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Thalassian

From WoWWiki

Thalassian is the language of the high elves, half-elves, half blood-elves, and blood elves — a derivative of the Darnassian language of the night elves. It has both written and spoken equivalents. Individuals who are unfamiliar with the language's proper name may refer to it as high elven (not to be confused with the language Elven).

Like Nazja, Thalassian is derived from the Darnassian language.[1] The elder tongue is almost forgotten.DotD 136 Hence, Thalassian is closely related to Darnassian and there is some overlap between the two languages. Further Darnassian utterances may therefore have been preserved in modern Thalassian.[1]

So far, linguistic scholars have opted to err on the side of caution in documenting Darnassian terms and phrases that are also considered part of the Thalassian language. Certainly this issue, however delicate, merits further research. Nevertheless, addressing a high elf or blood elf with a Darnassian-specific word or phrase can be considered offensive or at the very least rather foolish, and so the speaker must handle the situation with care.[1]

This is one of the four known elven dialects.CoH 67

Contents

Thalassian Primer (official translations)

Here are a few common Thalassian phrases and words, for which the translations have been officially confirmed by Blizzard:

  • Al diel shala = Safe travels.[1]
  • Anar'alah belore = By the light of the sun.[1]
  • Anaria shola = Speak your business.[1]
  • Anar'endal dracon = By the spirit of the dragon.[2][3]
  • Anu belore dela'na = The sun guides us.[1]
  • Bal'a dash, malanore = Greetings, traveler.[1]
  • Band'or shorel'aran — (Roughly) "Prepare to say farewell", spoken by Commander Sarannis, officially translated in the Chinese version of WoW.
  • Bash'a no falor talah! = Taste the chill of true death!,[1] Sylvanas Windrunner (WC3)
  • Doral ana'diel? = How fare you?[1]
  • fallah na! = Our enemies are breaking through![1]
  • Selama ashal'anore = Justice for our people.[1]
  • shindu = failing.[1]
  • Shorel'aran = Farewell.[1]
  • Sin'dorei = Children of the blood. This could also be interpreted as "people of the bloodline", referring to the continuation of the line of the Highborne.[1]
  • Sinu a'manore = Well met.[1]
  • Sunstrider = "he who walks the day"[1]

High elven names

The past is a burden to the high elves, yet they maintain naming rituals that are millennia old. Many of the names of elven priests and heroes have become the names used for elves in modern times. The high elves share a connection with the sun that is quite prevalent in their choice of family names.

  • Male Names: Mariel, Athaniar, Anandor, Tharama, Viridiel, Malanior.
  • Female Names: Anarial, Freja, Driana, Coria, Alanassori, Melanion, Azshara.
  • Family Names: Boughstrider, Dawnblade, Lightbringer, Morningray, Suntreader.

WoWRPG 37

Untranslated words or phrases

Thalassian speculation

Image:questionmark-medium.png
This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

Thalassian word parser

This is the list of words created by the in-game language parser for the Thalassian language, and is listed as language number ten (word range 800-901) in the Language text file.

In the in-game translator, the language parser for Thalassian shares similar words with the Darnassian parser.

Note: The language algorithm used by the in-game "translator" merely makes the words look like Thalassian. It does not actually translate words. Therefore, translated in-game speech isn't truly Thalassian.

Number of letters in word Word List
One-letter words A, N, I, O, E, D
Two-letter words Da, Lo, An, Ni, Al, Do, Ri, Su, No
Three-letter words Ano, Dur, Tal, Nei, Ash, Dor, Anu, Fal, Tur, Ala, Nor, Osa
Four-letter words Alah, Andu, Dath, Mush, Shar, Thus, Fulo, Aman, Diel, Dieb, Rini, Anar
Five-letter words Talah, Adore, Ishnu, Bandu, Balah, Fandu, Thera, Turus, Shari, Shano, Terro, Eburi
Six-letter words Dorini, Shando, Ethala, Fallah, Belore, Do'rah, Neph'o, Man'ar, Ishura, U'phol, T'as'e
Seven-letter words Asto're, Anoduna, Alah'ni, Dor'Ano, Al'shar, Mush'al, Aman'ni, Shan're
Eight-letter words Mandalas, Eraburis, Dorithur, Dal'dieb, Thoribas, D'ana'no, Il'amare
Nine-letter words Neph'anis, Dune'adah, Banthalos, Fala'andu, Dath'anar, Shari'fal, Thori'dal
Ten-letter words Thero'shan, Isera'duna, Ash'therod, Dorados'no, Shar'adore
Eleven-letter words Fandu'talah, Shari'adune
Twelve-letter words Dor'ana'badu, T'ase'mushal
Thirteen-letter words U'phol'belore
Fourteen-letter words Turus'il'amare, Anu'dorannador
Fifteen-letter words Asto're'dunadah
Sixteen-letter words Shindu'fallah'na
Seventeen-letter words Thoribas'no'thera, Ando'meth'derador, Anu'dorinni'talah, Esh'thero'mannash

Translations speculation

For fan translations see Thalassian/speculation.

Darnassian vs. Thalassian speculation

Of note, Kael'thas did not react hostily in the plaguelands when Tyrande greeted him with a Darnassian phrase, he even responded himself with an "Ishnu'alah". This may mean that some of the words still have the same meaning in both languages. ...or it means some phrases have not become offensive in its respective language.

History speculation

After the high elves were exiled from Kalimdor by the night elves, they set up in the Eastern Kingdoms. There, they lived for millennia, cultivating their culture and their magic. Because of their long life spans, Thalassian, as they called their language, still retains parts of the old language. In fact, it is possible that Thalassian isn't a separate language, and is merely dialect of Darnassian. Even if this were the case, however, it would still be distinct enough to incur communication difficulty.

Thalassian Outside the Warcraft Universe

An award-winning song from the 2007 Blizzcon Song Contest was "Belore Shala Diel", sung in Thalassian and English, by Phillip Presswood (Xalea).

References

  1. ^ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/encyclopedia/576.xml
  2. ^ Revelations
  3. ^ Last of the Line

External links


Races and their languages
Alliance Crest Draenei Dwarves Gnomes Humans Night elves Worgen
Draenei Dwarven Gnomish Common Darnassian Worgen
Horde Crest Blood elves Forsaken Goblins Orcs Tauren Trolls
Thalassian Gutterspeak Goblin Orc or Orcish Taur-ahe Zandali
Neutral Demons Dragons Elementals Furbolgs High elves Naga Nerubian Murlocs Titans Tuskarr Vrykul
Demonic or Eredun Draconic Kalimag: (Ignan, Aquan, Terran, Auran) Ursine Thalassian Nazja Nerubian Nerglish Titan Tuskarr Vrykul
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