking and working on the Witcher Wiki, but...This place is probably the best place to ask for help concerning the language the elves (and others) use in Sapkowski's books.Mostly, it's easy enough to figure out what the 'fair folk' are saying, what different words mean, like in the short story "The Edge of the World" (Kraniec świata) in The Last Wish collection.However, the name of a flower found in the game, feainnewedd, I can't figure out. The first part of it, feainn, is also the name of the sixth savaed in the elven calendar, and I can't help but wonder what it means.So...What do you think? Does anyone have a link to an Elder Tongue - Human dictionary?And if there isn't such a dictionary, would it be a good idea to try and compile one?

 

[ausir]

There is an Elder Tongue-Polish dictionary here:http://sapkowski.pl/modules.php?op=modload&name=Companion&file=index&func=slownikI plan to translate it into English, though."Feainn" means "sun", "wedd" means "child", so "feainnewedd" means "child of the sun".

 

[sadelyrate]

Thank You! You know, the scene of getting a half-elf's sex card is preceded by a little Old Speech lesson... I think 'feainn' is mentioned during that. Just didn't remember it before.The dictionary's awesome. I'll be looking forward to your translation.

 

[nimue]

now this one you could figure out from Yeavinns story, by were did those flowers bloom and how wish you all luck! I would love to see a dictionary (tolkiens elves have one, why can't w... I mean sapkowskis elves get one too? ) like that you are planing

I'll second that. We're eagerly awaiting your translation, Ausir

 

[silver_gryphon]

Hell yes ;D I guess I third the Elven-English dictionary. Can't wait til you're done

 

[sadelyrate]

now this one you could figure out from Yeavinns story, by were did those flowers bloom and how

The first time I played the game, I never talked with Yaevinn about the flowers. But methinks the half-elf Geralt can sleep with mentioned feainnewedd and the name's parts...Ausir, I noticed there isn't Saov on that dictionary. Has it appeared anywhere else save in the name Saovine?In the game, the King of the Wild Hunt can comment, over the course of a quest: "Aen'drean, va, Saov Leo, tuv'le!!!" And then a ghost in the likeness of Leo appears.Considering that, and Saovine's ties with Samhain/Halloween, I think Saov could be spirit, soul, ghost...*pondering* ???

 

[sadelyrate]

Old Speech - English dictionaryIt's not complete, and there are question marks and all, but...

 

[username_2075709]

Old Speech - English dictionaryIt's not complete, and there are question marks and all, but...

When you say 'arse' is old speech and 'ass' is English I'm afraid you are wrong.Arse is English, Ass is an Americanisation. And a donkey.

 

[username_2075709]

no not wrong. In elvish/old speach arse is a word that means ass in english. It simply happend so that it's same/almost same

I think you missed my drift.In most English speaking countries bar America we use the word arse. (eg England where English comes from, Australia, NZ, Canadians maybe say both.)Americans started calling it ass for some reason but the rest of us still say arse.Americans also decided at some stage to change the spelling of grey and colour.

 

[ausir]

I corrected it to "arse (UK), ass (US)". Excellent work, Sade! I've been a bit busy lately, so I didn't have time to finish my version. I'm glad you did yours instead.

 

[username_2075278]

Old Speech - English dictionaryIt's not complete, and there are question marks and all, but...

When you say 'arse' is old speech and 'ass' is English I'm afraid you are wrong.Arse is English, Ass is an Americanisation. And a donkey.

Nonononononononono. Arse is English, ass is a donkey. And American...More specifically, Americans like euphemisms - they change words which they think of as rude to similar words which they think aren't, and then, by using those words for the thing they thought were rude in the first place, make them rude, too. So they don't have 'shit-houses', they have 'bathrooms'. Well, here in Britain we have bathrooms, too. They have baths in them, and you can have a bath an get clean. Don't expect to find a bath in an American bathroom, though, because there won't be one. In American 'English', 'bathroom means 'shit-house'. I have absolutely no idea what word Americans use for a room which actually does have a bath in it....Ass means donkey, in any kind of English.Arse means the part of the body you sit on, in any kind of English. But Americans don't like mentioning the part of the body they sit on, or what comes out of it, or what goes into it, or any of that stuff. They think it's terribly rude. So they use the word for donkey instead.Americans are mad, and apparently all sit on donkeys..

 

[sadelyrate]

What do you think if we'd just 'translate' the Old Speech 'arse' as 'butt'?Because that seems to be relatively neutral term...I'm just happy if the dictionary will be of use.Thank You, Ausir, for helping with clarifying up a couple of details. Being the language-nut that I am, I couldn't resist playing with the dictionary. Besides, it's not finished.If only September could come faster...

 

[sadelyrate]

I say Go for it! Just remember that some translations are uncertain as of yet... and some, like 'col' and 'craag' are missing completely.

 

[ausir]

hey, would you mind if I'd translated your doing to lithuanian?

Hope you add it to http://raganius.wikia.com

 

[silver_gryphon]

Maybe it'd look more like a table if you put the lines in it :-\ Or lined up the headings over the lists, I don't know. Great translations by the way

 

[Gamewidow]

did you mean you like the alternating colour for the lines ? just edit our page and 'borrow' the code

 

[Gamewidow]

anytime ... code, images, text ... feel free, isn't that what wikis are all about?

 

[Karasu]

http://hexer.wikia.com/wiki/Lexikon_der_Alten_SpracheStill with little atrocities, I´ll correct soon, but if someone wants it in german -

 

[Gamewidow]

nice table

 

[Karasu]

nice table

Only "borrowed" it, sorry. T,T´