Goa'uld Language: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Unas]]{| align="left"
[[Category:Unas]][[Category:Languages]]{| align="left"
|valign="top"|[[Image:50708.jpg|thumb|170px|Chaka communicates with a young Unas]]
|valign="top"|[[Image:50708.jpg|thumb|170px|left|Chaka communicates with a young Unas]]
|valign="top"|[[Image:70708.jpg|thumb|170px|left|Daniel, Chaka, and Iron Shirt (Kor Asek) after a successful negotiation]]
|valign="top"|[[Image:70708.jpg|thumb|170px|left|Daniel, Chaka, and Iron Shirt (Kor Asek) after a successful negotiation]]
|}
|}
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The Unas language is very guttural.  Much hissing and snarling with very strong consonants and long vowel sounds.  A snort or roar may communicate as much if not more than any spoken words.  Words may mean different things if combined with other words.  When in mourning, the Unas as a group growl a low keening sound.
The Unas language is very guttural.  Much hissing and snarling with very strong consonants and long vowel sounds.  A snort or roar may communicate as much if not more than any spoken words.  Words may mean different things if combined with other words.  When in mourning, the Unas as a group growl a low keening sound.


[[Image:70707.jpg|thumb|178px|left|Daniel and others showing submission to Unas]]
[[Image:70707.jpg|thumb|170px|right|Daniel and others showing submission to Unas]]


Aside from the spoken language, there is a large physical component to Unas communication.  The entire conversation can mean very different things if spoken with a different tone while standing up straight rather than from a more submissive position with eyes lowered.  The Unas culture is heavily based upon hierarchy.  For example when Chaka and Daniel attempted to broker a treaty between the Tau’ri and the Unas of P3X-403, he and Daniel knelt before the Alpha male leader of the clan, Iron Shirt (Kor Asek).  Only after a dagger and bracelet had been traded did the negotiation begin (7.07 "Enemy Mine").
Aside from the spoken language, there is a large physical component to Unas communication.  The entire conversation can mean very different things if spoken with a different tone while standing up straight rather than from a more submissive position with eyes lowered.  The Unas culture is heavily based upon hierarchy.  For example when Chaka and Daniel attempted to broker a treaty between the Tau’ri and the Unas of P3X-403, he and Daniel knelt before the Alpha male leader of the clan, Iron Shirt (Kor Asek).  Only after a dagger and bracelet had been traded did the negotiation begin (7.07 "Enemy Mine").
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==Unas to English Dictionary==
==Unas to English Dictionary==


; A Benna A Tar :   no direct translation; likely "surrender”  or “honor has been given”
; A Benar : no direct translation; likely "surrender”  or “honor has been given”
; A Cha’aka :   Used as a greeting of respect; see also Chaka
; A Cha’ka : Used as a greeting of respect; (see also Chaka)
; Aka :   Thank you
; A Tar : by the group;  (see also Tar)
; Aka na :   I’m sorry
; Aka : Thank you
; Asek :   Shirt/Covering
; Aka na : I’m sorry
; Cha :   Join me/Stay with me/staying together
; Asek : Shirt/Covering
; Chaka :   Means many things, including a gesture of respect, it is also an expression of common goals; a call to a higher power; call to freedom (see A Cha'aka)
; Benar : Stop fighting
; Cho’ee’che :   Invitation to Negotiate/Talk/Diplomacy/Peace
; Cha : Join me/Stay with me/staying together (see also Ka Cha)
; Ka :   No (a), (b), (c)
; Chaka : Means many things, including a gesture of respect, it is also an expression of common goals; a call to a higher power; call to freedom (see A Cha'ka)
; Ka Keyka :       Don’t kill/Don’t hurt (a)
; Cho’ee’che : Invitation to Negotiate/Talk/Diplomacy/Peace
; Ka Nay :   Friend/Clan Member (c)
; Ka : No (a), (b), (c)
; Ka Naya : Working together (see also Naya) (c)
; Ka Cha : Come with me/Return to me/Retreat (see also Cha)
; Ka Nok : Later/Not Now (c)
; Ka Keka : Don’t kill/Don’t hurt/Unarmed (a)
; Kada : Naquadah (c)
; Ka Nay : Friend/Clan Member (c)
; Kan : Here (b), (c)
; Ka Naya : Working together (see also Naya) (c)
; Kek : Go (b), (c)
; Ka Nok : Later/Not Now (c)
; Kel : Why/How (c)
; Kada : Naquadah (c)
; Keyka : Danger/Death/Kill (a), (b), (c)
; Kan : Here (b), (c)
; Kekata : Weapons (specifically referencing Jaffa staff weapons) (c)
; Kek : Go (b), (c)
; Ko : Give/Bring (b)
; Kel : Why/How (c)
; Ko'ee'che : Bring to the clan (a)
; Keka : Danger/Death/Kill (a), (b), (c)
; Ko Keyka : Bring death/kill  pre-c, (c)
; Kekata : Weapons (specifically referencing Jaffa staff weapons) (c)
; Ko Ka Cha : Move/Relocate (c)
; Ko : Give/Bring (b)
; Kor : Iron pre-c, (c)
; Ko'ee'che : Bring to the clan (a)
* '''Lota:''' Wait/Stay pre-c, (c)
; Ko Keka : Bring death/kill  pre-c, (c)
* '''Ma:''' Agree/Settlement pre-b, (b), (c)
; Ko Ka Cha : Move/Relocate (c)
* '''Ma Kan:''' Here by Choice/My decision to come pre-b, (b), (c)
; Kor : Iron pre-c, (c)
* '''Na:''' Prisoners (5.07 "Beast of Burden")
; Lota : Wait/Stay pre-c, (c)
* '''Nan:''' Food/Eat/Nourishment (4.08 "The First Ones, 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Ma : Agree/Settlement pre-b, (b), (c)
* '''Naya:''' All/Together (see also Ka Naya) (7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Ma Kan : Here by Choice/My decision to come pre-b, (b), (c)
* '''No Na:''' Home (before 5.08 "Beast of Burden", 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Na : Prisoners (5.07 "Beast of Burden")
* '''Nok:''' Time/Now (7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Nan : Food/Eat/Nourishment (4.08 "The First Ones, 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
* '''Onac:''' Goa’uld
; Naya : All/Together (see also Ka Naya) (7.07 "Enemy Mine")
* '''Shesh:''' I don’t understand/I don’t know/Strangeness
; No Na : Home (before 5.08 "Beast of Burden", 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
* '''Ska:''' Life
; Nok : Time/Now (7.07 "Enemy Mine")
* '''Ska Nat:''' Friends
; Onac : Goa’uld
* '''Soseka:''' An extremely large number
; Shesh : I don’t understand/I don’t know/This makes no sense
; Ta : You; what name is? What do you call...? (7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Ska : Life
; Tak : Trick/Deception (pre-season 7, 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Ska Nat : Friends
; Tar : What is that group/name/species (7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Soseka : An extremely large number (over one hundred)
; Te : Me/My/The name is/also “the” (7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Ta : You; also used interrogatively such as what name is? What do you call...? Is this a...?(7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Tok : Fight/Defiance (pre-season 7, 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Tak : Trick/Deception (pre-season 7, 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Tonak :   Make War/Battle (pre-season 7, 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Tar : Group/Also used interrogatively, such as what is that group/name/species (see also A Tar) (7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Uman :   Human (7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Te : Me/My/The name is/also “the” (7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Unas :   Unas (4.08 "The First Ones; 5.07 "Beast of Burden", 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Tok : Fight/Defiance (pre-season 7, 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Wok Tah :   Sacrifice/Marked for death (4.08 "The First Ones", 5.07 "Beast of Burden")
; Tonak : Make War/Battle (pre-season 7, 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Zo :   Leader (5.07 "Beast of Burden", 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; 'Uman : Human (7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Unas : Unas (4.08 "The First Ones; 5.07 "Beast of Burden", 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
; Wok Tah : Sacrifice/Marked for death (4.08 "The First Ones", 5.07 "Beast of Burden")
; Zo : Leader (5.07 "Beast of Burden", 7.07 "Enemy Mine")


==Related Episodes==
==Related Episodes==

Revision as of 21:47, 27 November 2005

{| align="left"

|valign="top"|

Chaka communicates with a young Unas

|valign="top"|

Daniel, Chaka, and Iron Shirt (Kor Asek) after a successful negotiation

|}

Summary

The Unas are a very primitive society in some ways, but have a very intricate clan and social structure that must have existed for centuries. This is evidenced by their communication. Dr. Daniel Jackson noted that language was a learned behavior, and at first believed Chaka had taught Unas on another planet “his word” of Chaka. Only later did he realize the Unas already knew that word, and in fact, they already spoke the same language (5.07 "Beast Of Burden"). Chaka and Daniel were later able to communicate with Unas from yet a third world (7.07 "Enemy Mine"). Therefore at least the rudiments of the spoken Unas language had developed by the time Unas first left their aboriginal homeworld of P3X-888 (see 4.08 "The First Ones")

Visual and Written Language

Lt. Ritter’s body hung on warning totem
Unas cave drawing

There appears to be no written language for the Unas. They relied mostly on pictographs on the walls of their cavern dwellings to tell stories or relay information (4.08 "The First Ones"). Another way they relayed information was through visual aids. They placed warning totems near their sacred areas, complete with the bodies of those who had trespassed where they should not have been (7.07 "Enemy Mine").

Verbal and Physical Communication

The Unas language is very guttural. Much hissing and snarling with very strong consonants and long vowel sounds. A snort or roar may communicate as much if not more than any spoken words. Words may mean different things if combined with other words. When in mourning, the Unas as a group growl a low keening sound.

Daniel and others showing submission to Unas

Aside from the spoken language, there is a large physical component to Unas communication. The entire conversation can mean very different things if spoken with a different tone while standing up straight rather than from a more submissive position with eyes lowered. The Unas culture is heavily based upon hierarchy. For example when Chaka and Daniel attempted to broker a treaty between the Tau’ri and the Unas of P3X-403, he and Daniel knelt before the Alpha male leader of the clan, Iron Shirt (Kor Asek). Only after a dagger and bracelet had been traded did the negotiation begin (7.07 "Enemy Mine").

Unas to English Dictionary

A Benar
no direct translation; likely "surrender” or “honor has been given”
A Cha’ka
Used as a greeting of respect; (see also Chaka)
A Tar
by the group; (see also Tar)
Aka
Thank you
Aka na
I’m sorry
Asek
Shirt/Covering
Benar
Stop fighting
Cha
Join me/Stay with me/staying together (see also Ka Cha)
Chaka
Means many things, including a gesture of respect, it is also an expression of common goals; a call to a higher power; call to freedom (see A Cha'ka)
Cho’ee’che
Invitation to Negotiate/Talk/Diplomacy/Peace
Ka
No (a), (b), (c)
Ka Cha
Come with me/Return to me/Retreat (see also Cha)
Ka Keka
Don’t kill/Don’t hurt/Unarmed (a)
Ka Nay
Friend/Clan Member (c)
Ka Naya
Working together (see also Naya) (c)
Ka Nok
Later/Not Now (c)
Kada
Naquadah (c)
Kan
Here (b), (c)
Kek
Go (b), (c)
Kel
Why/How (c)
Keka
Danger/Death/Kill (a), (b), (c)
Kekata
Weapons (specifically referencing Jaffa staff weapons) (c)
Ko
Give/Bring (b)
Ko'ee'che
Bring to the clan (a)
Ko Keka
Bring death/kill pre-c, (c)
Ko Ka Cha
Move/Relocate (c)
Kor
Iron pre-c, (c)
Lota
Wait/Stay pre-c, (c)
Ma
Agree/Settlement pre-b, (b), (c)
Ma Kan
Here by Choice/My decision to come pre-b, (b), (c)
Na
Prisoners (5.07 "Beast of Burden")
Nan
Food/Eat/Nourishment (4.08 "The First Ones, 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
Naya
All/Together (see also Ka Naya) (7.07 "Enemy Mine")
No Na
Home (before 5.08 "Beast of Burden", 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
Nok
Time/Now (7.07 "Enemy Mine")
Onac
Goa’uld
Shesh
I don’t understand/I don’t know/This makes no sense
Ska
Life
Ska Nat
Friends
Soseka
An extremely large number (over one hundred)
Ta
You; also used interrogatively such as what name is? What do you call...? Is this a...?(7.07 "Enemy Mine")
Tak
Trick/Deception (pre-season 7, 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
Tar
Group/Also used interrogatively, such as what is that group/name/species (see also A Tar) (7.07 "Enemy Mine")
Te
Me/My/The name is/also “the” (7.07 "Enemy Mine")
Tok
Fight/Defiance (pre-season 7, 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
Tonak
Make War/Battle (pre-season 7, 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
'Uman
Human (7.07 "Enemy Mine")
Unas
Unas (4.08 "The First Ones; 5.07 "Beast of Burden", 7.07 "Enemy Mine")
Wok Tah
Sacrifice/Marked for death (4.08 "The First Ones", 5.07 "Beast of Burden")
Zo
Leader (5.07 "Beast of Burden", 7.07 "Enemy Mine")

Related Episodes

Related Characters

Related Articles

Aurora Novarum 1:10 27 Nov 2005 (EST)