Cardassian language

The Cardassian language was the spoken and written language of the Cardassians used on Cardassia Prime.
== Written language ==
Cardassian writing was composed of slender rectangular letters usually widening at the top. Lines of text were written both horizontally and vertically, radiating out from an elaborate circle motif. Lines of text also incorporated dots. (; )
By 2259, Starfleet officer Nyota Uhura was familiar with the Cardassian language. She considered it while trying to decipher the inscription on a time portal found on Krulmuth-B, though the language was eventually determined to be ancient Nausicaan. ()
Keiko O'Brien's classroom aboard Deep Space 9 featured a chart with the Human, Ferengi, Bajoran, and Cardassian alphabet. ()
File:Cardassian script glyph comparison.png|Cardassian script comparison
File:Classroom alphabet 1.jpg|Parts of the Cardassian alphabet (center)
File:Official Cardassian transcript seal.jpg|Script used in an official transcript seal
File:Cardassian orbital weapon platform graphic.jpg|Script used on a Cardassian interface
== Spoken language ==
Odo was called odo'ital when he was studied at the Bajoran Institute of Science. The Bajorans at the institute intended to label Odo as "unknown sample", but all specimens had to be labelled in Cardassian, and the Bajorans mistranslated the term using odo'ital, which literally meant "nothing". ()
In Cardassian ranks, Dukat believed the title of Gul carried connotations of being "much more hands-on than Legate." ()
In 2380, Captain Carol Freeman spent weeks learning to "bark out" Cardassian small talk in preparation for a speech she was to give at peace summit on Cardassia, though her role ended up being canceled. ()
=== Words and phrases ===
*Gul – a rank roughly analogous to a Federation captain.
*Glinn – a rank below Gul.
*Legate – a rank above Gul. (See: Cardassian ranks) ()
*Lek – Caradassian currency.
*Odo'ital – Nothing. ()
*Shri-tal – A ritual carried out when a Cardassian was near death. ()
===See also===
*Detapa Council
*Gettle
*Groat
*Kotra
*Rulot
*Tojal
*Yamok sauce
*Zabu
*Ziyal
==Appendices==
===Apocrypha===
In the New Worlds, New Civilizations short story The Glories of the Hebitians, "Cardassian" means "People of Discipline" in their language.
In the Star Trek: Terok Nor novel "Day of the Vipers", is suggested to be a precursor to the modern Cardassian language.
===External link===
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de:Cardassianische Sprache
fr:Cardassien (langue)
Category:Cardassia
Category:Languages