Al Bhed language
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The Al Bhed language is a fictional language from the role-playing video game Final Fantasy X and its sequel Final Fantasy X-2. During the game, apart from the main protagonist who may learn it, the language is spoken only by the Al Bhed people themselves. Although it seems at first like a foreign language, it is actually a simple substitution cipher, a system of transposing certain letters for others. It shares the same syntax and grammar of English.
Certain keywords are not translated into Al Bhed in the game. Most keywords are proper nouns, but some common nouns also are not translated, such as "fiend" ("Y fiend! Eh risyh teckieca!" / A fiend! In human disguise!), "magic" ("Ouin bnaleuic magic yht Aeons yna caymat" / Your precious magic and Aeons are sealed), and "airship".
In the game, Al Bhed words are differentiated from the common language of Spira by being printed in blue text (for non-translated words) or pink text (for translated words, represented here in bold). The player can learn the Al Bhed language by picking up items called Al Bhed Primers. Each Primer translates a single letter of the alphabet. This sometimes results in bizarre statements mixing English and Al Bhed in the same word. Go here for a list of where you can find all the primers.
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[edit] Al Bhed Translation
Here is how to convert English to Al Bhed:
| English | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
| Al Bhed | Y | P | L | T | A | V | K | R | E | Z | G | M | S | H | U | B | X | N | C | D | I | J | F | Q | O | W |
For example, "you" in English is rendered as "oui" in Al Bhed:
- Y → O
- O → U
- U → I
[edit] Al Bhed in Japanese
The original Japanese version of the cipher uses the syllable-based kana system of writing where each symbol represents a combination of "consonant + vowel" (or simply a vowel). In general, each symbol is mapped to another with the same vowel, but a different consonant.
For example, "sa" maps to "ra", "se" maps to "he", and "na" maps to "ha". The word "sayōnara" (goodbye) maps thus:
"sa-yo-na-ra" to "ra-fu-ha-na".
"サ-ヨ-ナ-ラ" to "ラ-フ-ハ-ナ."
As with the English version, proper nouns and game-specific concepts are not translated. Al Bhed is written in katakana.
[edit] Deciphering Al Bhed without a primer
The player does not necessarily need to decipher the Al Bhed language during the game, as the many Al Bhed primers found or given as gifts to the playable characters will do the translating. However, to decipher it without the benefit of a code book, one could use frequency analysis, the method used by Sherlock Holmes to decipher the Dancing Man code. [1].
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- English to Al Bhed/Al Bhed to English translator (with phonetics)
- Simple substitution cipher generator preloaded with Al Bhed.
