Changes: Elder Speech

Revision as of 22:40, 6 March 2020

Hen llinge is the language of Aen Seidhe elves. As it is one of the oldest languages still in use, it is referred to as the Old or Elder Speech while the lingua franca is Common Speech. It is used currently not only by elves, but also by mages and scholars. Sung versions of Elder Speech are used by dryads, sirens and nereids. Nilfgaardian and Skellige dialects both derive from Elder Speech.

Its vocabulary is based heavily on the Gaelic and Celtic languages of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, although in some cases Sapkowski has used also connotations with more "popular" tongues, like German and English. The two basic verbs, 'to be' and 'to have', are borrowed from Italian and Latin.^[1]

Old Speech - Polish original text on Andrzej Sapkowski Zone

Dictionary

It should be noted that spelling of some words vary throughout the novels, due to dialectal differences or just author's mistakes.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z • Names • Phrases

A

Elder Speech	English
a’báeth	kiss
a’taeghane	today
aard	misspeling of "ard"
aark, aark	phonetic presentation of the sound ravens/crows make
abb	river mouth
addan, adan	dance; dancer; dancing
aé	first person singular subject personal pronoun I (dryad dialect)
aedd	shard
aefder	later, after
aen	indefinite pronoun one, ones; of; for; from; to
aen’drean	enter?
aenye	fire, fiery
aep	in; of; son of; appears to be just general genitive, not marking solely hereditary ties
aép	in, to
aesledde	ride on a sledge/sled
aespar	shoot (verb.)
aëte	summer
aevon	river
aine	light (possibly enlightened)
an	small, minor, vague
an’givare	informer, spy
ard	up; upper; high; top; mountain; mountainous
arse	arse (UK), ass (US), butt

B

Elder Speech	English
ban	peak?
beanna	woman
beann’shie	beann'shie, or banshee
blath	flower
blathan	garland; flowers
blathanna	Seems to be genitive: flowers', of flowers
blathe	the fifth savaed in the elven calendar; possibly 'flowering'?
bleidd	wolf
bloed	blood
bloede	bloody, damn
Brokiloéne	of Brokilon, Brokiloni

C

Elder Speech	English
caed	forest; grove
cáelm	calm, peaceful, quiet; slowly, quietly; calm, quieten
cáemm	come, go
caen	can (verb)
caer	castle; keep
cáerme	fate, destiny
carn	kurgan; barrow; burial mound
carraigh	rock
ceádmil	greet (in game appears as caed'mil; also as caedmill), greetings
cerbin	raven
cinerea	Ilyocoris
coram	lion
col	col, mountain pass
craag	crag?
creasa	must, necessity, obligation, inevitability
crevan	fox

D

Elder Speech	English
d'yaebl	devil (in game both a sword and a wolf bear this name)
dearg	red
dearme	sleep; good night (phrase)
deireádh	end (noun)
deith	flame
deithwen	white flame
dh’oine	human (in game also in form dh'oinne)
dhu	black
dice	say; to speak
dol	dale; dell; vale; valley
drieschot	triangle
dwimmer	magic; sorcery

E

Elder Speech	English
easnadh	sigh (ellylon)
elaine	fair, beautiful
ell	alder
elle	of alders, alder's
en	indefinite article (a/an)
en’leass	laced, tied (ellylon)
enid	daisy
ensh’eass	enchanting, enthralling, charming, glamourous (ellylon)
ess	be
esse	will be
essea	I am
esseath	you are
evall	horse
evellienn	every, all

F

Elder Speech	English
feainn	sun; also the sixth savaed in the elven calendar
feainne	of sun, sunny
feainnewedd	Sun-Child, Child of the Sun
fen	fen (a low marshy/frequently flooded area), wetlands
foilé	frantic; mad
folie	frenzy
fraeren	brothers

G

Elder Speech	English
gar’ean	note; consider
geas	curse; geis is a magical obligation/prohibition
gláeddyv	sword
gleann	bottom, low, valley
gleanna	of valley
glosse	look, observe?
gvalch’ca	falconess
gwen, gwyn	white (also -wen)
gynvael	ice

H

Elder Speech	English
hael	greeting; health, safety, cure?
haela	medicine; drug?
hanse	Unit; group of friends
hav’caaren	hawker(s); based on Elder Speech word for 'rapacious'
hen	elder, old, oldest

I

Elder Speech	English
ichaer	blood, gene
inis	island
invaerne	winter
ire	other, another

K

Elder Speech	English
kelpie	kelpie
Ker’zaer ^[2]	Emperor (Nilfgaardian dialect)

L

Elder Speech	English
laeke	lake
lammas	maturing
lara	seagull
lionors	lioness (Skellige dialect)
llech	stone
Loc’hlaith	Lady of the Lake (ellylon)
luned	daughter / young girl

M

Elder Speech	English
me	me, my, mine
meáth	meet
mid-	middle
milva	Red kite
minne	love (noun)
mire	look, observe?
mistle	waxwing, or mistle thrush, also one of the Rats
modron	mother (Skellige dialect)
morc	book, tome
morvudd	enemies
muire	sea

N

Elder Speech	English
naev’de	nine of
neén	not

P

Elder Speech	English
pavienn	ape
pest	pestilence, plague, blight
pherian	halfling, hobbit
pont	bridge

Q

Elder Speech	English
que	that
quirk, quirk	phonetic representation of the sound sparrows make

R

Elder Speech	English
raenn	run
rhena	queen (Skellige dialect)
ruadhri	raiders (ellylon)
Roethainne ^[2]	Redanian

S

Elder Speech	English
saov	spirit, soul, ghost? (See: Wikipedia:Samhain#Etymology)
savaed	One eighth of the year in the elven calendar
scoia’tael	squirrel(s)
seidh	hill, mound
seidhe	of hills, hill's
shaent	sing
sidh	elf (dryad dialect)
sledd	sled
sor’ca	little sister
spar	shoot (verb)
spar’le	shoot him
squaess	excuse; forgive
stráede	road, path

T

Elder Speech	English
taedh	bard, poet
tearth	fear
tedd	time, age, season
thaesse	shut up
tir	land
tirth	wild boar
tor	tower
tuathe	wisper (ellylon)
tvedeane	twelve, dozen

V

Elder Speech	English
va	go
va faill	goodbye, farewell
vara	ware; goods?
vatt’ghern	witcher
veloë	fast, quick; quickly
voe’rle	stop, halt?
vort	further, away (from oneself), still

W

Elder Speech	English
wedd	child
weddien	diminutive form of 'wedd', child; kiddo
wen	white (also as -wen)
woed, woéd, woedd	wood; forest

Y

Elder Speech	English
yeá	so, yes
yghern	Giant centipede
yn	on, over, upon
ys	downward

Z

Elder Speech	English
zireael	swallow (bird)
zvaere	swear (to take an oath)

Names

Elder Speech	English
Aedd Gynvael	Shard of Ice
Aenyeweddien	Fire Child
Aen N’og Mab Taedh’morc	"Practices for a Young Bard"
Aen Elle	Alder Folk, People of the Alders
Aen Saevherne	Sage
Aen Seidhe	Hill Folk, People of the Hills
Aen Woedbeanna	Woman of woods, dryad
Aenyell’hael	Baptism of fire, also the name of a novel
Aevon y Pont ar Gwennelen	River of Alabaster Bridges, Pontar
Ard Carraigh	High Rock
Belleteyn	blossoming
Birke	Spring equinox; the fourth savaed in the elven calendar
Ban Ard	Upper (peak?)
Ban Gleán	Lower (peak)?
Brokiloén	Brokilon
Caed Dhu	Black Forest/Grove
Caed Myrkvid	Myrkvid Forest/Grove
Caer a’Muirehen	Old Sea Keep; Keep of the Elder Sea (Blood of Elves , UK); Witchers' fortress
Ceann Treise	a cascade in Brokilon; meaning uncertain, possibly "headstrong"?
Conynhaela	a magical cure which enables the rapid regeneration damaged or broken bones
Craag An	once a village, now a necropolis in Brokilon; meaning uncertain
Dol Adalatte	Valley of Adalatte-river
Dol Blathanna	Valley of the Flowers
Duén Canell	The Place of the Oak
Glyswen	White River
Gwenllech	river: White Stones
Gwynbleidd	White Wolf
Imbaelk	Imbolc, germination; the third savaed in the elven calendar
Lammas	maturing; the seventh savaed in the elven calendar
Mear’ya	Maria, Mary (for some reason brings not so nice connotations^[3])
Midaëte	Midsummer
Midinvaerne	Midwinter
Saovine	'Soul day'?; the first savaed in the elven calendar
Tor Lara	Tower of Gulls
Tor Zireael	Tower of the Swallow, Swallow's Tower
Velen	autumn equinox; the eighth savaed in the elven calendar
Vrihedd	Freedom?
Xin'trea	Cintra in Elder Speech.

Phrases

Elder Speech	English
Aen me Glaeddyv, zvaere a Bloedgeas, Ard Rhena, Lionors Aep Xintra!	By my Sword, I swear a Blood Oath, the Highest Queen, Lioness of Cintra! (Skellige dialect)
A d’yaebl aép arse	Into devil's ass
Ceádmil, Wedd Brokiloéne!	Greetings, Child of Brokilon!
Dubhenn haern am glândeal, morc’h am fhean aiesin	My glare will pierce through darkness, my brightness will scatter the shadow
Ess’creasa, sor’ca	It's necessary, little sister
Ess'tedd, esse creasa	It's time, it is necessary
Duettaeánn aef cirrán Cáerme Gláeddyv. Yn á esseáth	The Sword of Destiny has two edges. You are one of them
Glaeddyv vort, beanna	Drop the sword, woman
Glaeddyvan vort!	Drop the swords!
Ire lokke, ire tedd	Another place, another time
Lambert cáen me a’báeth aep arse	Lambert can kiss my ass
Que’ss aen me dicette, Enid? Vorsaeke’llan? Aen vaine?	What [would you say / are you saying??] to me, Daisy? Forsake them? In vain?
Squass’me	Excuse me; forgive me
Va’esse deireádh aep eigean, va’esse eigh faidh’ar	Something ends, something begins

Notifications

↑ "Nie bądź, kurwa, taki Geralt" - community interview
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 in The Witcher game series
↑ The Baptism of Fire, chapter one

[interview1-1] "Nie bądź, kurwa, taki Geralt" - community interview

[notmentioned-2] 2.0 ^2.1 in The Witcher game series

[3] The Baptism of Fire, chapter one

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 '''Hen llinge''' is the language of [[Aen Seidhe]] elves. As it is one of the oldest languages still in use, it is referred to as the '''Old''' or '''Elder Speech''' while the lingua franca is [[Common Speech]]. It is used currently not only by elves, but also by mages and scholars. Sung versions of Elder Speech are used by [[dryad]]s, [[siren]]s and [[nereid]]s. [[Nilfgaardian dialect|Nilfgaardian]] and [[Skellige dialect|Skellige]] dialects both derive from Elder Speech.
-Its vocabulary is based heavily on the Gaelic and Celtic languages of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, although in some cases [[Andrzej Sapkowski|Sapkowski]] has used also conotations with more "popular" tongues, like German and English. The two basic verbs, 'to be' and 'to have', are borrowed from Italian and Latin.<ref name="interview1">''[http://web.archive.org/web/20071215043502/http://www.sapkowski.pl/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=453 "Nie bądź, kurwa, taki Geralt" - community interview]''</ref>
+Its vocabulary is based heavily on the Gaelic and Celtic languages of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, although in some cases [[Andrzej Sapkowski|Sapkowski]] has used also connotations with more "popular" tongues, like German and English. The two basic verbs, 'to be' and 'to have', are borrowed from Italian and Latin.<ref name="interview1">''[http://web.archive.org/web/20071215043502/http://www.sapkowski.pl/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=453 "Nie bądź, kurwa, taki Geralt" - community interview]''</ref>
 <font size="1">Old Speech - Polish original text on [http://web.archive.org/web/20140324172408/http://www.sapkowski.pl/modules.php?op=modload&name=Companion&file=index&func=slownik Andrzej Sapkowski Zone]</font>
 == Dictionary ==
+It should be noted that spelling of some words vary throughout the novels, due to dialectal differences or just author's mistakes.
 {|cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"  width="95%" style="margin:auto;"
 |-
@@ Line 20: / Line 22: @@
 ! class="unsortable" | English
 |-
+| a’báeth
-| a'baeth
 | kiss
 |-
+| a’taeghane
-| a'taeghane
 | today
 |-
 | aard
 | misspeling of "ard"
-|-
-| aark
-| floe
 |-
 | aark, aark
@@ Line 53: / Line 52: @@
 | ''indefinite pronoun'' one, ones; of; for; from; to
 |-
+| aen’drean
-| aen'drean
 | enter?
 |-
-| aenye
+| [[aenye]]
 | fire, fiery
 |-
 | aep
-| in; of; appears to be just general genitive, not marking solely hereditary ties
+| in; of; son of; appears to be just general genitive, not marking solely hereditary ties
 |-
 | aép
@@ Line 83: / Line 82: @@
 | small, minor, vague
 |-
+| an’givare
-| an'givare
 | informer, spy
 |-
@@ Line 105: / Line 104: @@
 | woman
 |-
+| beann’shie
-| beann'shie
 | [[Beann'shie (creature)|beann'shie]], or banshee
 |-
@@ Line 115: / Line 114: @@
 |-
 | blathanna
-| Genitive: flowers', of flowers
+| Seems to be genitive: flowers', of flowers
 |-
 | [[blathe]]
@@ Line 194: / Line 193: @@
 ! class="unsortable" | English
 |-
-| d'yaebl
+| [[d'yaebl]]
 | devil (in [[The Witcher (computer game)|game]] both a [[D'yaebl (sword)|sword]] and a [[D'yaebl (wolf)|wolf]] bear this name)
 |-
@@ Line 212: / Line 211: @@
 | white flame
 |-
+| dh’oine
-| dh'oine
 | human (in [[The Witcher (computer game)|game]] also in form ''dh'oinne'')
 |-
@@ Line 223: / Line 222: @@
 | dol
 | dale; dell; vale; valley
+|-
+| drieschot
+| triangle
 |-
 | dwimmer
@@ Line 249: / Line 251: @@
 | indefinite article ''(a/an)''
 |-
+| en’leass
-| en'leass
 | laced, tied ([[ellylon]])
 |-
@@ Line 255: / Line 257: @@
 | daisy
 |-
+| ensh’eass
-| ensh'eass
 | enchanting, enthralling, charming, glamourous ([[ellylon]])
 |-
@@ Line 300: / Line 302: @@
 | folie
 | frenzy
+|-
+| fraeren
+| brothers
 |}
@@ Line 308: / Line 313: @@
 ! class="unsortable" | English
 |-
+| gar’ean
-| gar'ean
 | note; consider
 |-
@@ Line 326: / Line 331: @@
 | look, observe?
 |-
+| gvalch’ca
-| gvalch'ca
 | falconess
 |-
@@ Line 351: / Line 356: @@
 | Unit; group of friends
 |-
-| [[Havekar|hav'caaren]]
+| [[Havekar|hav’caaren]]
 | [[hawker]](s); based on Elder Speech word for 'rapacious'
 |-
@@ Line 386: / Line 391: @@
 | [[kelpie]]
 |-
-| Ker'zaer <ref name="notmentioned">in ''[[CD Projekt's The Witcher franchise|The Witcher]]'' game series</ref>
+| Ker’zaer <ref name="notmentioned">in ''[[CD Projekt's The Witcher franchise|The Witcher]]'' game series</ref>
 | Emperor ([[Nilfgaardian dialect]])
 |}
@@ Line 410: / Line 415: @@
 | llech
 | stone
+|-
+| Loc’hlaith
+| Lady of the Lake ([[ellylon]])
 |-
 | luned
@@ Line 461: / Line 469: @@
 ! class="unsortable" | English
 |-
+| naev’de
-| naev'de
 | nine of
 |-
@@ Line 526: / Line 534: @@
 |-
 | saov
-| spirit, soul, ghost?
+| spirit, soul, ghost? (See: [[Wikipedia:Samhain#Etymology]])
 |-
 | [[savaed]]
 | One eighth of the year in the [[elven calendar]]
 |-
-| [[scoia'tael]]
+| [[scoia'tael|scoia’tael]]
 | squirrel(s)
 |-
@@ Line 549: / Line 557: @@
 | sled
 |-
+| sor’ca
-| sor'ca
 | little sister
 |-
@@ Line 555: / Line 563: @@
 | shoot (verb)
 |-
+| spar’le
-| spar'le
 | shoot him
 |-
@@ Line 614: / Line 622: @@
 | ware; goods?
 |-
+| vatt’ghern
-| vatt'ghern
 | [[witcher]]
 |-
@@ Line 620: / Line 628: @@
 | fast, quick; quickly
 |-
+| voe’rle
-| voe'rle
 | stop, halt?
 |-
@@ Line 653: / Line 661: @@
 |-
 | yeá
-| so
+| so, yes
 |-
 | yghern
@@ Line 690: / Line 698: @@
 | [[Iskra|Fire Child]]
 |-
-| [[Aen N'og Mab Taedh'morc]]
+| [[Aen N'og Mab Taedh'morc|Aen N’og Mab Taedh’morc]]
 | "Practices for a Young Bard"
 |-
@@ Line 705: / Line 713: @@
 | Woman of woods, dryad
 |-
+| Aenyell’hael
-| Aenyell'hael
 | Baptism of fire, also the name of a [[Baptism of Fire|novel]]
 |-
@@ Line 735: / Line 743: @@
 | Myrkvid Forest/Grove
 |-
-| Caer a'Muirehen
+| Caer a’Muirehen
 | Old Sea Keep; Keep of the Elder Sea ([[Blood of Elves]] , UK); [[Kaer Morhen|Witchers' fortress]]
 |-
 | [[Ceann Treise]]
-| a cascade in [[Brokilon]]; meaning uncertain
+| a cascade in [[Brokilon]]; meaning uncertain, possibly "headstrong"?
 |-
 | [[Conynhaela]]
@@ Line 771: / Line 779: @@
 | maturing; the seventh [[savaed]] in the [[elven calendar]]
 |-
+| Mear’ya
-| Mear'ya
 | Maria, Mary (for some reason brings not so nice connotations<ref>The ''[[Baptism of Fire]]'', chapter one</ref>)
 |-
@@ Line 791: / Line 799: @@
 | [[Velen (savaed)|Velen]]
 | autumn [[equinox]]; the eighth [[savaed]] in the [[elven calendar]]
+|-
+| [[Vrihedd]]
+| Freedom?
 |-
 | [[Cintra|Xin'trea]]
@@ Line 805: / Line 816: @@
 | By my Sword, I swear a Blood Oath, the Highest Queen, Lioness of Cintra! ([[Skellige dialect]])
 |-
-| A d'yaebl aép arse
+| A d’yaebl aép arse
 | Into devil's ass
 |-
@@ Line 811: / Line 822: @@
 | Greetings, Child of Brokilon!
 |-
-| Dubhenn haern am glândeal, morc'h am fhean aiesin
+| Dubhenn haern am glândeal, morc’h am fhean aiesin
 | My glare will pierce through darkness, my brightness will scatter the shadow
 |-
 | Ess’creasa, sor’ca
-| It's a necessity, little sister
+| It's necessary, little sister
+|-
+| Ess'tedd, esse creasa
+| It's time, it is necessary
 |-
 | Duettaeánn aef cirrán Cáerme Gláeddyv. Yn á esseáth
@@ Line 829: / Line 843: @@
 | Another place, another time
 |-
-| Lambert cáen me a'báeth aep arse
+| Lambert cáen me a’báeth aep arse
-| [[Lambert]] can kiss me in the ass
+| [[Lambert]] can kiss my ass
 |-
-| Que'ss aen me dicette, Enid? Vorsaeke'llan? Aen vaine?
+| Que’ss aen me dicette, Enid? Vorsaeke’llan? Aen vaine?
 | What [would you say / are you saying??] to me, Daisy? Forsake them? In vain?
 |-
+| Squass’me
-| Squass'me
 | Excuse me; forgive me
 |-
-| Va'esse deireádh aep eigean, va'esse eigh faidh'ar
+| Va’esse deireádh aep eigean, va’esse eigh faidh’ar
 | Something ends, something begins
 |}