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Elvish Language 101? (headcanon)
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<blockquote data-quote="emeraldbeacon" data-source="post: 8375374" data-attributes="member: 7032019"><p>I'm playing around with the naming conventions within <em>War of the Burning Sky</em>, and wondered if the three names for the elvish races came from root words in the language. I don't know if any of this was intended or not, but I've come up with four words so far...</p><p></p><p><strong>Esti </strong>is, fundamentally, the Elvish word for their own people. It has many different translations in different contexts, and can mean anything from community or society, to the genetic elvish race/species.</p><p></p><p>Next is <strong>Shahal</strong>, a word that means radiant, glowing... or shining. It carries a connotation of beauty and grace with it, as a warm and nurturing light, not a harsh one. It is the word that high elves have long used to describe their people... the <em>Shahal-Esti</em>, or Shining Elves, and what Lord Shaaladel chose to name his relatively young nation..</p><p></p><p><strong>Taran </strong>is a similar phrase, literally translated as "from the earth." It is a common descriptor of plants and trees, and anything else that grows from nature. In recent decades, the word has also taken on a somewhat derogatory sense in high elven culture, meaning "dirty" or "filthy," but historically, as a metaphor, it has long meant "grounded, stable, or hearty." This is, of course, where the <em>Taran-Esti </em>draw their name.</p><p></p><p>Lastly, <strong>Droal </strong>roughly translates as "untouched by light," and usually is used as a word to mean concealed or obscured. The <em>Droal-Esti </em>have long been marginalized by the Shining Lands, as they lack the ability to appreciate the sun as their Shahal and Taran brethren do, and as such, earned the elvish phrase for "darkness" as their name. The phrase has a much lesser-used meaning, however, of "sheltered/protected," as if to shield something from a danger. This archaic definition is often embraced by <em>Droal-Esti </em>scholars, as they have long sought to protect their own from the hostility of the outside world.</p><p></p><p>Have you done any exploration of the naming conventions within the game, and come up with any other lore that could maybe be offered to your players?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="emeraldbeacon, post: 8375374, member: 7032019"] I'm playing around with the naming conventions within [I]War of the Burning Sky[/I], and wondered if the three names for the elvish races came from root words in the language. I don't know if any of this was intended or not, but I've come up with four words so far... [B]Esti [/B]is, fundamentally, the Elvish word for their own people. It has many different translations in different contexts, and can mean anything from community or society, to the genetic elvish race/species. Next is [B]Shahal[/B], a word that means radiant, glowing... or shining. It carries a connotation of beauty and grace with it, as a warm and nurturing light, not a harsh one. It is the word that high elves have long used to describe their people... the [I]Shahal-Esti[/I], or Shining Elves, and what Lord Shaaladel chose to name his relatively young nation.. [B]Taran [/B]is a similar phrase, literally translated as "from the earth." It is a common descriptor of plants and trees, and anything else that grows from nature. In recent decades, the word has also taken on a somewhat derogatory sense in high elven culture, meaning "dirty" or "filthy," but historically, as a metaphor, it has long meant "grounded, stable, or hearty." This is, of course, where the [I]Taran-Esti [/I]draw their name. Lastly, [B]Droal [/B]roughly translates as "untouched by light," and usually is used as a word to mean concealed or obscured. The [I]Droal-Esti [/I]have long been marginalized by the Shining Lands, as they lack the ability to appreciate the sun as their Shahal and Taran brethren do, and as such, earned the elvish phrase for "darkness" as their name. The phrase has a much lesser-used meaning, however, of "sheltered/protected," as if to shield something from a danger. This archaic definition is often embraced by [I]Droal-Esti [/I]scholars, as they have long sought to protect their own from the hostility of the outside world. Have you done any exploration of the naming conventions within the game, and come up with any other lore that could maybe be offered to your players? [/QUOTE]
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