Bahassi Crosi Volume I
Korsian Language for the Norvian Novice
Written by Telahmed Belassi Aydin, Royal Scribe of House Caviety
Ahak’Thela! Or, Greetings in Norvian tongue. I guess your Oserian ears aren’t used to such foreign sounds. Let me assure you that, after this first guide, you will have an easier time when visiting our beautiful Crosia. To start off this guide, the word ‘Thela’, meaning ‘Sun’ in Norvian, will come back often in this tome, as my ancestors strongly believed the sun is our deity. Nowadays my average kinsman knows better due to science, but there are a few places where the sun is deemed holy. Just remember: The Sun is important!
[Royal Scribe Telahmed Belassi Aydin, reading Drahl literature]
Korsian Language for the Norvian Novice
Written by Telahmed Belassi Aydin, Royal Scribe of House Caviety
Ahak’Thela! Or, Greetings in Norvian tongue. I guess your Oserian ears aren’t used to such foreign sounds. Let me assure you that, after this first guide, you will have an easier time when visiting our beautiful Crosia. To start off this guide, the word ‘Thela’, meaning ‘Sun’ in Norvian, will come back often in this tome, as my ancestors strongly believed the sun is our deity. Nowadays my average kinsman knows better due to science, but there are a few places where the sun is deemed holy. Just remember: The Sun is important!
[Royal Scribe Telahmed Belassi Aydin, reading Drahl literature]
Main Alphabet and Norvianized Translation
Since the main alphabet of Bahassi Crosi, the Korsian Language, is a bit odd to Norvian reading people, a council of Korsian scribes took a look into the Norvian Alphabet, and adjusted our old alphabet with the common Norvian one. We mainly use it the same way as all other people of Esna, except for a few letters:
Letter ’K’ has multiple uses. It functions both as a pronounced ‘K’, but also ‘Kh’, as in ‘Khanate’. Keep in mind to remember this difference, and write ‘Kh’ if it really is pronounced like that. So, don’t write Kanate it it’s Khanate.
Another letter which has multiple uses is the ‘G’. This one mostly represents the gurling ‘Grh’ sound we make which you Oserian people can’t understand why it’s used. This is mainly our way of the letter ‘G’, since the Oserian way isn’t used in Korsian Tongue. Words that use the Korsian ‘G’ are ‘Ghouia’, ‘Zaghri’, and ‘Ghardesh’, each respectfully meaning ‘Brother’, ‘Buddy’, and ‘Friend’.
To close this chapter, the Letter ‘H’ has the same problem. We both use it the Oserian way, and with a less gurgling sounding ‘Hrh’. Think of almost puking when smelling rotten fish. Yes, that gurgling. It is important to know the difference between 'G' and 'H' when speaking to a Korsian.
[Ancient Bahasi Crosia writings]
Greetings and Other Sayings
One small fact before. The word ‘Thela’, meaning ‘Sun’ is one of the few words that must always start with a capital, no matter where it stands in a written sentence.
Greeting someone comes from both sides. We don’t have greetings such as ‘Good morning’ or ‘Good night’. In Korsian, the initiating greeter says ‘Ahak’Thela.’, meaning ‘The Sun greets you.’. The one answering someone’s greeting greets back with ‘Thela’ahak.’, meaning ‘I greet the Sun.’. This is the most proper greeting to Korsians.
A lesser formal way to greet each other is to simply say ‘Shalaam’. It means ‘Hello’, or ‘Hi’. Just don’t say this to an elder Korsian, a rich merchant or someone of high importance. And don’t forget armed nomads!
To compliment someone, for example, a beautiful young maiden who hasn’t become the prince’s concubine, you can simply raise your hand with your pinky in front and say ‘’Mash’Thela!’, meaning ‘The Sun has blessed you!’ while praising her beauty. She would probably blush and say ‘Chok’rani’ to you, thanking you for your kind words. A warrior who has won a duel can be complimented this way too, but better praise his prowess in battle.
When drinking a good wine with your ‘Khardesh’ or ‘Ghardesh’, meaning ‘Friend’, you speak out loud ‘Alaklara!’, meaning ‘Cheers!’ and you thank him for the wine he smuggled from the palace. If he offers you more, you can say ‘Yah’ or ‘Non’ to say yes or no.
To finish this chapter, ‘Ay’Thelah.’ is often said when something fortunate happens, or you think that ‘The sun has willed it.’, telling you are content with whatever fate has brought to you.
["Mash'Thela! I'm proud of you.", the man said while making a respecting gesture]
Using bad words and be impolite is almost considered poetry by the modern, youthful Korsians, while the old fashioned elders prefer a clean tongue, no matter what status they have in society. So, be careful with this chapter in the Tome. The word ‘Tfoo’, meaning, ‘Fuck’ is mainly a modern multitool in the Korsian Language. Korsian soldiers would mumble ‘Tfoo’Fariq’ softly if they got sent away by the Marshall to clean the stables, meaning ‘Fuck the Marshall’, while ‘Tfoo’habi’ is often said by the local Sheikh when his third concubine ran away, again. Of course he says ‘Damn that woman’.
‘Tfoo’ also means ‘Dammit‘ in some cases, especially when using it at the end of a sentence. When you show up to late for guard duty, your overseer could say “This is the last time you are getting late, tfoo!”, and if your wife is arguing with you, you may lose your patience and yell “Allright woman! Just shut your moth for now, tfoo!”.
["Korsian citizens enjoying recreation in a hostel]
This should be enough to understand the basics of Korsian language. Be sure to read Vol.II in the future if you want more in-depth knowledge about the Sun’s holy language. For now I’ll say, Shalaam, my student. Until the next sunrise.
