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'''Ork Language''' is a crude compilation of various dialects and tongues used by [[Orks]].
[[Image:Grot Reading.jpg|thumb|200px|Grot Rigger reading a note in Mek Jargon{{Fn|7}}]]
Language that [[Orks]] speak reflects their nature, being a crude and unsubtle one, but possessing more insults and war terms than any other. It is known to consist of many dialects, that vary between different [[Clans]] and worlds.{{Fn|4}} These dialects are changing as Orks migrate around the galaxy, contacting other species and adopting words from their languages. Orks often loot things they like from other races and particularly useful words and phases are no exception.{{Fn|1}} Because of it, Ork language includes many loan words, including the ones taken from [[Low Gothic]], however, due to the their physiology Orks are unable to pronounce some sounds and most of those get heavily changed.{{Fn|5}} It is speculated that at same point in history all Orks spoke the same form of the language, the one Imperial scholars call ''Old High Orkish''.{{Fn|1}} Ork language can be learned by humans to some extent, the most famous example being [[Sebastian Yarrick]], who learned it from a captured greenskin.{{Fn|6}} The Ork language uses a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logogram logographic system] and is written in the form of glyphic script. Its core consists of glyphs that indicate Clan, Warband, common Ork concepts and elements of Ork names. These are augmented by phonetic runes that can be used to write most Ork words and words from other languages.{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|3}} The resulting script is mainly used to indicate ownership, signify tribal affilationaffiliation, record battle honours and other such tasks. They are not often used to write down history texts or battle manuals. Instead, Orks have a very strong oral tradition with myths and legends passed from Ork to Ork. Only Meks [[Mek]]s with their jargon write and share useful bits of knowledge.{{Fn|1}}
Main The main [[Wikipedia:Lexeme|lexeme]] of Ork language is a root word, represented in written form either by a glyph or a number of phonetic runes. These are common Ork words and name elements. Naturally, there are myriads of them, varying between worlds, clans and different regions of [[Ork Domains|Ork space]], but some of them, listed lower, are universally understood and are included in almost any dialect of Ork language. These basic root words represent key concepts, fundamental to the Orkish way of life. As such they are known among all Orks and have probably remained unchanged from the dawn of the Ork race.{{Fn|1}}
{{Languages}}
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[[Image:Grot Reading.jpg|thumb|200px|A [[Grot Rigger]] reading a note in [[Mek Jargon]]{{Fn|7}}]]
'''Ork Language''' is a crude compilation of various dialects and tongues used by [[Orks]].
==Description==
The language that [[Orks]] speak reflects their nature, being a crude and unsubtle one, but possessing more insults and war terms than any other. It is known to consist of many dialects, that vary between different [[Clans]] and worlds.{{Fn|4}} These dialects are changing as Orks migrate around the [[galaxy]], contacting other species and adopting words from their languages. Orks often loot things they like from other races and particularly useful words and phases are no exception.{{Fn|1}} Because of this, the Ork language includes many loan words, including the ones taken from [[Low Gothic]]; however, due to the their physiology Orks are unable to pronounce some sounds and most of those get heavily changed.{{Fn|5}} It is speculated that at some point in history all Orks spoke the same form of the language, which [[Imperial]] scholars call ''Old High Orkish''.{{Fn|1}} The Ork language can be learned by humans to some extent, the most famous example being [[Sebastian Yarrick]], who learned it from a captured greenskin.{{Fn|6}}
===Mek Jargon===
==Lexicon==
These root words are used to create names of units, tribes, individuals, places or battles and to indicate ownership and such. Most of them have multiple meanings, that depends on the context. In fact, Orks don't recognise the strict limitations on the meanings of words and described glyphs may have different meanings not listed here. They often string words together in imaginative compounds to express what they mean, resulting in a very approximate manner. Because of it, Ork language is not known for its clarity as Orks do not demand precision from it and are quite happy to follow the gist of what is being said.{{Fn|1}}
==Grammar==
Ork language glyphs can be used in combination to express certain ideas. For example, the folllowing ownership note:
*'''This vehicle belongs to [[Ugwort Blueface]], a member of the [[Evil Sunz]] [[Ork Clan|Clan]] in the service of [[Warboss|Warlord]] [[Gutdreg]].'''
translates to Ork language as:
*'''Og kart ug-wort grim-zod uz-bad waa gut-dreg'''
In written form it is composed of glyphs, like this:
[[Image:Ork Note.jpg|thumb|rightcenter]]
The literal translation of this will look like this:
Orks write numbers by numerical runes shown above. Larger numbers are made up of combinations of these runes. For example, 10 is written with two 5 runes and 100 - with twenty 5 runes. This system is very crude and simple but is good enough for ordinary Orks.{{Fn|1}}
==Related articlesSee also==
*[[Ork Quotes]]
==Sources==
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Codex: Imperial Guard (5th Edition)]], pg. 23
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Eight - Raid on Kastorel-Novem]], pg. 124
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{{Languages}}
[[Category:Languages]]
[[Category:Orks]]