Tamarian language

The Tamarian language was the spoken language of the Tamarians.
== History ==
The Tamarians spoke entirely by allegory, referencing mytho-historical people and places from their culture. As a result, when the Federation first made contact with the Tamarians, although their universal translators could successfully translate the individual words and sentence structure of Tamarian speech, they were unable to convey the symbolic meaning they represented. Without prior knowledge of the Tamarians' history and legends, a word-by-word translation was of no use to someone attempting to communicate with them. This language barrier led to the isolation of the Tamarian people after all attempts at communication had failed. 
For example, instead of asking for cooperation, they would use a phrase such as " and Jalad at ", because their culture's stories include a tale of two Tamarians, Darmok and Jalad, who were brought together while fighting a common foe on an island called Tanagra. The problem with communicating in this fashion is that without understanding the context of the reference, the metaphor has no meaning. While explaining the structure of the language, Counselor Deanna Troi gave the example that "Juliet on her balcony" could be used to describe a romantic situation, but it is impossible to understand if the listener does not know who Juliet is, or why she was on the balcony. ()
While he was trapped with Captain Dathon on El-Adrel IV in 2368, Captain Jean-Luc Picard gained an understanding of the metaphors used by Dathon as communication. Captain Picard used the Tamarian metaphors to establish communication with the Children of Tama and resolve a confrontation between the and a Tamarian deep space cruiser. ()
By 2379, the language barrier had been sufficiently broken for it to be available as an elective language to learn at Starfleet Academy while Brad Boimler was a cadet. By 2381, the first Tamarian in Starfleet, Kayshon, had reached the rank of lieutenant junior grade, and those working with him could at least reasonably understand him even when the universal translator failed. The universal translator was largely able to translate Tamarian speech, though some metaphors were still translated literally, occasionally resulting in metaphors being mixed into an otherwise understandable sentence. ()
== Examples ==
Some examples of the Tamarian language:
* "Arnock at the race of Natara" – running
* "Arnock, on the night of his joining" – congratulations, or a great achievement (perhaps 'racing to a long-awaited consummation')
* "Bazminti when he pulled back the veil" – an undercover operation or hidden agenda
* "The beast at Tanagra" – a problem to be overcome
* "Chenza at court, the court of silence" – not listening
* "Children of Tama" – Tamarian
* "Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra" – cooperation
* "Darmok and Jalad on the ocean" – new friendship and understanding gained through a shared challenge
* "Darmok on the ocean" – Loneliness, isolation
* "Gramble, his throat slit by his " – carelessness, clumsiness
* "Jinza, when the truth was uncovered" – sudden revelation
*"Kadir beneath Mo Moteh" – failure or inability to communicate or understand; derisive in connotation
*"Kailash, when it rises" – a necessary loss or sacrifice
*"The path to in spring" – signifying calming peace
*"Karno in the forest with Mira" – overeating or weight gain
*"Karno, when his mind was fogged?" – may refer to someone being confused or corrupted by unknown cause
*"Kiazi's children, their faces wet" – downplaying the severity of a perceived injury
*"Kimarnt, her head cloudy?" – offering an intoxicating beverage
*" at Bashi" – to tell a story
*"Kiteo, his eyes closed" – refusal to understand
*"Koltar, when he drowned in the swamp" – resigned to one's fate, or remarking on a gruesome fate
*"Life in the cave of Garanoga" – a place where one feels a sense of belonging
*"Mirab, with sails unfurled" – signifying departure/engines to full/fleeing; depending on tone, could mean "Prepare to withdraw" or "We have to get out of here!"
*"Mosaro, when the lake was smooth" – may mean things are presently running smoothly
* "Picard and Dathon at El-Adrel" – successful first contact between two alien cultures, or to work toward a common goal; coined in 2368
*"Rai and Jiri at Lungha. Rai of Lowani. Lowani under two moons. Jiri of Ubaya. Ubaya of crossroads, at Lungha. Lungha, her sky gray" – greeting between two different cultures/races
*"Rajik, when he fell in the chasm" – used when someone could not be located and may be lost in an unfamiliar environment
* "Rapunki, when he joined the Seven" – greeting, expressing honor at joining a new group
*"The river Temarc in winter" – to not be swayed from a decision; often used as an imperative
*"Shaka, when the walls fell" – failure
*"Sokath, his eyes uncovered/opened" – understanding/realization
* "Temba" – related to gift/giving. "Temba!" could be used as "Take this!" when attacking an opponent.
**"Temba, at rest" – declining a gift. A gracious response signifying that the gift is unnecessary or should rightfully be kept by the other person.
**"Temba, his arms wide/open" – signifying a gift
*"Unzak and Vhila as children?" – meaning unknown, perhaps related to language learning or making a connection with other cultures
*"Unzak, when he guided the florkas to their roost" – meaning unknown, perhaps a reassurance related to carefully escorting something to a destination
*"Uzani, his army with fists closed" – to close rank and attack after luring the enemy
*"Uzani, his army with fists open" – to lure the enemy towards you by spreading your forces
*" Uzani, when the light came over the mountain" – could symbolize a moment of clarity, understanding, or an important realization. It could represent the dawn of a new idea or a resolution to a conflict, If Uzani is associated with conflict (like the warrior Uzani referenced in the Darmok), the light might symbolize the end of a battle or a moment of peace and unity
*"Zenrox, tilling his in the spring" – meaning unknown (possibly "stop what you are doing/what you are doing is wrong"); exclaimed in a panic
*"Zima at Anzo" "Zima and Bakor" – danger/hostility arising from miscommunication/misunderstanding.
*"Zinda, his eyes red" – expressing pain or dismay
* "Zinda, his face black, his eyes red" – anger or conflict, also can indicate pain, possible indication of inability to survive (either self, or other party)
 
These phrases and idioms were often attenuated in conversation: "Shaka, when the walls fell" was heard shortened to "Shaka"; others followed a similar pattern.
Picard used "The river Temarc in winter" at the start of his conversation with the Tamarian first officer, when he was trying to bring an end to the battle, possibly meaning "stop."
Dathon also used "Callimas at Bahar" after experiencing pain in his shoulder, signaling to Picard with a hand wave associated with "stay back", or perhaps meaning "I feel better now" or "the pain is gone".
==Appendices ==
===Background information===
In devising the Tamarian language, writer Joe Menosky was inspired by three sources: the work of psychologist (who had emphasized "All is metaphor"), the quote "Every word is a poem" from translator and poet , and the dense historical metaphors present in Chinese poetry and philosophical works such as the . (Star Trek: The Next Generation 365, p. 220)
In one scene where Picard attempts to treat a wounded Dathon, the Tamarian says "Kiazi's children, their faces wet". It is unclear what Dathon means by this, although (since Dathon is trying to shoo Picard away from caring for his injuries at the time) it may allude to children crying for no reason; the Tamarian may be saying that Picard should not worry or feel sad, as nothing could be done. It might also mean that Dathon knew he was dying, as Kiazi's children apparently knew, since Picard was trying to find out the extent of Dathon's injuries at the time.
SF Debris theorizes in his video "" that "metaphor" is likely not what is really going on with the Tamarian language by using Chinese as an example. He explains that in Hanzi, the Chinese system of writing, the word for China is comprised of two ideograms: 中 ("middle") and 国 ("nation" or "kingdom"). The second character itself is comprised of two radicals, 玉 ("Jade" or "precious gem") and 囗 ("enclosure"). Given the universal translator does a word-by-word translation, SF Debris opines this means if the translator were to be given the term "中国," rather than return "China" or "Middle Kingdom," it would probably produce the somewhat nonsensical "central enclosed jade". 
The Atlantics "" comes to a similar conclusion stating, "Metaphor and image are not accurate descriptions of the Tamarian language’s logic." and presents allegory as a better representation of what is really going on which fits reasonably well into SD Debris' explanation. 
===Apocrypha===
The Tamarian language is explored further in the short story "Friends with the Sparrows" from the TNG anthology book The Sky's the Limit. In the story, it is explained that Tamarians have a fundamentally different brain structure to most humanoids, and as such experience concepts such as time and self differently.
The story also explains that Tamarian children learn the stories behind the metaphors, and thus their meanings, through enactment and repetition. Variations of meaning in metaphors were conveyed through subtle vocal and gestural cues that the universal translator had previously missed. In fields such as engineering and programming, a musical language was used to convey precise equations, numbers and instructions; thus, explaining how Tamarians could effectively operate starships.
The Voyager relaunch novels Full Circle and Protectors introduce the Tamarian Dr. Sharak who had been teaching the language to Samantha Wildman.