Post by Fewms on Oct 2, 2009 13:59:17 GMT
Reading Djelian for Dummies: Theory
Have you ever tried to read a street sign, but it just looked like cute (and sometimes disturbing) pictures? Weren't sure if you were going to the Klatch Foreign Legion or the Crocodile Pits? Well here is your guide to reading Djelian at any skill level!
Instead of using an alphabet like the Morporkians, in Djelibeybi we use a syllabary that only focuses on consonant sounds. This means that we use unique symbols for each combination of sounds, instead of for each individual sound like would be done in an alphabet. Use of a syllabary means that we can compress much more information into a smaller space, and that we must learn many more symbols before we can read and write fluently.
For those not blessed with the native intelligence of the Djelians, this can make it a very daunting task to learn to read Djelian. Fortunately, with a list of Djelian symbols and their approximate Morporkian translations, even warriors and thieves can understand the general gist of most written messages.
It is important to note that many sounds are not translated into written Djelian at all. Any consonants capitalised or without a letter or a space following them will be omitted. Consonant sounds that end in "s" (other than "ss"), and consonant sounds that would translate to more than two letters in other languages will also not be seen in Djelian writing. We have also long despised the use of a "j" symbol, and, of course, use no vowels. Finally, we do not use many other Morporkian consonant combinations that would otherwise be acceptable (br, by, dd, dg, dj, ff, gr, kn, ld, lm, lt, ly, mb, nc, ng, nl, ns, nt, ph, pl, pr, rd, rk, rm, rn, rp, rt, rv, ry, sc, ty, wh, etc.).
Each word is separated by a space, while symbols within a word are separated by commas. For example, "miss elera" would be written as "Fat hippo, flatulent eagle Large flail, wise owl"
The following are the symbols we do use, and their translations to the Morporkian alphabet:
Small shrub = b
Dead shrub = bb
Shrub in flames = bl
Straight line = c
Squiggly line = ch
Wavy line = ck
Zigzag line = cl
Dotted line = cr
Dashed line = ct
Small pot = d
Large pot = dr
Standing ibis = f
Flying ibis = ff
Ibis with an arrow stuck in it = fr
Black cat = g
Sleeping cat = gh
Cat with a dead ibis = gr
Sacred ankh = h
Reaping hook = k
Large flail = l
Flail with bit missing = ll
Fat hippo = m
Two fat hippos = mm
Rising sun = n
Setting sun = nk
Eclipsed sun = nd
Swimming crocodile = p
Snoozing crocodile = pp
Feeding crocodile = pr
Basking crocodile = pt
Man-eating cabbage = q
Wise owl = r
Stupid owl = rr
Majestic eagle = s
Constipated eagle = sh
Stunned eagle = sl
Starving eagle = sp
Flatulent eagle = ss
Intoxicated eagle = st
Man with pot = t
Man with bucket = th
Man with mop = tr
Man with dustpan and brush = tt
Golden bow = v
Pile of sand = w
Gritty sand = wr
Upside-down camel = x
Broken bulrush = y
Small beehive = z
Have you ever tried to read a street sign, but it just looked like cute (and sometimes disturbing) pictures? Weren't sure if you were going to the Klatch Foreign Legion or the Crocodile Pits? Well here is your guide to reading Djelian at any skill level!
Instead of using an alphabet like the Morporkians, in Djelibeybi we use a syllabary that only focuses on consonant sounds. This means that we use unique symbols for each combination of sounds, instead of for each individual sound like would be done in an alphabet. Use of a syllabary means that we can compress much more information into a smaller space, and that we must learn many more symbols before we can read and write fluently.
For those not blessed with the native intelligence of the Djelians, this can make it a very daunting task to learn to read Djelian. Fortunately, with a list of Djelian symbols and their approximate Morporkian translations, even warriors and thieves can understand the general gist of most written messages.
It is important to note that many sounds are not translated into written Djelian at all. Any consonants capitalised or without a letter or a space following them will be omitted. Consonant sounds that end in "s" (other than "ss"), and consonant sounds that would translate to more than two letters in other languages will also not be seen in Djelian writing. We have also long despised the use of a "j" symbol, and, of course, use no vowels. Finally, we do not use many other Morporkian consonant combinations that would otherwise be acceptable (br, by, dd, dg, dj, ff, gr, kn, ld, lm, lt, ly, mb, nc, ng, nl, ns, nt, ph, pl, pr, rd, rk, rm, rn, rp, rt, rv, ry, sc, ty, wh, etc.).
Each word is separated by a space, while symbols within a word are separated by commas. For example, "miss elera" would be written as "Fat hippo, flatulent eagle Large flail, wise owl"
The following are the symbols we do use, and their translations to the Morporkian alphabet:
Small shrub = b
Dead shrub = bb
Shrub in flames = bl
Straight line = c
Squiggly line = ch
Wavy line = ck
Zigzag line = cl
Dotted line = cr
Dashed line = ct
Small pot = d
Large pot = dr
Standing ibis = f
Flying ibis = ff
Ibis with an arrow stuck in it = fr
Black cat = g
Sleeping cat = gh
Cat with a dead ibis = gr
Sacred ankh = h
Reaping hook = k
Large flail = l
Flail with bit missing = ll
Fat hippo = m
Two fat hippos = mm
Rising sun = n
Setting sun = nk
Eclipsed sun = nd
Swimming crocodile = p
Snoozing crocodile = pp
Feeding crocodile = pr
Basking crocodile = pt
Man-eating cabbage = q
Wise owl = r
Stupid owl = rr
Majestic eagle = s
Constipated eagle = sh
Stunned eagle = sl
Starving eagle = sp
Flatulent eagle = ss
Intoxicated eagle = st
Man with pot = t
Man with bucket = th
Man with mop = tr
Man with dustpan and brush = tt
Golden bow = v
Pile of sand = w
Gritty sand = wr
Upside-down camel = x
Broken bulrush = y
Small beehive = z