Riikan (Voice of the Land) Language notes: Though there are many distinct dialects in the Kitaran settled worlds and societies, Rii-kan is known by nearly all Kitarans; as it predates even their clan-dialects. As a language, it is deceptively simple, but also hideously complex since many of its words have multiple meanings. Primarily an 'efficient' and 'active' language, when directly translated its directness seems quite impolite. This is because it lacks many conventional prepositions and adverbs. Most honorifics are applicable only to other Kitarans. For example, In English: Go to bed, it's already three AM. In Riikan: Itor ha, kel nujiss ha. (Sleep now, [it is]three now) The equivalent of the word 'bed' itself isn't in Riikan. Most objects are named according to their function. Instead of 'bed', 'bunk', and 'covers' as meaning 'furniture for sleep'; Riikan has 'Itor' which when pronounced 'Eetor' means sleep and 'Ih-tor' as the place where one should sleep. As such, spoken riikan (riikanri, as opposed to riikanmai) can really only be understood in context, which unfortuantely can lead to many misunderstandings with those unused to Kitaran thought patterns. Fortunately, Galstandard is easy enough to Kitarans to learn and pronounce. Of Riikan itself, there are two variations, ancient and modern. While it is mostly understandable, the modern version is much simpler and lacking several letters from the ancient tongue. The main difference however is the silent 'h' in most words. 'H', pronounced 'hs' is a vovel to them. For example: Kitharra - Kitara Melishao Khirei Suhjannhi - Melisao Kire Sujanni Lore notes: What's there to think about? They're cats, right? Just slap together some hissing and yowling sounds, and presto - alien language. Unfortunately, it's not that easy. Just picking things out of thin air can get confusing at times, and twisting familiar words can ruin the tone of a story. Even now, when I think of Mon Calamari, what comes to mind aren't great Rebel shipbuilders but those tasty fritters I like. Or... (in)Vader,(in)Sidious, in(Maul)?, in(Dooku), or Greivous,.. Greivous, for god's sake! You just move an 'i' around! Damn Lucas. ^_^ Uh, well at least let's stick to a pattern once we've set it. For versimilititude, we need a logical frame for the language. Just as Kitarans are merely cat-like creatures with their own distinct culture, so must Riikan make some sense on its own. Letters: A B C (Sh) D E F G(Jh) H I J K L M N O P R S T U W X(Hy) Y Z Base Words: Ai mind *mai sure *jaie unsure *kaia possible *alai impossible Alar feet, quickness *malar ponderous *nalar stolid *sular initiative Amur whole *amro completion *namur fraction Anu separate *anuma unclanned *anya combination Aya force, spirit, attack *saaya assault *sihaya persistence Bara defeat *baraki acceptance Biira rank *habira conscript Byu release *byura era Bennu duty *Byennu enforcer Di when, such of Duenno overwhelmed, overflowing *duerro suicide E me *ei myself, mine Fa back *faro moon, illusi on *farhirra shadow moon, new moon *jifar lying Gir success *kagir need Hara go *harra place *harin leave *haranna to wake up Hi less *himiro subclan *hiro new I of -is source, plural form -ni comes from Iyou reality Inyo law, proper *inyilar to duel *inyislir indoctrinate Je sword, sharpness, wisdom *kuje longblade *hije shortblade Ka traveller, other, being *ka ship *marinkarin great exodus Kan voice *Rii-kan Voice of the Land *Laa-kan Travelling Voice Ki this, basic Kimari eat, become Kithara-mur Kitara Prime Kithara-sala Kitaran Nuetral worlds Kithara-rasa Kitaran Clan worlds *kirris sattellite, colony Kir-a race, breed Ku-a sibling La change *sula growth, progress Mani heart, guard Mar clan Maya philosophy Mei noble *meyo lesser nobility *meimar knight *memyan greater nobility *meilis pretentious *melikor prince *melisao princess Miro Subclan, familial duty *miro child of *miru-i father of *mira-i mother of Miya-a property Miyar court Mur family *murro territory *murrowi cattle Mya grasp *myan everything Myaka protector Myaun happiness Myor worth Na within *nna pure Neko unashamed, unafraid Nu motion *nujuro the sun *nujuraan the stars *nujekurran eternity Nya yes *nyao indeed Nyar speed Nyass life O you , that Oh no *okho not, negative *ohri rejection, exile Ra presence, newness *raya male *reya female *raio wild Ramir cherish *Ramira keeper, guardian Ran many Rao tool Rau vessel Ri land, size *Rika great ship *rinna great potential Rir guilt Ro intangible, beyond Rur contentment Risa love Sa portion Seran leader, peacemaker Serin protector Soran master *soranna Captain Shiya determine Shokur trial Shu height Suu is Taban to work, accomplishment Tin great Tir night *tolar thief Turil winter Turilur death, apocalypse Ur low Us water *usso swim *ussai merchant *jissas calamity Xi hope Ya vision -ya writing -yan border *Yassa nation Yha absence, silence *yarro doubtful *tyar restrain, demand Yil fire *Kajil bombardment Zhara compulsion *akin desire *zarkin damnation Numeric system: Sor one Dan two Kel three Pira four Liir five Nom six Tifa seven Uwa eight Sya nine Sansu ten Sansira one hundred Solisa one thousand Mursali one million Myasali one billion Nyar base unit approximately 1.381 meters Moun base unit approximetely .876 liters Anri base unit approximately 1.22 kilograms Jalu minutes Sares hours Nujeku days Nujana months Issaeri years Military ranks: Eru (Private) Eru-nna (Private First-class) Erya-nna (Corporal) Kalens (Specialist) Hi-nna (Sergeant) Hi-nnako (Gunnery/Armor Sergeant) Hi-sara (Master Sergeant) Yuna (Lieutenant) Sera (Lieutenant Commander) Sera-nni (Subcaptain) Sora-nna (Captain) Maya (Commodore) Maya-ka (Group Commander) Kyinar (Admiral) Inyi-kan (Fleet Admiral) Naval compositions: Myaka Command Ship Rimaka Carrier Sayaka Large-gun cruiser Alarika Fast assault warship Himaka Fast carrier/troop transport Byennu Heavy space fighter/bomber Jarin Heavy space fighter/gunpod Iriya Air/space light fighter Rammil Land/space one-man gunpod Capital worlds and Political Forms: Tabbima Tabbana Industrial Republic Liiya Her Majesty's Boundaries of Liyo Pumar Brotherhood of the Fantyrani Reaches Lipruji Gathering of The Jassila Radyann Republic of Solarisa Stars Tyaran Treaty Territories of the Tyana Cluster Jagar Foundations of Jiraga Rudya Citizen's Republic of Tiraga Asyen Conclaves of Irece Major clans(ie; of family names): Solaris (Solar'i-ssa) Liyo (Li-i-yani) Fantyra (Fantii-rani) Jiraga (Ji-ra-gani) Tiraga (Tir-a-gani) Tiyana (Tiyan-ni) Tabbana (Tabb-i, less used; Ta-baya-ni) Isselya (vassal to Liyo; Isse-yani) Irece (vassal to Liyo; Iren-yani) Amra (vassal to Liyo; Am-ra) Jassila (vassal to Fantyra; Jassi-yani) Silennya (mostly absorbed into Fantyra; Silen-yani) Issaya (mostly absorbed into Fantyra; Isa-yani) Sunya (vassal to Solaris; Sun-yani) Errise (absorbed by Jiraga; Er-ris) Illonya (became Clan Liyo; Illon-yani) Miras (absorbed by Solaris; Mi-rasi) Minor Clans Yunar Kusa Issis (and so on)