To Green Angel Tower, Volume 2 by Tad Williams
Great Table—John’s assembly of knights and heroes
Green Column, The—Master Witness in Jhiná T‘seneí
Hare, The—Erkynlandish constellation name
Harrow’s Eve—Octander 30, day before “Soul’s Day”
Hesitancy, a—Norn spell
High King’s Ward—protection of High King over countries of Osten Ard
Hunt-wine—Qanuc liquor
Indreju—Jiriki’s witchwood sword
Juya‘ha—Sithi art: pictures made of woven cords
Kei-vishaa—Substance used by Gardenborn to make enemies drowsy and weak
Kingfisher, The—Nabbanai constellation
Kvalnir—Isgrimnur’s sword
Lobster, The—Nabbanai constellation
Mansa Nictalis—Night ceremony of Mother Church
Market Hall—a domed building in central Kwanitupul
Mist Lamp—a Witness, brought out of Tumet‘ai by Amerasu
Mixis the Wolf—Nabbanai constellation
Mockfoil—a flowering herb
Muster of Anitulles—Imperatorial battle-muster from Golden Age of Nabban
Navigator’s Trust—Niskie pledge to protect their ships at all cost
Night Heart—Sitha star-name
Ocean Indefinite and Eternal—Niskie term for ocean crossed by Gardenborn
Oldest Tree—Witchwood tree growing in Asu‘a
One Who Fled, The—Aedonite euphemism for the Devil
Pact of Sesuad‘ra—agreement of Sithi and Norn to part
Pool of Three Depths, The—Master Witness in Asu‘a
Prise‘a—“Ever-fresh,” a favorite flower of Sithi
Quickweed—Wran herb
Rabbit-nose—mushroom
Red knifebill—Wran bird
Rhao iye-Sama‘an—the Master Witness at Sesuad’ra, called the “Earth-Drake’s Eye”
Rhynn’s Cauldron—Hemystiri battle-summoner
Rite of Quickening—Qanuc Spring ceremony
Saint Granis’ Day—a holy day
Saint Rhiappa‘s—a cathedral in Kwanitupul
Sand Beetle, The—Wran name for constellation
Serpent, The—Nabbanai constellation
Shadow-mastery—Norn magics
Shard, The—Master Witness in Mezutu‘a
Shent—a Sithi game of socializing and strategy
Snatch-the-feather—Wran gambling game
Sorrow—Elias’ sword, a gift from Ineluki the Storm King
Speakfire, The—Master Witness in Hikehikayo
Spinning Wheel—Erkynlandish name for constellation
Sugar-bulb—Wran tree
Tarbox, The—inn at Falshire
Tethtain’s Axe—sunk in the heart of a beech tree in famous Hernystiri tale
Thorn—black star-sword of Camaris
Ti-tuno—Camaris’ horn, made from dragon’s tooth, also known as “Cellian”
Tree, The—(or “Holy Tree,” or “Execution Tree”) symbol of Usires Aedon’s execution
Twistgrass—Wran plant
Uncharted, The—subject of Niskie oath
Wailing Stone—dolmen above Hasu Vale
Wedge and Beetle, The—Stanshire inn
Wind Festival—Wrannaman celebration
Winged Beetle, The—Nabbanai constellation
Winged dolphin—emblem of Streáwe of Perdruin
Wintercap—Erkynlandish winter flower
“Woman from Nabban”—one of Sangfugol’s songs
“Wormglass”—Hernystiri name for certain old mirrors
Yellow Tinker—Wran plant
Yrmansol—tree of Erkynlandish Maia-day celebration
Yuvenis’ Throne—Nabbanai constellation
Knuckle Bones—Binabik’s auguring tools.
Patterns include:Wingless Bird
Fish-Spear
The Shadowed Path
Torch at the Cave-Mouth
Balking Ram
Clouds in the Pass
The Black Crevice
Unwrapped Dart
Circle of Stones
Mountains Dancing
WORDS AND PHRASES
QANUC
Henimaatuq! Ea kup!—“Beloved friend! You’re here!”
Inij koku na siqqasa min taq—“When we meet again, that will be a good day.”
Iq ta randayhet suk biqahuc—“Winter is not being the time for naked swimming.”
Mindunob inik yat—“My home will be your tomb.”
Nenit, henimaatuya—“Come on, friends.”
Nihut—“Attack”
Shummuk—“Wait”
Ummu Bok—“Well done!” (roughly)
SITHI
A y‘ei g’eisu! Yas‘a pripurna jo-shoi!—“You cowardly ones! The waves would not carry you!”
A-Genay‘asu—“Houses of Traveling Beyond”
Hikeda‘ya—“Cloud Children”: Norns
Hikka Staja—“Arrow Bearer”
Hikka Ti-tuno—“Bearer of Ti-tuno”
M‘yon rashí—(Sithi) “Breakers of Things”
Sinya‘a du-n’sha é-d‘treyesa inro—“May you find the light that shines above the bow”
Sudhoda‘ya—“Sunset Children”: Mortals
Sumy‘asu—“Fifth House”
Tinukeda‘ya—“Ocean Children”: Niskies and dwarrows
Venyha s‘ahn!—“By the Garden!”
Zida‘ya—“Dawn Children”: Sithi
NABBANAI
á prenteiz—“Take him!” or “At him!”
Duos preterate!—“God preserve”
Duos Simpetis—“Merciful God”
Em Wulstes Duos—“By God’s will”
Matra sá Duos—“Mother of God”
Otillenaes—“Tools”
Soria—“Sister”
Ulimor Camaris? Veveis?—“Lord Camaris? You live?”
HERNYSTIRI
Goirach citagh!—“Foolish (or mad) girl!”
Moiheneg—“between” or “empty place” (a neutral ground)
Smearech fleann—“dangerous book”
RIMMERSPAKK
Vad es ... Uf nammen Hott, vad es ... ?—“What? In the name of God, what?”
OTHER
Azha she‘she t’chakó, urun she‘she bhabekró ... Mudhul samat’ai. Jabbak s‘era memekeza sanayha-z’á ... Ninyek she‘she, hamut ’tke agrazh‘a s’era yé ...“—(Nom song) means Something Very Unpleasant
Shu‘do-tkzayha!—(Norn) “mortals” (var. of Sithi “Sudhoda’ya”)
S‘h’rosa—(Dwarrow) Vein of stone
A GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION
ERKYNLANDISH
Erkynlandish names are divided into two types, Old Erkynlandish (O.E.) and Warinstenner. Those names which are based on types from Prester John’s native island of Warinsten (mostly the names of castle servants or John’s immediate family) have been represented as variants on Biblical names (Elias—Elijah, Ebekah—Rebecca, etc.) Old Erkynlandish names should be pronounced like modern English, except as follows:
a—always ah, as in “father”
ae—ay of “say”
c—k as in “keen”
e—ai as in “air,” except at the end of names, when it is also sounded, but with an eh or uh sound, i.e., Hruse—“Rooz-uh”
ea—sounds as a in “mark,” except at beginning of word or name, where it has the same value as ae
g—always hard g, as in “glad”
h—hard h of “help”
i—short i of “in”
j—hard j of “jaw”
o—long but soft o, as in “orb”
u—oo sound of “wood,” never yoo as in “music”
HERNYSTIRI
The Hernystiri names and words can be pronounced in largely the same way as the O.E., with a few exceptions:
th—always the th in “other,” never as in “thing”
ch—a guttural, as in Scottish “loch”
y—pronounce yr like “beer,” ye like “spy”
h—unvoiced except at beginning of word or after t or c
e—ay as in “ray”
ll-same as single l: Lluth—Luth
RIMMERSPAKK
Names and words in Rimmerspakk differ from O.E. pronunciation in the following:
j—pronounced y: Jarnauga—Yarnauga; Hjeldin—Hyeldin (H nearly silent here)
ei—long i as in “crime”
e—ee, as in “sweet”
ö—oo, as in “coop”
au—ow, as in “cow”
NABBANAI
The Nabbanai language holds basically to the rules of a romance language, i.e., the vowels are pronounced “ah-eh-ih-oh-ooh,” the consonants are all sounded, etc. There are some exceptions.
i—most names take emphasis on second to last syllable: Ben-i-GAR-is. When this syllable has an i, it is sounded long (Ardrivis: Ar-DRY-vis) unless it comes before a double consonant (Antippa: An-TIHP-pa)
es—at end of name, es is sounded long: Gelles—Gel—leez
y—is pronounced as a long i, as in “mild”
QANUC
Troll-language is considerably different than the other human languages. There are three hard “k” sounds, signified by: c, q, and k. The only difference intelligible to most non-Qanuc is a slight clucking sound on the q, but it is not to be encouraged in beginners. For our purposes, all three will sound with the k of “keep.” Also, the Qanuc u is pronounced uh, as in “bug.” Other interpretations are up to the reader, but he or she will not go far wrong pronouncing phonetically.
SITHI
Even more than the language of Yiqanuc, the language of the Zida‘ya is virtually unpronounceable by untrained tongues, and so is easiest rendered phonetically, since the chance of any of us being judged by experts is slight (but not nonexistent, as Binabik learned). These rules may be applied, however.
i—when the first vowel, pronounced ih, as in “clip.” When later in word, especially at end, pronounced ee, as in “fleet”: Jiriki—Jih-REE-kee
ai—pronounced like long i, as in “time”
‘ (apostrophe)—represents a clicking sound, and should be not voiced by mortal readers.
EXCEPTIONAL NAMES
Geloë—Her origins are unknown, and so is the source of her name. It is pronounced “Juh-LO-ee” or “Juh-LOY.” Both are correct.
Ingen Jegger—He is a Black Rimmersman, and the “J” in Jegger is sounded, just as in “jump.”
Miriamele—Although born in the Erkynlandish court, hers is a Nabbanai name that developed a strange pronunciation—perhaps due to some family influence or confusion of her dual heritage—and sounds as “Mih-ree- uh-MEL.”
Vorzheva—A Thrithings-woman, her name is pronounced “Vor-SHAY-va,” with the zh sounding harshly, like the Hungarian zs.
Tad Williams, To Green Angel Tower, Volume 2