Varko (Language)

> *"Keru hash van lio! Herut, cul ziv ya jun vit!"-* Roughly translated to mean "Flee from [the] battle not! [Be] Rewarded, and stay [the] line!" An excerpt from *The Finding of Azorek.*
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Varko is a fictional language spoken by the traveling bands who live in the northern half of Ursisa and by those of lower classes in the southern half. It has recently become more common in the urban parts of Ursisa, due to the Queens' efforts to unite the fractured continent.

The author has stated that the language is based on the fictional language Lapine, used in Watership Down.

## History

For many years, Varko was the predominant language of Ursisa, spoken by everyone. However, after the integration of several nearby outlying islands, and later an influx of immigrants and refugees during both world wars and the cold war, Ursisa became much more multicultural. Roughly 84% of the current population speaks Varko currently, with the most common languages besides being Vietnamese, Hindu, Hebrew, and English.

## How to Speak Varko

Varkan grammar is relatively simple to understand, though with minor regional variations depending on which dialect is spoken. Sentence structure goes Subject-Object-Preposition-Action. If the preposition is a secondary action it goes without conjugation. Rendered in english, the phrase "I ran to the pond to swim" would instead be read as "I to the pond to swim ran".

For example, the phrase "I run to the pond" would translate to "*Vo korrin sazak-ru."* In the past tense, the phrase would be "*Vo sahkorrin sazak-ru."* In the future tense, the phrase would be "*Vo korrinyux sazak-ru."*

In addition, when written out in the latin alphabet, several letters have different sounds associated with them to accommodate the differences in pronunciation and glottal sounds. Many consonants are ejective, and the language sounds more natural the more you move your mouth, as explained to Aylanur by Niru.

* **C** is pronounced as an ejective "ch" sound. Heavy use of the lips.
* **H** is pronounced ħ, from the back of the throat. It lingers for a moment before being spoken.
* **J** is pronounced ʤ, like "jug".
* **K** is a vebal ejective. It should sound like it's being spit out of the mouth.
* **NM** is pronounced in the back of the mouth as ɴ.
* **Z** is pronounced similarly to ʑ. Let it vibrate in your mouth.

## Terms

### Nouns

* **Cuxo-** an altercation or skirmish, usually with minor injuries.
* **Der**- a traditional cape worn by those who have taken the Rite of Passage, made of a single pelt from either a water buffalo, a spotted sika, or a dwarf crocodile. Has received pushback within recent years from animal rights group, who argue that the practice is unnecessary in modern times and encourages poaching, while its defenders argue that foreign planting practices and the international demand for Vesa furs are doing far more harm to the ecosystem.
* **Firori-** a filmy smell that coats the throat, like frying oil or filth.
* **Furgau**- a relationship between two or more people that borders between friendship and romantic love.
* **Gilvu-** venom, specifically that which does not kill but makes its victim wish for death.
* **Guklan-** the smell of someone comfortable.
* **Harl**- a young individual who has just begun learning to hunt.
* **Huil**- the very beginning of dawn.
* **Jun-** literally the walls outside a camp, but it frequently is used to mean the last line of defense.
* **Kerit-** foraged greens.
* **Keru-** a serious altercation or battle. More severe than Cuxo.
* **Khadur-** the smell of blood on the back of your tongue.
* **Lau-** the center or leader of a whole, or emotional center of a person. Often translated to mean 'heart'. The capital city, Nmon Lau, is often translated as the Crowned Heart.
* **Lekov-** the first sheet of snow. Can also be used as an adjective for white.
* **Milev**- food that has gone bad. Can also be used as an insult- to call someone milev is to say that they stink or have worn out their welcome.
* **Nildav**- a parent who is nursing pups.
* **Nain-** a light rainfall.
* **Nir**- a fierce rainfall.
* **Rim-** smoke from a campfire.
* **Sazak**- a small body of still water, typically translated as a pond or lake.
* **Vanderi**- literally 'no-pelt'. A term applied to outsiders or grown Ursisans who haven't taken the Rite of Passage. Has recent connotations as offensive after use by Ursisan Purity groups.
* **Vesa-** a big cat species unique to Ursisa. It resembles "a fusion of the Asian golden cat and a cougar", and is known for leading the traveling bands to large prey they cannot take down themselves in exchange for part of the kill. While not domesticated, they are relatively friendly with humans, and seem to know that they can seek out humans if injured or in danger.
* **Weinoru-** the time just before dawn, when prey is most active.
* **Xue-** the youngest member of a group. Equivalent to 'runt' in english.
* **Yulz-** any singing done with music.
* **Zior**- a cloak made of deer pelts, worn around the waist. It is typically worn by young individuals who have yet to take the Rite of Passage, but who have hunted enough to have made the zior themselves.

### Verbs

The verbs presented are in their root form. Verbs come in two forms- independent and dependent. Independent verbs apply to an action that can be performed without a target- ie, *Unli* applies to the action of swimming, and can happen without a specific place or destination, whereas *Korrin* must be followed by the place where one is going or coming from.

While different regions have their own forms of conjugation, the official form of the language has all verbs conjugated in the same manner, in an effort to ease communication between disparate clans.

* **Dreja-** to go on a long hunt.
* **Gedel-** to take down prey.
* **Azim-** to lose a fight.
* **Hash-** to run away.
* **Viz-** to stay.
* **Heri-** to give or reward.
* **Zanga-** to call or summon.
* **Oxu-** to howl, to sing.
* **Karna**- to worship.
* **Unli-** to swim.
* **Korrin-** to run.
* **Milim-** to think or plan.
* **Kazo-** to like something or someone.
* **Estyi-** to love (familial).
* **Maxhi-** to love (deep friendship).
* **Neur-** to love (romantic).
* **Yazla-** to love someone to the point of serious commitment.
* **Sheuxir-** to love someone to the point that loving them becomes a part of your soul- the deepest, most intense kind of love. DO NOT use lightly- to say these words to someone is to dedicate a chunk of your life to them, to make the connection permanent- considered more binding than marriage, no matter the type of relationship you have. Most people only use this word once or twice in their lives.

### Adjectives

Adjectives come after a noun, or are combined with a noun to make a new noun- ie, the name *Kerila* literally translates to "Treasured Leader", but is often translated to "A Loving Heart", a name which she earned after becoming partners with Lokur.

* **Avur**- larger than something else, typically the speaker.
* **Beruk**- hot to the touch, but not burning.
* **Keri**- loved or treasured.
* **Fersh**- ugly, but in a cute way.
* **Casat**- injured.
* **Nmo**- worthy or leaderly.
* **Kur-** enemy or opposition to. Can also be used as a point of contrast.
* **Airo-** a state in which something is both finite and endless- often described as an untranslatable word. Used in reference to the sky, which seemingly has no end and yet can only be perceived in a limited capacity.
* **Mur**- something cyclic and repeating, such as a series of arguments or a feud.

## Trivia

* While the author has little vested interest in fleshing out the Varkan vocabulary, she has stated several times that she uses what she has already to flesh out the characters' interactions.
* Ursisan names are often either a modified noun or two nouns smashed together.