Changes: Bajoran language

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The Bajoran language family was a group of both extinct and modern languages and dialects used on Bajor.

Written language

Classroom alphabet 2 — Parts of the Bajoran alphabet (lower right)

Bajoran script, Reckoning text — Ancient Bajoran from the Reckoning Tablet, translated into modern Bajoran and English

The Bajoran written language consisted of square symbols which were composed of thick lines. There were a large number of different symbols which could be used in any of eight rotations (flipped and rotated each and every way). Bajoran tended to be written in horizontal lines, although it could be written vertically. (DS9: "Shadows and Symbols")

Bajoran writing was said to be ideographic, that was, each character represented a single thought or word pictured. Most forms of written Bajoran shared some root ideograms, as evidenced by the Reckoning Tablet. Each ancient Bajoran symbol translated into a pair of nearly identical modern Bajoran symbols. (DS9: "The Reckoning")

Bajoran books opened from left to right, though it is not clear that this is related to the direction of writing. (DS9: "The Changing Face of Evil")

Keiko O'Brien's classroom featured a chart depicting the English, the Ferengi, the Cardassian, and the Bajoran alphabet. The chart listed some twenty-five Bajoran language symbols. (DS9: "The Nagus", "In the Hands of the Prophets", "Cardassians")

Words and phrases

Amoran - banished (DS9: "The Assignment")
Balik(am) - "go away" or "get lost!" (TNG: "Ensign Ro")
Bantaca - name for a traditional spire made out of thousands of interlocked stones, marked with the coordinates of the town or city they represent (DS9: "Rapture")
Boryhas - term for ghosts or spirits of the dead (TNG: "The Next Phase")
D'jarra - ancient Bajoran caste system (DS9: "Accession")
Duranja - lamp for the dead: candle suspended by chains from four pillars (DS9: "Shakaar")
Ha'dara - Home of light (VOY: "Flesh and Blood")
Ha'mara - religious festival to celebrate the arrival of the Emissary of the Prophets (DS9: "Starship Down")
Itanu - ceremony carried out when a child reaches the age of fourteen (DS9: "Accession")
Kejal - freedom (VOY: "Flesh and Blood")
Kosst - to be (DS9: "The Assignment")
Peldor Joi - greeting used during the Gratitude Festival (DS9: "Fascination")
Shawn - swamp, rhymes with Irish name Seán (DS9: "Let He Who Is Without Sin...")

Religious terms

Ranjen - a monk, usually a title given as an honor (DS9: "The Reckoning")
Prylar - a monk or priest (DS9: "The Collaborator")
Vedek - a senior member of the Bajoran clergy (DS9: "In the Hands of the Prophets")
Kai - a leader of the Bajoran clergy (DS9: "Emissary")
Kosst Amojan - also known as Koss'moran, another name for the Pah-wraiths; translates as the banished ones (DS9: "The Assignment")
Pagh - the life energy, eternal energy or soul of a person (DS9: "Emissary", et al.)
Pagh'tem'far - a sacred vision granted by the Prophets (DS9: "Rapture")

Measurements

Kellipate - a measure of distance (DS9: "Progress")
Tessipate - a measure of land area used on Bajor (DS9: "Progress", "Children of Time")
Kerripate - a fraction of a tessipate (DS9: "Children of Time")

Examples of spoken language

Raka-ja ut shala morala... ema bo roo kana... uranak... ralanon (NAME)... propeh va nara ehsuk shala-kan vunek...: Do not let him walk alone... guide him on his journey... protect... the one named (NAME)... take him into the gates of heaven...; Duranja lamp prayer for the recently deceased (the translation comes from the script). (DS9: "Shakaar")

Ahn-kay ya, ay-ya vasu. Coh-ma-ra, di-nay-ya...: Bajoran death chant, repeated over and over again for approximately three hours. (DS9: "Battle Lines")

Tesra Peldor impatri bren. Bentel vetan ullon sten...: Presiders address at the Gratitude Festival. (DS9: "Fascination")

Jia'kaja, tre'nu'tol'a rem... La'por i'lanu kos... I'nar tan'a'tali nor...: Prayer to the prophets asking for protection or favor. (DS9: "Starship Down")

Zhia'kala, tar'eh anu suur... te'von, aka'lu rez... ka'vor, mat'ana kel...: Marriage blessing by the Emissary. (DS9: "Accession")

Boray pree hadokee. Tolata impara boresh. Preeya (GROOM'S NAME), Preeya (BRIDE'S NAME), abrem varo atel...: Traditional marriage blessing used in conjunction with a simple ceremony. (DS9: "Call to Arms")

Lata impara no takash... Veshanoo yavar ha iktasho.

With humility and gratitude, we accept this gift... the sacred Orb of Prophecy.

Orb blessing prayer. (DS9: "Resurrection")

(Prayer leader) Tera dak ihsehelm ran embah...
(ALL) de-ram ta-MEEN!: Chanted by Kai Winn and fellow Bajorans in the hours before the Reckoning. (DS9: "The Reckoning")

Meeh rak Dorah Pah-wran... Ee-toi... Velah-slah... Pah-wran amar... Pah-wran Evak-too...: Ancient Bajoran chanted by a Pah-wraith Cult Bajoran Assassin to Benjamin Sisko, before attempting to kill him. (DS9: "Image in the Sand")

Tarna pur-ono ull-kess pah-ran. lano ka'la bo'shar lanu.

Meek rak dorrah Pah-wran... Yelim cha ono kosst amojan... shay ta-hel ter-rah no'vala de-ram... aka'lu far che...: Chants from the Book of the Kosst Amojan (DS9: "What You Leave Behind")

Appendices

Background information

The spoken Bajoran language was often written by Ronald D. Moore. "I just make it up," he laughed. "I do it phonetically so it has a certain rhythm and sound in my head that I can tag as the way Bajorans sound." In scripts, Moore also provided an English translation of each verbalized use of the language, for the benefit of the actors. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 244)

Bajoran ideograms — Ancient Bajoran root ideograms (top and third row,) and the split and derived modern characters (second and fourth row)

The Bajoran script was designed by Doug Drexler, who was senior scenic artist for the Deep Space Nine series. [1]^(X)

In ultimately unused dialogue from the first draft script of DS9: "The Changing Face of Evil", while Dukat (disguised as Bajoran farmer Anjohl Tennan) was trying to help Winn Adami in her attempt to understand the Book of the Kosst Amojan, Adami skeptically commented, "Since when does a simple farmer know how to read ancient Bajoran?" In reply, Dukat claimed, "I can pick out a few words," though he was thereafter dismissed by Winn.

External link

Bajoran language at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{split}}
-[[File:Classroom alphabet 2.jpg|thumb|Parts of the Bajoran alphabet (below)]]
+[[File:Bajoran script.png|thumb|Bajoran script (modern)]]
-The '''Bajoran language''' family is a group of both extinct and existing [[language]]s and dialects used on [[Bajor]].
+The '''Bajoran language''' family was a group of both extinct and modern [[language]]s and dialects used on [[Bajor]].
 == Written language ==
-[[File:Bajoran script.gif|thumb|Bajoran script]]
+[[File:Classroom alphabet 2.jpg|thumb|Parts of the Bajoran alphabet (lower right)]]
-[[File:Bajoran script, Reckoning text.jpg|thumb|Example of written Bajoran, both ancient and modern, translation provided]]
+[[File:Bajoran script, Reckoning text.jpg|thumb|Ancient Bajoran from the Reckoning Tablet, translated into modern Bajoran and English]]
-The Bajoran written language consists of square symbols which are composed of thick lines. There are a large number of different symbols which can be used in any of eight rotations (flipped and rotated each and every way).  Bajoran tends to be written in horizontal lines, although it can be written vertically. ({{DS9|Shadows and Symbols}})
+The Bajoran written language consisted of square symbols which were composed of thick lines. There were a large number of different symbols which could be used in any of eight rotations (flipped and rotated each and every way). Bajoran tended to be written in horizontal lines, although it could be written vertically. ({{DS9|Shadows and Symbols}})
-Bajoran writing is said to be [[ideogram|ideographic]], that is, each character represents a single thought or word pictured.  Most forms of written Bajoran share some root ideograms, as evidenced by the [[Reckoning Tablet]].  Each ancient Bajoran symbol translated into a pair of nearly identical modern Bajoran symbols. ({{DS9|The Reckoning}})
+Bajoran writing was said to be [[ideogram|ideographic]], that was, each character represented a single thought or word pictured. Most forms of written Bajoran shared some root ideograms, as evidenced by the [[Reckoning Tablet]]. Each ancient Bajoran symbol translated into a pair of nearly identical modern Bajoran symbols. ({{DS9|The Reckoning}})
+{{bginfo|Bajoran books opened from left to right, though it is not clear that this is related to the direction of writing. ({{DS9|The Changing Face of Evil}})}}
 [[Keiko O'Brien]]'s [[classroom]] featured a chart depicting the [[English]], the [[Ferengi]], the [[Cardassian]], and the Bajoran alphabet. The chart listed some twenty-five Bajoran language symbols. ({{DS9|The Nagus|In the Hands of the Prophets|Cardassians}})
+<gallery>
-== Established words and phrases ==
+File:Reckoning tablet.jpg|Ancient Bajoran inscriptions on the [[Reckoning Tablet]]
+File:Book of the Kosst Amojan.jpg|Ancient Bajoran in the ''Book of the Kosst Amojan''
+File:B'hala Rapture.jpg|Ancient Bajoran inscriptions on the ''bantaca'' spire of the lost city of B'hala
+File:Bajoran PADD.jpg|Bajoran & English script on a PADD
+</gallery>
+== Words and phrases ==
 *'''Amoran''' - banished ({{DS9|The Assignment}})
-*'''Balik(am)''' - "go away" or "get lost!", written and pronounced like the filipino word for "go back", which would also fit as a translation as seen on the scene ({{TNG|Ensign Ro}})
+*'''Balik(am)''' - "go away" or "get lost!" ({{TNG|Ensign Ro}})
 *'''[[Bantaca spire|Bantaca]]''' - name for a traditional spire made out of thousands of interlocked stones, marked with the coordinates of the town or city they represent ({{DS9|Rapture}})
 *'''Boryhas''' - term for ghosts or spirits of the dead ({{TNG|The Next Phase}})
-*'''D'jarras''' - ancient Bajoran caste system ({{DS9|Accession}})
+*'''[[D'jarra]]''' - ancient Bajoran caste system ({{DS9|Accession}})
-*'''Duranja''' - lamp for the dead: candle suspended by chains from four pillars ({{DS9|Shakaar}})
+*'''[[Duranja]]''' - lamp for the dead: candle suspended by chains from four pillars ({{DS9|Shakaar}})
 *'''Ha'dara''' - Home of light ({{VOY|Flesh and Blood}})
 *'''[[Ha'mara]]''' - religious festival to celebrate the arrival of the [[Emissary of the Prophets]] ({{DS9|Starship Down}})
 *'''Itanu''' - ceremony carried out when a child reaches the age of fourteen ({{DS9|Accession}})
-*'''Kejal''' - freedom ({{VOY|Flesh and Blood}})
+*'''[[Kejal]]''' - freedom ({{VOY|Flesh and Blood}})
 *'''Kosst''' - to be ({{DS9|The Assignment}})
-*'''[[Pagh]]''' - the life energy or soul of a person ({{DS9|Emissary}}, ''et al.'')
+*'''Peldor Joi''' - greeting used during the [[Gratitude Festival]] ({{DS9|Fascination}})
-*'''Pagh'tem'far''' - a sacred vision granted by the [[Prophet]]s ({{DS9|Rapture}})
+*'''Shawn''' - [[swamp]], rhymes with Irish name Seán ({{DS9|Let He Who Is Without Sin...}})
-*'''Peldar Joi''' - greeting used during the [[Gratitude Festival]] ({{DS9|Fascination}})
-*'''Shawn''' - swamp, rhymes with Irish name Seán ({{DS9|Let He Who Is Without Sin...}})
-== Religious terms ==
+=== Religious terms ===
 *'''[[Ranjen]]''' - a [[monk]], usually a title given as an honor ({{DS9|The Reckoning}})
 *'''[[Prylar]]''' - a monk or priest ({{DS9|The Collaborator}})
@@ Line 34: / Line 41: @@
 *'''[[Kai]]''' - a leader of the Bajoran clergy ({{DS9|Emissary}})
 *'''[[Kosst Amojan]]''' - also known as ''Koss'moran'', another name for the [[Pah-wraith]]s; translates as ''the banished ones'' ({{DS9|The Assignment}})
-*'''Pagh''' - the eternal soul ({{DS9|Emissary}})
+*'''[[Pagh]]''' - the life energy, eternal energy or soul of a person ({{DS9|Emissary}}, ''et al.'')
-*'''Pagh-tem-far''' - a spiritual vision sent by the Prophets ({{DS9|Rapture}})
+*'''[[Pagh'tem'far]]''' - a sacred vision granted by the [[Prophet]]s ({{DS9|Rapture}})
-== Measurements ==
+=== Measurements ===
 *'''[[Kellipate]]''' - a measure of distance ({{DS9|Progress}})
 *'''[[Tessipate]]''' - a measure of land area used on Bajor ({{DS9|Progress|Children of Time}})
-*'''Kerripate''' - a fraction of a tessipate ({{DS9|Children of Time}})
+*'''[[Kerripate]]''' - a fraction of a tessipate ({{DS9|Children of Time}})
+== Examples of spoken language ==
-== Prayers ==
-*'''Raka-ja ut shala morala... ema bo roo kana... uranak... ralanon (NAME)... propeh va nara ehsuk shala-kan vunek ...
+;Raka-ja ut shala morala... ema bo roo kana... uranak... ralanon (NAME)... propeh va nara ehsuk shala-kan vunek...
-:(do not let him walk alone... guide him on his journey... protect... the one named (NAME)... take him into the gates of heaven... )'''
+:''Do not let him walk alone... guide him on his journey... protect... the one named (NAME)... take him into the gates of heaven...''
-::[[Duranja]] lamp prayer for the recently deceased (''the translation comes from the script''). ({{DS9|Shakaar}})
+:[[Duranja]] lamp prayer for the recently deceased (''the translation comes from the script''). ({{DS9|Shakaar}})
+----
-*'''Ahn-kay ya, ay-ya vasu.  Coh-ma-ra, di-nay-ya..'''
+;Ahn-kay ya, ay-ya vasu. Coh-ma-ra, di-nay-ya...
-::Bajoran death chant, repeated over and over again for approximately three hours. ({{DS9|Battle Lines}})
+:Bajoran death chant, repeated over and over again for approximately three hours. ({{DS9|Battle Lines}})
+----
-*'''Tesra Peldor impatri bren.  Bentel vetan ullon sten..'''
+;Tesra Peldor impatri bren. Bentel vetan ullon sten...
-::Presiders address at the Gratitude Festival. ({{DS9|Fascination}})
+:Presiders address at the Gratitude Festival. ({{DS9|Fascination}})
+----
-*'''Jia'kaja, tre'nu'tol'a rem... La'por i'lanu kos... I'nar tan'a'tali nor....'''
+;Jia'kaja, tre'nu'tol'a rem... La'por i'lanu kos... I'nar tan'a'tali nor...
-::Prayer to the prophets asking for protection or favor. ({{DS9|Starship Down}})
+:Prayer to the prophets asking for protection or favor. ({{DS9|Starship Down}})
+----
-*'''Zhia'kaluh tar'eh anu suur... te'von, aka'lu rez... ka'vor,mat'ana kel..'''
+;Zhia'kala, tar'eh anu suur... te'von, aka'lu rez... ka'vor, mat'ana kel...
-::Marriage blessing by the Emissary.  ({{DS9|Accession}})
+:Marriage blessing by the Emissary. ({{DS9|Accession}})
+----
-*'''Boray pree hadokee. Tolata impara boresh. Preeya (GROOM'S NAME), Preeya (BRIDE'S NAME), abrem varo atel..'''
+;Boray pree hadokee. Tolata impara boresh. Preeya (GROOM'S NAME), Preeya (BRIDE'S NAME), abrem varo atel...
-::Traditional marriage blessing used in conjuction with a simple ceremony. ({{DS9|Call to Arms}})
+:Traditional marriage blessing used in conjunction with a simple ceremony. ({{DS9|Call to Arms}})
+----
-*'''lata impara no takash... ''with humility and gratitude, we accept this gift...''  Veshanoo yavar ha iktasho... ''the sacred Orb of Prophecy.'''''
+;Lata impara no takash... Veshanoo yavar ha iktasho.
+:''With humility and gratitude, we accept this gift... the sacred Orb of Prophecy.''
 ::Orb blessing prayer. ({{DS9|Resurrection}})
+----
-*'''(Prayer leader) Tera dak ihsehelm ran embah... (ALL) de-ram ta-MEEN!'''
+;(Prayer leader) Tera dak ihsehelm ran embah...
+;(ALL) de-ram ta-MEEN!'''
-::Chanted by Kai [[Winn Adami|Winn]] and fellow Bajorans in the hours before the [[Reckoning]]. ({{DS9|The Reckoning}})
+:Chanted by Kai [[Winn Adami|Winn]] and fellow Bajorans in the hours before the [[Reckoning]]. ({{DS9|The Reckoning}})
+----
-*'''Meeh rak Dorah Pah-wran... Ee-toi... Velah-slah... Pah-wran amar... Pah-wran Evak-too...'''
+;Meeh rak Dorah Pah-wran... Ee-toi... Velah-slah... Pah-wran amar... Pah-wran Evak-too...
-::Ancient Bajoran chanted by a [[Cult of the Pah-wraiths|Pah-wraith Cult]] [[Unnamed Bajorans#Bajoran Assassin|Bajoran Assassin]] to [[Benjamin Sisko]], before attempting to kill him. ({{DS9|Image in the Sand}})
+:Ancient Bajoran chanted by a [[Cult of the Pah-wraiths|Pah-wraith Cult]] [[Bajoran assassin 001|Bajoran Assassin]] to [[Benjamin Sisko]], before attempting to kill him. ({{DS9|Image in the Sand}})
+----
-*'''Tarna pur-ono ull-kess pah-ran. lano ka'la bo'shar lanu.'''
+;Tarna pur-ono ull-kess pah-ran. lano ka'la bo'shar lanu.
-*'''Meek rak dorrah Pah-wran... Yelim cha ono kosst amojan... shay ta-hel ter-rah no'vala de-ram... aka'lu far che...'''
+;Meek rak dorrah Pah-wran... Yelim cha ono kosst amojan... shay ta-hel ter-rah no'vala de-ram... aka'lu far che...
-::Chants from the  [[Book of the Kosst Amojan]] ({{DS9|What You Leave Behind}})
+:Chants from the  [[Book of the Kosst Amojan]] ({{DS9|What You Leave Behind}})
-== Background ==
+== Appendices ==
+=== Background information ===
+The spoken Bajoran language was often written by [[Ronald D. Moore]]. "''I just make it up,''" he laughed. "''I do it phonetically so it has a certain rhythm and sound in my head that I can tag as the way Bajorans sound.''" In scripts, Moore also provided an English translation of each verbalized use of the language, for the benefit of the actors. (''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion]]'', p. 244)
+[[File:Bajoran ideograms.jpg|thumb|Ancient Bajoran root ideograms (top and third row,) and the split and derived modern characters (second and fourth row)]]
 The Bajoran script was designed by [[Doug Drexler]], who was senior scenic artist for the ''Deep Space Nine'' series. {{DrexFiles|2010/01/03/ancient-bajoran-starchart/#comment-23419}}
+In ultimately unused dialogue from the first draft script of {{DS9|The Changing Face of Evil}}, while [[Dukat]] (disguised as Bajoran [[farmer]] [[Anjohl Tennan]]) was trying to help Winn Adami in her attempt to understand the ''Book of the Kosst Amojan'', Adami skeptically commented, "''Since when does a simple farmer know how to read ancient Bajoran?''" In reply, Dukat claimed, "''I can pick out a few words,''" though he was thereafter dismissed by Winn.
-== External link ==
-* {{NCwiki}}
+=== External link ===
+* {{mbeta}}
-[[Category:Languages]]
 [[de:Bajoranische Sprache]]
 [[sv:Bajoranska]]
+[[Category:Languages]]
+[[Category:Bajor]]