UO:The Language of the Gargoyles

Note: This was originally posted at uo.com, but no longer can be found on their site.

Introduction

"Gargoyle" is an English corruption of gargl, the Gargoyles' name for themselves and their language. An informal word for gargl as the name of the Gargoyle language is "Gargish". Spoken Gargish is grammatically rather flexible. Distinctions between nouns, adjectives, and verbs are indicated by gestures and intonations. This flexibility is also apparent in the names of magic spells derived from Gargish phrases. "Vas Sanct Lor", for instance, is derived from the Gargish vas saengkt lor, but it is equally correct to say saengkt vas lor or even lor saengkt vas. Gargoyles tend to omit words they consider to be unnecessary complications, like pronouns, and they often speak in infinitives. While a Human attempting to speak Gargish might come up with something like í est ker í le vid ú prae, "I'm certain that I've seen you before", a Gargoyle would simply say ker le vid prae (or more idiomatically, ker prae vid le), "to be certain having seen before". With practice, it's possible to deduce the implied pronouns in a Gargoyle sentence, but it's not always easy.

Unlike spoken Gargish, the written language has no way to mark the intonations and gestures that make the speech intelligible, so there are suffixes that mark words as being verbs, nouns, or adjectives, and also indicate the tense and aspect of verbs. In many cases, these are words which are meaningful by themselves, such as the adjectival suffix -de, which means "of" in isolation. Here is a list of the most common suffixes:

-char "part" (names a tool used for doing a certain action, such as agrachar "weapon")
-de "of" (marks adjectives or adverbs formed from nouns, verbs, and other words)
-ku "with" (forms adjectives, such as mirku "watery")
-le "end" (marks past tense or perfective aspect of verbs)
-lem "one" (similar to English -er in baker, writer, miner, etc.)
-re "begin" (marks future tense of verbs)
-sa "able" (similar to English -able, ible)
-tas "quality" (marks abstract nouns, such as ámotas "love", vs. ámo "to love")
-te "in" (marks present tense or imperfective aspect of verbs)
-ve "like" (forms adjectives, such as misve "similar")

Names:

Most gargoyles have names that describe their profession. Lensmaker (Lorrelinlem) is an example of that type of name. Other names are meaningful, like Behlem, the Just One. But many gargoyles, particularly the elite, have names which are

meaningless in themselves, like Draxínusom. A number of these names are listed in the vocabulary.

Writing

Gargoyles have an alphabet of 30 characters, arranged in a 5x6 pattern. Similar sounds are grouped together by rows and columns. For instance, the first row, transcribed as p b m f v u, represents sounds that are produced with the lips, and the s

ounds in the first column, p t ch kl k, are all voiceless stops. (The remaining rows are: t d n s z e, ch j ny sh zh i, kl gl nl hl l o, and k g ng h r a.) The letter u also serves to represent w at the

beginning of a syllable when followed by a vowel. The sequence k-u is sometimes pronounced ku, as in kuante, but more frequently kw (traditionally transcribed as qu), as in quas. Three of the letters (

ny, nl, and hl) serve only to complete the chart, and are not found in contemporary spoken Gargish. The Gargish language has long and short vowels. They are not normally distinguished in spelling, except where this would cause confusion. For example, uus means "up," but us means "diligence." In this document, long vowels are marked with

an accent: us vs. úus, súm vs. summ.

Samples

Here are a few samples of Gargish sentences translated literally, then into more idiomatic English. Teresta sit lem antende nóm.

place-that lie ones not-have-of name

Here lie those that had no names.

Estatim i perle lorrel re inwíslor kódex ad quad.

that-time I used light-change begin make-know-light codex upon cube

Then I used the lens to form an image of the Codex upon the cube.

Ánte esta terreg máníte múr anísh zen.

in that place-home living number strange creature

In that land live many strange creatures.

A qua lemmúr wíste, an zen anku vol verde wís.

but what ones-number knowing, not creature not-with wing true-of knowledge.

But as everyone knows, no creature without wings is truly intelligent.

Ánte kódex skríle prí ben esh ver res quí quae.

in codex written one well and true answer any problem

Within the Codex is written the one right and true answer to any problem.

Anvolde lem ansa lók, esh anten skítas de volde lem.

not-wing-of ones not-can speak, and not-have know-ness of wing-of ones

The wingless ones cannot speak, and lack the intelligence of the winged ones.

Tú rete ku klí axi: ún, or, esh us.

all beginning with three principle: control, passion, and diligence

All begins with the three principles: Control, Passion and Diligence.

Ita anai de axi vidúkte trak semde bentas, ord.

thus not-there-is of principle see-guiding toward seven-of well-quality, order

Thus the absence of the principles points toward the seventh virtue, Order.

Vocabulary

Want to see something cool? Download the Gargish Font. Unzip it and drop it into your Windows font directories (in Windows 95 this is normally C:\WINDOWS\FONTS). Then restart your web browser to this page and you should see the words below in Gargish!

a (a) but; yet
ad (ad) upon
ade (ade) however
a{o (aglo) armor
agra (ágra) attack; hit

ágra-char: weapon

ágra-char-in-lem: weaponsmith

ágra-lem: fighter; guard; warrior

ágra-tas: struggle
ah (áh) sixty-four
ai (ai) there is; there are

ai-re: there will be
ailem (áilem) matter; thing

áilem-de: solid
ak (ak) sharp
aki (aki) hawk
alb (alb) white
aksi (axi) principle

axi-múr: the three principles
ali (ali) (an)other
alt (alt) deep
am (am) honesty; honest
amo (ámo) love

ámo-lem: friend; loved one
an (an) negate; negative; not; none; no

an-ai: absence

an-áilem: nothing

an-ámo: hate; hatred

an-ámo-lem: enemy

an-bal-sil-fer: False Prophet

an-ben: sick; ill

an-ex: slave; enslave

an-ex-por: lock; locked; closed

an-flam: cold; douse; put out

an-húr: calm

an-in: destroy

an-jux: safe; untrap; remove danger

an-kad-sa: infallible

an-kal: banish

an-kans: famine

an-kred: discredit

an-ku: without

an-lor: dark; darkness

an-lor-tim: night

an-mání: hurt; harm

an-múr: few

an-múr-de: countless

an-nax: cure poison

an-nax-áilem: antidote

an-ord: chaos

an-ort: negate magic

an-por: still; motionless; stop; lock; rest

an-quas: real; reality

an-rel: static; constant; unchanging

an-sá: cannot

an-saengkt: unprotected; curse(d)

an-ten: lack

an-tim: never

an-vol-de: wingless

an-wís: foolish; unwise; forget

an-zen: inanimate

an-zú: awake; wake up, awaken
aniw (anísh) strange
anmanivas (anmánívas) Anmanivas (name)
ansikart (ansikart) Ansikart (name)
ante (ánte) enter; in; into; within
aper (apér) open

apér-ter: door; gate
apta (ápta) proper; correct

ápta-de: properly
arb (arb) bush; vegetation

arb-flam: forest fire
arc (arch) bow
arg (arg) silver
ari (arí) berserk
ark (ark) hide; keep (away)
art (art) master
atri (átri) hall
au (au) or
aud (aud) hear; listen; ear

aud-char: song
aur (aur) gold
aurvidlem (aurvidlem) Aurvidlem (name)
auks (aux) help
avatar (ávatar) Avatar
bal (bal) evil; bad; doom

bal-lem: Evil One

bal-sil: prophecy

bal-sil-fer: prophet

bal-zen: monster
beh (beh) justice

beh-de: proper

beh-lem: just one; judge
ben (ben) well

ben-de: properly; well

ben-fin: success

ben-in: craft

ben-in-áilem: artifact

ben-in-lem: goodscrafter

ben-in-tas: precision

ben-mon-tas: administration

ben-om-mání: prosperity

ben-tas: virtue
bet (bet) small

bet-lem: child

bet-ter-mír: well

bet-tim: young; new

bet-zen: insect
betra (betra) Betra (name)
bolew (bólesh) Bolesh (name)
brak (brák) arm
can (chan) allow

chan-por: admit

chan-por-tas: admittance
car (char) part

char-zen: member
daemon (dáemón) daemon
de (de) belong; possess; of; from; than; like
delsa (delsa) soft
des (des) reduce; lower; down

des-áilem: hail; meteor storm

des-de: below

des-in-tas: foundation; underpinning

des-lem: Gargoyle worker

des-por: descend

des-ter: valley

des-ter-múr: underworld
dig (dig) finger
dis (dis) apart; asunder
don (don) give; drop; yield
draksinusom

(draxínusom) Draxinusom (name)
duk (dúk) guide
dur (dur) for (period of time)
drak (drak) dragon
ek (ek) six
ekui (equi) horse
er (er) so
ew (esh) and
est (est) be; exist; is; are
esta (esta) that; those

esta-de: thereby; therewith

esta-tim: then
eks (ex) freedom; free; release

ex-por: open; unlocked
fel (fel) wrong

fel-tas: error

fel-wís: false; falsehood; lie; fable
feluka (felúka) Felucca (the moon)
fer (fer) bring; bear
fin (fin) end
firm (fírm) close; shut
flam (flam) flame; fire; heat

flam-tim: summer
fodus (fódus) Fodus (name)
for (for) strong
foranamo (foranámo) Foranamo (name)
forbrak (forbrák) Forbrak (name)
forlem (forlem) Forlem (name)
forskis (forskis) Forskis (name)
ful (ful) brown
gar{ (gargl) Gargoyle; Gargish
{or (glór) glory
grat (grat) thank(s)
grav (grav) energy; power
gres (gres) out; exit; way (out)

gres-por: exit; leave; go out; hatch; begone
harm (harm) harmony
hiuman (hiúman) human
horffe (horffé) Horffe (name)
hori (hori) gray
hur (húr) wind; air
i (í) I, me
ide (íde) my
ilem (ílem) we, us (he/she/they and I)
in (in) make; create; cause; form; become

in-bet: shrink; focus

in-des: reduce

in-ex: free; release

in-flam: ignite; burn

in-húr: blow

in-jux: threaten; endanger

in-korp: die; kill

in-lor: illuminate

in-mání: heal

in-mání-lem: healer

in-nax: poison (v)

in-ort: enchant

in-ten: maintain

in-por: go; come

in-por-dis: avert

in-saengkt: protect

in-vas: grow; enlarge

in-wís: learn; teach; study

in-wís-lók: interpret

in-wís-lor: create an image

in-zen: born; birth

in-zú: fall asleep
inforlem (inforlem) Inforlem (name)
init (init) begin
inmanilem (inmánílem) Inmanilem (name)
int (int) join
inuisloklem
(inwíslóklem) Inwisloklem (name)
ista (ista) this
ita (ita) thus; so
jur (júr) oath
juks (jux) danger; harm; damage

jux-ark: protect (from harm)

jux-wís: alert
kad (kad) fail; collapse
kah (kah) sacrifice

kah-mání-zen-de: sacrificial
kans (kans) use; consume; eat

kans-in-lem: foodmaker
kal (kal) summon; call; greet; hello; usher in

kal-ort: cast (a spell)
kas (kas) helm
kat (kat) fall
ker (ker) sure; certain

ker-de: to be sure; certainly
kir (kír) circle
qar (klár) bright
qau (klau) chamber
qep (klep) take; get; steal

klep-lem: thief; pirate
qi (klí) three

klí-tim: thrice
kodeks (kódex) book; codex
kor (kor) courage
korp (korp) death; dead
kred (kred) believe; think; consider

kredon (kred-don): entrust
krill (krill) Krill (name)
ku (ku) with

ku-ánte: within

ku-por: combine
kul (kul) knife
lai (lai) joy
lap (lap) stone; rock
laplem (laplem) Laplem (name)
le (le) end; action completed; could

le-in: achieve

le-in-tas: achievement
leg (leg) read
lem (lem) he, she, it, they; him, her, it, them; one; those

lem-de: his, her, its, their

lem-múr: everyone; those
len (len) gentle

len-tas: gentleness
librum (líbrum) librum
liy (ling) language
lok (lók) say; speak; tell

lók-de: talking
lor (lor) light

lor-rel: lens

lor-rel-in-lem: lensmaker

lor-tim: day; daytime
lum (lum) humility
lup (lup) wolf
mag (mag) important
man (mán) remain

mán-char: remains
mani (mání) life; healing; live

mání áilem: food
manu (mánu) hand
mar (mar) sea
mek (mek) sword

mek-lem: swordsman; fighter
mel (mel) black
min (min) less
mir (mír) water

mír-mání: healing potion

mír-sarp: sea serpent
mis (mis) same; too

mis-tas: balance

mis-tim: also

mis-ve: similar
mon (mon) to lead

mon-wís: advice
mont (mont) mountain
mu (mú) compassion
mul (mul) pride
mur (múr) number; multiple; group; many

múr-om: society
naks (nax) poison (n); poisonous
naksatilor

(naxátilor) Naxatilor (name)
naw (násh) Nash (name)
neb (neb) mist
nes (nes) require; must; has to
ni (ni) no; neither
nom (nóm) name
o (o) by
ok (ok) eight

ok-de: eighth
om (om) spirituality

om-de: sacred; holy

om-jux: desecrate
or (or) passion
orb (orb) moon

orb-lap: moonstone

orb-rel: phase of moon
ord (ord) order
ort (ort) magic

ort-lem: mage

ort-mír: magical potion
os (os) bone
ov (ov) egg
pa (pa) by
pal (pál) pale
par (par) equal

par-de: equally
ped (ped) foot
pen (pen) five
per (per) use; function

per-sa: valuable
pisk (pisk) fish
plu (plú) more; most

plú ben: better
por (por) move; movement; moving; bring

por-áilem: take; remove

por-char: leg

por-mír: stream; river
pos (pos) follow; after

pos-tim: future; will; shall
prae (prae) before; precede

prae-tim: past; was; ago

prae-tim-de: ancient
pri (prí) one; unity; first

prí-de: single

prí-in: unify

prí-lem: lord; king; ruler

prí-tas: singularity
kua (qua) what; which; as

qua-lem: who; some

qua-ter: where

qua-tim: when

qua-wís: why; because; reason
kuad (quad) cube
kuae (quae) problem
kuaeven (quaeven) Quaeven (name)
kuan (quan) Quan (name)
kuar (quar) four
kuas (quas) illusion; illusionary

quas-korp: fear; illusion of death

quas-zen: clone

quas-áilem: duplicate
kui (quí) any; anything
kuo (quó) how
ra (ra) valor
rap (rap) quick; urgent; now

rap-tim: quickly approaching; nigh
re (re) (in order) to; to begin; will; shall

re-in: begin
reg (reg) home
rel (rel) change; changing

rel-por: moongate; moongate travel
res (res) answer
reski (reskí) remember
rit (rit) ritual
rot (rót) turn
ru (rú) red
runeb (rúneb) Runeb (name)
sa (sá) can; able; may
sadis (sadis) pain; torture

sadis-túrn: dungeon
saeykt (saengkt) protection

saengkt-grav: force field

saengkt-lor: invisible; invisibility
sal (sal) spring (forth)
sarp (sarp) serpent; snake

sarp-an-zen-ex-lem: snakecharmer

sarp-arí-lem: berserker
sarpliy (sarpling) Sarpling (name)
sek (sek) two; both; second

sek-de: other
sel (sel) choose; select
sem (sem) seven

sem-de: seventh
semi (semi) half
sent (sent) feel; feeling
si (si) if; whether
sik (sik) dry
sil (sil) star; astrology; prediction
silamo (silámo) Silamo (name)
sini (síní) blue
sinvraal (sinvráal) Sin'Vraal (name)
sit (sit) lie; rest
ski (skí) know; knowledge; tell

skí-tas: intelligence; knowledge
skis (skis) cut; tear apart; separate
skri (skrí) write; writing

skrí-lem: writer
sku (sku) shield
sol (sol) only; but
son (son) sound
sum (súm) suppose
summ (summ) honor
sur (súr) sun
ta (ta) shoot

ta-re-por: boomerang
tablap (tablap) slab
tan (tan) touch
tas (tas) quality
te (-te) present tense of verbs; action in progress; in

te-in: continue

te-mání: survive

te-mání-tas: survival

te-per-tas: persistence
tem (tem) storm
ten (ten) have
ter (ter) place

ter-alt: interior; bowels (of earth)

ter-áilem: plane

ter-ánte: entrance; mouth (of cave)

ter-ark: hiding place

ter-esta: there

ter-flam: fireplace

ter-húr: sky

ter-init: original(ly)

ter-ista: here

ter-ista-por: come

ter-mír: lake

ter-múr: world

ter-ort: temple; shrine

ter-por: reach

ter-reg: land

ter-vas-arb: forest

ter-zú: bed
teregus (teregus) Teregus (name)
tim (tim) time; wait

tim-por: arrive; come
trak (trak) to; toward; for; unto

trak-por: pull; draw

trak-tas: direction
tramel (trámel) Trammel (the moon)
tri (trí) interesting
tu (tú) all

tú-tas: whole

tú-tim: always; forever
turn (túrn) cave
u (ú) you
ul (ul) final; last

ul-tim: ultimate
ulem (úlem) you (pl): you and they; "you-all"
um (um) shadow
un (ún) control
uy (ung) claw
urs (urs) bear
us (us) diligence

us-ágra-lem: troop-leader

us-arb-vas-lem: leader of farmers
uus (úus) increase; raise; up

úus-lem: Gargoyle leader

úus-por: ascend
vaglem (vaglem) wanderer
valkadew (válkadesh) Valkadesh (name)
vas (vas) great; big; long; ultimate

vas-áilem: everything

vas-an-ben: plague

vas-an-lor: eclipse

vas-arb: tree

vas-arg-sarp: silver serpent

vas-des: bottom

vas-korp-ágra: battle; war

vas-mír: ocean

vas-por-áilem: tremor

vas-quas: confusion

vas-tim: old; age; epoch; great time

vas-úus: top

vas-wís: (great) knowledge; (ultimate) wisdom
ve (ve) like; as
vel (vel) even
ven (ven) find
ver (ver) true; truth; right

ver-de: truly

ver-in-de: perfect

ver-vid: heed; respect
vers (vers) all right
vest (vest) search

vestas (vest-tas): quest
via (vía) path; course; road
vid (vid) see; look; view; eye

vid-lem: seer

vidúk (vid-dúk): point

vidúk-tas: sign
vir (vír) green

vír-mír: swamp
vit (vit) glass
vol (vol) fly; wing

vol-de: winged
vorteks (vórtex) vortex
ui (wí) we, us (you and I/me)
uide (wíde) our
uilem (wílem) we, us; all of us (you, they, and I)
uis (wís) know; knowledge; wise; wisdom; intelligent

wís-char: head

wís-de: wisely

wís-lem: scholar

wís-lor: see; vision; image
uislem (wíslem) Wislem (name)
uissur (wíssúr) Wis Sur (name)
zaw (zash) something; somewhat
zen (zen) creature; being; animal

zen-korp: undead; daemon

zen-múr: race; people

zen-tú: body
xel (zhel) iron
xen (zhen) family
zu (zú) sleep

zú-áilem: sleep dust

zú-tim: winter

Copyright © 1996 by Origin Systems, Inc.

References

• http://web.archive.org/web/20111111013728/http://www.uo.com/archive/gargoyle/