Changes: Bajoran language

Revision as of 05:07, 5 July 2015

Classroom alphabet 2 — Parts of the Bajoran alphabet (below)

The Bajoran language family is a group of both extinct and existing languages and dialects used on Bajor.

Written language

Bajoran script

The Bajoran written language consists of square symbols which are composed of thick lines. There are a large number of different symbols which can be used in any of eight rotations (flipped and rotated each and every way). Bajoran tends to be written in horizontal lines, although it can be written vertically. (DS9: "Shadows and Symbols")

Bajoran writing is said to be ideographic, that is, each character represents a single thought or word pictured. Most forms of written Bajoran share some root ideograms, as evidenced by the Reckoning Tablet. Each ancient Bajoran symbol translated into a pair of nearly identical modern Bajoran symbols. (DS9: "The Reckoning")

Keiko O'Brien's classroom featured a chart depicting the English, the Ferengi, the Cardassian, and the Bajoran alphabet. The chart listed some twenty-five Bajoran language symbols. (DS9: "The Nagus", "In the Hands of the Prophets", "Cardassians")

Established words and phrases

Amoran - banished (DS9: "The Assignment")
Balik(am) - "go away" or "get lost!", written and pronounced like the Filipino word for "go back", which would also fit as a translation as seen on the scene (TNG: "Ensign Ro")
Bantaca - name for a traditional spire made out of thousands of interlocked stones, marked with the coordinates of the town or city they represent (DS9: "Rapture")
Boryhas - term for ghosts or spirits of the dead (TNG: "The Next Phase")
D'jarras - ancient Bajoran caste system (DS9: "Accession")
Duranja - lamp for the dead: candle suspended by chains from four pillars (DS9: "Shakaar")
Ha'dara - Home of light (VOY: "Flesh and Blood")
Ha'mara - religious festival to celebrate the arrival of the Emissary of the Prophets (DS9: "Starship Down")
Itanu - ceremony carried out when a child reaches the age of fourteen (DS9: "Accession")
Kejal - freedom (VOY: "Flesh and Blood")
Kosst - to be (DS9: "The Assignment")
Pagh - the life energy or soul of a person (DS9: "Emissary", et al.)
Pagh'tem'far - a sacred vision granted by the Prophets (DS9: "Rapture")
Peldar Joi - greeting used during the Gratitude Festival (DS9: "Fascination")
Shawn - swamp, rhymes with Irish name Seán (DS9: "Let He Who Is Without Sin...")

Religious terms

Ranjen - a monk, usually a title given as an honor (DS9: "The Reckoning")
Prylar - a monk or priest (DS9: "The Collaborator")
Vedek - a senior member of the Bajoran clergy (DS9: "In the Hands of the Prophets")
Kai - a leader of the Bajoran clergy (DS9: "Emissary")
Kosst Amojan - also known as Koss'moran, another name for the Pah-wraiths; translates as the banished ones (DS9: "The Assignment")
Pagh - the eternal soul (DS9: "Emissary")
Pagh-tem-far - a spiritual vision sent by the Prophets (DS9: "Rapture")

Measurements

Kellipate - a measure of distance (DS9: "Progress")
Tessipate - a measure of land area used on Bajor (DS9: "Progress", "Children of Time")
Kerripate - a fraction of a tessipate (DS9: "Children of Time")

Prayers

Raka-ja ut shala morala... ema bo roo kana... uranak... ralanon (NAME)... propeh va nara ehsuk shala-kan vunek ...

(do not let him walk alone... guide him on his journey... protect... the one named (NAME)... take him into the gates of heaven... )

Duranja lamp prayer for the recently deceased (the translation comes from the script). (DS9: "Shakaar")

Ahn-kay ya, ay-ya vasu. Coh-ma-ra, di-nay-ya..

Bajoran death chant, repeated over and over again for approximately three hours. (DS9: "Battle Lines")

Tesra Peldor impatri bren. Bentel vetan ullon sten..

Presiders address at the Gratitude Festival. (DS9: "Fascination")

Jia'kaja, tre'nu'tol'a rem... La'por i'lanu kos... I'nar tan'a'tali nor....

Prayer to the prophets asking for protection or favor. (DS9: "Starship Down")

Zhia'kaluh tar'eh anu suur... te'von, aka'lu rez... ka'vor,mat'ana kel..

Marriage blessing by the Emissary. (DS9: "Accession")

Boray pree hadokee. Tolata impara boresh. Preeya (GROOM'S NAME), Preeya (BRIDE'S NAME), abrem varo atel..

Traditional marriage blessing used in conjuction with a simple ceremony. (DS9: "Call to Arms")

lata impara no takash... with humility and gratitude, we accept this gift... Veshanoo yavar ha iktasho... the sacred Orb of Prophecy.

Orb blessing prayer. (DS9: "Resurrection")

(Prayer leader) Tera dak ihsehelm ran embah... (ALL) de-ram ta-MEEN!

Chanted by Kai Winn and fellow Bajorans in the hours before the Reckoning. (DS9: "The Reckoning")

Meeh rak Dorah Pah-wran... Ee-toi... Velah-slah... Pah-wran amar... Pah-wran Evak-too...

Ancient Bajoran chanted by a Pah-wraith Cult Bajoran Assassin to Benjamin Sisko, before attempting to kill him. (DS9: "Image in the Sand")

Tarna pur-ono ull-kess pah-ran. lano ka'la bo'shar lanu.

Meek rak dorrah Pah-wran... Yelim cha ono kosst amojan... shay ta-hel ter-rah no'vala de-ram... aka'lu far che...

Chants from the Book of the Kosst Amojan (DS9: "What You Leave Behind")

Background information

The spoken Bajoran language was often written by Ronald D. Moore. "I just make it up," he laughed. "I do it phonetically so it has a certain rhythm and sound in my head that I can tag as the way Bajorans sound." In scripts, Moore also provided an English translation of each verbalized use of the language, for the benefit of the actors. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 244)

The Bajoran script was designed by Doug Drexler, who was senior scenic artist for the Deep Space Nine series. [1]^(X)

External link

Bajoran language at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+[[File:Classroom alphabet 2.jpg|thumb|Parts of the Bajoran alphabet (below)]]
-{{pna-cite}}
+The '''Bajoran language''' family is a group of both extinct and existing [[language]]s and dialects used on [[Bajor]].
+== Written language ==
-The '''Bajoran language''' family is a groups of both extinct and existing [[language]]s and dialects used on [[Bajor]].  All forms of Bajoran are related, however some forms are extinct and many existing forms are different enough from each other for them to be mutually unrelated.
+[[File:Bajoran script.gif|thumb|Bajoran script]]
+[[File:Bajoran script, Reckoning text.jpg|thumb|Example of written Bajoran, both ancient and modern, translation provided]]
+The Bajoran written language consists of square symbols which are composed of thick lines. There are a large number of different symbols which can be used in any of eight rotations (flipped and rotated each and every way).  Bajoran tends to be written in horizontal lines, although it can be written vertically. ({{DS9|Shadows and Symbols}})
+Bajoran writing is said to be [[ideogram|ideographic]], that is, each character represents a single thought or word pictured.  Most forms of written Bajoran share some root ideograms, as evidenced by the [[Reckoning Tablet]].  Each ancient Bajoran symbol translated into a pair of nearly identical modern Bajoran symbols. ({{DS9|The Reckoning}})
+[[Keiko O'Brien]]'s [[classroom]] featured a chart depicting the [[English]], the [[Ferengi]], the [[Cardassian]], and the Bajoran alphabet. The chart listed some twenty-five Bajoran language symbols. ({{DS9|The Nagus|In the Hands of the Prophets|Cardassians}})
-==Ancient Bajoran==
-Ancient Bajoran refers to numerous dialects of the Bajoran language that were spoken betweeen 35,000 - to 5,000 years ago.  Some ancient Bajoran dialects may be synonymous with religious dialects and as such will be used in religious contexts, this is equivalent to the situation of Latin on [[Earth]].
+== Established words and phrases ==
-==Modern Bajoran==
+*'''Amoran''' - banished ({{DS9|The Assignment}})
-Modern Bajoran is the current, standard dialect of the [[Bajoran|Bajoran people]].  it is used all over Bajor and on its colonies.  It is written with the '''Bajoran script'''.  A sample of modern Bajoran words and terms follows:
+*'''Balik(am)''' - "go away" or "get lost!", written and pronounced like the Filipino word for "go back", which would also fit as a translation as seen on the scene ({{TNG|Ensign Ro}})
+*'''[[Bantaca spire|Bantaca]]''' - name for a traditional spire made out of thousands of interlocked stones, marked with the coordinates of the town or city they represent ({{DS9|Rapture}})
+*'''Boryhas''' - term for ghosts or spirits of the dead ({{TNG|The Next Phase}})
+*'''D'jarras''' - ancient Bajoran caste system ({{DS9|Accession}})
+*'''Duranja''' - lamp for the dead: candle suspended by chains from four pillars ({{DS9|Shakaar}})
+*'''Ha'dara''' - Home of light ({{VOY|Flesh and Blood}})
+*'''[[Ha'mara]]''' - religious festival to celebrate the arrival of the [[Emissary of the Prophets]] ({{DS9|Starship Down}})
+*'''Itanu''' - ceremony carried out when a child reaches the age of fourteen ({{DS9|Accession}})
+*'''Kejal''' - freedom ({{VOY|Flesh and Blood}})
+*'''Kosst''' - to be ({{DS9|The Assignment}})
+*'''[[Pagh]]''' - the life energy or soul of a person ({{DS9|Emissary}}, ''et al.'')
+*'''Pagh'tem'far''' - a sacred vision granted by the [[Prophet]]s ({{DS9|Rapture}})
+*'''Peldar Joi''' - greeting used during the [[Gratitude Festival]] ({{DS9|Fascination}})
+*'''Shawn''' - swamp, rhymes with Irish name Seán ({{DS9|Let He Who Is Without Sin...}})
+== Religious terms ==
-*'''Amor''' - to banish
+*'''[[Ranjen]]''' - a [[monk]], usually a title given as an honor ({{DS9|The Reckoning}})
-*'''Amoran''' - banished
-*'''Balik(am)''' - "Go away" or "get lost!"
+*'''[[Prylar]]''' - a monk or priest ({{DS9|The Collaborator}})
+*'''[[Vedek]]''' - a senior member of the Bajoran clergy ({{DS9|In the Hands of the Prophets}})
-*'''Bantaca''' - name for a traditional spire made out of thousands of interlocked stones. They are marked with the co-ordinates of the position of the town or city they represent
+*'''[[Kai]]''' - a leader of the Bajoran clergy ({{DS9|Emissary}})
-*'''(Beli)Clavian''' - musical instrument. Most likely a wind instrument similar to a clarinet.*
+*'''[[Kosst Amojan]]''' - also known as ''Koss'moran'', another name for the [[Pah-wraith]]s; translates as ''the banished ones'' ({{DS9|The Assignment}})
-*'''Boryhas''' - term for ghosts or spirits of the dead
+*'''Pagh''' - the eternal soul ({{DS9|Emissary}})
-*'''D'jarras''' - ancient Bajoran caste system, a caste
+*'''Pagh-tem-far''' - a spiritual vision sent by the Prophets ({{DS9|Rapture}})
-*'''Dal'Rok''' - a mythical energy being that terrorises a small village.
-*'''dara''' - home or house
-*'''Dessipate''' - measure of distance, a fraction of a '''Kellipate'''
-*'''Duranja''' - lamp for the dead. Candle suspended by chains from four pillars.
-*'''ha''' - light
-*'''Ha'dara''' - house of light
-*'''Ha'mara''' - religious festival to celebrate the arrival of the [[Emissary]]
-*'''Itanu''' - ceremony carried out when a child reaches the age of fourteen
-*'''[[Jeraddo]]''' - "The Eye of the night", Bajor's fifth closest moon
-*'''Kai''' - title of the supreme religious leader of the Bajoran faith, equivalent to [[Earth]]'s [[Wikipedia:Pope|pope]]
-*'''Kejal''' - freedom
-*'''[[kellipate]]''' - measure of distance, akin to around a mile or a kilometer
-*'''[[Kerripate]]''' - measure of land area, a fraction of a '''Tessipate'''
-*'''Koss'Moran''' - legend dealing with the banishment of the [[Pah-Wraith]]s; from the words "kost" meaning "to be''' and "amoran" meaning "banished"
-*'''kost''' - to be, ''am, are, is etc.''
-*'''[[Kosst Amojan]]''' - the "Evil One". Another name for the Pah-Wraiths, translates as something like "The Banished Ones".
-*'''Mandala''' - shrine found in most Bajoran homes
-*'''[[Pagh]]''' - the life energy or soul of a person
-*'''Pagh'tem'far''' - a sacred vision granted by the [[Prophet]]s
-*'''Peldar Joi''' - greeting used during the [[Gratitude Festival]]
-*'''[[Prylar]]''' - title of a religious figure who has responsibility for a Temple, equivalent to a priest or monk
-*'''[[Rangen]]''' - religious leader in the Bajoran faith, equivalent to a bishop or abbot
-*'''Shaan''' - swamp, rhymes with Irish name Seán
-*'''[[Tessipate]] - measures of land area, akin to an acre
-*'''[[Vedek]]''' - religious leader, equivalent to a archbishop or cardinal.
+== Measurements ==
-==Religious dialects==
+*'''[[Kellipate]]''' - a measure of distance ({{DS9|Progress}})
-Several prayers heard during the series may have been in the religious dialect, likewise they could have been in standard Bajoran as well.
+*'''[[Tessipate]]''' - a measure of land area used on Bajor ({{DS9|Progress|Children of Time}})
+*'''Kerripate''' - a fraction of a tessipate ({{DS9|Children of Time}})
+== Prayers ==
-'''Healing prayer'''
+*'''Raka-ja ut shala morala... ema bo roo kana... uranak... ralanon (NAME)... propeh va nara ehsuk shala-kan vunek ...
-*''Jia kasha tren tolaren, lapor ilani kor.  Enna tana talinok.  Jia kasha treyna tolaren, lapor ilani kors, enna jia kasha tren.''
+:(do not let him walk alone... guide him on his journey... protect... the one named (NAME)... take him into the gates of heaven... )'''
+::[[Duranja]] lamp prayer for the recently deceased (''the translation comes from the script''). ({{DS9|Shakaar}})
+*'''Ahn-kay ya, ay-ya vasu.  Coh-ma-ra, di-nay-ya..'''
-'''Victory prayer'''
+::Bajoran death chant, repeated over and over again for approximately three hours. ({{DS9|Battle Lines}})
-*''Teradak embra ensahelm ran embra.  Daran tareen!''
+*'''Tesra Peldor impatri bren.  Bentel vetan ullon sten..'''
-'''Duranja prayer for the recently deceased'''
+::Presiders address at the Gratitude Festival. ({{DS9|Fascination}})
-*''Raka Ja Hoot. Shalla Moralla. Emma Buru Kana. Uranak Rana Non (Person's Name). Propay Va Nara Eh Suuk. Shalla Com...'''
+*'''Jia'kaja, tre'nu'tol'a rem... La'por i'lanu kos... I'nar tan'a'tali nor....'''
-'''Bajoran death chant, repeated over and over again for approximately three hours'''
+::Prayer to the prophets asking for protection or favor. ({{DS9|Starship Down}})
-*''Ahkayah. Aya Vasuu. Kovan ha. Ekayha.''
+*'''Zhia'kaluh tar'eh anu suur... te'von, aka'lu rez... ka'vor,mat'ana kel..'''
-'''Presiders address at the Gratitude Festival'''
+::Marriage blessing by the Emissary.  ({{DS9|Accession}})
-*''Tesra Peldar Impadre Bren. Bentel Veytan Olan Sten.''
+*'''Boray pree hadokee. Tolata impara boresh. Preeya (GROOM'S NAME), Preeya (BRIDE'S NAME), abrem varo atel..'''
-'''Marriage blessing by the Emissary'''
+::Traditional marriage blessing used in conjuction with a simple ceremony. ({{DS9|Call to Arms}})
-*''Shakala tai unsyor. Tevan akares kova antana kel.''
+*'''lata impara no takash... ''with humility and gratitude, we accept this gift...''  Veshanoo yavar ha iktasho... ''the sacred Orb of Prophecy.'''''
-'''Traditional marriage blessing used in conjuction with a simple ceremony'''
+::Orb blessing prayer. ({{DS9|Resurrection}})
-*''Bore ah pre arrow key. Toll ah ta en para boresh. Pre ah (groom's name), pre ah (bride's name). Abrem. Varo ay tem.''
+*'''(Prayer leader) Tera dak ihsehelm ran embah... (ALL) de-ram ta-MEEN!'''
-'''Orb blessing  prayer (partially in English)'''
+::Chanted by Kai [[Winn Adami|Winn]] and fellow Bajorans in the hours before the [[Reckoning]]. ({{DS9|The Reckoning}})
-*''Dolata impara nul ta kash. With humility and gratitude we accept this gift." "Veshi nyu hiva ha ek kasho''
+*'''Meeh rak Dorah Pah-wran... Ee-toi... Velah-slah... Pah-wran amar... Pah-wran Evak-too...'''
-==Writing==
+::Ancient Bajoran chanted by a [[Cult of the Pah-wraiths|Pah-wraith Cult]] [[Unnamed Bajorans#Bajoran Assassin|Bajoran Assassin]] to [[Benjamin Sisko]], before attempting to kill him. ({{DS9|Image in the Sand}})
-[[Image:bajoranscript3.JPG|thumb|Bajoran script]]
-[[Image:reckoningtext2.JPG|thumb|Example of written Bajoran, both ancient and modern.
-Translation provided.]]
-The Bajoran written language consists of square symbols which are composed of thick lines. There are a large number of different symbols which can be used in any of four rotations (normal, horizontal flipped, vertical flipped, 180 degree rotation). This gives approximately 160 symbols plus fifty or so variant symbols in the written language.  The number of characters in the script implies that it's either syllabic or logosyllabic.  Modern Bajoran text usually requires pairs of symbols to write words and concepts, although odd numbers of characters are also used in Bajoran texts - possibly as abbreviations or they're simply less common than paired symbols.
+*'''Tarna pur-ono ull-kess pah-ran. lano ka'la bo'shar lanu.'''
-Both ancient and modern Bajoran text has been called [[ideogram|ideographic]] - each character represents a single thought or idea pictured, however, in practice Bajoran characters will represent things other than ideas as well:
-Given the possible number of symbols, Bajoran writing likely includes both ideograms, logograms and syllabic characters, meaning each character can represent a word, an idea or a syllable(s).
+*'''Meek rak dorrah Pah-wran... Yelim cha ono kosst amojan... shay ta-hel ter-rah no'vala de-ram... aka'lu far che...'''
+::Chants from the  [[Book of the Kosst Amojan]] ({{DS9|What You Leave Behind}})
+== Background information ==
+The spoken Bajoran language was often written by [[Ronald D. Moore]]. "''I just make it up,''" he laughed. "''I do it phonetically so it has a certain rhythm and sound in my head that I can tag as the way Bajorans sound.''" In scripts, Moore also provided an English translation of each verbalized use of the language, for the benefit of the actors. (''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion]]'', p. 244)
+The Bajoran script was designed by [[Doug Drexler]], who was senior scenic artist for the ''Deep Space Nine'' series. {{DrexFiles|2010/01/03/ancient-bajoran-starchart/#comment-23419}}
+== External link ==
+* {{mbeta}}
+[[Category:Languages]]
+[[de:Bajoranische Sprache]]
+[[sv:Bajoranska]]