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Zandali
Zandali writing on the Tablet of Theka.
Zandali writing on Tales of de Loa: Kimbul.
Zandali, also known as Troll[1][2] or Zandalari,[3][4] is the native language of the trolls. Trolls of all types speak Zandali. Like many languages, Zandali has many accents divided by regions. The Stranglethorn Vale accent is distinct enough that trolls can recognize it with only one word.[5] Zandali is taught to the young of the Darkspear tribe, with Orcish being taught in addition. Although described as a guttural language,[6] Zandali always has a melodious flow to it.[7]
The Hakkari refer to the language as "the old tongue" and do not converse in it.[8] In World of Warcraft, Zandali is the secondary language spoken by the Darkspear trolls of the Horde.
It appears to be named after Zandalar, where the early trolls first settled.
Contents
Zandali primer (official translations)
Here are a few common Zandali phrases and words, for which the translations have been officially confirmed by Blizzard:
- Atal'ai = Devoted Ones.[9][10][11]
- Bwon'tulak = Death singer.[12]
- Dazdooga = Fire.[13]
- Doba quzhu ta tawbo! Metah bo chu! = We bring a gift for you, great loa of death![14]
- Fa'da = Father.[15]
- Ma'da = Mother.[15][16][17] Male blood trolls use the word as a term of respect for the females of their society.[17]
- Rush'kah = A type of special ceremonial mask used by shadow hunters.
- Shera Ali'kh = Death's Hand.[3]
- Zen = Druid, often a prefix added to a name when they become one.[18] Examples include Zen'Balai, Zen'Kiki, and Zen'tabra.
- Zul' = Voodoo master, often a prefix added to a name when they become one.[19]
- 'aka = A suffix used to denote the daughter of someone,[20] such as Ohgan'aka being the daughter of Ohgan.
Unconfirmed Zandali words
These words are of English origin and it is not known whether or not they're regarded as Zandali or have an unknown Zandali equivalent:
- Juju = A fetish, charm, or amulet used by some tribes, or the power associated with a juju.
- Loa = Powerful spirits and deities around which troll religion is centered. Mainly used as the troll word for Wild Gods,[21] but has also been used to refer to non-Wild God beings, such as wisps.[22]
- Mojo = A magic spell, hex, or charm, or (broadly) magic power.
- Voodoo = Ancient magic used by trolls.
Untranslated Zandali words, phrases and names
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Forest troll settlement names
Jungle troll settlement names
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Zandalari settlements
Other
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In the RPG
Some trolls have descended so far into barbarism that they have forgotten Zandali, instead speaking Low Common.[27] The Troll language is largely syllabic.[28]
- 'jin = Chieftain or Elder, added as a suffix.[28]
- 'fon = Loner; someone who has deliberately absented himself from troll society and its obligations and is little better than a pariah. Added as a suffix.[29]
- Atal'Hakkar = "Devoted to Hakkar" or "In Honor of Hakkar".[30]
- Kaz'kah = Death Totem.[31]
- Mon = Man.[citation needed] (May represent a form of Low Common, rather than Zandali.)
- Zufli = Baby Witch, corruption of the voodoo master prefix, "zul". It is a derogatory term for female witch doctors, but some females have taken on the title as a mark of pride.[32]
- Zul' = Voodoo master, often a prefix added to a name when they become one.[28]
- Zul'jin = Great Tribal Witch Doctor, (rough translation).[28]
Troll names
Jungle troll names
Jungle troll youth do not receive public names until they have earned a name in battle. Until then, they are referred to by generic diminutives.[33] Jungle troll names look simple but are surprisingly complex. Their language is largely syllabic, and various syllables can be added to the beginning or end of a troll's name to denote status and ability. Troll given names are usually one syllable, to facilitate the additions of these titles. Some trolls drop their given names altogether and are known purely by their titles.
- Male Names: Vol, Ros, Mig, Gal.
- Female Names: Shi, Mith, Hai, So.
- Family Names: Trolls do not have family names, though they occasionally use their tribe's name in its place.[28]
Forest troll names
Forest trolls follow the same naming conventions as jungle trolls, though some of the suffixes and prefixes differ.
- Male Names: Doth, Mag, Ran, Vis.
- Female Names: Lith, Arn, Din, Mak.
- Family Names: Like jungle trolls, forest trolls have no family names.[34]
Untranslated words, phrases and names
- Bambe[35]
- Dambala - Loa of Serpents & Treachery
- Legba - Loa of Speed
- Lukou - Loa of Healing & Respite
- Ogoun - Loa of War
- Shaka[35]
- Ula-tek - Goddess of Serpents
- Zuvembi[35]
In-game parser
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This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.
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This is the list of words created by the in-game language parser for the Troll language and is listed as language number fourteen (word range 1280-1358) in the Language text file.
Note: The language algorithm used by the in-game "translator" merely makes the words look like Zandali. It does not actually use a specific dictionary. Therefore, translated in-game speech isn't true Zandali.
| Number of letters in word | Word List |
|---|---|
| One-letter words | A, E, H, J, M, N, O, S, U |
| Two-letter words | Di, Fi, Fu, Im, Ir, Is, Ju, So, Wi, Yu |
| Three-letter words | Deh, Dim, Fus, Han, Mek, Noh, Sca, Tor, Weh, Wha, |
| Four-letter words | Cyaa, Duti, Iman, Iyaz, Riva, Skam Ting, Worl, Yudo |
| Five-letter words | Ackee, Atuad, Caang, Difus, Nehjo Siame, T'ief, Wassa |
| Six-letter words | Bwoyar, Deh'yo, Fidong, Honnah, Icense, Italaf, Quashi, Saakes, Smadda, Stoosh, Wi'mek, Yuutee |
| Seven-letter words | Chakari, Craaweh, Flimeff, Godehsi, Lok'dim, Reespek, Rivasuf, Tanponi, Uptfeel, Yahsoda, Ziondeh |
| Eight-letter words | Ginnalka, Machette, Nyamanpo, Oondasta, Wehnehjo, Whutless, Yeyewata, Zutopong |
| Nine-letter words | Fus'obeah, Or'manley |
Words used by players, mobs and NPCs
- Dim = Lol
- T'ief godehsi wha = Sands consume you![36]
Speculation
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This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.
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- "Akil" = "Eagle". Used as a prefix in the names of the eagle loa Akil'zon and Akil'darah, as well as the Zandalari troll Windweaver Akil'amon.
- "Alarion" = "Guardian".
- "Alor" = "Temple/Altar". Used in the names of Jintha'Alor and Shadra'Alor, named after Jintha and Shadra, respectively.
- "Antu" = "Overseer". Antu'sul has the title of <Overseer of Sul>.
- "Atal'alarion" = "Guardian of the Devoted".
- "E'chuta" = There is no specific translation, but it could possibly be an insult or swear word.
- "Jang" = "Protect". Used in
[Jang'thraze the Protector]. - "Jin" = Possibly "leader" or "elder". Used in the names of Jin'Zil, Kazra'jin, Sen'jin, Vol'jin, Yayo'jin, Zul'jin, etc.
- "Kai'ju" = Might translate to "frost" or "frozen", as in the Elemental Unrest event, Gahz'rilla was summoned bearing another name: Kai'ju Gahz'rilla. The hydra has also always used ice-related abilities.
- "Rohk" = "End of worlds/apocalypse". Used in
[Jin'rohk, The Great Apocalypse]. - "Rokh" = "World(s)" or "End/To end something". Used in
[Zin'rokh, Destroyer of Worlds]. See "Zin". - "Rush" = Possibly translates to "ceremony" and "ceremonial", thus making rush'kah mean "ceremony mask" / "ceremonial mask".
- "Sang" = "Deflect". Used in
[Sang'thraze the Deflector]. - "Sul" = Namesake of the Farraki Sul the Sandcrawler. Term also associated with various elements of Zul'Farrak, such as
[Sul'thraze the Lasher], Sul'lithuz basilisks, and Antu'sul, the "Overseer of Sul". - "Tal" = Possibly "enclave". Used in Tal'farrak, Tal'aman, and Tal'gurub.
- "Thraze" = "Blade".
- "Watha" = Common suffix in troll village names (Agol'watha, Hiri'watha, Shaol'watha, Dol'watha, Nazwatha, Zun'watha, Zeb'Watha).
- "Zandalar" - May mean "holy". The Zandalari named a mountain range they considered holy, because of it brimming with loa, the "Zandalar Mountains", thus "holy mountains".
- "Zandalari" - May be a superlative adjective of "Zandalar" meaning "holiest". Making Zandalari trolls the "holiest trolls" due to their deep reverence for the loa surpassing that of other trolls.
- "Zeb" = Possibly "forest" or "forest village". Common prefix in forest troll villages such as Zeb'Watha, Zeb'Tela and Zeb'Sora, but also the ice troll village of Zeb'Halak (In Grizzly Hills, a forest) and the Zandalari town of Zeb'tula (Located in a marshy forest on the Isle of Thunder). Although it could also be the prefix for a smaller settlement/village.
- "Zin" = Possibly "destroyer", as in [Zin'rokh, Destroyer of Worlds]. This would agree with one of the possible definitions for Rokh being "world(s)", though it would conflict with [Jin'rohk, The Great Apocalypse], so "rokh" itself might have two definitions. Another possibility is that "rokh" refers only to the end of something, while "zin" refers to "world(s)" and "jin" keeps its original definition; therefore Jin'rohk would directly translate to "greatest/above all/most authoritative/end(s) of something", which defines an apocalypse, while Zin'rokh would mean "a world's end or destruction".
- "Zul" = Likely has different meanings depending on its usage, as it can be used as a prefix (Zul'jin) or name (Zul) for an individual. It is a prefix often associated with capital temple cities such as Zul'Aman, Zul'Gurub, Zul'Drak and etcetera. There is an exception to a capital temple city using Zul not as a prefix but as part of the name, Zuldazar (though the lack of apostrophe could be argued to indicate the separate concepts of 'Zul' and 'Dazar' of being fused almost entirely). However, it has also been used as a name on its own as evident by the Altar of Zul and Empire of Zul.
Notes and trivia
- Phrases could be heard in Warcraft III from several of the available troll creeps that one could hire or mind control. Some are taken from the Star Wars language of Huttese, others from the Spanish language, and more from other pop culture references. Their meanings are unknown. These may only be meant as click jokes but are here for completeness sake.
- Few dare to learn Zandali as the Darkspear tribe tend to be very aggressive when asked about it.[37]
- Tyrathan Khort picked up Zandali and is able to speak it with a Stranglethorn accent.[38]
- Zul's
[Seal of Implacable Fate] was made of carefully etched series of Zandali symbols on a wooden placard.
References
- ^ World of Warcraft: Beginner's Guide
- ^ World of Warcraft Battle Chest Guide
- ^ a b
[60R] Zandalarian Shadow Talisman
- ^
[110 - 120] Meet the Goldtusk Gang
- ^ Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde, pg. 42
- ^ War Crimes, chapter 35: "[The alternate Vol'jin] came at Anduin like a madman, shrieking in his own guttural language [...]"
- ^ Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde, pg. 39
- ^ Exzhal#Dialogue
- ^
[Atal'ai Scepter]
- ^
[120 Daily] A Time to Reflect
- ^
Blizzard Entertainment 2018-04-30. Battle for Azeroth Preview: Zuldazar Visitor’s Guide. Retrieved on 2018-05-02.
- ^ [110 - 120] Blood in the Tides
- ^ Blood of the Highborne, chapter 1
- ^ [110 - 120] A Tribute for Death
- ^ a b [120] Children's Week
- ^ [110 - 120] The Forlorn Soul
- ^ a b Blizzard Entertainment 2018-06-06. Battle for Azeroth Preview: Nazmir Visitor’s Guide. Retrieved on 2018-06-08.
- ^ Loreology on Twitter (dead link)
- ^ Loreology on Twitter (dead link)
- ^ [27] Mind Vision
- ^ World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 129
- ^ Ask CDev - Round 2
- ^ [110 - 120] To Sacrifice a Loa
- ^ Loyalist Sailor
- ^ Shadows Rising, pg. 248 - 249
- ^ [110 - 120] Zuvembi Brew
- ^ Kiley, Ellen P.. Lands of Mystery, 34. ISBN 9781588467843.
- ^ a b c d e Arthaus. World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, 50. ISBN 9781588467812.
- ^ Kiley, Ellen P.. Lands of Mystery, 171. ISBN 9781588467843.
- ^ Johnson, Luke. Dark Factions, 127. ISBN 9781588464460.
- ^ Arthaus. Shadows & Light, 10. ISBN 9781588469731.
- ^ Bennie, Scott; Richard Farrese, Bob Fitch. Horde Player's Guide, 93. ISBN 9781588467720.
- ^ Borgstrom, Rebecca; Eric Brennan, Genevieve Cogman, and Michael Goodwin. Manual of Monsters, 102. ISBN 978-1588-4607-07.
- ^ Bennie, Scott; Richard Farrese, Bob Fitch. Horde Player's Guide, 10. ISBN 9781588467720.
- ^ a b c Johnstone, Mike. Magic & Mayhem, 56. ISBN 9781588469540.
- ^ Witch Doctor Zum'rah
- ^ World of Warcraft Battle Chest Guide
- ^ Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde, pg. 76, 77
External links
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