voices-of-hyrule

[voices-of-hyrule]

i literally did not think this project would get the attention that it does, y’all are fuckin awesome

[voices-of-hyrule]

The East Hylitic substrate hypothesis is an idea within the field of Hylitics which attempts to explain the supposedly anomalous features of the East Hylitic languages (e.g. Gerudo, Sheikah). Numerous elements common to East Hylitic basic vocabulary and syntax do not have reflexes in the West or Insular Hylitic languages.

The hypothesis was first put forward by the Tolemacian-Gerudo scholar, Tamemt Gubasha. She suggests in her writings that early proto-Hylitic speakers encountered speakers of another, unrelated language upon settling in modern Hyrule and adopted numerous features of their language — i.e., the proto-East-Hylitic language was the result of creolisation between proto-Hylitic and a non-Hylitic language.

[voices-of-hyrule]

ʿAmid-e uunab meeri geerudotu; "Gerudo, a resiliant desert flower;"

Nizʿart tifakti yefneni; "Facing the sun's gaze;"

Aahar yahtafam ve-neer yekbeni; "Gerudo grows brilliant while others fade;"

Tifaktatti navqaf, mešmirinanu; "We stand vigilant in the desert sun;"

ʿAala kululaamatti ʿamidanu; "We are brilliant over everyone;"

Tifaktatti mešmiriš ʿamid yekbeni; "Vigilant in the sun, growing brilliant;"

Geerudo lulaam maa-yehzemin. "Gerudo is never outdone."

[voices-of-hyrule]

“In the local vernacular, the squirrel-beasts are often known as ‘pantry shriekers’ because of their habit of accidentally closing themselves into pantries from which they are stealing rice, nuts, or other desirables. When the pantry is opened, the squirrel-beast will shriek with surprise before continuing to absent-mindedly feast on the pantry’s contents.”

“In that country, there are squirrels the size of dogs; they are akin to cats in that they are at times remarkably intelligent and at others remarkably unintelligent. They are domesticated not by virtue of their usefulness but rather due to the futility of keeping them from human domiciles.”

— a Hylian author describing some far off place

[voices-of-hyrule]

“Make no mistake — though they are notoriously placid in nature, they do have the potential to do great harm if provoked, as their claws are considerable and their teeth quite terrible. This is not an animal who chose domestication because it couldn’t get on in the wild. This is a creature that waltzed out of the woods, sat on our lap, stole our french fry, and said ‘what are you gonna do? i could rip out your throat’ and I respect that.”

“In that country, there are squirrels the size of dogs; they are akin to cats in that they are at times remarkably intelligent and at others remarkably unintelligent. They are domesticated not by virtue of their usefulness but rather due to the futility of keeping them from human domiciles.”

— a Hylian author describing some far off place

[voices-of-hyrule]

“In that country, there are squirrels the size of dogs; they are akin to cats in that they are at times remarkably intelligent and at others remarkably unintelligent. They are domesticated not by virtue of their usefulness but rather due to the futility of keeping them from human domiciles.”

— a Hylian author describing some far off place

[voices-of-hyrule]

The noble pursuit is a well-beloved beverage originating in Gerudo bar culture but popular throughout Hyrule. It is believed to have been invented at the Canteen in Gerudo Town, where it is still made by Furosa to the original recipe; one can still order it there by its original Gerudo name, voë-yelgeti (literally "she meets [a] boy"). It is typically garnished with an assortment of fresh fruits and traditionally served with ice, making it a cool respite from the heat.

[voices-of-hyrule]

What do you think about the ancient Skylian songs from Skyward Sword? Afaik the only Hylian ever actually able to be heard in the games

I don't think very much about them tbh; I haven't played Skyward Sword and my knowledge of that game's lore is rudimentary at best, so those songs weren't considered as resources when I was constructing Hylian (basically nothing lore-compliant was anyway)

[voices-of-hyrule]

"Hyrule Herb (tabhlaoinn Thaoruill) is an ubiquitous element of both Hylian cuisine and the Hyrulean landscape. One might be tempted to think that the Herb is named after the Kingdom or for the Goddess Hylia, but the fact is quite different: the Kingdom of Hyrule is actually named for this Herb which permeates its landscape. References to Hyrule Herb by its familiar name date to ancient Sheikah sources, and even references to the 'Land of Hyrule' (i.e. 'land where the Hyrule Herb grows') predate the Skyloftian migration. The similarity between the words Hyrule (Thaoruill) and Hylia (Thaoile) is entirely coincidental; despite this, the myth that Hyrule is named for Hylia or her people is continually repeated, particularly in Hylian sources." — On the Origin of Hyrule's Name

[voices-of-hyrule]

arstaóth (lands)

⦁ earst ♀ ("land"; "country"; "region"), pl. arstaóth ⦁ uilead ♀ ("province"; "prefecture") ⦁ searann ♂ ("heartland"; "interior [of a country]") ⦁ mealcuid ♀ ("kingdom"; "monarchy") ⦁ meilc ♂ ("king") ⦁ meilce ♀ ("queen") ⦁ naoischead ♀ ("principality") ⦁ noisich ♂ ("prince") ⦁ naoische ♀ ("princess") ⦁ íomrad ♀ ("duchy") ⦁ íomar ♂ ("duke") ⦁ íomra ♀ ("duchess") ⦁ rodhnad ♀ ("county"; "earldom") ⦁ rodhn ♂ ("count"; "earl") ⦁ rodhna ♀ ("countess") ⦁ barúinead ♀ ("barony") ⦁ barúinn ♂ ("baron") ⦁ barúine ♀ ("baroness") ⦁ damhaill ♂ ("state [sovereign polity]"; "government") ⦁ damhlainn ⚥ ("governor") ⦁ gamthúir ♂ ("republic"; "democracy") ⦁ rás ⚥ ("president"; "mayor") ⦁ moighlís ♀ ("council"; "committee"; "[of parliament/congress] chamber") ⦁ sáinidinn ♂ ("parliament") ⦁ seansailéir ⚥ ("chancellor"; "prime minister") ⦁ maoir ⚥ ("steward"; "exchequer") ⦁ acaidhd ⚥ ("marshal"; "minister of war") ⦁ rás-aoir ♂ ("capital city"), pl. rás-aoireóth

⦁ iabhaill ♂ ("[large] river") ⦁ nothaill ♂ ("[small] river"; "creek"; "stream") ⦁ iám ♂ ("ocean"; "sea") ⦁ oghaim ♂ ("lake") ⦁ breiche ♀ ("pond") ⦁ maisteanca ♀ ("swamp"; "fen"; "wetland") ⦁ eoghar ♂ ("forest") ⦁ chúirse ♀ ("woodland") ⦁ saoide ♀ ("field [both cultivated and wild]"; "grassland"); pl. saoid ⦁ óchu ♂ ("meadow"; "pasture") ⦁ teill ♂ ("hill"), cns: teall ⦁ gíbhea ♂ ("ridge"), pl: gíbheóth ⦁ oimhc ♂ ("valley") ⦁ gabhua ♂ ("highlands"; "uplands"), pl: gabhuóth ⦁ stúc ♂ ("cliff") ⦁ thárr ♂ ("mountain"), pl: tharairimh or [less commonly] thárraimh ⦁ caoiread ♀ ("village"; "hamlet") ⦁ beild ♂ ("town"), cns: beald ⦁ caile ♀ ("fortified town"; "burgh") ⦁ aoir ♂ ("city"), pl. aoireóth ⦁ cáire ♀ ("continent"; "landmass") ⦁ aoidh ♂ ("island") ⦁ innis ♂ ("peninsula") ⦁ spúir ♂ ("beach"; "shoreline"; "coast") ⦁ áraibhe ♀ ("desert") ⦁ seolchainn ♂ ("mesa"; "flat-topped mountain") ⦁ uach ♂ ("oasis") ⦁ taile ♀ ("canyon")

[voices-of-hyrule]

miothnaóth ("professions")

⦁ miothna ♀ ("profession"; "occupation"; "trade [skill]") ⦁ eobhadann ♂ ("work"; "labour"; "job") ⦁ eobhad ⚥ ("worker"; "labourer") ⦁ aesc ♂ ("business"; "establishment") ⦁ aescainn ⚥ ("businessperson") ⦁ síorainn ⚥ ("musician") ⦁ dhamrainn ⚥ ("singer") ⦁ gaoinn ⚥ ("scientist") ⦁ gaoinead ♀ ("science") ⦁ muthaind ⚥ ("engineer") ⦁ ruaph ⚥ ("doctor") ⦁ cuideabh ⚥ ("writer") ⦁ míseor ⚥ ("poet") ⦁ ustaidh ⚥ ("teacher"; "professor") ⦁ taoilmidh ⚥ ("student") ⦁ cóthainn ⚥ ("priest"; "clergyperson") ⦁ saoir ⚥ ("politician"; "officeholder") ⦁ íceor ⚥ ("farmer") ⦁ íceorad ♀ ("farming") ⦁ seocht ⚥ ("butcher") ⦁ cuadhn ⚥ ("smith"; "metalworker") ⦁ baghdair ⚥ ("farrier") ⦁ airbeor ⚥ ("forester") ⦁ taghr ⚥ ("merchant"; "vendor") ⦁ bainn ⚥ ("builder") ⦁ aigist ⚥ ("herder") ⦁ aigistre ♀ ("herding")

[voices-of-hyrule]

muinseagaimh poisiúdaimh ó fhealsápha ("basic concepts and philosophy")

⦁ aoinseann ⚥ ("person"; "human being") ⦁ aoins ♂ ("man"), pl. anaoisimh ⦁ aoinse ♀ ("woman"), pl. anaoisimh ⦁ eild ♂ ("boy"; "child [either gender]"), cns. eald ⦁ eilde ♀ ("girl"; "[female] child"), cns. ealda ⦁ nuair ♂ ("[male] youth"; "young man"), cns. nuar ⦁ naeire ♀ ("[female] youth"; "young woman"), cns. naera ⦁ teifill ⚥ ("baby"; "infant"; "toddler"), cns. teaphall ⦁ dabhr ♂ ("thing"; "word") ⦁ búlainn ♂ ("animal") ⦁ sámhach ♂ ("plant") ⦁ giúr ♂ ("plant") ⦁ maeidinn ♂ ("mineral")

⦁ ruach ♀ ("mind"; "soul"; "breath") ⦁ goif ⚥ ("body") ⦁ ireáide ♀ ("will"; "willpower") ⦁ eamtaine ♀ ("reality") ⦁ eamt ♂ ("truth") ⦁ caidheb ♂ ("lie") [no lenition] ⦁ oighdeána ♀ ("conscience") ⦁ iachlac ♂ ("ethics"; "right conduct") ⦁ neiphre ♀ ("beauty"; "aesthetics")

[voices-of-hyrule]

Okay, maybe you've explained this somewhere, but why is Hylian apparently Gaelic? That's not a criticism, it's a beautiful and very fantastical language, I'm just wondering about your thought process and if there's any in game evidence of it that I can go admire.

(Sorry about the grammar, it makes my brain go 'brrrr'.)

So, (my version of) Hylian resembles Irish at a glance because I based the spelling/pronunciation of it heavily on Irish; however, I derived the language itself from Proto-Semitic (and especially Northwest and Central Semitic), so the vocabulary and grammar should be roughly familiar to speakers of Hebrew, Arabic, or Aramaic. I like to joke that I took Ancient Hebrew and steeped it for 2500 years in Irish and that's where Hylian came from. As for in-game reasons, I have literally zero of them — these decisions were entirely arbitrary on my part based on my love for both Irish and Hebrew.

[voices-of-hyrule]

"Eacháipist aoine béad Impa?" said the stranger from atop his horse.

"Wow, no, sorry, I don't speak any Hylian — but damn, you sure are my type" said Lasli, looking him over.

He blinked blankly, then said in perfectly accented Sheikah, "Oh, sorry. I'm looking for the dwelling of Impa?"

Lasli nearly choked. "Oh my goodness" she blurted out as she turned beet red.

[voices-of-hyrule]

Barúine léibh í, Earcá eainidhimh; Seomairt aoine Dabhraimh ach Betiuch eastam í.

("Baroness of my heart, Green of eyes; I have kept Your words Within myself.")

[voices-of-hyrule]

These are only very basic vocabulary lists for now — further terms for foodstuffs will come later

(Beer and Wine though are in a different category "drinks"; beer is sicearm and wine is éinn.)

Ochaill ("food")

⦁ leachm ♂ ("bread") ⦁ péar ♂ ("fruit"), pl. páraóth ⦁ taphóch ♂ ("apple") ⦁ dhuisne ♀ ("lotus"; "lotus seed") ⦁ diúiriann ♂ ("durian") ⦁ aibhtiach ♂ ("hydromelon") ⦁ músa ♀ ("banana"); pl. mús ⦁ neargaoill ♂ ("palm fruit"; "coconut") ⦁ paphraoice ♀ ("capsicum [sweet or spicy]"), pl. paphraoic ⦁ agbháine ♀ ("tomato"; "tomatillo"); pl. agbháinn ⦁ píodaidhe ♀ ("voltfruit") ⦁ eolaic ♂ ("wildberry") ⦁ earcainn ♂ ("vegetable"; [in the plural] "greens") ⦁ fíoghla ♀ ("radish"), pl. fíoghll ⦁ godhair ♂ ("carrot") ⦁ dílead ♂ ("gourd"; "squash"; "pumpkin") ⦁ caoirtilf ♂ ("potato") ⦁ pitreadha ♀ ("[culinary] mushroom"), pl. pitreadh ⦁ bósar ♂ ("meat") ⦁ úph ♂ ("poultry"; "meat of a bird") ⦁ bósar ♂ bocuir ♂ ("beef") ⦁ bósar ♂ chuindhír ♂ ("pork") ⦁ bósar ♂ tálaidh ♂ ("lamb"; "mutton") ⦁ bósar ♂ feidhll ♂ ("goat") ⦁ bósar ♂ sbhaoi ♂ ("venison"; "antilope") ⦁ páraóth ♂+ t-an iám ♂ ("seafood") ⦁ sortain ♂ ("crab") ⦁ deogha ♂ ("fish") ⦁ múill ♂ ("clam"; "oyster"; "mussel") ⦁ seobudt ♂ ("carp") ⦁ fángraidh ♂ ("porgy") ⦁ aora ♂ ("trout") ⦁ ialtaíd ♂ ("salmon") ⦁ ócuinn ♂ ("bass"; "perch") ⦁ chealadhnn ♂ ("snail") ⦁ beiste ♀ ("egg") ⦁ comach ♂ ("wheat") ⦁ sóire ♂ ("barley") ⦁ órdh ♂ ("rice") ⦁ cholaibh ♂ ("milk") ⦁ chaoime ♀ ("butter") ⦁ seomnad ♀ ("cream") ⦁ laibhnn ♂ ("yoghurt") ⦁ dhoid ♂ ("[culinary] oil") ⦁ tabhlaoinn ♂ ("spice"; "[culinary] herb") ⦁ siúcar ♂ ("sugar") ⦁ seathad ♂ ("honey")

[voices-of-hyrule]

Ochaill ("food")

⦁ leachm ♂ ("bread") ⦁ péar ♂ ("fruit"), pl. páraóth ⦁ taphóch ♂ ("apple") ⦁ dhuisne ♀ ("lotus"; "lotus seed") ⦁ diúiriann ♂ ("durian") ⦁ aibhtiach ♂ ("hydromelon") ⦁ músa ♀ ("banana"); pl. mús ⦁ neargaoill ♂ ("palm fruit"; "coconut") ⦁ paphraoice ♀ ("capsicum [sweet or spicy]"), pl. paphraoic ⦁ agbháine ♀ ("tomato"; "tomatillo"); pl. agbháinn ⦁ píodaidhe ♀ ("voltfruit") ⦁ eolaic ♂ ("wildberry") ⦁ earcainn ♂ ("vegetable"; [in the plural] "greens") ⦁ fíoghla ♀ ("radish"), pl. fíoghll ⦁ godhair ♂ ("carrot") ⦁ dílead ♂ ("gourd"; "squash"; "pumpkin") ⦁ caoirtilf ♂ ("potato") ⦁ pitreadha ♀ ("[culinary] mushroom"), pl. pitreadh ⦁ bósar ♂ ("meat") ⦁ úph ♂ ("poultry"; "meat of a bird") ⦁ bósar ♂ bhocuir ♂ ("beef") ⦁ bósar ♂ chuindhír ♂ ("pork") ⦁ bósar ♂ thálaidh ♂ ("lamb"; "mutton") ⦁ bósar ♂ fheidhll ♂ ("goat") ⦁ bósar ♂ sbhaoi ♂ ("venison"; "antilope") ⦁ páraóth ♂+ t-an iám ♂ ("seafood") ⦁ sortain ♂ ("crab") ⦁ deogha ♂ ("fish") ⦁ múill ♂ ("clam"; "oyster"; "mussel") ⦁ seobudt ♂ ("carp") ⦁ fángraidh ♂ ("porgy") ⦁ aora ♂ ("trout") ⦁ ialtaíd ♂ ("salmon") ⦁ ócuinn ♂ ("bass"; "perch") ⦁ chealadhnn ♂ ("snail") ⦁ beiste ♀ ("egg") ⦁ comach ♂ ("wheat") ⦁ sóire ♂ ("barley") ⦁ órdh ♂ ("rice") ⦁ cholaibh ♂ ("milk") ⦁ chaoime ♀ ("butter") ⦁ seomnad ♀ ("cream") ⦁ laibhnn ♂ ("yoghurt") ⦁ dhoid ♂ ("[culinary] oil") ⦁ tabhlaoinn ♂ ("spice"; "[culinary] herb") ⦁ siúcar ♂ ("sugar") ⦁ seathad ♂ ("honey")