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just-breathe-fight-cf · 6 years ago

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Mermish

‘What is Mermish?’

The Language of the Merfolk, often called either Aquan or Mermish, is both complex and simple all at once. It is incredibly subtle, and to the observer, seems limited and simplistic in its nature. To human ears, our language sounds like waves of the shore, dolphins chirruping and even whale sounds. The truth of old Mermish is that it is an expressive language that goes beyond the Mer palate and lungs. The language is of rhythm and song. Verse and poem. Spoken to illuminate anyone who hears it to seek and join our peoples while washing away the egos and creating a new Mer-Soul through trill.

‘Literacy through History’

Because we possess a dual breathing system, those that permit both the flow of air and of water can speak True Mermish. And because of the nature of the medium we live in, out vocal range and volume far surpasses anything that would be heard on land. The language is reflective of that; heavily tonal, with much of the meaning conveyed in the sound rather that the word itself. To understand this, True Mermish isn’t about words, it is about the meaning of song and joining in the harmony.

About 1000 years ago, Humans began to cross the seas and brought with them their own songs and language and we tried to communicate our songs to them with devastating results! Those who listened eventually transformed into Merhuman or simplistic as Merman and the women, Mermaid. They joined our people and lived along side of us…but sadness caused them to seek out their own kind and we learned to silence the song and develop a written language alongside of a verbal one which was as powerful as Old Mermish. We lived close to the surface of the water, near actively literate communities…in major harbors and ports of call. We listened and written medium for all of merfolk society to learn. We preferred picture to word and preferred songs to pictures…nevertheless, we drew what we could understand and were dedicated to understand Humans and merge with them and bring them into our society.

The Merfolk related to symbology and merged True Mermish to Second Order Mermish to create Third Order Mermish that we use to talk to humans on their ships at sea and to their ports and streams. We sang our songs as gifts to them and created a whole new species in the process…humans were frighten of the sea, but our songs made them move to it, swim in it and live in it…and love it! Not a human on Earth is not affected by the sound of rolling waves, or the melody of falling rain or the ebbs of the current’s pulse. They all have become in-between, slowly changing not of the body, but of the mind and the spiritual plane.

Mermish sentences tend to be vague when spoken and the same word used may not be used again if it does not carry the appropriate emotional power. When speaking in terms of direction, me must always point. When speaking of the present, past, or future, we can only refer to the phases of the current moon, and seem to have no memory of the past further than that. We have no concept of money, morals or logic in our language. Mermish has no individual ‘I’ either as Mers are a family (Pod) and always refer to themselves as ‘We’ or ‘Us’. Things simply are and opinion of others don’t phase them.

True Mermish

True, Old or Genuine Mermish, is a primarily-whistled and sung language which carries for long distances underwater and is almost un-reproducible in the human mouth. However, merfolk being the curious mimics which they are, have taken up many human words and integrated them for speech with the sailors, fishermen and beach-walker whom they often encounter during gatherings, transformations and adding to the Collective. Merfolk use long whistling melodic phrases which can be represented in human’s transliteration by hyphenated sentences, the hyphen (drawn as a wave form to signify the Mermish Tongue) is placed between separate words where they can be distinguished as individual comments.

True Mermish is sometimes difficult to separate from emotion and behavior of the speaker as they are blended into the song the Mer sings. For example, a Mer speaking in True Mermish might give a sharp dual cough (Uk~Uk) and this could mean ‘No’ as in a command or as a feeling depending on the amount of trilling they do in-between.

To learn how to speak True Mermish is pretty simple as long as you don’t over complicate the process. Using the knowledge of the human alphabet that the Mer’s adopted (as art is there way of words, but difficult to make universal around the world) they only spoke in vowels and melodic sounds:

BEHAVIOR VOWELS: A = aa, E = ee I = ii O =oo U and Y

EMOTION SOUNDS: Ih = ih, Ae =ae, Uu = uu, Sh = sh

MERMISH SONG: Pa, Whoosh, Ba, Ooww, Drr-drr, Www-ooo, Hummm

These were the common roots of True Mermish when they spoke, with the Vowels being behavior and the Sounds being the trill emotion that connects the behavior into a melodic song.

When pronouncing the Vowels:

‘aa’ sounds like ‘~ah~’,

‘ee’ sound like ‘~eh~’,

‘ii’ sounds like ‘~ee~’

‘oo’ sounds like ‘~ooh~’

‘u’ sounds like ‘~ou~’

‘y’ sounds like ‘~eee~’

When pronouncing the Sounds:

‘ih’ sounds like ‘~uh~’

‘ae’ sounds like ‘~aye~’

‘uu’ sounds like ‘~you~’

‘sh’ sound like ‘~shhh~’

When pronouncing the Song:

‘pa’ sounding like ‘~pah~’ (Dripping Water And Light Rain)

‘whoosh’ sounding like ‘~wa~shhh~’ (Sound Of The Waves)

‘ba’ sounds like ‘~baaa~’ (Sound Of Underwater Bubbles)

‘Ooww’ sounds like ‘~oou~’ (Sound Of Whales)

‘Drr-drr’ sound like two clicks (Drips and Dolphin Talk)

‘Www-ooo’ sound like a descending high pitch whistle (Dolphin Talk)

‘Hummm’ sound like high pitch humming (Mermaid Talk)

Second & Third Order Mermish

Trying to communicate, Mers would linger close to the boats and sea towns to see what words humans used to describe who they were, what am item was and their environment they lived in. Mer’s broke up the language in drawings and letters as they began to write in human tongue with Mermish trills. True Mermish only relied on the song, but people above water could not hear it underwater unless extra letters began to carry the notes in the range of 20,000 hertz that Human’s could hear and elevated the tones higher to mix with their auras creating ‘Siren Song’ that sailors feared.

As seen in True Mermish, the Second Order of Mermish still contains many words for feeling and emotions they have for water. Listening too long to these words will cause other Mers and Humans to grow sympathetic for water and fall in the harmony of fluid. To understand, water is life, water is home, water is everywhere and epitomizes the daily life of the Mer.

We as Mers are keen observers of sensation and emotion alike and appear to have therefore a wide variety of adjectives for all types of colors, sounds, textures, touch, temperatures and taste…many of which have been forgotten over time. Merfolk emotions change rapidly like the sea, and it is hard to quickly document the wide range we go through; especially since some resonate on levels we do not comprehend. Often body language accompanies the translation for easier interpretation of a Mer’s behavior.

Those that live above the sea need to remember that we can only relate well to things beneath the sea. If we speak of things, it is usually from that perspective. For example, a Mer might finds it confusing if someone asks whether they mean ’above’ or ’below’ the surface, and can only point when asked about other directions. However, they do have words for ‘up’, ‘down’, and ‘ahead’, used in swimming and fin positioning, but not for cardinal direction.

Below is a list of known Second Order Mermish:

Ahead (Swimming Command) - Chi (Chai)

Alcohol - Kiini-beeah

Alive - Hnguloo

Amused (Calmness) - Daahuu

Anger (Describing Behavior/Emotion) - Gahfooruu

Are - Bi

Bad (Ancient Mer’s Struggle With This Word) - Bett

Beneath (Below - Submerge) - Ghaajii

Bored (Restless) Affehoo (Ah-feh-oo)

Bright (Very Hot) - Kiini

Bubble - Baabah

Change - Mhaawhoo

Cheerful (Similar to ‘ffewuu’, but calm) - Hwuu

City - Paaepooh-paash

Confidence (Describing Behavior/Emotions Of Sureness) - Dehooffa

Cold - Jiiii

Cold (True Mermish) - Yeeni

Color - Koohur

Coral (Dead) - Meessuk

Coral (Living) - Messuloo

Crab - Kraah

Dancer (With Tail or Legs) - Daashu

Dead - Hngukk

Depression - Huumuu

Desert - Toh-chii

Determination - Heehii

Dolphin - Ffeechuvo

Dolphin Mermaid - Ukuk-ffeechuvo

Down - Mmawtt

Dragon - Deeragoh

Dried Up - Uuniigo

Earth - Vvundra

Excited - Ffuuhii

Family - Faaraarii

Fear (Behavior/Emotion) - Uuriigo

Feeling (Emotion - Attitude) - Llii

Female (Woman - She - Her -Hers) - Lla

Fin - Feen

Fish - Fees

Fish Eggs (To Spawn - Caviar - Mate) - Bllusu

Food (Edible Plant Or Lower Life Form) - Yyt (yeet)

Forest (Tree - Kelp) - Aah-teeree (Ahh-ter-ree)

Freshwater (Ancient Mer’s Could Not Tolerate For Long) - Bett-wuutaah

Freshwater (True Mermish) - P’chaaoo

Froth (Sea Foam - Small Bubbles) - Apupua

Frustration (Behavioral/Emotional) - Shaahii

Goddess Of The Sea (High Spirit) - Bavverissi Baveras

Good (Ancient Mers Don’t Understand This Word) - Ghood

Good Bye - Jai-quay’

Happy (Playful - Fidgety) - Ffewuu

Hard - Haarduuh

Has - Bi

Have - Bi

Healthy (Well) - Haaih (hay-uh) (Sounds like a sigh)

Heart - Hhu-hng

Hello - O-kee’-ya

Hot (Temperature) - Hhu-huu (Pronounced as two sharp pants of breath)

Hot (Taste) - Jeech

Human - Hyuuman

Hungry (For Food) - Hnn-kii

Hunger (Lust - Hunting) - Chuun

Hungry (Wanting Food - Wanting Sex - Wanting Attention) - Oowii

Hurts (Ouch) - Ah-ee (Ahh-ee)

Ice - Ttheeni

In (Covered - Surrounded By - To Be Inside) - Woolbul

Is (To Be - To Have - To Be With) - Bi

Is Not (Without Existence) - Oosoyyo

It - Lle (lay)

It (Pronoun For Any Inanimate Object Or Thing) - Uhff

It & Its (Person) - Llo

Jealousy (Describing Behavior/Emotion) - Gahooraa

Knowing Not (Don’t Know - Don’t Have - Isn’t) - Oosoyyo

Land - Lleehada

Love (Similar to ‘paaffoo’, but more intense) - Taafoowii

Male (Man - He -Him - His) - Lli (lee)

Many - Ss (Sounds like a hiss)

Many (True Mermish - Typically added to Nouns and Pronouns) - Uk-uk

Merfolk (Merperson) - Baovveche

Moon - Ttheeni

Nervousness (Flailing of Limbs and Tail In Water) - Fffeechii

No - Toh

No (True Mermish) - Ungh (quick grunt)

Our (Ours) - Ffa

Oyster - Mchuuk

Person (Mermaids) - Ffuegane

People (Humans) - Paaepoohss

Playful (Jumping - Twirling - Splashing) - Chahho

Rage (Describing Behavior/Emotion) - Gahuuii

Rain (Heavy) - Aagiaag (Ahh-jaag)

Rain (Drops) - Aagii (Ahh-ga)

Reflection - Kiinaagii

Ripple - Ffuen

Roar - Rroo-er

Rock (Platform) - Ciipaa

Rock (Stone) - Hurriff

Rock Shelf Underwater - Wwiigoo

Rocky (Irregular Seafloor) - Ghoontuh

Sad - Dehffoo

Sand (Grains) - Saahd

Sandy (Smooth Seafloor) - Ffehpaah

Sandy (Lots of Sea-weed) - Haarii

Scale - Scaahoo

Sea - Chii (Chee)

Sea-Dragon - Feenhoom

Sea-Horse - Chuu-ffeenii

Sea-Weed - Cheehuuii

Seal - Cheeoo

Shallows - Kiinaa

Ship - Ssheep

Sick - Huu-iik (Sound of vomiting)

Silver - Shaavoh

Somber (Lazy - Blank Expression - Seclusion) - Haanii

Storm - Ssturm

Sulkiness (Refuse To Swim) - Sshuurii

Sun (Fire) - Echrassa

Surprise (Describing Behavior/Emotions) - Liiffoo

Thirsty - Hss-tii

Tide - Taahi

Tide (The Movement - Sound - Smell - Sight of the Tide) - Cuua

Tired (Slow) - Sshiiji

Touching (Playfulness - Staring) - Paaffoo

Transgender - Llo

Unknown (Describing Behavior/Emotions Of Anger) - Dehiifaa

Up - Hekk

Us - Ffa

Volcano - Echundra

Water (Evenly Cool in Temperature - Atlantic) - Ruutaroo

Water (Evenly Warm - Tropical) - Meetamaa

Water (Good To Breed In) - Caatuu

Water (Hard Currents - Disturbed or Troubled by Weather) - Chaachiioh

Water (Optimum For Mers) - Saahem

Water (Polluted) - Assuuh (Ahh-sue)

Water (Pretty or Attractive (Also used to label a mermaid)) - Maakeeffaa

Water (Rich In Fish) - Eenii

Water (Surface Cool, Colder Beneath, Barely Tolerable - Arctic) - Sooroo

Water (Surface Cool, Luke-Warm Currents - South Pacific) - Ruunii

Water (Too Cold) - Fuuacho

Water (Traveling Depth) - Tehmoo

Water (Troubled or Churned by Fish) - Feenwaa

Water (Warm on the Surface, Cool Beneath - Lake Water) - Maaroo

Water (Warm on the Surface, Ice Cold Beneath - North Pacific) - Maasoo

Water (Wave - Home - Fluid) - Alassi (Ah-la-see)

Wave (Curl or Tunnel) - Ccuuoo

Wave (Sharp Peaked Wave That Collapses In The Ocean Before Shore) - Sshuuka

Wave (Single Breaker Of Water) - Huuaae

We (Also Used For I) - Ffa

Whale (Mers Refuse To Name Them Although) - Huaool

Whirlpool - Llinoo

Without (Not Existing - Not Having - Not Knowing) - Oosoyyo

Wind - Hhoole

With (Together - Possessing) - Bi

Yes - Eeas

Yes (True Mer) - Heh (quick grunt)

1900 Altered Words For 3rd Order Mermish

Beachcomber - Anit (AH-neet)

Want - Antorum (AHN-toe-rume)

You - Dal (DOLL)

Am/Is/Are - Em (EM)

Low Tide - Fan (FAHN)

High Tide - Fimra dom (FEEM-rah-DOME)

Help - Fimra tre (FEEM-rah-TRAY)

Male - Fre (FRAY)

Swim - Hredenu (HRED-eh-noo)

Was/Were - Hron (HRONE)

Female - Ifen (EE-fen)

Many - Kesseni (KESS-seh-ni)

Here - Kila (KEE-lah)

Far Away - Li (LEE)

See - Luron (LOO-rone)

Someone Who Would Fail To See A Mermaid Right In Front Of His Face -Lusa (LOO-sah)

Love - Mortum (MOR-tume)

Storm - Nulma (NOOL-mah)

There - Ohora (O-ho-rah)

Mermaid - Olo (O-lo)

Friends Of Mermaids - Sessa (SESS-sah)

Human - Sesmuna (SESS-moo-nah)

Curious But Harmless Person - Setanim (SEH-tah-neem)

Curious And Dangerous Person - Setannor (SEH-tahn-nor)

Sailor - Setantreya (SEH-tahn-TRAY-yah)

Wave - Setsur (SET-soor)

Hello - Suron (SOO-rone)

I - Tala (TAH-lah)

Beach - To (TOE)

Ship - Torm (TORM)

I Mean No Harm-I Am A Friend - Tritse (TREET-say)

I Am In Love With A Human - To hisna rendi-to fan sesmuna

I Am In Love With A Mermaid - To fan in nulma with a setanim

Fourth Order Mermish

Almost 2000 years later, in the decade of 2000, the Fourth Order of Mermish was devise by Kristin when she was under the spell of Mermish that gave her the full abilities of the Mermish language and used those abilities to elevate her lover, Katara to becoming Mermish like herself. Frightened, she and Katara left Spirit Lake and tried to ignore the song that was calling them back to the water. Kristin spoke Second Order Mermish to Steven, Bobby and Ryan at Holiday and altered their brains with the song as they crazed to hear more of it. With a glimpse into the future, Kristin saw the death of everyone if she did not give in to the song and made the sacrifice by writing all the words of Second and Third Order Mermish for the camp to learn…this opened her brain to True Mermish as it began to take over her brain as she was having identity issues.

Loowit saved her from her fate and gave her the ability to control the energy however, that brief exposure to True Mermish was enough to damage Kristin’s identity as she struggles with a few basic human words and self identity, speaking in the terms of we or us and her sense of direction unusable to others besides herself. She blocked out the Mermish for a few days until the combine emotional energy release made the song unbearable and she was knocked out and was conditioned like the rest of the campers.

Days later, Kristin began to write the rules of the Fourth Order of Mermish and how to write and speak the language that would become to capstone of speaking while underwater; however, having evolved beyond True Mermish, she can speak telepathically in normal English without the limitations Mermish gave to her.

RULE ONE - 4th Order Mermish is any Human word with the Mermish tongue trilling all the vowels in a fluid rhythm.

RULE TWO - All vowels are double except for words that begin with a vowel and will be written with an extended trill.

Example: ENGLISH ‘My Love Is The Sea’ translated into MERMISH ‘My Loovee Iiis Thee Seeaa.’ The only vowels that do not double are the letters: U & Y.

RULE THREE - Speaking Mermish in the 4th Order while underwater with the same sentence is to remove all 20,000 hertz letters leaving only the vowels. We add hyphen’s to the sentence to carry out the words in rhythm:

ENGLISH ‘My Love Is The Sea’ translated into 4th ORDER MERMISH ‘My Loovee Iiis Thee Seeaa’ translated into MERMISH ‘y~ooee~iii~ee~eeaa’.

RULE FOUR - Speaking Mermish in the 4th Order while underwater with the same sentence, removing all 20,000 hertz letters leaving only the vowels and adding emotion sounds. The emotional trills are (ih, ae, uu, sh) and are connected to the matching letters before a trill.

For example: ‘y~ooee~iii~ee~eeaa’ would turn into ‘y~ooee~(IH)’iii’(IH)~ee~eeaa’(AE)(SH) with the letters SH always at the end.

ENGLISH ‘My Love Is The Sea’ translated into 4th ORDER MERMISH ‘My Loovee Iiis Thee Seeaa’ translated into MERMISH ‘y~ooee~iii~ee~eeaa’ translated into EMOTIONAL MERMISH ‘y~ooee~ih’iii’ih~ee~eeaa’aesh’

RULE FIVE - Speaking Mermish in the 4th Order while underwater with the sane sentence, removing all 20,000 hertz letters leaving only the vowels, adding emotion sounds and now song sounds. This is the hardest part of Mermish to learn and equally hard to speak! We work with the most common song letters (Pa, Whoosh, Ba, Ooww, Drr-drr, Www-ooo, Hummm) and typically only one song is picked per conversation in regard to the oceans conditions or with there are other Mers around. Typically when Kristin sings, her trade sounds that identify her is huming…the easiest a Mer can do. All of hyphenated ares are filled with trill and would look like this: ‘hmm’y’hmm’ooee’hmm’ih’iii’ih’hmm’ee’hum’eeaa’aesh’hmm’ and can repeat over and over until her message is delivered. If another Mer joins the song, Kristin would drop Rule 1 through 4 and just trill with alternating ‘hums’.

It isn’t uncommon if the message is long to change the song to signify a break in the sentence. And example of this would be:

‘hmm’y’hmm’ooee’hmm’ih’iii’ih’hmm’ee’hum’eeaa’aesh’hmm’hmm’hum’ooww’y’ooww’ooee’ooww’ih’iii’ih’ooww’ee’ooww’eeaa’aesh’ooww’

And if you have a whole pod of Mers all signing, you can have an idea of the solo turning into a harmony. This is why Mer’s prefer to keep their conversations to a minimum.

(Had To Re-up This Post Due To Being Flagged For Image Due To New Rules)

#mermaid #merman #MER #mermish #mermaidfan #story #history #language #spoken #spoken word #words

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