The Wizard's Rules

I love Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. I recommend it to any lover of fantasy/science fiction literature. I've taken the liberty of translating the Wizard's Rules into Rijan, along with my best shot at literal translations from the Rijan:


THE WIZARD'S RULES (ZAI LEVAI NACH GAALEDRAI):


"Rijani evon neszavadai. Vol'pensevon uhizu avair'keren zu evom iru, u'nia avair'evon vakekhi pudevu evom iru."  ("People are stupid. They will believe something because they want it to be true, or they're afraid it might be true.") ~Wizard's First Rule; pg. 397

lit. translation: "People are stupid. They will-believe (pl. third person)  something because-want (pl. third person) it [to] be true, or because-are (pl. third person) fearful could (sing. third person, m.) be true."

"Za skavma kemais suura pudeva vinem nach zai zheraadi kemais haivai."  ("The greatest harm can result from the best intentions.") ~Stone of Tears; pg. 886

lit. translation: "The harm most great could (sing. third person, f.) come from the (pl.) intentions most good (pl.)."

"Dejsva a'riaza levava, par haiva u'nia par malvaja."  ("Passion rules reason, for better or for worse.") ~Blood of the Fold; pg. 360

lit. translation: "Passion to-reason rules (sing. third person, f.), for good or for bad."

"Gaaleh evovu uan vireyata anvalda; uan za vireyata nin tratav, inde mais uan za vireyata nin laekkav."  ("There is magic in sincere forgiveness; in the forgiveness you give, and more so in the forgiveness you receive.") ~Temple of the Winds; pg. 318

lit. translation: "Magic is (sing. third person, m.) in forgiveness sincere; in the foregiveness that give (sing. second person), and more in the forgiveness that receive (sing. second person)."

"Sykkav nin rijani shazon, necht'sykkazhka zyna nin dimekan, avair'shazuhi vol'miraton a fynah."  ("Mind what people do, not only what they say, for deeds will betray a lie.") ~Soul of the Fire; pg. 205

lit. translation: "Mind (sing. second person, meant as command) which people do (pl. third person), not-minding only which say (pl. third person), because-deeds will-betray a lie."

"Zu zynu manarakku nin pudev konkessem a'vore levam evova riaza."  ("The only sovereign you can allow to rule you is reason.") ~Faith of the Fallen; pg. 455-460

lit. translation: "The only (m) leader which can (sing. second person) allow to-you rule is (sing. third person, f.) reason."

"Vikaza evova za batuula, necht'evozhka zu pazaad."  ("Life is the future, not the past.") ~Pillars of Creation; pg. 549

lit. translation: "Life is (sing. third person, f.) the (f) future, not-being the (m) past."

"Laikhaijav za vyzhajaka."  ("Deserve victory.") ~Naked Empire; pg. 626

lit. translation: "Deserve (sing. second person, meant as command) the (f) victory."

"U zheyaantalu necht'pudevu evom uan girat. Necht'pudevu uan laku, u'nia uan teld."  ("A contradiction cannot exist in reality. Not in part, nor in whole.") ~Chainfire; pg. 489

lit. translation: "A (m) contradiction not-can (sing. third person, m) be in reality. Not-can (sing. third person, m) in part, or in all."

"Kerdatu relekozhka avna nach za irata evova a mirata uhn za rijaka."  ("Willfully turning aside from the truth is treason to one's self.") ~Phantom; pg. 127

lit. translation: "Willful[ly] turning away from the (f) truth is (sing. third person, f) a (f) betrayal on/to the (f) self."

Quotes About War

Also, I need more ideas for stuff to translate.

Quotes about Faith

I'm back! I made a couple of quote videos while I was on vacation, so that I'd have SOMETHING to post when I got back.

A Note

[Don't worry; it's in English.]

Negatives

And today we have...more prefixes! Yay! In English, in order to make a thing negative, we add words like "not," "do not," or "no" before a verb. In Spanish, it's "no." In Rijan, it's the prefix "necht'," preceding all other prefixes attached to that root verb.

All these prefixes can get to be a bit of a mouthful. As an example, I'm going to use a tense I haven't covered yet.

Necht'par'eskismazevia  (She has not been gossiping)

I rest my case. Let's switch to an easier verb, like vifam (to live):

Necht'vifaz...   I do not live...

Necht'vol'vifaz...   I will not live...

Necht'par'vifaz...   I am not currently living...

If you'd like to practice on the verbs I've already given you in previous posts, feel free.

Pala nach za Di: Akasu

Akasu

(Ah-KAH-soo)

noun; masculine

Archer

fem. Akasa

pl. Akasai

Related Terms:

Akasi -- Archery

A few more quotes

"Vineizar viziem komm suuru evovu zu nesamakhezu, inde muukai vikazai a'nuz necht'vol'tratan kur zu vin nach nuz aadi. Kerez necht'nana, muura evom kholai inde azavam, inde sentem eki cin kaadi di nuz optyl komsayevu mais velaad laka zu nach za kyrana inde mais dimaanu nach krijstalla."
("We have come to see how great is the unexplored, and many lifetimes will not bring us to the end of our quest. We wish nothing, save to be alone and to learn, and to feel as if with each day our sight were growing sharper than the hawk's and clearer than rock crystal.") ~Ayn Rand; Anthem

"Evoz. Pensez. Kerez."
("I am. I think. I will.") ~Ayn Rand; Anthem

"Istu, myya korpu inde imina, istai evon zu vin nach za aadi. Kerezi zavayam za rezkala nach khozi. Evoz za rezkala. Kerezi amakhem a razka par evozhka. Necht'nezetez a razka par evozhka, u'nia a pala nach tyydu una myya evozhka. Evoz za razka inde zu tyddu."
("This, my body and spirit, this is the end of the quest. I wished to know the meaning of things. I am the meaning. I wished to find a warrant for being. I need no warrant for being, and no word of sanction upon my being. I am the warrant and the sanction.") ~Ayn Rand; Anthem

"Kuulya Morne tenevu a kea."
("Even Death has a heart.") ~Markus Zusak; The Book Thief

"Ure amoz a Dievu: rijani, necht'amoz. Rijan evovu a khoz kaza nesdevaki par myya'li. Amonu kur rijan vol'evovu morneti a myya'li."
("Now I love God: men, I do not love. Man is a thing too imperfect for me. Love to man would be fatal to me.") ~Friedrich Nietzsche; Thus Spake Zarathustra

Future Tense

We've talked about two forms of verbs so far: the present and the present progressive. The third basic tense is the future tense (i.e. "I'm going to do something").

Like present progressive, you use the present tense endings, but you add vol' to the beginning of the verb.


Par ravkada:

Ker necht'comoz rakhulu, vol'rokezoz.
(If I don't eat soon, I am going to starve.)


Try conjugating the verbs from the past two entries as instructed, but in the future tense.

Present Progressive

Last entry I covered how to conjugate verbs in the present tense--that is, how to say that an action is performed presently and habitually. Present tense alone cannot, however, be used to say that you (or another person) are currently performing a certain action (for example: currently, I am typing this blog entry.). To denote that an action is currently being performed, simply add par' (with the apostrophe) to the beginning of the verb.

Par ravkada:


Par'avlaz Rijan.
I am [currently] speaking Rijan.

Par'comovu.
He is [currently] eating.


Practice Exercise:


Try conjugating the verbs provided below, as instructed:


1. Nezetem (to need); first person singular
2. Dimekam (to tell); first person plural
3. Laprem (to pray); second person plural
4. Cansam (to rest); second person singular
5. Relevam (to sculpt); third person singular, feminine
6. Ajalam (to shout); third person plural
7. Cantem (to sing); third person singular, masculine

Verb Conjugation: Present Tense

I'll admit that I borrowed heavily from Spanish on this, but there are still quite a few differences.

There are three types of verb endings in the infinitive: -am, -em, and -om.


Par Ravkada:


Avlam (to speak)
Viziem (to see)
Comom (to eat)

These are conjugated depending upon the gender and number of the subject, as well as whether it is first, second, or third person.

Asai:


Avlam (-am ending)


Myya'li avlaz     (I speak)
Vore'li avlav     (You speak)
Malya avlavu     (He speaks)
Damya avlava     (She speaks)
Nuztra avlazar     (We speak)
Vuztra avlazai     (You, pl. speak)
Senn'li avlan     (They speak)


Viziem (-em ending)


Myya'li viziez     (I see)
Vore'li viziev     (You see)
Malya vizievu     (He sees)
Damya vizieva     (She sees)
Nuztra viziezar     (We see)
Vuztra viziezai     (You, pl. see)
Senn'li vizien     (They see)


Comom (-om ending)


Myya'li comoz     (I eat)
Vore'li comov     (You eat)
Malya comovu     (He eats)
Damya comova     (She eats)
Nuztra comozar     (We eat)
Vuztra comozai     (You, pl. eat)
Senn'li comon     (They eat)


A notable difference between Rijan and Spanish is that the third person singular form is gender-specific. Another huge difference is that there are no irregulars. How lovely!


Practice Exercise:

Below are ten verbs in the infinitive form. Try conjugating them as instructed.


1. Vrakunam (to ask); first person, singular
2. Evom (to be); second person, plural
3. Bynadem (to bless); third person, singular, masculine
4. Pudem (to be able to); third person, plural
5. Selemitam (to dislike); third person, singular, feminine
6. Sentem (to feel); second person, singular
7. Tratam (to give); first person, plural
8. Zavom (to go); third person, singular, feminine
9. Khazrazem (to make); first person, singular
10. Fynam (to lie); second person, plural

What's in a Name?

A lot of languages have their own versions of commonly used names. For example, Michael is Miguel in Spanish; and in Russian, Mikhail. In French it is Michel, and the list goes on and on.

Here are some Rijan equivalents (and pronunciations) for common names.

Men:


Zhaemas (ZHAI-mas)  James
Jonan (YOH-nan)  John
Roverit (ROH-vare-it)  Robert
Mykhael (MEE-khail)  Michael
Alhelm (AHL-elm)  William
Avidan (AH-vih-dan)  David
Rekharet (REH-khah-ret)  Richard
Kaarlas (KAHR-lahs)  Charles
Ejazav (ay-YAH-zahv)  Joseph
Domaas (doh-MAHS)  Thomas
Ristovar (RIS-toh-var)  Christopher
Taaneth (TAH-neth)  Daniel
Palas (PAH-las)  Paul
Maarke (MAHR-kuh)  Mark
Taanelit (TAH-neh-lit)  Donald
Jorgath (YOR-gath)  George
Ykannath (ee-KAHN-nath)  Kenneth
Aestavan (AI-stah-vahn)  Steven
Aedevaret (AI-deh-VAH-ret)  Edward
Evran (EV-rahn)  Brian
Ronath (ROH-nath)  Ronald
Etoneth (EH-toh-neth)  Anthony
Khavenas (KHAH-veh-nas)  Kevin
Zhazoneth (ZHAH-zoh-neth)  Jason
Yzhaaf (ee-ZHAHF)  Jeff
Iranak (EE-rah-nahk)  Eric


Women:


Amaret (AH-mah-ret)  Mary
Petraeche (pet-RAI-khuh)  Patricia
Aelintat (ai-LIN-taht)  Linda
Arvarat (AR-vah-rat)  Barbara
Sennef (SEN-nef)  Jennifer
Lizvetat (LIZ-veh-taht)  Elizabeth
Amaraete (ah-mah-RAI-tuh)  Maria
Zhoshanat (ZHOH-shah-naht)  Susan; Susannah
Maareta (MAH-reh-tah)  Margaret
Lyzche (LEEZ-khuh)  Lisa
Nanasyat (nah-NAH-see-aht)  Nancy
Kaarynna (KAH-ree-nah)  Karen
Aelenya (AI-len-yah)  Helen
Zanedra (zah-NEH-drah)  Sandra
Ruata (roo-AH-tah)  Ruth
Seharanat (say-HAH-rah-naht)  Sharon
Mychellat (MEE-khel-laht)  Michelle
Laarethe (LAH-reh-thuh)  Laura
Zaara (ZAH-rah)  Sarah
Adaverat (ah-DAH-veh-raht)  Deborah

Some Quotes

Here are a few random quotations from books, movies, etc., that I liked and decided to translate into Rijan:

"Karazuli, necht'evozar?"

"Victims, aren't we all?" ~Eric Draven; The Crow

"Aani za imina a'korpu vizievia cin selemit, inde isa selemit evovia zu khoz zevrayedu:--za imina a'korpu kerevia katku, khrodu, inde rokezu."

"Once the soul looked contemptuously on the body, and then that contempt was the supreme thing:--the soul wished the body meagre, ghastly, and famished."  ~Friedrich Nietzsche; Thus Spake Zarathustra

"Vuz devai u'ni nuz, teld evon aan uan myya optyl."

"Your faith or ours, it's all one to me."  ~The Cross-Surety," a Russian folktale

"A'rijan rokazu teld zai kajehi evon laang."

"To the hungry man any road is long."  ~Stan Bolovan, from Andrew Lang's Fairy Books

"Aan graasa evova mais nach graasa laka du, avair'evova mais nach u makta par za karazta nach u rijan a'za tamom."

"One virtue is more of a virtue than two, because it is more of a knot for one's destiny to cling to.  ~Friedrich Nietzsche; Thus Spake Zarathustra

"Evoz eki vore'li, ach Nykt, nesavladu inde meru; inde insa za kea nach myya necinkennakh evova a Dieva uan natovara; inde insa'va malya nin par'natovu za Ezakkra tokheva zu Murokku."

"I am like thee, O, Night, silent and deep; and in the heart of my loneliness lies a Goddess in child-bed; and in him who is being born Heaven touches Hell."  ~Kahlil Gibran; The Madman

Age

In Rijan, talking about your age follows the same grammatical pattern as it does in Spanish. For those of you who've never had much exposure to Spanish grammar, it means that you phrase it like this:

I have [insert number] years, instead of  I am [insert number] years.

In Rijan, the verb is tenem. Sometime soon we'll get into verb conjugation and tenses, but for right now, let's just stick with tenem and the present.

Myya'li tenez de'hekt yakhri.  I am sixteen years old.
Vore'li tenev du'le yakhri.  You are twenty years old.
Malya tenevu dek'aan yakhri.  He is eleven.
Damya teneva akht yakhri.  She is eight.
Nuztra tenezar dek yakhri.  We are ten.
Vuztra tenezai trei'le yakhri,  You (pl.) are thirty.
Senn'li tenen kwa yakhri.  They are four.