Post by Editor in Chief on Feb 20, 2008 22:54:22 GMT
AGATEAN FOR DUMMIES: TRANSLATING TO AGATEAN
Agatean is a very distinct language, in both its rules and the vast numbers of symbols used. Single letters, or groups of two or three, are translated to pictograms. Because there are pictograms for overlapping combinations (such as "mo" and "moo"), the longest combinations are translated first when possible. Agateans ignore all but the first three pictograms of each word, meaning that longer words are cut off. However, the translation of the first three pictograms is done with great precision, hence it is far easier to translate Agatean words than Djelian words, for the most part.
In a very few instances, there may be two Agatean translations for one group of letters. In these cases, one translation is for an entire word formed by those letters, and the other translation is for those letters when combined within a word with other letters. Hence " me " and " men " will have the "me" section represented by a different pictogram.
Names can easily be translated into Agatean, especially if the three pictogram limit is ignored. "Fewms Nicemelons", for example, would translate to "Large wok, flapping duck, empty fishing net, origami flower Man making origami bird, fire dragon, open door, peasant holding buffalo, flatulant dog, origami flower". These colourfully descriptive translations create a wonderful opportunity to create a relatively complex story or explanation for every name.
Agatean is a very distinct language, in both its rules and the vast numbers of symbols used. Single letters, or groups of two or three, are translated to pictograms. Because there are pictograms for overlapping combinations (such as "mo" and "moo"), the longest combinations are translated first when possible. Agateans ignore all but the first three pictograms of each word, meaning that longer words are cut off. However, the translation of the first three pictograms is done with great precision, hence it is far easier to translate Agatean words than Djelian words, for the most part.
In a very few instances, there may be two Agatean translations for one group of letters. In these cases, one translation is for an entire word formed by those letters, and the other translation is for those letters when combined within a word with other letters. Hence " me " and " men " will have the "me" section represented by a different pictogram.
Names can easily be translated into Agatean, especially if the three pictogram limit is ignored. "Fewms Nicemelons", for example, would translate to "Large wok, flapping duck, empty fishing net, origami flower Man making origami bird, fire dragon, open door, peasant holding buffalo, flatulant dog, origami flower". These colourfully descriptive translations create a wonderful opportunity to create a relatively complex story or explanation for every name.
0 = fat bear 5 = man weaving silk
1 = waning moon 6 = peasant sowing seeds
2 = fragrant blossom 7 = three headed sea monster
3 = fragrant tea 8 = two twisted snakes
4 = fragrant rice 9 = naked man
- = -,
. = plopped out spleen
, = floating log
? = torture implements
a = giggling gerbil "me" = wooden barrel
ab = up arrow mea = woman slapping man
ac = down arrow mer = man kissing woman
ad = fortune cookie mi = ancient temple
al = leaping donkey mm = smiling emperor
am = hippo doing the polka mo = broken chopsticks
an = inscrutable man moo = children staring at mating buffalo
ant = large ricecake mp = frowning emperor
ar = pile of rice mu = tea set
as = paddy field my = large wine bottle
at = man wearing coolie hat n = flatulent dog
b = origami house na = small wine bottle
ba = black pyjamas nc = stork standing on elephant
bb = small sampan nd = tiger running
be = large sampan ng = flying bird
bee = poodle 'n' noodle soup ni = man making origami bird
bi = flying fox nn = man writing
bl = wombat juggling ducks "no" = Buddhist pizza (one with everything)
bo = empty cupboard no = woman drawing
br = string of onions nt = herd of cattle
bu = bale of silk nv = pig in mud
by = man doing handstand ny = spider eating fly
c = man smelling flowers o = leaping banana
ca = open umbrella ob = colourful abacus
ce = fire dragon oi = exported junk
ch = pair of chopsticks ol = chair and table
che = large orange beard on = frog sitting on lily
ck = setting sun one = waning moon
cl = loaf of bread ong = green square
clo = dripping candle oo = lotus blossum
co = pearl river or = cherry blossom
cr = pearl necklace P = smiling water buffalo
ct = violent man pa = blowing wind
cu = lobster pot pe = falling tree
d = woman washing hair per = fish eating cheese
da = resting priest pen = bowing guinea pig
de = sleeping philosopher ph = peaceful river
dea = fishing net of doom pi = winking boy
ded = sailing ship pl = tinkling wind chime
dee = turnip pie ple = bridge over river
di = water dragon po = ancient scroll
do = water chestnut on leaf pp = coiled snake
dr = burning house pr = running cat
du = crashing wave pt = sleeping otter
e = juggling panda qui = men hunting tiger
ea = puffing cloud r = shaggy dog
ear = bowl of noodles ra = tateme mat
ed = thunder and lightning ran = shouting child
ee = bonsai tree rd = origami hippo
ei = tall tree re = imperial palace
el = beheaded man ren = man plowing fields
em = cut flowers ri = swimming coi carp
en = rose petals rk = smiling fish
ent = monkey eating nuts rm = rollerskating panda
er = wiggly squid ro = ant climbing twig
ex = blue frog rr = boiling kettle
f = cooking ladle rs = buffalo on string
fa = man balancing ball rst = fierce tiger
fe = large wok rt = fermenting beans
ff = small wok rth = candle in wind
fi = clothes on washing line rv = dried fish
fl = two shrimp ry = mad cow
fla = barfing mackerel s = origami flower
fo = three squid sa = sea weed
fr = four water chestnuts scr = swollen wrist
fu = five water buffalo se = sharp sword
g = flying cat sh = samurai warrior
ga = fish hook si = grinning donkey
gg = fish on hook sk = exploding head
gh = thousand year old egg sp = ivory chesspiece
ght = flowering plant sm = dangling carrot
gi = boy getting a haircut ss = giant turtle
gl = girl singing st = boy pulling rickshaw
go = boy dancing str = narrow alley
gr = troupe of jugglers t = man folding paper
gra = wolf in sheep's clothing ta = waving flag
gro = smiling sun tch = hammer and nail
h = undone boolace te = cheering crowd
ha = jar of pickled hamsters th = dying swan
he = gallows the = albatross eating anchovy
her = burning lamp ti = mating chicken
hea = cloudy day to = chirping cricket
hi = dog chasing cat tr = wriggling salamander
ho = coil of rope ts = scuttling crab
hu = bale of straw tt = billowing sails
i = empty wine bottle tu = wind dragon
I = wooden crate ty = green dragon
ic = cauldron on fire u = man flying kite
id = sailing ship ui = curious squid
ie = market place un = bleating goat
ier = dirty underpants up = chocolate starfish
im = bird in tree va = swearing sheep
in = bag of lychees ve = tea leaves
ing = bucket of water ven = group of soldiers
ir = swimming dolphin ver = crossed swords
je = rat eating cheese vin = trout wearing trousers
ju = meal set for six vi = anchor and chain
K = sweating cheese vo = swirling mist
ke = tea ceremony w = flapping duck
ki = jasmine bush wa = pair of spectacles
l = full fishing net wan = jug of ale
la = prawn cracker we = golden triangle
le = bureaucrat reading newspaper wer = moving shadows
ler = empty glass wh = mah-jong set
li = wallowing water bufflo wha = coin with two faces
ll = basking crocodile whe = unknown symbol
lle = empty chair wi = pickled cricket
lo = peasant holding buffalo wo = large red kite
lor = ferocious bullfrog wr = small blue kite
lu = man on horse y = terracotta soldier
ly = child painting yan = man shouting slogans
m = empty fishing net ye = early morning sun
ma = Very large wall yo = leaves in wind
man = street theatre artist z = barking frog
mb = shadow puppets ze = unfurled sail
me = open door zz = stupid looking moustache