Nostraman Lexicon
The language known as Nostraman was the primary language of Nostramo.[1d]
Overview
Nostraman has its roots in High Gothic and doesn't translate well into Low Gothic. Nostraman is a flowery language, prone to being grand and overly poetic. Over generations, the Nostraman language would emerge from the high politics and complex underworld of the planet's faithless, untrusting, and tumultuous people. Many agree that the flowery language likely made the criminal gangers and corrupt nobles feel like they were cultured.[1d] The writing of Nostraman script is described as flowing and twisting.[1c] The spoken words themselves are described by some as delicate, smooth, and curiously chilling.[1d] Others describe it as full of hissing and excessive ash-ash-ash-ing.[4b] The language is a viperous tongue.[4e]
Nostraman is functionally a dead language in M41, only being regularly used by the Night Lords alongside their slave-serfs.[1b]
| Nostraman | Low Gothic |
| Viris colratha dath sethicara tesh dasovallian. Solruthis veh za jass. | Sons of our father, stand in midnight clad. We bring the night. or Brothers, wear your armour. We are going to war. [1d] |
| Jasca | Yes [1e] |
| Athasavis te corunai tol shathen sha’shian?[1e] | |
| Kosh, kosh’eth tay, ama sho’shalnath mirsa tota. Ithis jasha. Ithis jasha nereoss.[1e] | |
| Ilashovarath | Advance[2b] |
| Kelish | Brace[2b] |
| Mino premiesh a minos murantiath! | We are first on the wall![2a] |
| Nath sihll shah, vor’vorran kalshiel | I know you mate with pigs[3] |
| Asa fothala su’surushan.[4a] | |
| Vaya vey ne’sha. | I don’t understand.[4a] |
| Kishith val’veyalass, olmisay.[4a] | |
| Shrilla la lerril | Translation isn't exact but is essentially calling someone: "a whore that mates with dogs."[4a] |
| Vellith sar’darithas, volvallasha sor sul.[4a] | |
| Tosha aurthilla vau veshi laliss | Translation isn't clear, possibly means or is related to: "This vessel is cursed."[4a] |
| Ashilla sorsollun, ashilla uthullun. | A rhyme of sorsollun and uthullun, both meaning sunless but with different emotional connotations. Roughly translates to mean: I am blind, I am cold.[4a] |
| Forfallian dal sur shissis lalil na sha dareel. | Meaning unknown, involves some form of cursing.[4b] |
| Sil vasha nuray. | He has no arms.[4b] |
| Sinthallia shar vor vall’velias. | That woman will be the death of us.[4c] |
| Nishallitha | Poisonous[4d] |
| Corshia sey | Corshia sey means to beware, with an implication of future violence. The literal translation is "breathe now". On Nostramo this was slang used as a warning given to those soon to die. The implication of this Nostraman gutter-threat is simply stating: breathe while you still can.[4d] |
| Valmisai, shul’celadaan. Flishatha sey shol voroshica.[4f] | |
| Vishi tha?[4g] | |
| Vularai[5] | Liar[5] |
| Tshiva keln[5] | Eat shit[5] |
Sources
- 1: Soul Hunter (Novel):
- 2: The Lost and the Damned (Novel):
- 3: Savage Weapons (Short Story)
- 4: Blood Reaver (Novel):
- 5: Void Stalker (Novel), Chapter II
