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HOMEWORLD: THE KUSHAN VOCABULARY

HW XENOLANG Header

I wanted to push everything in one article, but I gotta stop writing such large texts:

The content field can not exceed 100000 characters in length.

Contents

  1. The Sources
  2. Kushan Language Patterns
    • Words Structure
    • Suffixes
    • Feminatives
    • Plural Form
    • Words Joints
  3. Kushan Vocabulary
    • Kharak Biom
    • Kharak Culture
    • Kharak Myths
    • Kharak Religion
    • Kharak Technology
    • Kushan Kiithid
    • Kharak Cartography
    • Kharak Personal Names
    • Ship Codenames
      • Carriers (HWDOK)
      • Gaalsien Desert Vessels (HWDOK)
      • Kushan Ships
      • Taiidan Ships
      • Ancient Hiigaran Empire Ships
  4. Kushan Vocabulary: Analysis
    • Almost Translated
    • Half-Translated
    • Not Translated
    • Literal References
    • Khar
    • Daiam, Kharam, Assam
    • Siidim, Gritiidim, Khadiim
    • ne
    • Kiithless
    • Other Combinations
  5. Kushan Poetry

The Sources

  • HW1 - Homeworld 1, manual, game
  • HWC - Homeworld Cataclysm/Emergence, manual, game
  • HWCO - Homeworld Cataclysm, outtakes
  • HWWOS - HW and HWC ship descriptions, well of souls
  • HW2 - Homeworld 2, manual, game
  • HW2PR - Homeworld 2, Prima Official eGuide
  • HWDOK - Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, Expedition Guide, game
  • HWR - Homeworld: Revelations RPG
  • HWRS - Homeworld: Revelations RPG Story Seeds
  • HWM - Homeworld: Mobile, homeworldsource.net
  • HW3 - Homeworld 3
  • HWDST - Homeworld Dust Wars drafts

Change Log

  • 18.10.23 - added info on feminatives (uur/uura); added some info on endings and structure;
  • 19.10.23 - added examples of word with ending removed
  • 21.10.23 - created Suffixes section, added text about English writing rules problems
  • 26.10.23 - added a text about ways to translate the Kiithless word into Kushan
  • 29.10.23 - extracted Miir root, idea for Kor, and reference for Siifar Kor'shosh
  • 30.10.23 - added Nimbus expedition names and a bit of minor changes
  • 03.11.23 - added Nimbus expedition of Leviathan
  • 10.11.23 - added Tiirshak and Mohaava carriers to the Nimbus expedition list
  • 01.12.23 - update Riiti information, added S'chto
  • 09.12.23 - added HWDOK's Kiith Family Medallion to Kushan Culture
  • 29.01.24 - added HWDOK's Dreamlands - Dhaigren
  • 14.04.24 - added Paktu ending case, Kha as Holy Spirit
  • 23.04.24 - added Poetry section
  • 25.04.24 - added some ideas about Faal-Corum/Tel and Khontala

Kushan Language Patterns

Here are some patterns that I found after checking the available vocabulary.

Words Specifics

Something that marks Kushan language:

  1. Regular usage of double vowels, but not always:
    e.g.: skaal, faagan, haariri
  2. Regular usage of specific consonant combinations (KH,TH etc):
    e.g.: Khar-Atekh, kiith, A'kadath
  3. Regular usage of apostrophe for non-specific vowel usage (consonant self-sound):
    e.g.: S’jet, J’niira, B'tir
    -- though it's a HWDOK feature and might be defined as old Kushan leftovers or dialect
    -- or it might be another way how to connect words removing some extra vowel
  4. Usually words consist of 1 or 2 syllables, but it depends
  5. Words can have suffixes

Suffixes

There is bunch of word endings, that are quite common, but not limited to that:

  • -el, -al, -il, -ul, -'l
  • -an, -en, -im, -um, -ann
  • -ar, -ir, -ur, -or
  • -uk, -ok, -ak
  • -it, -'t, -et
  • -ith, -ath, -oth
  • -art, -ard
  • -ab, -ob
  • -aw
  • -es, -as, -os, -is

There might be a chance that finding those suffixes in the middle of a word could mean that the word is constructed of two roots.

And by the example of the following words, we know that sometimes that suffixes may be removed, for some reason:

  • LiirHra[] <- Li[ir] + Hra[al]
  • Gaalsi[] <- Ga[al]si[en]
  • Siid[] <- Siid[im]
  • Kar[] <- Kar[an]
  • Saju[]-Ka <- Saju[uk]

The last case of Saju-Ka (HW1) is interesting, as there is Sheer-Ka (HWC) word, but maybe this could be applied to another -uuk ending word - Cow Duke, sorry, I mean, Caaw Duuk (HWDOK). So, it might be alternated this way:

  • Caaw Duuk -> Caaw Du-Ka

Though it's hard to tell, as it's not clear what Ka and Duuk means, and if Saju- & Sajuuk connected (Ham and Hamster?).

Interesting if kiith Paktu name could tied somehow to this case... Like:
- We are Paktu from Paktu-Ka.
- Paktuuk? Paktuur? Paktuul?
- No, we're Paktu, we're free to shape ourselves as we want it.

Feminatives

There are names like Huur[] - Kuur[A], Majiir[] - J'niir[A], and we can define those guys as men and women, so there is a chance that -[A] ending is defining gender. Like, J'niir[A], Kuur[A], Siim[A], Dav[A] etc. Maybe other endings as well contain gender information.

And watching how S[a] turns into S[id], I'd say, there is for sure an ending -A there. And we might even suggest that Sa is a feminative, which leads back to a thought that Kushan culture is very matriarchical one...

Plural Form

There are several ways of creating plural form:

  1. with suffix -id:
    e.g.: kharak/kharakid, kiith/kiithid, sa/sid
    open vowel of the original word is replaced
  2. using possessive adjectives as plural form, with postfix -i/-ii
    +i -> e.g.: sobani, manaani, sjetti, naabali
    +ii -> e.g.: kharakii, manaanii, sobanii
    the accent can be changed here: sobani - sobanii

It looks like -id is not a plural form, but a creation of a new single form word, that means “the bunch of”, like it's done in esperanto: birdo (a bird) - birdoj (birds) - birdaro (flock of birds). In our case it could be the following logic:

  • Kharak - the object, the planet
  • Kharaki - something that belongs to the object, some of the planet habitants
  • Kharakii - many of something that belongs to the object, the multiple units of the planet habitants
  • Kharakid - all of something that belongs to the object, the planet habitants in general

For example, Amar[i][id] flats (HWR) could be translated like this: flats of the all of belonging to a bunch of Amar ones, whatever that means, something like that. Or there is Amari[a] entity, be it people, animal or else.

We can play this game further: Taiidan - whatever -an means, there is all belonging to Tai :D. But that word should be of another language, so never mind.

Words Joints

There are different ways of combining words in Kushan:

  1. Aaa Bbb : Skaal Tel, Sajuuk Cor
  2. Aaa-Bbb : Kuun-Lan, Kiith-Sa
  3. Aaabbb : Griitidim, Hiigara
  4. AaaBbb : LiirHra
  5. Aaa'Bbb : Asaam Kiith'sid, Kor'shesh (?) --not sure about this

But this is too much related to writing and can hardly be distinct in speech, so somehow this should be regulated.

For example, there is “Skaal Tel” and “Skaal Fa”, male and female predators of Kharak, then there is Somtaaw destroyer “Naar-Tel”, and Tel sector, and Coruc-Tel and Seera Tel systems. Skaal, Naar, Coruc, Seera might define some alien life species: Kharakian, Hiigaran or any other planet biome Kushani got familiar with. But on the other hand, “Naar-Tel” is not “Naar Tel” - and we don’t know for sure what’s the difference between “Naar-Tel”, “Naar Tel”, “Tel Naar”, “Tel-Naar” in Kushan language… Or even “Naar’Tel”?..

But we know phrases Sajuuk Cor/Taa, wrath/fist of Sajuuk; and Skaal Tel/Fa/Brii, male, female, kids of Skaal. But the word order makes it somewhat clear. And while I still cannot imagine how to make a "hollow kinswoman" out "J'niira Kiith", for "Siifar Kor'shesh", "Night of Fiery Daggers", it looks like "Siifar" is "Fiery Daggers" and "Kor'shesh" is "Night", though I'd make it otherwise. But let's not forget that the word order not always is stable, and as we don't know the exact word meaning the final result may vary.

The same is about the Kiith-Sa, kiith-leader, leader of kiith, and most probably the order is important, but how it's happening, is it a root-root, root turning into a suffix, can we have Sid-Kiith, how it's Sa of Sa's, Sid-sa? For now it's not really clear, and I'm not ready to imagine a new grammar rule for this. :) Anyone else to define it?.. And why in HWC it's written as "Kiith'sid"?

Kushan Vocabulary

Homeworld series have added quite many words for the Kushan language, and here (I hope) are all that are found to this moment. Though I must admit that using English for alien words might be very confusing because of it's empirical pronunciation rules, when the same letter combinations can be read in a different way, because of the history - e.g., thought / [θot]; because of the dialects - route / [raut] or [rut], either / [izer] or [aizer]?

Homeworld lore has these this as well. C-K problems when JARACI is [JARAKI], but CANGACIAN is [KANGASIAN] - so how would you spell CANGACI? How do you differentiate KOR from COR? Then while everywhere we follow double vowel rule, CLEE SAN is not what it's seems and is pronounced [KLII SAN], so HEESHK pronounced [HISHK] or [HEESHK]? And then we have H letter problem - is it pronounced or not? And, finally, how do you spell name MYTAR - is it [MAITAR] or [MITAR]? How do you spell the clearly French roots (is this some Canadian reference?) name of PER DOINE - [DUEIN], [DUAN], [DUIN]?..

Someone who creates a new word for Kushans, should also write down an approximate spelling of it. Or write words the way there's no ambiguities in their pronunciation.

Kharak Biom

  • B'tir (HWDOK)
    Deep desert brood tunneler
  • Chriil (HWDOK)
    An animal “so clever it hunts its own tail to death” © Rachel S'jet
  • Fiirkan (HWWOS)
    A small hunting bird native to the temperate deserts of Kharak. The Fiirkan hunts by riding the wave-front of the huge seasonal sandstorms, plucking its food as the violent winds drive various small animals from hiding. The bird dives and twists at the edge of the storm, but is never swallowed up by it.
    Could be consisting of two roots - Fi[ir] + K[an]
  • Kudaark (HWC)
    a large burrower from the northern forests of Taiidan
    -- still it looks like originally it was from the northern forests of Kharak…
  • Haarir(i) (HWDOK)
    The largest animal on Kharak: friendly, knee-high, omnivorous
  • Riit(i) (HWDOK)
    A small ubiquitous and annoying and grain-eating forager abnormal to Kharak.
    -- seems that we're talking about usual mice
  • Sam't (HWDOK)
    Sidestepping swarmer insects of the Dry Seas
  • Skaal (HWC)
    The Skaal is one of the most deadliest predators that roam the southern wastes of Kharak, and was the greatest threat to the safety of caravans until it was deliberately hunted to the edge of extinction.
    The male of the species, the Skaal Tel, is a vicious clawed hunter with heavy scales and poison sacks that can blind or kill an unwary opponent at a distance. Though it masses nearly ten times that of an average Taiidani, it is still able to keep up with a warrior at full run. The Skaal Tel hunts for its mate and cubs during the breeding cycle and is capable of dragging its kill back to the den from over a hundred kloms away.
    Skaal Fal is the female of the Skaal species, and, while smaller and somewhat more vulnerable during the breeding season than the male, sports a tail covered with hardened spines which she can fling at an attacker with deadly force from the safety of her lair.
    -- though it was updated in HWC manual, the Kharakian Taiidans still were not proofread out
  • Triikor (HWC)
    Kharakian predator cat

Hiigaran Biom

  • S’chto (HW3)
     A nut, an ingredient of the S’chto Crème ice-cream loved by Imogen S'jet

Kharak Culture

  • A'kadath Su Tiira (HWDOK)
    “Victory is work”: ancient Kharakid phrase that ends every briefing for Baserunner crews
  • Chak'm'Hot (HW1)
    The winds of the desert seasonal superstorm, circling the equator every 13 years, it drastically reshapes Kharak's surface in its wake
  • Clean Water Act (HW1)
    The act forbade non-Siidim kiithid from living at the headwaters of a river or stream, lest they foul the water which Siidim downstream would have to drink (~KDS 470)
  • Clee-San (HWC)
    Literary, "Truth Seeker", a temple and a ship.
  • Dhaigren (HWDOK) - Dreamlands (by Gaalsien)
  • Diirvaas (HWC)
    The ancient discipline of sword-dancing.
    Could be consisting of two roots - Di[ir] + V[aas]
  • Daiamid (HW1)
    The place where kiithid, powerful and weak, gather to resolves disputes and set policy for Kushans.
    Could be consisting of several parts - Da[i][am][id], see below.
  • Faagan (HWDOK)
    • the extended rope which runs from one family member to another in a howling sandstorm, and allows them to continue following their leader and cling to one another even when they cannot see or hear for themselves.
    • Gaalsi term for Northern Coalition: “the Bound and the Blind”, Faagani are “Blind Followers of a False God”
  • Faal-Corum (HWC)
    Literary, "Silent Wayfarer", a temple and a ship
  • Ferin Sha (HW1)
    The Dancing Ground
  • Fist of God (HWDOK)
    Gaalsien warriors.
    Could be a complex word - Ga[al][si][en], see below.
  • Gritiidim (HW1)
    By Siidim Dogma (KDS 462) non-Siidim kiithid are known as “Gritiidim,” or “sand people”
    Could be a complex word - Grit[i][id][im], see below.
  • Hail-Pyke Maneuver (HWDOK)
    a battle maneuver, performed by Hail Soban and Payke Soban (KDS 1113)
  • Hiigara (HW1)
    Literally, "Our Home".
    Should be consisting of two words - Hi[i]+Gar[a]
  • J'niira Kiith (HWDOK)
    A hollow kinswoman.
    Could have such a structure - J'ni[ir][a]
  • Khaaneph (HWDOK)
    The raiders of the Wastes desert
    • Literally means “Godless”;
    • “Khaaneph believe in nothing. No God. No law. No justice. No Kiith. Khaaneph is a person with the soul of a beast. If the ties that bind us to our shared humanity are a rope… a Khaaneph has willingly drawn a knife and cut the cord.”;
  • Khadiim (HWDOK)
    Jaraci Anomaly operation (KDS 1110)
    Could have such a structure - Khad[i][im]
  • Kiith (HW1)
    Society on Kharak is organized along loose family associations, many of which now include hundreds of thousands of members. An extended family grouping is called a kiith (plural: kiithid);
  • Kiith-Sa (HW1)
    The primary family within a kiith is called the kiith-Sa, a political and financial leader
  • Kiith Family Medallion (HWDOK)
    Bearing the individual kiith's family insignia, these medallions were originally a means of identification during the Heresy Wars
    -- dog tags?
  • Kuun-Lan (HWC)
    Literary "Purifying Flame", a temple and a ship
  • Paaura (HWC)
    holy vengeance; for example, Paaura on Taiidani war criminals was declared by the only leftover of once shamanic kiith Tambuur;
    Could have such a structure - Paa[ur][a]
  • Raachok (HWWOS)
    The ancient raachok was a hurled weapon from the early martial period on Kharak. Light infantry used to carry a half dozen of these leaded darts into battle and then throw them in rapid fashion as they closed with the opponent. They were not the most effective weapon for inflicting injuries, but the enemy was forced to raise their shields to protect themselves from the hail of whistling projectiles, and so the infantry could often close and get in the first blow before the enemy had recovered.
  • Seejur (HWC)
    An ancient combat shield from the early Kiith wars. It is meant to be worn strapped to the forearm, and has three sharp spikes mounted along the rim and pointed forward. This allowed skilled warriors to block a critical blow and then drive the sharpened spikes into the enemy with the same motion.
  • Siifar Kor'shesh (HWDOK)
    "The Night of Fiery Daggers", when 10k Gaalsien warriors died
  • Skaal Brii (HWDOK)
    Jaraci Anomaly operation (KDS 1106)
  • Taking the Red (HW1)
    Ritual of accepting unit into Soban
    “Kneeling before the Soban-Sa, individuals forcibly rip the colors of their previous Kiith from their bodies, rejecting ties to the past and entering Kiith Soban with no attachments”

Kharak Myths

  • Star-Metal Scrolls (HWC)
    Somtaaw mythical artifact, located in the last Temple of the Mysteries of the Shimmering Path; alleged to be written by the hand of Jakuul Himself, in a language which no living man could read.
  • Chalice of Life (HWC)
    Somtaaw mythical artifact; probably, a reference to the Holy Grail
  • Caaliburnos Sword (HWC)
    Soban mythical artifact; probably, a reference to the Excalibur
    Could have such a structure - Ca[al]i[]burn[os]
  • Burning Spear (HWC)
    Gaalsien mythical artifact; probably, a reference to the Spear of Destiny

Kharak Religion

  • Sajuuk (HW1)
    Great Maker Sajuuk. The deity that was said to have cast down the kiithid to Kharak. Also known as "He Whose Hand Shapes What Is."
    For example, there is a famous word, heavily reminding the Homeworld's 'Sajuuk':
    The word Yahweh is a modern scholarly convention for the Hebrew יהוה, transcribed into Roman letters as YHWH and known as the Tetragrammaton, for which the actual pronunciation is disputed. The most likely meaning of the name may be “He Brings Into Existence Whatever Exists", but there are many theories and none is regarded as conclusive.
  • Sajuuk Cor (HWC)
    An ancient phrase that translates roughly into "God's Wrath."
  • Jakuul (HW1)
    the deity who's purpose not so clear, might be an aspect of Sajuuk or his antagonist, depends of a sect beliefs;
  • Koshiir Ra (HWWOS)
    An ancient god of protection in the ancient days of the Taiidani people and many of defense fighter pilots carry his symbol, a shield crossed by broken swords
    -- and again, suddenly Kushan codename for the Taiidan vessel is taken from the Taiidan culture, while the other names are pretty Kushan; I believe, it's another example of trying to retcon those descriptions that were not really finalized;
  • Qwaar-Jet (HWC)
    An ancient god of Pain and Enslavement
  • Caaw Duuk (HWDOK)
    An ancient spirit of Harvest
  • Jaanah (HWR)
    An ancient god of accord and trade, this deity temple in Tiir was used by Naabal for Great Daiamid
  • Viin Cal (HWDOK)
    An ancient god of hunters
  • Gaalsien Decree of Kah'a (HWR)
    Kah'a is an ancient set of desert survival tactics that are couched in religious law
  • K'Had Sajuuk
    Seems to be a theocratic title of Gaalsien-Sa

Kharak Technology

  • The Maach-Nar Projection system (HWDOK)
    requires two full laser arrays, spread out on either side of the fighter
  • Phased Disassembler Array (HW1)
    collector, controller, repair corvette, support frigate, minelayer corvette, THE MAGIC

Kushan Kiithid

The current list of known kiithid (and their notable members) is following:

  • Naabal, S'jet, Soban, Manaan, Paktu, Somtaaw, Kaalel, Hraal, Liir (LiirHra), Gaalsien, Siidim, Ferriil, Jaraci, Sagald, Tambuur, Doine, Magann, Riif, Baer, Lehi, Balel, Matara, Atarad, Naael, Thassan, Khaaneph…

Kharak Cartography

Kharakian topographical names can be found in this article.

Kharak Personal Names

Regardless of her desire for privacy, however, her presence is felt everywhere. In the recent Kushan population explosion, the name "Karan" has been given to thousands of baby girls, and even among boys, the name "Kar" is surprisingly common
(c) HWCO, History of the Landfall, Cataclysm Story

Kushan names often make use of double vowels, such as “ii,” “aa,” and “uu,” leading to names such as Majiir or Chiisur. Any easy way to include these into an existing name is to take the name, such as Amara or Idris, and then double up the vowels already in the name, leading to names like Amaara or Idriis. However, many Kushan names break this convention, opting to forgo the double vowels as seen with names such as Karan, Rachel, and Jeremiah.
(c) HWR, p.68, Personal Details, Name

I'd say it's a good hint, though I'd object to the last sentence: don't you dare to use Earth realm names, at least, those that are usual to a popular culture. It's hard to say if HWM has removed regular European names out of their long list, replacing them by eastern exotics (at least there was a small discussion about it on Facebook), but HWDOK has started it all. While HW1 and HWC tried to invent the names out of the other universe, HW2 has added Malketh, and HWDOK even assigned Rachel, Roman and others, for the main roles. And HW3 gives us "Isaac"(!) - why not Isa[ak], for example?...

On the other hand, HWDOK has introduced another type of words, probably influenced by “S'jet” apostrophe: J'dones, K'nsaal, Skaad'l, M'toth, P'torr, P'chirii, Aard'th…

Maybe Its Just Cuz All Klingon Names Sound The Same They All Have An Apostrophe For Some Reason

Well, it sounds like some Klingon is calling for Cthulhu, but it's better than plagiarism from the western civilization. Though anyway you'd use language sound combinations just unconsciously - here's the real example where a diversity could help to escape monolingual echo chamber. But it seems that starting with HWDOK people just stopped even trying.

Homeworld and Western Culture

So, the names are here:

  • HW1
    Chiisur, Fliir, Huur, Gar, Ifriit, Jora, Karan, Kriil, Leykab, Liam, Majiir, Mevath, Miirpat, Per, Rei, Kim
  • HWC
    Aart, Dava, Kuura, Teigor, Tiirshak
  • HWCO
    Arban, Kar, Kona, Liir, Ran, Siima
  • HW2
    Malketh(!)
  • HWDOK
    Deckard(!), Hail, Gaarket, Jacob(!), Jean, Jonas, J'dones, Khagaan, K'had, K'nsaal, Masaar, Miirhan, Nathan, Pyke(!), Rachel(!), Roman(!), Stell, Tarsis
  • HWR
    Ajora, Akarda, Ataral, Cassandra(!), Cynsk, Emilia(!), Johnas, Kassalid, Maora, Marala, Mytar, Nissa(!), Ruel, Sasaraad, Sorjan, Taaran
  • HWM
    Joanna(!), Ahab, Enoch, Vashti, Sirocco, Esentra, Amaala, Pagraan, Mehemit, Agnes(!), Marie(!), Jerrisiah, Mahel, Gideon(!), Joshua(!), Jassiah, Thaed, Makhaab .....
  • HW3
    Imogen, Josh(!), Isaac(!)
  • HWDST
    Stig Halmer, Kalgai, Mirabline, Durkarian, Ghiritzen, Cephalon Peake, Ohtaria, Ceratius

Ship Codenames: Carriers (HWDOK)

  • Ifriit Naabal - Northern Coalition Nabaal heavy carrier
  • Sakala - Northern Coalition Siidim desert carrier
  • Kapisi - Northern Coalition S'jet desert carrier
  • Akalon - Northern Coalition desert carrier
  • Fiiskire - Northern Coalition desert carrier
  • Amida - Northern Coalition desert carrier

  • Ashinta - Gaalsien desert carrier
  • Ashoka - Gaalsien desert carrier
  • Renza - Gaalsien desert carrier
  • K'Had Retribution - Elite Gaalsien desert carrier
  • K'Had Sunder - Elite Gaalsien desert carrier
  • Gaalsien flagship, desert super-carrier

Ship Codenames: Gaalsien Desert Vessels (HWDOK)

  • Corvaal - Gaalsien Command Carrier
  • Slaa - Gaalsien Salvager
  • B'tir - Gaalsien Baserunner
  • Sam't - Gaalsien Sandscimmer
  • Aard'th Saar - Gaalsien Assault Ship
  • M'toth - Gaalsien Missile Ship
  • P'torr - Gaalsien Heavy Railgun
  • P'chirii - Gaalsien Assault Railgun
  • F'xbat - Gaalsien Interceptor
  • Bokiir - Gaalsien Precision Bomber
  • Knar-re - Gaalsien Smart munition
  • Caaw Duuk - Gaalsien Production Cruiser
  • Skaad'l - Gaalsien Siege Cruiser
  • Saajuk Taa - Gaalsien Honorguard Cruiser

Ship Codenames: Kushan Ships

  • Khar-Toba (HW1) - one of the Old Hiigaran ships sent Exile to
  • Khar-Selim (HW1) - Kushan sublight ship sent to Kharak System outskirts to aid Mothership
  • Khar-Sajuuk (HW3) - Hiigaran ship sent to investigate the Anomaly with Karan S'jet onboard
  • Khar-Kushan (HW3) - Hiigaran ship sent to investigate the Anomaly with Imogen S'jet onboard
  • Clee-San "Truth Seeker" (HWC) - Somtaaw science frigate
  • Faal-Corum "Silent Wayfarer" (HWC) - Somtaaw command ship
  • Kuun-Lan "Purifying Flame" (HWC) - Somtaaw command ship
  • Somtaaw command ship alternative names (HWC):
    Teer-Gig, Gaal-Ten, Coor-Lan, Naab-Corum, Toet-Coy, Eheb-San, Shuus-Nan, Thuuw-Nan, Morrh-Re, Ruun-Aaid, Shin-Clah, Baar-Ett, Gaar-Balhi, Vhenk-Maan, Maal-Nitz, Feng-Yuun, Thul-Lee, Mholah-Ri, Veer-Kah, Eh-Ghoan, Drun-Kyori
  • Naar-Tel (HWC) - Somtaaw destroyer
  • Bushan-Re (HWC) - Manaani destroyer
  • Caal-Shto (HWC) - Manaani carrier
  • Veer-Rak (HWC) - Naabal carrier
  • Gren-Shto (HWCO) - Hraal ship
  • Steelweaver (HWCO) - Hraal ship
  • Sadaar (HWR) - LiirHra space plane, making a maiden flight in 1106 KDS

Ship Codenames: Taiidan Ships (HW1/HWC)

  • Fiirkan - Taiidan scout
  • Triikor - Taiidan heavy interceptor
  • Kaark - Taiidan bomber
  • Seejur - Taiidan heavy defender
  • Koshiir Ra - Taiidan defense fighter
  • Raachok - Taiidan light corvette
  • Tiirshak - Taiidan salvage corvette
  • Diirvas - Taiidan multigun corvette
  • Wodaan - Taiidan minelayer corvette
  • Kudaark - Taiidan assault frigate
  • Heeshk - Taiidan support frigate
  • Sajuuk Cor - Taiidan ion frigate
  • Tiifal - Taiidan defence field frigate
  • Skaal Tel - Taiidan destroyer
  • Skaal Fa - Taiidan missile destroyer
  • Saarkin Cho - Taiidan carrier
  • Qwaar-Jet - Taiidan heavy cruiser
  • Variis - Taiidan proximity sensor
  • Koraal - Taiidan gravity generator
  • Fushai - Taiidan cloak generator
  • Siim Salla - Taiidan resource controller

Ship Codenames: Ancient Hiigaran Empire Ships

  • Sajuuk's Wrath (HW2PR)
    ancient hiigarian flagship with the Second Core
    -- is it another Sajuuk Cor?

Nimbus Expedition Codenames (HWM)

  • Abiigado (GSY 9626) - carrier-class ship that was first to reach Nimbus;
  • Lazarus (GSY 9631) - mothership-class ship, largest expedition of the first ones to reach Nimbus;
  • Caral (GSY 9635) - an expedition with Gideon S'jet onboard (don't mix with Koraal!);
  • Leviathan (GSY 9635) - an expedition with Mahel Manaan onboard;
  • Ararat (~GSY 9641) - vanished without a trace after departing for Nimbus galaxy;
  • Dark Star (~GSY 9641) - mothership-class vessel under command of Kiithless Kidara Sasan;
  • Mohaava (~GSY 9641)
    - explorer class carrier, converted to repair ship specifications after Kaiasia class explorers began entering service. It was attached to the 8th fleet during Operation Sonasaad to the Withering Gulf and it single-handedly maintained the battered expedition as they returned to civilized space.
  • Tiirshak (~GSY 9641)
    - explorer-class carrier, can be easily recognized by the "07" on its hull. It was the seventh of the first ten explorer type flagships launched in 9629 GSY. Kiith S’jet took it to serve in Operation Silumiin. The Tiirshak is outfitted with greater sensor capabilities for deep space exploration assignments. It disappeared two months into exploring the Lost Coast, a suspected Progenitor gateway, but now seems to have resurfaced.

With Eros and Aurora galaxies and Vinland settlement, it looks like that HWM authors were bitten by some Romans, probably, a Taiidan Kiithless influence on Kushans.

Kushan Vocabulary: Analysis

Almost Translated

Here are the words, that come from the partly translated phrases, so the other part can be logically continued: at least there are versions what untranslated word might mean.

  • Brii (HWDOK)
    if we accept that Skaal Brii is “Skaal's cub”, then Brii is ”cub”, maybe, "cubs"
  • Cor (HWC)
    "God's Wrath"
    As Sajuuk is the main deity on Kharak, Cor is Wrath
  • Daiam (HW1)
    if there is Daiamid, and -id is a plural form, then Daiam is somewhat of a “deputy”?
  • Fa(l) (HWC)
    as Skaal Fal is a female of a Skaal animal, then Fa(l) is “female” (I'd vote for F[a] for feminative)
  • Sa (HW1)
    as kiith-Sa means “kiith leader”, and it used separately and with kiith name directly, like Naabal-Sa, it means, the Sa = leader. But can it be used with other words, like Mothership-Sa - leader of a ship, e.g. captain, or it has some restrictions?..
  • Taa (HWDOK)
    comes from "Saajuk Taa": first, if there is no other word, then it should be Sajuuk, and second, there were Gaalsien warriors named Fist of God, so, maybe, Taa = Fist?
  • Tel (HWC)
    as Skaal Fal is a female of a Skaal animal, then Tel point us that this one is a male, Tel is a “male”
    or, as there is so much "Tel" in HWM, maybe, it's reference to the real "Tel", like "Tel Megiddo", the Megiddo hill/tell/mound: so, if Tel is hill and is used as euphemism for male attribute, so what's Fa(l)? - is it "valley"?..

Half-Translated

Here are collected phrases, that have a translation, but the words inside the phrase are unfamiliar so far. So there might be variations of meanings of the used words themselves. For example, "petite mort, translated from French, means “little death”, and is generally used as a euphemism for orgasm".

  • A'kadath Su Tiira (HWDOK)
    “Victory is work”: if we take straight English translation, then A'kadath = Victory, Su = Is, Tiira = Work, and that fits interesting with Tiir, the capital of Naabal, and that ancient wanderer Tiirshak S'jet… But we don't know where a verb is, what the sequence of words is and so on. It's the only full sentence of the Kushani speech we've seen so far!..
  • Caaw Duuk (HWDOK)
    A harvest spirit, but why 2 words?
  • Clee-San (HWC)
    "Truth Seeker"
  • Dhaigren (HWDOK)
    "Dreamlands"
    [Dhai][gren] - what's dream, what's lands? Maybe, [en] means "a lot"?
  • Faal-Corum (HWC)
    "Silent Wayfarer"
    Not clear, what is what, and if “wayfarer” is a several meanings combination word, “unit who travels far”, and is this depicted in a phrase; as well, is Corum related to Coruc and Cor?.. It could be that [Fa][al] is about the "Wayfarer" (maybe we can tie it to the "way rope" - Faagan?), and [Cor][um] ("Silence") is somewhat opposite to Cor ("Wrath"). Because otherwise is hard to think how the "Wayfarer" and "Wrath" could be related.
  • Faal-Tel (HWC)
    I believe there was a mistype as originally the name was "Dark Matter FCluster Faal-Te", and the other systems had this "-Tel" ending. Or there could be a new grammar rule for -Te(l) and -Fa(l)?..
    Anyway, as Faal-Corum is a "Silent Wayfarer" and Skaal Tel is a male of Skaal, it could be something like     “Silent guy/area” or “Wayfarer guy/area”, both are good, as Somtaaw and Manaani meeting happens both in a silent and "Far Reaches Sector" (direct quote from HWC mission name!). So I'd vote for the latter.
  • Ferin Sha (HW1)
    "Dancing Ground"
  • Khaaneph (HWDOK)
    "Godless".
    So, what's here is "god" and what's "-less"? Is the name Khagaan related?..
  • Hiigara (HW1)
    "Our Home"
    If it's a combination of 2 senses, not clear what part of the word has such. Hii - our? Gara - Home? Then the name “Gar” - homey guy? or our guy? Or what?..
  • J'niira Kiith (HWDOK)
    "Hollow kinswoman"
    It's hard to understand if English translation is a non-literal one, literature one, or else; we know word kiith, so J'niira is left, but it's not clear if a gender is included in it - like -iir ending is common, so is it -a to mark woman? - and is there any meaning in a J' beginning.
  • Koshiir Ra (HWC)
    A god of protection, but why 2 words?
  • Khontala (HWC)
    We know the first temple of Shimmering Path, “Oracle of Tala”, so, probably, it's [Khon]+[Tal][a].
    I'd vote that Tala is a mountain, and Khon, going along Kha-thing (see above) would mean "Holy mountain".
  • Kuun-Lan (HWC)
    "Purifying Flame"
  • Lungma Jiin (HWC)
    "The Roof of the World"
  • Qwaar-Jet (HWC)
    A god of Pain and Enslavement, but why 2 words? Is this anyhow related to S'jet?
  • Saju-Ka (HW1)
    Gaalsien capital city; there a clear connection to Sajuuk, but otherwise too much options;
  • Siifar Kor'shesh (HWDOK)
    “Night of Fiery Daggers”:
    if we take straight English then "Siifar"     is Night, "Kor" is Fiery (which comes good with known Cor - Wrath), "Shesh" - is Daggers; but there are at least 3 meanings, and we have here 2 words, one divided by an apostrophe, and no examples of these words usage, so this is purely hypothetical; like Sii might be Fiery, far - Dagger, Kor'shesh - Night , who knows?.. If we take "Triikor" - desert cat - then Kor might mean a dagger like the claws of a cat...
    I'd stay with Siifar for night (with Siidim - sky/star people - in mind) and Kor'Shesh as Fiery Daggers (what is what still needs to be figured).
  • Viin Cal (HWDOK)
    An ancient god of the hunters, but why 2 words?

Not Translated

Here are the words and the word combinations, that have no translation, but they exist. Are these simply names or some meaning behind - it's not clear.

  • HW1
    • Heeshk, Fushai, Kaark, Saju-Ka, Klaar, Koraal, Koshiir Ra, Qwaar-Jet, Saarkin Cho, Silumiin, Siim Salla, Tiifal, Variis, Wodaan
  • HWC
    • Bushan-Re, Caal-Shto, Coruc-Tel, Coruc Farr, Faal-Te, Hunon, Gren-Shto, Naar-Tel, Sojent-Ra, Veer-Rak
    • Baar-Ett, Clee-San, Coor-Lan, Drun-Kyori, Eh-Ghoan, Eheb-San, Faal-Corum, Feng-Yuun, Kuun-Lan, Gaal-Ten, Gaar-Balhi, Maal-Nitz, Mholah-Ri, Morrh-Re, Naab-Corum, Ruun-Aaid, Shin-Clah, Shuus-Nan, Teer-Gig, Toet-Coy, Thul-Lee, Thuuw-Nan, Vhenk-Maan, Veer-Kah
  • HW2
    • Sarum, Thaddis Sabbah
  • HWDOK
    • Aard’th Saar, Akalon, Amida, B'shiir, Beladin, Biaan, Bokiir, Caaw Duuk, Corvaal, Dassar, F'xbat, Fiiskire, Garaak, K'karr, K'thtaal, Kapisi, Khadiim, Khashar, Knar-re, Maach-Nar, M’toth, P’chirii, P'torr, Riikes, Sakala, Salka, Sarath, Skaad'l, Slaa, Torin, Viin Cal, Vriis
  • HWR
    • Abaard, Amariid, Atekh, Mataar, Nisilbis, Sadsaior

Literal References

Khar

In fact, metallurgy and structural composition are an identical match to the Khar-Toba wreckage on Kharak
(c) HW1, Mission 08, The Cathedral of Kadesh

Khar-Toba appears to be the first city built by our ancestors after surviving planetfall on Kharak.
(c) HW1, Historical Briefing, p.3, Khar-Toba Analysis

Despite conditions that would daunt personnel in modern enviro suits, these first brave excavators managed to uncover what has come to be known as the First City, Khar-Toba.
(c) HW1, Historical Briefing, p.3, The Discovery of Khar-Toba

Kiith Sjet is, in fact, one of the only kiith to have a validated claim to direct kiith descent from the ancient first city of Khar-Toba.
(c) HW1, Historical Briefing, p.30, Kiith Sjet

The only other recorded finding of one of these ships is on Kharak; known as the Khar-Toba, it is the ship that brought the Hiigarans to Kharak, eventually becoming the planet’s first city after it landed.
(c) HWR, p.150, Khar-Toba

The team had found the Khar-Toba, the First City, and everything, everywhere, would change for everyone.
(c) HWR, p.176, The Age of Reason

Khar-Toba, it appeared, had been built around the wreckage of an ancient vessel, perhaps by the very people who landed (or crashed) it on the surface of the world all Kushan then called home.
(c) HWR, p.177, Pre-Exodus

The name can refer to both the Exile ship Khar-Toba, which bore the hyperspace core from Hiigara to Kharak, or the city that accreted around its wreckage in the desert. Historically, however, the city is usually what is meant.
(c) HWR, P.187, Khar-Toba

In the Great Nebula she petitioned Fleet Command to board the derelict sister ship of the Khar-Toba, and in the Sea of Lost Souls she personally investigated the Ghost Ship.
(c) HWR, p.216, Emilia Somtaaw - Fleet Intelligence Officer

There is a word "Khar", used quite often (compared to other words). There are two believed meanings of it: “first” and “ship”. IMHO, both seem to be right, but let's check the usage.

  1. Khar-Toba (HW1)
    City on the ship ruins
    1. Something like "The First City" or 'THAT (The Very One) City';
    2. Ship-city; ship-landing or else. Some are taking this name with guide stone - the reflection to the Kaaba in Mekka (Mekka's "brother" is Sajuu-ka, IMHO), the black stone. This is quite correlating, especially if we know that "kara/khara" in turks language is "black" (even here we can play with 'black/danger/sadness/void/universe' meanings, imaging the whole story behind 'khar' evolution through the physical, association, social and religious applications).
      And Toba in this case might mean "The First". Like "Ship/Place/Location One/First", basically, The First City. Or we can think that the definition "The FIrst City" is just a pseudonym, an alternative name for Khar-Toba.
  2. Khar-Selim (HW1)
    Explorer ship
    1. First explorer/voyager, or the Pioneer, the first to discover something. But does it mean that 'Khar-Selim' can be applied to all pioneers? Or ''The Lonely Wanderer'? Or like in the previous case 'THAT (The Very One) Explorer', as it was very special ship.
    2. Ship-explorer/voyager, very simple.
      But what if the 'Selim' is some name, name of some wanderer and the great explorer, that became a synonim to the marathon voyager? - like it was in the case of taiidani salvette codename - 'Tiirshak', the scientist and explorer of Kharak?..
  3. Sajuuk-Khar (HW2)
    "The Chosen One"
    1. Sajuuk's First?
    2. The placeholder of the Sajuuk, the “sajuukshipped”; the one who's is lead by Sajuuk, the Great Captain Whos Hand Lead Whatever It Is :).
      Maybe, the ship of the Sajuuk could be named nearly the same but in the reverse order - Khar-Sajuuk, and that's something that correlates with the 'Khar-Selim'.
  4. Khar-Sajuuk (HW3)
    HW3 new Karan S'jet's mothership
    1. First of Sajuuk's?
    2. Ship of Sajuuk?
  5. Khar-Kushan (HW3)
    HW3 new Imogen S'jet's mothership
    1. First Kushan?
    2. Kushan ship?
  6. Khar-Atekh (HWR)
    One of the S'jetti-filled cities
    1. First Atekh?
    2. City-ship of Atekh?
  7. Kharak (HW1)
    Khar+ak:     Planet habited by the Exiles
    1. Guys translated it like "the First Planet" that was possible to habit; or we can transform the word 'first' to the 'the unit', 'the one': like, the planet that we chose. Like the article 'the', but with much more weight: THAT (The Very One) Planet.
    2. "Ship" meaning should not be taken so straight: it could mean something like "place"; but even without it, the planet is a quite big ship - for those who had seen only their prison ship for generations, "ship" could have more sacred, more "world" meaning then we do;
      And "-ak" suffix could mean the greatest level of size: like, the biggest ship/place.
      Actually, there is a city called Al-Karak, and its name once had the meaning 'Fortress'.
      And there are few more ancient city names with Kar/Khar in it. Like Khar-Nak - Egyptian city near the Tanis.
  8. Kharam (HW2)
    Khar+am:     ship wreckages on a multiplayer map
    1. First-am :). Well, we should know more about this ship and it's purpose. Mb, it's the first, but… we don't know. Or it could mean 'The One' ship, the lonely ship. Or else.
    2. Ship-am :). Well, '-am' suffix meaning could be - 'what's left of', 'abandoned', 'ruined', 'contaminated' and, of course, 'forbidden', as the actual meaning of the Arabic term 'Haram'.

Well, personally I like "ship" version - it's more like translating from other language, where you have to take two or more words and to think what is the logic in their connection to understand the final sense of the phrase. The words themselves have their history, usage habits and cultural background.

How about a fine new word “Khar-Tel”? What could it mean? :)

Daiam, Kharam, Asaam

Well, Daiamid is something like Parliament, and as there is an -id ending, which mean that it's like Semurg, meaning the collection of parliamentors, daiams. So, if the Daiamid is about speaking and negotiating, Daiam could mean somewhat of a guy who's negotiating about something. But that's a complicated idea. What if it's also consists of something more?

We have two more words with the same -am ending, and it's Kharam and Asaam. Cannot say anything about the latter, but Kharam should be a complex word, consisting of root Khar and suffix -am. And then we must understand what the Khar means. As it was mentioned earlier, if -am is somewhat of "forbidden", then it's easy to go with Daiam - forbidden to fight physically! Daiami - of ones who's forbidden to fight physically, and Daiamid, the gathering of all who's forbidden to fight physically. Theoretically :)

"That Daiamid should be named Dhaiamid!" (c) the guys disappointed in politics

Siidim, Gritiidim, Khadiim

If there are Gritiidim, “sand people”, then their antagonists, Siidim, should be somewhat of a “star” / “divine” / “sky” - people (I vote for "Sky" as opposite to earth, sand in our case). So, there's definitely a common part in both words, but what is this? Is it -iidim? -dim? -im?

religious leaders of Kiith Siid and Kiith Gaalsi, which were then the most powerful kiithid of the north
HW, p.24, Historical Briefing, Kiith Paktu

So, probably it's Siid+im, Gritiid+im. And then we can have Si+id and Griti+id. Altogether, it's something like, the people (-im) ones (-id) of Sky (Si) / Sand (Grit). Maybe, Siifar could have the same root there (night = dark sky?)..

And there is a word Khadiim, if we take the upmentioned logic, it will be like people of belonging to some Khad. Could it be the reference to K'had Sajuuk?..

And if the form "Gaalsi" is used, then maybe there is [Ga][al]+[Si][en]? Something about sky/divinity? :)
We have [Kha]+[Ga][an] (a name), [Ga][al]+[Si][en] (a kiith), and [Dha][i]+[gr][en] (Dreamlands).
Something to think about...

ne

There are two names in HWU lore that feel strange:

  • Aart ne Somtaaw (HWC)
  • K’nsaal ne Paktu (HWDOK)

What could this "ne" mean? For sure, it's not somewhat of d'Artagnan (of Artagnan place), because everybody should have used this kind of name form. But this appear only twice.

It was understood that Kaalel must serve as initiates of Sjet for three generations before they would be permitted to take the kiith name and serve in the third tier, as counselors and calendar keepers.
(c) HWCO, Kiith Kaalel

I have a theory that this is something marking the neophyte to the kiith. And in HWC was the situation when 15k kiith Somtaaw accepted 10k new joiners. Who said that Paktu can't do the same?..

Kiithless

This is a new definition in HWU/HWM, but it's how would it sound in Kushan language?

There are 2 words that might help:

  • J'niira Kiith (HWDOK) - "A hollow kinswoman"
  • Khaaneph (HWDOK) - “godless”

As we have all that words Khadiim, K'had, Khagaan, Kah'a - let's decide that Kha-K'ha-Kah'a (and Khon-Tala - The Holy Mountain!) - are the versions of the same root, let it means something like not the God, but the Divine Spirit. A breath - "Kha".

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
(с) Job 33:4

Thus we would have [Kha]+[aneph] - meaning somewhat of "God Spirit Missing". Soulless, animal existence.

And that would lead us to the word of Kiithless: [Kiith]+[aneph].

Also we can imagine that old J'niira Kiith is a combination of
[J'niir]+[A] [Kiith] = [Empty] + [Feminative] [Family].

We can even imagine that [J'] is a negation, so we would get [J']+[Niir]+[A] = [Not] + [Full] +[Feminative], thus we can even get to the [J'][ku][ul] as the opponent of God, where [kuul] is some quality like "clean", "faithful" etc. Interesting, if we make it as Jaku-Ka, would it mean "the city of a Devil", the Gaalsi swearing for blasphemous Tiir?..
So, in this case, [Niir] - would mean "full"/"complete" "man", and maybe [Ni]+ some suffix would mean "completeness"?

So, I guess, while officially Kiithless would be named as Kiithaneph (Kiith'neph? - sounds better), but unofficially and unpleasantly their name would be J'niiri/J'niirid/J'niirim, J'niiri Griitidim, "the empty ones", zero level citizens.

But, of course, there are a lot assumptions and that's the object of discussions.

Other Combinations

  • Shto: Caal-Shto, Gren-Shto
  • Coruc: Coruc-Tel, Coruc Farr
  • Corum: Naab-Corum, Faal-Corum
  • Faal: Faal-Corum, Faal-Te
  • Ka: Saju-Ka, Sheer-Ka
  • Kyori: Kyori sector, Drun-Kyori
  • Lan: Kuun-Lan, Coor-Lan
  • Miir: Miirpat, Miirhan
  • Nan: Shuus-Nan, Thuuw-Nan
  • Ra: Sojent-Ra, Koshiir Ra
  • Re: Bushan-Re, Knar-Re, Morrh-Re
  • San: Clee-San, Eheb-San
  • Tel: Tel sector, Naar-Tel, Coruc-Tel, Seera Tel, Skaal Tel
  • Tiir: Tiir, Tiira, Tiirshak
  • Veer: Veer-Rak, Veer-Kah

Kushan Poetry

Probably, last but not least - the guys that try to create new words usually are thinking that they should use similar sounds to be "on the same page" with that alien language, but it's right only in part. Because it can turn in a quite dumb unsystematic repeats like - kor-cor-corum - kha-kah-khon-Khar-ka - Tiir-tiira-tyrra - and so on. Sometimes you can rule this out creating some interesting cultural layer out of it, sometimes it's... Well, like the symbols on Kushan map.

Basically, you don't need to be afraid of creating new words, but all the languages are harmonic their way, and poetry is something that mark the rhythm and the sound of the language. That's why we can distinct languages and their structure creating similarities. The same we must look here. You can't just take a word from a different language and put in, you need to adapt it.

Well, like an experiment I wrote something that you might even understand with all the vocabulary above, even when I don't know the prepositions and verbs constructing rules yet :)

Griiti Kharak
Koshi Dim
Saam Dhaii A'Siifar

Faal Lan-Duuk
Jaku Taiidan
A'Lungma Va Qwaar

Gar'neph!
Viin A'Taiid'dim
Kushani Paaura

Khon-Niira Karan
Kushan-Khar
Dai Kadath A'Hiigara

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