busykurutmuk (verb) – In Whispering Sands use, means “to dry [something] out,” “to make [something] barren,” or “to shrivel [something] up.” This is the transitive counterpart to the intransitive kurumuk. While it has some perfectly decent applications, as in the making of dried date bricks, it is more often used as an expression of disgust, as in “Damn this thing! Shrivel it up!” It’s not exactly obscene, but most people shy away from using it – desert folks tend to be superstitious about anything that invokes water-trouble.
sukish (noun) – In Whispering Sands use, means “water-trouble” and refers to anything at all going wrong with a water supply or water level. Examples include wilting of plants, dehydration or electrolyte shock in animals or people, male impotence (the penis cannot “raise water” i.e. semen), a well or spring running dry or even notably lessening in flow, a caravan running low on or out of stocked water, a serious drought, a leaking or broken pot or waterskin, and the kind of bad luck that seems to involve running into water problems frequently enough that you (or someone else) start to think that the water just plain doesn’t like you anymore. The adjective sukishli or “water-troubled” and the verb sukishlanmak or “to be in a state of water-trouble” are also strong words. Another verb, sukishlamek, means “to curse in the manner of laying water-trouble on something or someone” and it can mean either that somebody used kurutmak as a swear word … or that somebody actually laid a magical curse having to do with water-trouble, which is extremely taboo everywhere in the desert and sure to get the perpetrator executed if anyone can catch him. The exception, of course, is that such a curse is the natural penalty for poisoning a well, offending a rain-priestess, or otherwise disrespecting water and its vessels.
hurmut (noun) – In Whispering Sand use, means somethinglike “disrespect,” “dishonor,” or “an offense against steel.” This refers to acts of cowardice, incompetence, theft, or other mishandling of weaponry, most notably swords or knives but often extending to bows or even magickal weapons. It is believed that someone who has dishonored a weapon will be known to the weapon-spirits, so that whatever weapon he picks up will refuse to protect him and may even turn on him.
enay (noun) – In Whispering Sands use, means “young fool” or “idiot.” That’s bad enough, but the enay eh enâyya (“sister’s fool”) is about as low as you can go: a man pathetic enough that his own sister is more use as a warrior.
enâyya (noun) – In bandit use, means “fool’s sister” or “puppy’s littermate.” The literal meaning is “bitch” but it’s a wicked complement, not an insult. This is the sister of the enay (“young fool”) or enek (“puppy”), the woman who is better than at least one man, who is capable of replacing him, who may be handed the sword just taken away from him. The related phrase enay eh enâyya (“sister’s fool”) is also used to describe her brother. The term enâyya actually is related to both enay and enek.
ushtuk (noun) – In bandit use, means roughly “boogeyman.” This is a fairytale monster, in the shape of a tall man wrapped all in black robes and scarves, with a huge glittering sword. His nickname is Shameytii (“The Swordsman”) and he hunts down unruly young men who mistreat their swords, by swinging them around carelessly or not keeping them clean and sharp. Then he cuts them to pieces. In some versions he keeps the boy’s sword – in others, he gives it to the boy’s sister or mother! Older bandit men often warn the wild young ones, “Behave with that thing, or the Swordsman will get you!” or even “Behave with with that thing, or I’ll give it to your sister!” The ushtuk can only be killed with a sword, and then only by cutting out his liver.
keshiyyeh (noun) – In Whispering Sands use, means “cutter,”“gelder,” or “a girl who castrates male livestock.” In some tribes, that task usually belongs to an unmarried woman. However, there is a legendary figure or fairytale monster by the same name (sometimes shortened to keyshi) who is something like a ghost or boogeywoman, appearing robed and veiled. She punishes men who commit crimes with a sexual connotation (such as disrespecting an honest woman) or minor to moderate sexual crimes (such as molesting a prostitute) which are not severe enough to attract the attention of a ziniyyeh (“rapewife”).
faago (adjective or adverb) – In Whispering Sands use, means “really really stupid” or even better “too stupid to live.” A perfect example is Amal’s cousin Masoom who died of a scorpion sting because he didn’t check his boots before putting his feet inside. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a brain-damage kind of impairment, just a fatal shortage of common sense.
Theory Notes: When working with a conlang, watch for boundaries -- things that are dangerous, things that people aren't supposed to do, terms of disrespect, etc. These help identify the edges of the society, what it considers acceptable and unacceptable. There lies the potential for stories. Such vocabulary can also provide valuable information about the setting and its effect on people who live there; in this case, we see again the preoccupation with water in the desert where it is scarce. And of course the generally (though not universally) patriarchal structure of desert societies is also showing.
January 26 2008, 05:00:45 UTC 13 years ago Edited: January 26 2008, 05:04:04 UTC
Is this a real language?Never mind, I see now it's constructed.
My own constructed language and links about the culture. (Scroll down.)
January 26 2008, 05:06:04 UTC 13 years ago
January 26 2008, 05:20:43 UTC 13 years ago
The only word I know in Klingon is pah'taHK, which is a curse word I think.
January 26 2008, 07:04:43 UTC 13 years ago
I love this kind of stuff SO MUCH.
Do these curses change with different cultures? Do people ever subvert swear words? What sort of interjections do you yell when you stub your toe or find a spider in the shower?
I may have to put in a post about the swear words in my various languages. I put a lot of thought into this sort of thing. ;)
January 26 2008, 07:45:40 UTC 13 years ago
Yes. Magic varies somewhat among tribes, and the decadent style is a whole different approach.
Also vocabulary differs -- there are vulgarities and verbal curses that only appear in one place, or some places but not others. They probably all have some that are unique.
"Do people ever subvert swear words?"
For various reasons, yes. Even in the examples, I can point to one: enayya is moving towards being a respectable word.
"What sort of interjections do you yell when you stub your
toe or find a spider in the shower?"
I've made a note to look for swear words and interjections. I know I've got a goodly collection in there, because it's something that interests me too.
January 26 2008, 07:13:11 UTC 13 years ago