Question, in the first few chapters on WondLa, before Rovee gave Eva the translator, were you able to decode what Besteel and Rovee were saying? I’m still having a hard time trying to figure out what they’re saying. Still wondering what Shee-na means.
*spreads arms dramatically* My time has come.
Lmao. I love conlangs, so I've definitely tried to translate the non-human dialogue a couple times over the years, so I'll give it my best shot!
First, I think "shee-na" probably means "quiet" or a variation thereof, given that Rovender makes a shushing motion when saying that. As for book dialogue:
"'Ovanda say tateel?'" (pg. 69, Rovender)
Likely "What are you doing?" I'd be inclined to translate as "Who/what are you?" instead if not for the fact that Rovender says this same thing to Eva when she's hiding under Otto on pg. 94. They're sort of familiar with each other at this point, so it doesn't make any sense to ask who she is again.
"'Daff effu Cærulean?'" (pg. 77, Besteel)
Possibly something along the lines of a snarky greeting, or "What are you doing, Cærulean?", or even "We meet again, Cærulean?". From context clues, I'd say Besteel and Rovender have crossed paths before (they seem slightly familiar with each other; Besteel knows Rovender by name) and have a history of not liking the other/Rovender keeps messing with Besteel. This is also why I'd posit a snarky greeting.
"'Tuda neem,'" (pg. 82, Besteel)
"Don't worry," meant in an extremely worrying fashion.
"'Kap und gabbo.... Ta, broog iffa yu nabba,'" (pg. 83, Besteel)
Context seems to suggest "ta" is "yes" in the common Orbonian language. The whole thing is perhaps "You can't escape [or you are scared].... Yes, you will be perfect [or: you will live]," possibly as a reference to his mission to capture specimans to free Redimus.
"'Oeeah. Te banga nee peezil,'" (pg. 83, Rovender)
"Oeeah" is an exclamation, so has no translation. Possibly "see what he's doing there"?
"'Dot, dat.'" (pg. 83, Rovender)
"Stop, no." "Dat" appears to be "no".
"'Peesa van shuuzu,'" (pg. 84, Rovender)
"Going up is the only way out"; "peesa" is "up".
"'Ta! Ta! [...] Peesa.'" (pg. 84, Rovender)
"Yes! Yes! [...] Up."
"'Pra! Dooma boffa!'" (pg. 85, Besteel)
"Back! Stupid animal!" (translation note: what an asshole)
"'Dat, dat, dat. [...] Te,'" (pg. 85, Rovender)
"No, no, no. [...] There,'"
"'Tasha, zaata,'" (pg. 87, Rovender)
"Alright, go,"; "zaata" is "go".
"'Bluh, sizzu feezi,'" (pg. 88, Rovender)
"Bluh" is an exclamation and has no translation. "Feezi" means "nymph"; this seems to be a word Orbonians-- or at least Cæruleans and/or Halcyonus-- use for children. Eva is referred to as "the nymph" and-- I believe-- "the nymph of the forest" and, in the 200 years later epilogue, the language blend of English and the common Orbonian language gives us "'Feezi, known as Eva'", providing a direct translation. This whole phrase, then, could be "Bluh, ridiculous nymph."
"'Feezi meed! [...] Ya battee meer de hagrim Ruzender. Wha seesha?'" (pg. 88, Besteel)
"The nymph is gone! [...] You're to blame for this, Rovender. Where is she?"
"'Grazeet! [...] Zaata! Zaata! Zaata!'" (pg. 90, Rovender)
"Move! [...] Go! Go! Go!"
"'Nassa Ruzender Keet!'" (pg. 92, Besteel)
"Goddamn [or Orbonian equivalent curse word] Rovender Kitt!"
"'Tista baffa fooh!'" (pg. 94, Besteel)
"Get back here!"
"'Gabu Baasteel!'" (pg. 94, Rovender)
"[insert Orbonian curse word] Besteel!"
"'Feezi! [...] Zaata! Zaata!'" (pg. 96, Rovender)
"Nymph! [...] Go! Go!"
"'Dat, dat, dat, [...] Feezi zaata. [...] Ruzender zaata.'" (pg. 96, Rovender)
"No, no, no. [...] Nymph go. [...] Rovender go." Sentence and grammatical structure are likely heavily simplified due to neither of them being able to understand one another and Rovender being like "what is the most simple thing this weird kid could understand"
"'Grasset de fugill Ruzender!'" (pg. 97, Besteel)
"You're dead, Rovender!"
"'Ewa seetha tadasha,'" (pg. 99, Rovender)
"That was exciting," said by someone who wishes this never happened.
"'Ta! Feezi!'" (pg. 99, Rovender)
"Yes! Nymph!"
"'Zuzu, zuzu,'" (pg. 100, Rovender)
"Wait, wait,"
"'Kip! Kip!'" (pg. 100, Rovender)
"Talk! Talk!" The transcoder later has Rovender say "Tes, continue kipping" as it calibrates, so "kip" is probably "talk".
"'Dat, dat, dat, feezi, [...] Doot, doot, ba kip!'" (pg. 100, Rovender)
"No, no, no, nymph, [...] Closer, closer, and talk!"
"'Dat, [...] Peesa tobondi feezi, ta kipli.'" (pg. 101, Rovender)
"No, [...] Keep it up close, nymph, and talk."
"'Zazig. I try to peebla foo,'" (pg. 101, Rovender)
"Sort of. I try to make it easier,"
"'If you do, [...] you hret graaveem my speech.'" (pg. 102, Rovender)
"If you do, [...] you understand my speech."
I think that's all the Orbonian language we get; I hope this helps! :)
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They say you don’t get over loss. Some days you go on with life like nothing happened. But then there are the days that just destroy you.
I’m having one of those days.
I miss my dog so much. I keep hearing his voice in my head. The last time we talked and him telling me that he was going to make sure I never felt that way again.
But I feel it.
I started the day off good. But then I just got really mad. All I kept thinking was “How the fuck you just gonna leave me like this?”. This shit ain’t fair man.
I’m gonna miss those random “I love you” texts. They always came when I needed it. When I felt like giving up. When I felt this life was too much for me.
I’m gonna miss hearing “Fatt Feezy what’s up you bitch you” and laughing before I say “Whoa Chigglah wasshatnin lil daddy?”
I’m hurt. I’m mad. I don’t want to let anyone in. I’m tired. I can’t stop crying. I feel stupid. I feel inhuman. I wasn’t made for this world. I can’t function in it. Everything I touch turns to shit. But Chance would always disagree.
Never in my life did I think I would be this young trying to get on with life. Tomorrow, I’ll be better. But today, I’m destroyed.
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↳ six recent song favorites
thanks for tagging me & giving an excuse to talk about songs i'm obsessed with! @jyuubin
sorry my list isn't "recent" because i've been mainly listening to #2 on repeat in the past five months...
One Day - Jason Chan (THE FIRST TAKE version)
jason has always been one of the hk singers whose voice stands out with its lovely texture and vibe, and i'm so glad this one-take version of his song One Day is getting attention. this version has a jpop mood to it, bright and positive and full of hope. it's been on repeat for me since it dropped!
Slaughter House - GALI
from ATLANTIS, the best chinese rap album of 2022. before #1 dropped, i have been listening almost exclusively to GALI's album. it's cohesive and his lyrics are just full of punch and message. his live performances are entrancing, i hope i get to see him live in 2023. another track i like and replay a lot on the album is Levitation II.
All About You - ANN
like my other favourite yico zeng, ann bai is very good with delicate lyrics and loopy, moody lyrics. another track i like from her recent album is Personal Issue. her songs are great for melancholic daydreaming sessions.
Missing Thailand - AA
you can't find AA on youtube yet aside from the few cyphers singles he did with others, but he has to be my second favourite chinese rapper right after GALI. his style goes from high energy to emo, but even when he's lamenting his tunes sound fun. i guess that's because he's just a genuinely fun person.
Shoot on Target? - Fin feat. Feezy
fin & feezy are what i sometimes jokingly refer to as "intellectual rap" — their first ever collab was on a rap show, where they had to make a song together based on a debate topic (they debated whether humanity should hide underground or search for a way to live on the surface should the world end). after that legendary performance, they returned to write this piece for fin's 2022 album, describing someone's thoughts on a plane that's about to crash. yea, fin is probably my third favourite chinese rapper.
Pa' Tipos Como Tú - Shakira & BZRP (& Jackson Wang cover)
this caught my eye (ear?) on twitter, so thanks jackson for the cover because the original track by shakira is SO full of energy. explosively colourful and fun. the kind of song you remember immediately after one listen.
tagging:
@telumendils @mirthcrowned @idletype @zenjiiejiie @furiousfinnstan but of course, only do it if you want to!
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