Old Tongue

The Old Tongue is a fictional language from Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time fantasy series. It is depicted as a now-dead language, spoken only by scholars and certain nobles, but still plays a role in the plot of the books.

Contents

History

The Old Tongue was spoken during and shortly after the Age of Legends. Due to the ensuing turmoil of the Breaking of the World, the Trolloc Wars, and the War of the Hundred Years, the records of this time period are generally fragmentary at best; however, it seems that a sufficient knowledge of the language itself has survived for those who wish to learn it to do so. Many nobles, for example, are expected to learn at least a few phrases of the Old Tongue, though few do so; a fair number of Aes Sedai seem to have some knowledge of it as well, probably taught in the Tower, to say nothing of the scholars to whom such things are of great interest.

But though it has long since passed out of use, its importance should not be underestimated. It is the language of such great figures as Artur Hawkwing, Lews Therin Telamon and the Hundred Companions, as well as that of the Forsaken. It was spoken by a society that was, by all remaining accounts, quite advanced in most respects, and it was the language of those who struggled to mend their shattered societies in the aftermath of the Breaking. It did nothing less than survive a minor armageddon, and usher in the dawn of a new world.

At present, the Old Tongue can still be seen through names of places (e.g. Manetheren or Aridhol, or even Alcair Dal), things (e.g. names of Aiel warrior societies), inscriptions (e.g. "Tia mi aven Moridin isainde vadin"), and in certain phrases used in conversation, especially by Matrim Cauthon, who inherited fluency in the language from the memories he received from the Eelfinn, but before knew the language piecemeal.

Phrases and translations

Below is a list of some of the Old Tongue words and phrases used in the Wheel of Time books.

References

  1. ^ The Eye of the World, Chapter 18: The Caemlyn Road]
  2. ^ The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 18: Healing
  3. ^ The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 19: Awakening
  4. ^ The Shadow Rising, Chapter 37: Imre Stand
  5. ^ Crossroads of Twilight, Chapter 16: "The Subject of Negotiations"
  6. ^ The Shadow Rising, Chapter 22: "Out of the Stone"
  7. ^ Knife of Dreams, Chapter 21: "Within the Stone"
  8. ^ The Eye of the World, Chapter 13: "Choices"
  9. ^ The Eye of the World, Chapter 13: "Choices"
  10. ^ Crossroads of Twilight, Chapter 10: "A Blazing Beacon"
  11. ^ Crossroads of Twilight, Chapter 13: "Siege"
  12. ^ The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 14: "Meetings"
  13. ^ The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 1: "Fanning the Sparks"
  14. ^ The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 1: "Fanning the Sparks"
  15. ^ The Dragon Reborn, Prologue: "The Fortress of the Light"
  16. ^ Knife of Dreams
  17. ^ The Shadow Rising, Chapter 34: "He Who Comes With the Dawn"
  18. ^ The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 35: "The Falcon"
  19. ^ A Crown of Swords, Chapter 2: "The Butcher's Yard"
  20. ^ The Path of Daggers, Chapter 21: "Answering the Summons"
  21. ^ The Path of Daggers, Chapter 21: "Answering the Summons"
  22. ^ A Crown of Swords, Chapter 31: "Mashiara"
  23. ^ The Shadow Rising, Chapter 34: "He Who Comes With the Dawn"

Bibliography

External links

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