Translating the Dragon Language

Post » Fri Jun 01, 2012 2:22 pm

I'm doing literal translations here then using guesses in context to figure out different dialogue. Starting with this post: http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1321268-heard-something-strange-in-helgen-today/page__view__findpost__p__19862867 . These are the lines of dialogue (non-Shout) that Alduin says at the very beginning of the game. Feel free to assist, there's a few rather large gaps! There used to be a great post on this, but I can't find it. The more phrases we can translate based on context, the more words we learn!

Sources: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Dragon_Language, http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Dragon_Words:_A, http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Dragon_Words:_AB, and http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Dragon_language


Original: "Daar Lein los dii."
Literal: "This world is [dii]."
My guess: "This world is mine." (based off later translation)

Original: Hin sil fen nahkip bahloki.
Literal: Your soul will [nahkip] hunger.
My rough guess: Your soul will feed my hunger.
Spoiler

Alduin eats souls in Sovngarde to gain power.

Original: Zu'u lost daal.
Literal: [Zu'u] have return.
My guess: "I have returned." (see below)

Original: Zu'u Alduin, zok sahrot do naan ko Lein.
Literal [Zu'u] Alduin, most mighty of any in World.
My guess: I am Alduin, the most powerful being in the world.

Original: Nust wo ni qiilan fen kos duaan.
Literal: They who not [qiilan] will be [duaan].
My rough guess #1: Those who do not submit will be devoured.
Note: From "du", and Alduin's title, the "Devourer of Worlds"

Original: Di kiirre fen alok.
Literal: [Di] child will arise.
My guess: "My children will arise."
Note: Based off the guess he's talking about dragons returning to Skyrim.

Original: Fen du hin sille ko Sovngarde!
Literal: Will devour your soul in Sovngarde!
My guess: I will devour you and send your soul to Sovngarde!
digited's guess: "I'll kill you and then devour your soul in Sovngarde!".

Original: Kel drey ni viik.
Literal: Elder Scroll did not defeat.
My guess: The Elder Scroll did not defeat me.
Note:
Spoiler
Alduin was banished in an Elder Scroll until the Dragonborn showed up.

Original: Pahlok joorre! Hin kah fen kos bonaar.
Literal: All+sky mortals! Your pride will be humble.
My rough guess: Mortals! You will be humbled.
Note: "bahlok" or "wrath+sky" is "hunger", which refers to Alduin. "Pahlok" may refer to the Aedra, creators of the mortal world. Wild guess.

In fact, Alduin says quite a lot of stuff, i'm not sure if i've managed to capture it all:

1. Daar Lein los dii.
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/5457/alduin1.jpg

2. Hin sil fen nahkip bahloki.
http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/197/alduin2.jpg

3. Zu'u lost daal.
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/9504/alduin3.jpg

4. Zu'u Alduin, zok sahrot do naan ko Lein.
http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/3108/alduin4.jpg

5. Nust wo ni qiilan fen kos duaan.
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/4944/alduin5sx.jpg

6. Di kiirre fen alok.
http://img576.imageshack.us/img576/7749/alduin6.jpg

7. Fen du hin sille ko Sovngarde!
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/6577/alduin7.jpg

8. Kel drey ni viik.
http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/9511/alduin8.jpg

9. Pahlok joorre! Hin kah fen kos bonaar.
http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/4812/alduin9.jpg


Edit: Edited some translations based on digited's comments.
User avatar
ShOrty
 
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Post » Fri Jun 01, 2012 4:31 am

Original: Hin sil fen nahkip bahloki.
Literal: Your soul will [nahkip] hunger.
Note: Maybe directed at the Dragonborn and how he/she hunts for Dragon Souls?

Spoiler
Most probably, he means Sovngarde, where he replenishes his power by consuming souls. Same for "Fen du hin sille ko Sovngarde!" - literally, "I'll kill you here and then will eat your soul in Sovngarde".
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-__^
 
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Post » Fri Jun 01, 2012 3:46 pm

Spoiler
Most probably, he means Sovngarde, where he replenishes his power by consuming souls. Same for "Fen du hin sille ko Sovngarde!" - literally, "I'll kill you here and then will eat your soul in Sovngarde".
Spoiler
Where are you getting that Alduin eats souls in Sovngarde? But that does translate "Fen du hin sille ko Sovngarde!" better if it's true.
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Marine Arrègle
 
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Post » Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:37 pm

Major plot spoiler below:
Spoiler
Main quest, both words of Odahviig and protagonist' trip to Sovngarde itself to see what does Alduin do there to recover after defeat in mortals' world.
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sharon
 
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Post » Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:54 pm

Major plot spoiler below:
Spoiler
Main quest, both words of Odahviig and protagonist' trip to Sovngarde itself to see what does Alduin do there to recover after defeat in mortals' world.
Ah thanks, I've edited the main post.

If people are wondering about the spoiler tags, some things in this thread will be plain spoilers no tags, while other things are so spoilerish (like learned at the end of MQ) that I put them in tags.
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C.L.U.T.C.H
 
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Post » Fri Jun 01, 2012 3:01 pm

This thread also needs dialogs between resurrected dragons and Alduin.
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Stephanie Valentine
 
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Post » Fri Jun 01, 2012 9:45 am

Give me the dialog and I'll start us off.
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Bee Baby
 
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Post » Fri Jun 01, 2012 1:06 pm

I can confirm that "Zu'u" is "I [am/have]". When Alduin is defeated, his last line is "Zu'u unslaad, zu'u nis oblaan", which means "I am immortal, I cannot die."

Also, you don't need spoiler tags on the spoiler forum.
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Chloé
 
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