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.

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)