The Saguzahar language (Saguzaharasat) is the tongue spoken by the Saguzahar people, a race of unusual, long-limbed troglodytic humanoids native to the south-eastern mountain ranges of the Midal Realm. Their language is spoken with a somewhat small pallet of phonemes, and written with a rigid, mostly phonetic syllabary. Although the transcription of Saguza writing into Latin characters attempts to approximate accurate pronunciation, there are certain rules for when particular vowel sounds are dropped, among other orthographic conventions, that must be accounted for in transcription.
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The basic rules are given below:
- word-final {o} aspirated
- {ei}, {ii}, {ie}, {ee} realized with interstitial /j/
- {kg} = /g/, {td} = /d/, {pb} = /b/
- {mš} and {mz} pronounced /mpš/ and /mps/
- {nš} and {nz} pronounced /ntš/ and /nts/
- {nn} and {mm} pronounced {n:} and {m:}
- {sz} pronounced /s:/, {šz} pronounced /ž/
- word-initial {z} pronounced /ts/
- {çz} pronounced /ts/, {çh} pronounced /ç/
- {iç} before vowel pronounced /içj/
- {ç} preceding any other consonant is silent
- {h} silent after consonant/between vowels
- unstressed {u} silent when word-final
- unstressed {u} silent between consonants
- unstressed {u} before vowel pronounced /w/
- word-final {a} pronounced /ar/
- {aa} pronounced /ara/
- {huh} between vowels pronounced /h/
Though not consistent, stress in a Saguzaharasat word typically falls on the second syllable.
Additional rules for conversion between transliteration and transcription:
{ç} transcribed as "ḥ" (roughly aspirated /h/)
{φ} transcribed as "ph"
{þ} transcribed as "th"
{χ} transcribed as "ch" (e.dialect only)
{ŋ} transcribed as "ng"
{š} transcribed as "sh"
{ž} transcribed as "zh"
{ʀ} transcribed as "rh" (historical) (see note 4)
/s:/ transcribed as "ss"
/n:/ transcribed as "nn"
/m:/ transcribed as "mm"
accent on vowel denotes stress (stressed {u} transcribed as "ý" in e.dialect)
diaresis marks on vowels denote separate voicing
note: /ç/ and /h/ were historically /ʀ/ and /hr/. These were softened during the same sound shift that rhotacized doubled and word final /a/. Certain dialects also rhotacized word final /e/.
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Abbreviations found in this dictionary:
"c." stands for "common"
"o.c." stands for "old common," sometimes known as "highcommon"
"h.e." stands for "highelven"
"o.a." stands for "old atlantic"
adúphinar
- (transliteration: "atduφina"), lit. "elfkind"
- definition: Highelf
aḥárak
- (transliteration: "açhaak"), lit. "rhalâk"
- definition: Dragon; calque of h.e. "rhalâk"
akarámpson
- (transliteration: "akhaamzonu"), lit. "red"
- definition: red, (archaic "aquarompson"), calque of c. "crimson"
akoḥinear
- (transliteration: "akoçhineha"), lit. "red"
- definition: red, magical (see note 3), (archaic "acoïnra"), calque of c. "cochineal"
án
- (transliteration: "an"), lit. "two"
- definition: two; 2, in senary (see note 1)
apúpḥar
- (transliteration: "apupuçha"), lit. "purple"
- definition: purple, (archaic "apoupra"), calque of c. "purple"
átagë
- (transliteration: "ataçge"), lit. "violet/blue-cébre"
- definition: attauge, (see note 2) violet, a hue between blue and cébre (see note 2), (archaic "ataugë")
átgar
- (transliteration: "atga"), lit. "blue"
- definition: audra, (see note 2) blue, (archaic "audra")
átmagar
- (transliteration: "atmaga"), lit. "cyan"
- definition: tauver, (see note 2) cyan, skyblue, (archaic "ataumgra")
bahárak
- (transliteration: "bahuhaak"), lit. "black"
- definition: black, (archaic "bahraka"), calque of c. "black"
bë
- (transliteration: "be"), lit. "four"
- definition: four; 4, in senary (see note 1)
bhú
- (transliteration: "buhuhu"), lit. "blue"
- definition: blue, cold, (archaic "buo"), calque of c. "blue"
dár
- (transliteration: "da"), lit. "three"
- definition: three; 3, in senary (see note 1)
darágaon
- (transliteration: "daakgaon"), lit. "dragon"
- definition: Dragon, or a person with a fierce temperment; calque of c. "dragon"
dwápannar
- (transliteration: "duapanna"), lit. "dwarvenkind"
- definition: Dwarf
dwáraḥiph
- (transliteration: "duhaaçiφ"), lit. "dwarf"
- definition: Dwarf; calque of c. "dwarf"
eḥádagoh
- (transliteration: "eçhadago"), lit. "(respectful title) + dragon"
- definition: Dragon (respectful)
eḥéd
- (transliteration: "eçetdu"), lit. "red"
- definition: red, (archaic "ejed"), calque of c. "red"
éḥibar
- (transliteration: "eçiçba"), lit. "all-white"
- definition: eëbor, (see note 2) true-white, (archaic "ejebra"), mixture of all four primary saguza/human hues, appears white to any eye
eḥíph
- (transliteration: "eçiφ"), lit. "elf"
- definition: foreigner, elf; calque of o.c. "elf/alf"
eḥúiph
- (transliteration: "eçhuiφ"), lit. "elf"
- definition: foreigner; calque of o.c. "elf/alf"
eḥúman
- (transliteration: "eçuman"), lit. "human"
- definition: Human race; calque of c. "human"
és
- (transliteration: "es"), lit. "zero"
- definition: zero, nothing (see note 1); 0
etéḥë
- (transliteration: "eteçhe"), lit. "tél"
- definition: the surface; calque of c. "tél"
ezgaraḥet
- (transliteration: "esgaaçet"), lit. "red"
- definition: red, noble, graceful (see note 3), (archaic "ezgret"), commonly encountered as a given name, calque of c. "scarlet"
garaḥén
- (transliteration: "gaaçen"), lit. "green"
- definition: green, (archaic "grajahen"), calque of c. "green"
gáraming
- (transliteration: "gaamiŋ"), lit. "red"
- definition: red, strange, intriguing (see note 3), (archaic "garraming"), calque of c. "carmine"
garán
- (transliteration: "gaan"), lit. "green"
- definition: green, (archaic "grajan"), calque of c. "green"
harád
- (transliteration: "haatdu"), lit. "red"
- definition: red, (archaic "ahrodt"), calque of c. "red"
haraḥítharaḥík
- (transliteration: "haaçiþhaaçik"), lit. "red"
- definition: red, foreign, mysterious (see note 3), (archaic "harahetheric"), calque of o.c. "erythric"
harán
- (transliteration: "haan"), lit. "sun/sunlight"
- definition: the sun, sunshine, sunlight
harántsahë
- (transliteration: "haanzahuhe"), lit. "the people of the Sun"
- definition: Human race, surface dwellers
héshihar
- (transliteration: "hešihuha"), lit. "hue"
- definition: hue, color, shade
hmánar
- (transliteration: "humana"), lit. "mankind"
- definition: Human race
hóarak
- (transliteration: "hohaak"), lit. "orc"
- definition: Orc; calque of c. "orc"
hoár'k
- (transliteration: "hoha-uk"), lit. "orc"
- definition: Orc; calque of c. "orc," nonstandard transliteration
hodúgar
- (transliteration: "hoduga"), lit. orckind
- definition: Orc
hwaramíjon
- (transliteration: "huhaaçmion"), lit. "red"
- definition: red, mystical (see note 3), (archaic "woramian"), calque of c. "vermillion"
hwíḥt
- (transliteration: "huiçut"), lit. "human-white"
- definition: white, (archaic "ouicht"), calque of c. "white"
íbar
- (transliteration: "içba"), lit. "white"
- definition: hébra, (see note 2) false-blue, Saguza-white, (archaic "hybra"), combination of all three primary Saguza colors, equivalent to human concept of white
iḥjédoëḥédë
- (transliteration: "içetdo-eçetde"), lit. "yellow/red"
- definition: any hue between yellow and red, (archaic/dialectical "jedoëjedë," "jedojet"), calque of o.c. "yellow-red"
iḥjédoh
- (transliteration: "içetdo"), lit. "yellow"
- definition: yellow, (archaic "jedoh"), calque of c. "yellow"
imátagë
- (transliteration: "imataçge"), lit. "false-violet"
- definition: hymatauge, (see note 2) false-purple, (archaic "imataugë")
imátgar
- (transliteration: "imatga"), lit. "false-blue"
- definition: imaganter, (see note 2) purple, magenta, (archaic "imatgra"), origin of c. "magenta," o.c. "ematgérna," "emagérnta"
imátmagar
- (transliteration: "imatmaga"), lit. "false-cyan"
- definition: hymatove, (see note 2) white, (archaic "imataugra")
imíphgar
- (transliteration: "imiφga"), lit. "false-éffrë"
- definition: amyphrine, (see note 2) false-yellow, urine-colored, (archaic "imyphra")
imíshar
- (transliteration: "imišha"), lit. "false-green"
- definition: hymmish, (see note 2) yellow, (archaic "imyshra")
imzábar
- (transliteration: "imzaba"), lit. "false-cébre"
- definition: emsabre, (see note 2) false-red, blood-colored, (archaic "imsaubra")
ipháchsbaháḥak
- (transliteration: "iφaχsbahuhaak"), lit. "false-black"
- definition: cébre, (see note 2) false-black, (archaic/dialectical "phochsbohoak," "foxbook"), eastern dialect, calque of c. "false-black," fochsbau (uncommon)
iphachsýmshiaḥ
- (transliteration: "iφaχsummušiha"), lit. "false-dark-hue"
- definition: red, fuchsia, deceptive (see note 3), (archaic "phuchsmia"), eastern dialect, origin of common "fuchsia" (see note 2) (through o.a: phychsima/phyximë)
ipháḥtsë
- (transliteration: "iφaçuçze"), lit. "false"
- definition: false, deceptive, fake; calque of c. "false"
ipháḥtsebahárak
- (transliteration: "iφaçuçzebahuhaak"), lit. "false-black"
- definition: cébre, fauxebar, (see note 2) false-black, (archaic "iphachsebahraka"), calque of c. "false-black," o.c. yffâxbarrac
iphaḥtsúmshiar
- (transliteration: "iφaçuçzumušiha"), lit. "false-dark-hue"
- definition: red, royalty (see note 3), (archaic "iphachsoumishra"), fauxoumish, (uncommon) yffâxmishar (archaic)
íphgar
- (transliteration: "iφga"), lit. "éffrë/green-cébre"
- definition: éffrë, (see note 2) false-green, a mix of green and cébre (see note 2), (archaic "hyphra")
ísh
- (transliteration: "iš"), lit. "one"
- definition: one; 1, in senary (see note 1)
ishán
- (transliteration: "išan"), lit. "one-two/eight"
- definition: eight; 12, in senary (see note 1)
íshar
- (transliteration: "išha"), lit. "green"
- definition: hésh, (see note 2) green, (archaic "hyshra")
ishbë
- (transliteration: "išbe"), lit. "one-four/ten"
- definition: ten; 14, in senary (see note 1)
ishdár
- (transliteration: "išda"), lit. "one-three/nine"
- definition: nine; 13, in senary (see note 1)
ishés
- (transliteration: "išes"), lit. "one-zero/six"
- definition: six; 10, in senary (see note 1)
ishísh
- (transliteration: "išiš"), lit. "one-one/seven"
- definition: seven; 11, in senary (see note 1)
óḥ
- (transliteration: "ochu"), lit. "orc"
- definition: Orc, brute (informal, slang); calque of c. "orc,"
óḥarak
- (transliteration: "oçhaak"), lit. "orc"
- definition: Orc; calque of o.c. "ork," archaic transliteration
oḥarántshi
- (transliteration: "oçhaanši"), lit. "yellow/red"
- definition: any hue between yellow and red, (archaic "awarantshë"), calque of c. "orange"
ók
- (transliteration: "ok"), lit. "orc"
- definition: Orc; calque of c. "orc," nonstandard transliteration
ómoḥ
- (transliteration: "om(oç)"), lit. "mountain/hill"
- definition: mountain, hill, barrow
ómzahë
- (transliteration: "omzahuhe"), lit. "people of the mountain"
- definition: Dwarf (respectful)
ossóishar
- (transliteration: "oszoišha"), lit. "dull-green"
- definition: assoïsh, (see note 2) brown, (archaic "azoïshra")
ossú
- (transliteration: "oszu"), lit. "dull"
- definition: grey, dull, (archaic "ozou")
ót
- (transliteration: "ot"), lit. "five"
- definition: five; 5, in senary (see note 1)
otsúishar
- (transliteration: "oçzu-išha"), lit. "under-green"
- definition: atoshric, (see note 2) red, (archaic "atsoushra")
otswém
- (transliteration: "oçzu(em)"), lit. "underside"
- definition: beneath, underside
shínabar
- (transliteration: "šinaba"), lit. "red"
- definition: red, subtle (see note 3), (archaic "shinebra"), calque of c. "cinnabar"
thiwáradë
- (transliteration: "þihuhaaçde"), lit. "the world"
- definition: the "outside" world; calque of c. "the world"
tsábar
- (transliteration: "zaba"), lit. "cébre"
- definition: cébre, (see note 2) false-black, (archaic "saubra"), called "ultra-violet" in scientific literature
Tság
- (transliteration: "zagu"), lit. "Tság/God"
- definition: Tság, the blind god of soil; primary god worshiped by Saguzahar
tsagúzahar
- (transliteration: "zaguzahuha"), lit. "the people of [Tság]"
- definition: Saguzahar race
tsagúzaharasat
- (transliteration: "zaguzahuhaasat"), lit. "tongue of the people of [Tság]"
- definition: Saguza language, Saguzaharasat
tsahéjiphgar
- (transliteration: "zahuheiφga"), lit. "green people"
- definition: Orc
ummú
- (transliteration: "ummu"), lit. "dark/hidden"
- definition: oumic, (see note 2) black, dark, (archaic "oumou")
utetishún
- (transliteration: "utetišun"), lit. "tél/the world"
- definition: Tél, The World
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Footnotes:
1 - Saguzahar count in base six. For more information, see: Saguza Numerology
2 - For more information on exotic colors, and the eccentricities of Saguzahar color-vision, see: Exotic Colors
3 - Being a color invisible to Saguzahar, red is strongly associated in their culture with magic and mystique, as well as luxury by association. As a result, the names for several shades and hues of red have been ported into saguza vocabulary over the years. see: Exotic Colors
4 - In prehistory, it is thought that /s/ and /z/ were allophones of /š/. /t/ and /d/, /p/ and /b/, and /k/ and /g/ were likewise allophones of /þ/, /φ/, and /χ/ respectively. /χ/ was phased out altogether shortly before /ʀ/ shifted into /ç/, but the other fricatives remained, though only preceding or following /i/. /m/ may have at some point been an allophone of /n/ or /φ/, but became considered distinct at some point after the syllabary was assigned with numerological significance- the new characters created for the /m/ set were thus assigned negative values, a novel mathematical invention at the time. see: Saguza Numerology
