Kelpien script (bottom left, border) and Ba'ul script (top left, far right) in a history book
The name "Su'Kal" signed on a painting
The Kelpien language was the language spoken by Kelpiens from the planet Kaminar.
History[]
When making first contact with the Kelpien Saru, Lieutenant Philippa Georgiou showed him the universal translator in her communicator making their conversation possible. (ST: "The Brightest Star")
During Airiam's funeral, Saru sang a Kaminar song of remembrance in Kelpien. (DIS: "The Red Angel")
The word su'kal did not have an exact translation, but meant something like "beloved gift". Traditionally, a Kelpien family that had suffered a great tragedy would name their next child Su'Kal, to symbolize the end of suffering, as with Su'Kal aboard the KSF Khi'eth. (DIS: "Su'Kal")
Examples of spoken language[]
- Miankook bakai minakau ... tu dee ben ... toosay doorah, abrahm Saru.
- It's a pleasure to finally put a face to the name, Mr. Saru. An entirely new face, at that. (ST: "The Brightest Star")
- Key-zhay yoos X!ay-doo-uh-knock cow loo-ruh X!ah-nay-oo X!ine.
- I was not certain you would come.
Based on background materials tweeted by Bo Yeon Kim, literally: "I not had-been-certain that you come possible."[1]
- X!ung leesay duk X!oo-lay-zak oo-nay mak X!ine?
- Might the priest spare a moment? (DIS: "The Sound of Thunder")
- Aa X!pee-ota.
- Yes, of course.
- Ree-joo tayna oo-vay-oo ee-joo mayzka.
- Ree-jah tayna oo-vay-nah hen-hee lay-tah.
- Pah-kay rah-dee X!ay-see lopa.
- Ee-vavay ee-zoo kay loo-pah.
- X!ah-vay-jah tay-buh-vay ee-tah sah X!rah-vaa oo-loo.
- A Kelpien song of remembrance. (DIS: "The Red Angel")
- Yay dah-noo kah-nej. To-sek yay dah-noo kah-nej.
- Exit program. Emergency end program. (DIS: "Su'Kal")
Background information[]
The Kelpien language was created by Marc Okrand, first heard in "The Brightest Star". [2]
"The Sound of Thunder" writers Erika Lippoldt and Bo Yeon Kim once suggested that the Kelpiens used the Ba'ul alphabet because they had lost their own written language. [3] "Su'Kal" later showed two different scripts alongside each other representing Kelpien and Ba'ul joint history, including the established Ba'ul script.