The Dark Elven Language

[The King Of The Moon 5124]

((Important Disclaimer. Please read))

Spoiler

This writing project is ongoing; though this post contains much useful information about Vel'luah, the limits of our forums as well as the practical reality that an IC language will never be 'complete' have rendered Vel'luah's publication on a single thread impossible. 

 

Therefore, the entire language - including an ever-expanding list of nouns and verbs not listed on this post - can be found on this live document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GVf7dINjklUJm6eTmvhpCCpu4h_RDB5LR0US_NlWeQM/edit?usp=sharing

 

We heavily encourage any dark elf players interested in doing so to utilise this doc as an OOC resource, and to supplement their RP with this language as and when they see fit. It is not by any means considered secretive nor exclusive to any one player group nor culture beyond its dark elven majority, and may be treated as such by any player interested in doing so!

As the language is ever growing (and likely always will be), I would encourage any with suggestions or requests for edits or additions to the language to contact myself or @Creete (as well as more curators to come) via discord. We can be messaged via Mordu#0780 or Creete#8440 respectively. 

Vel’luah

(Artem Demura)
A depiction of Velulaeia's first sane dawn in the wake of the Moon's blessing.

 

Vel’luah, sometimes called Night Elven, Vulgar Drow, Greyspeak or Moontongue is a modern language of the dark elves, derived from the race’s mother and holy tongues, Ancient Elven and Old Blah respectively, as well as sparse corruptions and loaned words from the vile verbiages of Mori’quessir and even - rarer still - sterilized mortal iterations of Al’tahrn-Durngo.

Vel’luah is no mere dialect of the aforementioned, however; as the official language of many clans and cultures across the broader dark elven diaspora (including those with no reverence for the Spirits nor historic subjugation at the hands of the mori’quessir), contemporary vel’luah speakers retain only a modicum of lexical similarity with the aforementioned. 
That is to say, as a distinct neo-elven language in its own right, the average Vel’luah speaker would not be conversationally understood by another that knew only Ancient Elven or Old Blah; nor would a monolinguistic Vel’luah speaker possess the ability to comprehend these without conscious efforts made to learn them from scratch. 

 

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Alphabet

Unlike the longer Common alphabet, Vel’luah only utilizes 19 letters consistently, and it also does not contain any diacritics. However inappropriate for Vel’luah words themselves, it is not unheard of for some dark elves to source additional letters from other tongues for their forenames and occasionally even family names. This remains controversial to some clans. 

Vel’luah also utilizes its own script derived from Flexio, though many amongst the younger generations of dark elves tend to use it interchangeably with its Common alphabet equivalents. 
There is no concept of uppercase nor lowercase in the Vel’luah script, though Flexio letters obey the same capitalisation rules as Common. 

 

ɱ չ ȶ ʊ ɮ ɠ ɛ ʅ ӄ
M Z T U B G E L K 

 

ð ש ℜ α א ʋ ɦ ¤ ռ ʂ

D Y R A X V H O N S

-’X’ and ‘Z’ are interchangeable in spellings, though ‘X’ is typically reserved for nouns and names intended to appear formal and/or spiritually significant.
-Like Common and unlike most other descendant languages, Vel’luah occasionally pairs ‘T’ and ‘H’ to form dental fricatives, the likes of which may be heard in Common words like ‘there’ and Vel’luah words like ‘kathir’.

 

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Numbers

Vel’luah has no numerical symbols. Instead, the names of numbers and equations are always written as full words: 

 

0 - sly  

1 - az          6 - vho       
2 - nyt        7 - reu        
3 - hek        8 - xyn       
4 - zag        9 - bex        
  5 - kru       10 - unz        

   

Number factors are determined by suffixing them accordingly:

 

10s -ah                
100s -ee              
1000s -he            
100,000s -yhk     
100,000,000s -ux

 

When described figuratively, these factors are written as if beginning with 1, and are suffixed again as plurals. A dark elf exaggerating with the word ‘hundreds’ would say ‘azahzh’.

 

Unlike the Qalasheen Numerals used in Common, Vel’luah’s 0 (‘sly’) is never used to indicate a decimal place. It is less a number and more an indication of nothing; “less than one”. 

 

Each factor is written in descending order, connected with hyphens. 
For example, 99 is ‘bexah-bex’. 1,203 is ‘azhe-nytee-hek’ (notably NOT ‘azhe-nytee-sly-hek’)

 

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Grammar
-Suffixes and prefixes immediately latch onto the word they correspond to.
-The predicate comes after the subject.
-Adjectives and adverbs are attached to the back of the word they describe with a hyphen
-Plural is denoted by adding a –zh to the back of the noun
-Articles attach themselves to the backs of words they affect, after any suffixes. For example, ‘the dark elves’ includes a noun [maehr] that is plural [zh] with ‘the’ as an article [el], so it translates to ‘maehrzhel’.
-Past tense is denoted by adding an a' to the front of the verb, before prefixes.
-Future tense is denoted by adding an e' to the front of the verb, before prefixes.
-Present tense is defaulted to without either prefix. 
-Possession is denoted by prefixing uhv’ to a pronoun or noun. For instance yours or your is ‘uhv’laht’
-Apostrophes are only grammatically relevant to the above tense and possession prefixes. All other uses merely denote a short pause in that word’s pronunciation.
-Compound words are always hyphenated. There are no open or closed compounds. For example, the open compound word ‘full moon’ in this case combines the adjective [vyl] and the noun [velulaeya], so it translates to ‘vyl-velulaeya’. 

 

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Prefixes:

a-, an-, in- (without) be-
ante- (before) lui-
anti- (against) uby-
arch-, extra-, hyper-, omni-(high, ruler, more, over, all-encompassing) [masculine only] ulath-
auto- (self) shadar-
bi- (two) ny-
co-, inter- (with, between) yl-
dec- (ten) un-
dis-,  -ill (not) bar-
en- (put into) shyl-
ennea- (nine) be-
ex- (out of) zuul-
hept- (seven) re-
hex- (six) vo-
in- (into) zaal-
macro- (large) ulth-
micro- (small) yeo-
mono- (one) az-
oct- (eight) xy-
penta- (five) ku-
post- (after) mab-
re- (back/again) xae-
sub- (under) mor-
tetra- (four) zag-
tri- (three) he-
un-, de- (not, down, away from) num-

 

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Suffixes:

-acy (state or quality) -eth
-al (act or process of) -ethe
-ance, -ence (state or quality of) -rax

-arch, -est (highest, most) [feminine only] -ana
-dom (place or state of being) -uk
-ist, -er, -or (one who) -yr
-ism (doctrine or belief) -za
-ness (state of being) -um
-self (personal) -shah
-ship (position held) -vot
-sion, -tion, -ful, -esque (state of being, notable for, reminiscent of) -kon
-ate (become) -trak
-ify, -fy (to make) -yg
-able, -ible (capable of being) -uth
-al (pertaining to) -ley
-ious, -ous, -ish (characterized by, having the quality of) -yl
-ly (like) -eb
-y (characterized by) -az
-ive (having the nature of) -yb
-less (without) -bea
-ed (make nouns into adjectives) -hk
-ing (action of) -ule
-ling (smaller version) -ye

 

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Adverbs

Anyway - roa’bub
Forever - myxzu
**** - zkyr
Maybe/perhaps  - zoba
Most - ulot
Must - tesso
Next - ytamy
No - xye
Not - syex
Now - nyn
Once - azt
Shall - tezu
Soon - theen
Then - mebe
Together - layeh
Too/ also - gel
Very - l’yth
Well -kah
Will - lo
Yes - zar

 

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Verbs

Are/is - yx
Become - toomah
Can - ern
Can’t - er’sye
Could/would/should - belk
May - zob
Might - beel
Seem - akeer

 

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Pronouns

I - yto
You - laht
Yourself - labah
He - ura
She - vel
Him - urada
Her - velul
We - lye
You all - lyht
They/Them - sha
Me - ra
It - zeb
Us - lug

Our - uhv’lye
Which - shalyu
Any - roan

 

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Question words

Who/what - mirz
When - mukh
Where - vat
Why - heyah
How - mol

 

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Conjunctions

As/ Like - hru
And - zy
Because - dhurz
Or - myl
But - aza
If - sau
So - dunr
Though - reeky
While - thoak
Whilst - veel
As - ben

 

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Articles

The - el
a - o
An - ga
This - ax
That - ux

 

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Useful Phrases

 

Maehr

How many dark elves self-identify. Though the words 'maly' meaning 'elf' and 'ker' meaning 'dark' are both loaned from ancient elven and 'malyker' is still used at times, 'maehr' is a less literal label reserved for "proper" dark elves. 

 

Vraz
An informal greeting, ‘hi’ or ‘hello’. Literally translates to ‘good’. 

 

Be’a-velulael
Used in sunlight hours similarly to ‘good day’, though with less cheerful connotations; roughly translating to ‘without the moon’. 

 

Kerayal
An informal greeting, though more intimate than ‘vraz’. Though derived from the ancient elven’s ‘good evening’, it may be used at any time of day. 

 

Vrax
A ceremonious greeting meant for superiors. Always accompanied by a salute, bow or other respectful bodylanguage. Also at times a holy word used by spiritual teachers to disciples.

 

Vrax-maehr
A formal greeting exclusive to dark elves, denoting respect or familial love. It would be inappropriate to greet a non dark elf this way, and insultingly taboo for a non-dark elf to greet anyone this way. 

 

Karin-ye
Reserved for the morning, this can be both a neutral greeting and an observation that dawn has come. It literally translates to ‘little sun’. 

 

Throm-kah
Derived from old blah, interpreted as ‘be well’ as well as ‘well met’; doubles as a greeting or farewell in context.

 

Vanayal
A corruption of ancient elven’s ‘farewell’.

 

Ukh lu velulael 
A fond farewell blessing, translating to ‘go with the moon’. 

 

Ahernyn
An informal ‘thanks’. Derived from ancient elven, 

 

Ynx labah mabas
A sincere way of giving thanks, typically reserved for significant gifts or favours. Literally translating to ‘bless yourself after’.

 

Yo’ros
There is no Vel’luah equivalent to asking ‘please?’. Yo’ros is the closest term, though it denotes the act of begging - loaned from the mori’quessir’s ‘joros’ meaning ‘to ask’ - and is tainted with humiliating connotations. It is a decidedly desperate plea.

 

Ukh bo bashuk
A dismissal, translating to ‘go in shame’. ‘Bashuk’, loaned from the mori’quessir word for ‘honour’, is a hurtful term not used lightly. 

 

Ukh
‘Go’, as a dismissal. 

 

Lye ukh
‘Let’s go [together]’. Literally translating to ‘we go’. 

 

Ska’at tul
‘come here’. ‘Ska’at’ can be used alone to simply mean ‘come’.

 

Velulaeyael kee
The issuance of a formal challenge, such as a duel, contest or dispute. Literally translating to ‘the moon calls’; ‘the moon pulls’.

 

Yyrel vex!
The acceptance of a challenge. Literally translating to ‘the ocean pushes [back]!’; ‘the sea answers!’.

 

Thet’uzhel kix
The refusal/ dismissal of a challenge. Literally translating to ‘the tide sleeps’ or ‘the waves sleep’. This phrase can also be used by a third party as an attempted diffusal, as well as finding positive use in recognition of peace and placidity. 

 

Lo laht malar la?
‘Will you fight me?’

 

Lo laht malar lu la?
‘Will you fight with me? [on my side]’

 

Helun-velulaeya hon laht/ Helun-velulaeya tom uhv’lye honyr 
‘Mother moon guide you/ Mother moon be our guide.’

 

Xabyth-exan
A sacred word with no common language equivalent, describing when the moon is visible during daylight. It literally translates to ‘pale day’, albeit always spelled with holy ‘x’s instead of the 'z’s used when writing the words individually (‘zabyth’ and ‘ezan’ respectively). Many dark elves also use the term to describe days of religious observation regardless of if the moon is actually visible, in a similar fashion to the common ‘sabbath’.

 

Xabyth-thet’uxh
A sacred word with no common language equivalent, describing when the moon sets over the ocean. It literally translates to ‘pale tide’ or ‘pale waves’, albeit always spelled with holy ‘x’s instead of the 'z’s used when writing the words individually (‘zabyth’ and ‘thet’uzh’ respectively). Many dark elves believe that witnessing such is a grand omen, if not a direct blessing from their ancestral patrons. 

 

Ythaen
Another term without a common language equivalent, ythaen describes a righteous warrior pledged to the preservation of an ideal. The term can also be used to describe a city guard, paladin or templar, albeit only when said individual is themselves a dark elf. It is a neutral term, without negative nor positive connotations.

 

Ythael
Another term without a common language equivalent, ythael describes a tenacious warrior who fights only for their own passions and pragmatism. The term can also be used to describe a mercenary, bandit or assassin, albeit only when said individual is themselves a dark elf. It is a neutral term, without negative nor positive connotations.

 

Velel
Literally meaning ‘lunar’, the word is also used to describe a full cycle of the moon and forms compounds with numbers to describe the passage of months ((OOC days)). For instance ‘az-velel’ would be ‘one month’ ((one IRL day)).

 

Velelana
Literally meaning ‘high lunar’, the word describes one set of seven cycles of the moon and forms compounds with numbers to describe the passage of years ((OOC weeks)). For instance ‘az-velelana’ would be ‘one year’ ((one IRL week)).

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[ClassyDryad 1733]

Based

[alexmagus 596]

Mirzax yx? 

Edited April 7, 2023 by alexmagus

[UniBearse 725]

Glorier will try to learn and do his best

[Gaea_Foundation 581]

Time to curse someone out in Dark elf 😎

[ThatFunkyBunch 2066]

Jusmia Owns the Letter J and will be demanding royalties for all that use it. 

[DISCOLIQUID 1963]

Spoiler

Chat GPT, show me this guy's lore folder

 

[Tav 1372]

uhv'laht helun 

[MokoMochi 445]

<3 love

[saint swag 2447]

Ukh zkyr labah

[Kumoko600 90]

You guys deserve huge props for this, it's really well done. 

[Creete 425]

1 hour ago, _Hexe_ said:

Ukh zkyr labah

Xye, laht.