Is there any resource out there to give some insight into the old Ayleid language (or is it even simply Aldmeris?)
I have both an interest, and I guess a need (for a mod project) to learn a bit about this language.

The thing I need the most is really some inspiration for Ayleid names, both people and cities, but especially cities. I have studied the Ayleid Reference book from the mages guild quest "Vaktecan's Secrets" (sp?) to death, and gotten as much out of that as I can. Are there any other resources out there I can use?

I have come to the conclusion that the names that Bethesda gave to the ruins in game do in fat have meaning (Largely due to 2 of them that I know their meaning from the formentioned book Garlas Aegia (sp?) That is, Caverns of Lore, and Garlas Malatar, which I believe is Caverns of Truth correction, Caverns of the High Woods [1 letter difference threw me off!])

So is there any way I can generate some names for places with meaning?

Also I have made an observation that may be of some interest to some.


I have noticed that the word used here for 'lordly' is adonai, which I find very interesting -the Hebrew word for for lord is... Adonai, which was there word for God that they used as it was considered blasphemous to ever use the word Jaweh, even when reading


I point this out because, well perhaps this shows a possible influence for the developers here -perhaps the language to some extent is based on hebrew (which wouldnt be a new thing, Tolkien's dwarf language was in fact based on Hebrew, as were Tolkien's dwarves themselves based on ancient hebrew culture)

The language is ripped off from Tolkien, hence the Hebrew similarities.

Yes, but If I remember correctly, Tolkien's Elfish language was in fact ripped off from Welsh, and not hebrew.

Although in the names of some Ayleid cities, I do see some welsh-isms (especially with the generous use of the letter 'y' i.e. Nenond Twyll and such)

BUT still I ask the question, is there significant differance between Ayleidic and old Aldmeris. And if not (and even if there is) is there any reference for that language?

Seriously, I like language, it's a facination of mine. and Also I do need to come up with some names with meaning.

(I do admit, the Ayleid reference is a useful book, and studying it in comparson with a few Ayleid cities with similar words has showed me a lot about words and some grammar)

All right, my research has brought me to find http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Tamriel:Ayleid_Language which, as it turns out, is exactly what I was looking for.

So there it is. posted here if anyone else has a similar interest in looking at this language.

I think also I will look into the tolkien/hebrew similarities some more.

Check also http://lorannarp.pbwiki.com/Nalions-Ayleid-Dictionary ayleid dictionary made by Nalion.

Thanks! Much Appreciated!

It's an underdeveloped language, but I understand as the devs aren't philologists and linguists. However, there is potential to build on it, but as a little side project from fans who are interested.

Yeah, I get that impression from what I have looked at.

It does sadden me a bit that there arent all the words I would like for their to be.

Do you think anyone would put up too much of a fuss if I invented what words I needed for my mod? (Don't worry, I would be pretty picky)

I think for my project I need more than the available words, and might be forced to further develop a bit. Which brings up the question -are any of the other meric languages more developed (most useful would probably be aldmeris, if so. or maybe altmeris too.)

None of them really seem to be developed. Creating your own words might be good, or taking from other languages like what Ayleid has done. I'm no expert on language either, but I do like to learn about languages, and it's fun to tweak around what could be done about Ayleid. Like "na" is translated as "is" in both linked references in this thread. I'd prefer to change its function, like "bella" would be strong.

Aran na bella. (The king is strong.)
Aran na bellai. (At one point, the king was strong.)

Things like that. But, that's just for fun.