Rihannsu
Rihannsu is a living language, and so is not static; but it changes much more slowly then English. Four major periods may be discerned in its development.
First, of course, was the creation of the language from Old High Za’aan. The grammar and syntax developed at this time are still in use today, as well as nearly all the vocabulary. The main effect of history has been to build and expand on this base rather than to transform it.
Next was the Journey from the unknown to the Titan system, a period of about two hundred years (ships’ time -- much more time elapsed for the non-relativistic universe.) The Journey’s main effect was a smoothing out of the original language, as it was put into practical and exclusive use for the first time. Additions to vocabulary related mainly to astronomical phenomena which the Travellers encountered for the first time, and to the developing religion/philosophy of the Elements and “matter as god.”
The third period began with planet fall and lasted some 98 years. The basis of the language did not change significantly during this time, but dialects began to develop. However, communication and education were maintained well enough that these linguistic drifts were minor, equivalent to the accents found in the twentieth-century United States. Vocabulary was enlarged as the Rihannsu named the life-forms of their new worlds. Words for geographical features that had not existed on Arcana, such as oceans and islands, were also added. The various arts which flourished during this time enriched the language as well.
The fourth and present period began with the Rihannsu’s first encounter with an alien race. This sparked the expansionist phase of their history as they frantically rushed to colonize worlds and build up an empire. In the largely isolated colonies, the language drifted in many different directions. Even more influential than isolation was the effect of contact with alien languages, alien technology, and alien ways of thought. Despite the intense Rihanha xenophobia, outside words and ideas crept into the language. This was especially true on conquered worlds, where the language of the native species profoundly affected that of the colonists. In addition, technological vocabulary grew by leaps and bounds, and old astronomical terms which had largely dropped out of use were revived.
Contents
EDAIHTIR U'RHIRHALIR ABHHILIR
Useful Words and Phrases
GREETINGS
- jolan'tru
- semiformal hello/goodbye; most common greeting.
- y'hhau
- informal hello/goodbye; generally used only between close friends and relatives of similar age.
- aefvadh
- formal greeting "be welcome".
- shaoi ben
- formal greeting, superior to inferior.
- shaoi dan
- formal greeting between equals.
- shaoi kon
- formal greeting, inferior to superior.
- bedah
- formal goodbye.
- bed aoi
- "goodbye forever".
Adverbs & Adjectives & Others
- ie
- yes.
- dhat
- no.
- daie
- yes (inferior to superior).
- au'e
- yes indeed! oh, yes! (emphatic affirmative).
- patned pra krsh
- never.
- ssaer?
- why?
- fvah?
- what?
- hann'yyo
- thank you.
- iumnau
- urgent.
- mnekha
- correct, right; excellent. (superior to inferior, or between equals).
- mnek'nra
- correct, right; excellent. (inferior to superior).
- rha?
- is that so? oh, really? (rather sarcastic).
- ta'krenn!
- look at that! look!.
Insults
- hevam
- human (derogatory).
- khoi-udt
- drop dead.
- vah-udt?
- what rank? (are you to be ordering me).
- fvadt
- damn it! damn!.
The following insults can be used either alone, or in sentences, or following hwiiy, which means "you are":
- veruul
- fool
- hhakh
- stupid
- dyypan
- incompetent
- ryakna
- garbage
- nohtho
- crazy
- knvuk
- ugly
- kllhe
- shit:eater
- fehill'curak
- asscrack
- hnaev
- shit
- susse
- thrai : she:wolf, bitch
- amton'wi
- kha : slut; promiscuous
Terms of Endearment
- jol-ao au
- I love you.
- e'lev
- my love, dear, darling.
- sahe'lagge
- passionflower.
- h'levreinnye
- love:devil, lust:devil.
Forms of Address; People; Organisations
- rinam
- sister
- dinam
- brother
- ri'nanov
- mother
- di'ranov
- father
- rian
- cousin
- ke'rhin
- fellow Veskans
- Rihan
- Veskan (adjective, e.g. the Veskan language)
- Rihanha
- a Veskan person
- Rihannsu
- a group of Veskan people
- Rihanh
- the Romulan nation/race/people as a whole
- rekkhai
- sir/madam (in Galae)
- lhhai
- sir (outside Galae)
- lhhei
- madam (outside Galae)
- Galae s'Shiar
- Imperial Fleet
- Tal'Shiar
- Imperial Police
- Kiith Mevroqq'ghi
- Diplomatic Corps
- Ilnetha'ahrifv
- Economic Corps/Merchant Marines
- Rei'kara
- Imperial Legion
- Khhiu'draao s'Shiar
- Imperial Land Army
Phrases
- Ssuaj-ha.
- Understood. (formal/military use, inferior to superior)
- Ssuaj.
- I understand. (non:formal, common use)
- Ssuaj
- difv? : Do you understand?
- H'ta
- fvau. : Return at once (to last position).
- Hteij'rhau.
- Activate transporter.
- Hallh'na.
- Report to me at once.
- Hnafirh'rau.
- Let me see.
- Ie'yyak-hnah!
- Fire phaser!
- Hyaa-aifv-hnah!
- Fire disruptor!
- Ihlla'nh.
- That's just enough; That'll do; You'll do.
- Qiuu mnekha? / Qiuu mnek'nra?
- Is everything well? (superior to inferior / inferior to superior)
- Qiuu mnekha. / Qiuu mnek'nra.
- All is well. (superior to inferior / inferior to superior)