The language spoken by the goblin clans of the Uferbrech Archipelago reflects their traditional deep connection to the natural world of the islands, and their spiritual beliefs in birth, death and rebirth. The name of the language literally meaning 'Mother-tongue'.
Author note: This is experimental. The language of Inukatari was created with the help of a Chat GPT conlang tool called Conlang Creator by AGNES SARIC. See the footer for more information
Inu Katana taka Inu Katara, ra inu taka Inu Natara.
Inu nakari haka tatuma katruma.
Na tiru inu sura haka taka, inu natari haka nakari.
Ra naka ilu natari, ilu taka natuma.
Translation:
Inu Katana is she who gives life, and she who takes it away.
And as she sleeps she dreams the endless renewal.
But since she awoke in fire, she cannot dream.
And now, that which dies stays forever dead.
From The Broken Dream of Wala-Kofa
Sample usage in names of people, places and things
Across the Uferbrech Archipelago, Inukatari is still in common use. Even those of invading Protectorates have begun to use the names for places and people, and many can communicate at least rudimentarily in the local language, even if the full subtely and significance of some meanings is not fully understood.
The clans themselves are named after their traditional affinity with various natural forces, and the names that goblinkin of the clans are given during their live also reflect these traditions.
Author note: Some of these names (such as clan names) have been retrofitted to existing names used across Shadowfire. Some (such as Soqasari, and the names of the goddess) have yet to be updated.
| Name | Meaning | Reference |
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| Motuma (Motu) | The clan of the mountains are named for the strength, stability and reliability of earth and rock. | Clan Motu |
| Telelama (Telela) | The clan of the tides are named for their affinity with the ocean and tides. | Clan Telela |
| Otenkaruma (Otenkari) | The clan of the forests are named for the healing and protective power of all growing things. | Clan Otenkari |
| Tokaruma (Tokari) | The clan of the winds, are named for transformative power of wind and storms. | Tokari |
| Taktuk | Means a quick blow. Taktuk Roostwarden earnt her moniker due to her constant push to strike at her enemies. | Taktuk Roostwarden |
| Xilocoth | Xilocoth literally means 'Of the forgotten homeland'. It is a slightly derogatory name given to goblinkin who live in exile, or otherwise disconnected from the lands of their clan. | Xilocoth Stormholder |
| Hotakatumoth | Home with deep waters. The traditional name for the settlement now known as Omberstad. | Omberstad |
| Soqasari | The name of the great hero of the goblinkin, literally 'Moon-chaser'. | Aetora |
| Masiro | The name for the mythic vulture that Soqasari rides across the heavens. Literally means 'Great Wing'. | |
| Inu Katana | The name of the dual goddess of the goblinkin. | Wala-Kofa |
| Wala-kofa | An alternate name of the dual goddess of the goblinkin, but it contains a broader meaning. It literally means the state of being where spirit and body are in harmony. | |
| Inu Katara | The name of the goddess of life half of the divided goddess. Sometimes referred to as 'Wala' which means 'spirit', but that word has a broader meaning. | |
| Inu Natara | The name of the goddess of death half of the divided goddess. Sometimes referred to as 'Kofa' which means 'body', but that word has a broader meaning. | |
The language of Inukatari is flowing and melodic, with a strong rythmic repetition. Questions are indicated by a rising intonation rather than any particular syntax of wording.
Overall the consonant sounds are relatively soft, with use of gentle plosives and breathy frictives across the pallate and glottal areas. The vowels are predominantly long sounds, punctuated by the soft consonants.
Consonants
| p, t, k | gentle plosives, usually short and providing a soft stacatto to the language |
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| ch, x, s/sh, h | Longer frictives, tending to breathy glottal at the back of pallate and throat. |
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| l, r | Both have a genlte trill, with the 'r' rolling subtly |
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| n, m | Smooth nasal sounds |
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| w, y | Short semi-vowels to balance the predominantly longer vowels. |
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Vowels
| a | as in "father" |
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| e | as in "bed" |
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| i | as in "machine" |
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| o | as in "thought" |
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| u | as in "boot" |
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Prefixes
| Inu- | Origin, motherhood, nurturing |
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| Ka- | Strength |
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| Kat- | Cycle, turning |
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| Ma- | Great, large, emphasis |
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| Mo- | Stability, foundation, grounding |
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| Mu- | Collective, many, plural |
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| Na- | Negation, opposition, absence, past tense |
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| Naka- | Strong negation, severance |
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| Ote- | Growth |
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| Seru- | Shine, emit light |
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| Ta- | Natural, elemental |
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| Tama- | Potential for growth and change |
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| Ti- | Immediacy, future tense |
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| To- | Individual action, change or purpose |
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| Tu- | Collective action, change or purpose |
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| Tum- | Of the sea |
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| Tura- | Of the ancestors |
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Suffixes
| -ka | plural |
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| -ma | Continuity |
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| -mu | Belonging to a collective |
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| -na | Intensity |
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| -oth | Place, origin |
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| -ra | Intrisic quality, completed tense |
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| -ri | Embodying a role |
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| -ru | Moving or transitioning |
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| -ta | Having a nurturing or mystical quality |
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| -to | Performing an action |
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| -tu | Collective plural, ongoing tense |
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| -uk | Lessened, smaller |
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| -ura | Connected to an abstract concept |
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Ilu Xuritaru taka noka haka katuma katruma.
Ilu haka miru Tura, taka ilu haka taruma,
ra ilu haka hatuma taka inutari.
Translation:
The spirit-guide hold the knowledge of our endless renewal.
They commune with our ancestors, guide us with wisdom
and are the guardians of truth.
Verbs
| Fataka | To eat |
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| Furi | To hunt |
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| Hata | To be |
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| Kalima | To live |
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| Kata | To grasp, take |
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| Katari | to speak |
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| Katori | To celebrate |
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| Maka | To make/create |
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| Makatari | To shout/command |
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| Maru | To grow |
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| Miratu | To see |
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| Nakatri | To beseach, plead |
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| Natari | To descend, fall, become lost |
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| Noka | To know |
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| Raka | to drink |
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| Rakuna | To work |
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| Ritu | To hear |
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| Seraka | To construct, build |
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| Seru | To shine |
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| Taraku | To sow |
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| Tarari | To give |
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| Tari | To harvest/gather |
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| Taruma | To guide |
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| Tatu | To fly |
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| Tokaru | to transform/change |
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| Tumari | To sail, navigate |
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| Tuwatu | To drift, float |
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| Yaratu | To travel to a destination |
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The subject of the verb (I, he, she, we, you, they) does not change the form.
Tenses
| Past | Na- | eg: Nakata (took) |
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| Future | Ti- | eg: Tikata (will take) |
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| Ongoing | -tu | eg: Katatu (taking) |
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| Completed | -ra | eg: Katara (taken) |
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Articles and conjunctions
| Haka | With |
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| Haru | Or |
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| Ika | A / An |
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| Ka | The |
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| Kailu | This |
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| Kala | That |
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| Na | But |
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| Ra | And |
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| Sa | If |
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| Tiru | Since/therefore/because |
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Relationship terms
| Ilu | We, us |
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| Qa | I / me |
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| Tiqa | You |
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| Titari | Friend |
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| Makri | Clan leader |
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| Nalu | They / them |
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| Naluna | Stranger(s) |
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| Nakaluna | Enemy |
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| Inu | Mother(s) / parent(s) |
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| Inuk | Child |
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| Tinuk | Sibling(s) |
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| Tumatara | Elder |
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| Tura | Ancestor(s) |
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| Turama | Clan |
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| Xuri | Ghost |
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Cultural terms
| Fata | Food |
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| Furi | Hunt |
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| Hota | Home, dwelling |
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| Hotumaru | Boat, ship |
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| Katari | Entertainment |
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| Matari | Singer |
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| Mocta | Ceremony |
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| Paku | Farmer |
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| Raku | Tool |
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| Taka | Garment, clothing |
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| Tura | Master, expertise |
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| Soktu | Hunting trap |
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| Tamamaru | Seed |
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| Tamari | Port |
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| Tatri | Song, prayer |
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| Tofurito | Hunter |
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Ilu nakaluna natuma haka uta.
Ilu taka natari haka miru.
Translation:
Our enemies have no honor.
We will defeat them in the end.
Animals and plants
| Fata | Food |
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| Furikanta | Wild animal |
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| Fata | Food |
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| Furina | Prey |
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| Furito | Predator |
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| Hira | Feather |
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| Kanta | Animal |
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| Fina | Fruit |
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| Loka | Leaf |
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| Maka | Bird |
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| Makasaruka | Giant vulture |
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| Siroka | Wings |
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| Teki | Tree |
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| Toka | Fish |
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| Tumatka | Coral |
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| Xari | Root |
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Natural elements
| Atu | Water |
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| Atunu | Cloud |
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| Aturiha | Rain |
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| Katuma | Deep sea |
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| Kota | Rock |
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| Kotamira | Glass |
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| Kuranaku | Distance between |
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| Motara | Valley |
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| Motuka | Mountain |
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| Naku | Island |
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| Saru | Swift, agile |
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| Taka | Fire |
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| Tata | Sky |
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| Tatataka | Lightning |
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| Teru | Wind, gentle |
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| Tokara | Wind, strong |
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| Tokaruma | Storm |
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| Tuma | Ocean, water |
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| Tumaru | River |
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| Tumoth | Coastal region |
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| Wakayaru | Gyre, whirlpool |
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Sa tokara taka inu.
Translation:
May the wind lift you (common goodbye among the Tokari).
Abstract concepts
| Hatuma | Truth |
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| Inaka | Like |
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| Kataka | Central / core |
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| Kura | Absence, emptiness |
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| Kurayara | Lost (spritually, metphysically) |
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| Lama | Healing |
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| Lutana | Permission |
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| Miranataka | Remember (see the past) |
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| Miratikata | Predict (see the future) |
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| Miratu | Transparent, see truth |
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| Nainaka | Dislike |
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| Nakatura | Defeat |
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| Nayaratu | Lost (physically, as in when journeying) |
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| Nataka | The past |
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| Natuma | Lie, falsehood |
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| Tari | Trust, bond |
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| Tikata | The future |
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| Uta | Honour |
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| Waka | Flow |
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| Xilo | Lost, as in forgotten |
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| Yara | Path, journey |
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Cosmology and religion
| Kalima | Life |
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| Katru | Rebirth |
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| Katrumoth | Sacred place |
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| Katuma | Magic |
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| Katura | Deep time, mythological |
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| Kofa | Body, physical essence of self |
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| Makuma | Ocean (spiritual) |
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| Matata | Sky (spiritual) |
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| Miru | Night |
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| Motuma | The world |
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| Nata | Death |
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| Natu | Tide |
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| Soqa | Moon |
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| Takama | Sun |
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| Tasura | Star |
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| Wala | Spirit (spiritual essence of self) |
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Unless otherwise stated, all content and maps have been created by and are copyright to the world author, Ononomad (Tim Day).
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Midjourney
It's a little clunky grammatically, but it works especially if trying to translate from a language that doesn't have a Latin to to one that does. But! I do have to really admire something, the translation from Inu Katana meaning her own name, to Inu Katara meaning life is subtle but gives SOOOOOO much breath to the ideology in the culture! If she is life, and renewal, then it makes so much sense that their language would reflect that!
Its been a fun tool to play with for those reasons for sure, and to think about the types of words and meaning the goblins would hold important. Some less-advanced experiments i've done have been playing around with mimicking evolution of languages through separation over time, and then new languages/cultures influencing - like what happens when 2+ generations of goblins have been experiencing invasion and displacement... and the cultural shifts that have occured as a result in both directions. The AI can get very confused when doing that, so I'm trying them one at a time for now. Also, lots of time spent nudging and cajoling the AI... it does tend to get a bit forgetful and repetitive, which is where I think the gramma clunkiness comes from, at least in part. Pretty happy as an experiment for naming things at least.
Check out Shadowfire
You know that's a very good point! I had been playing with the steady degradation of the goblins language being kept away from it's actual root for so long, so I wanted their language to reflect that. But!, I like the idea that you are playing with changing dialects over time. It's very thoughtful of you. Does the AI try to keep starting from the beginning or does it pick up where it left off at all?
I've had the same chat with the AI going now for a couple of months, and it remembers a fair bit (like way more than i thought it would)... but i definitely have to keep reminding it when it makes mistakes or re-appropriates words, so i've got a spearate reference docs going and keep checking, tweaking, cajoling. Would be cool to see how you're approaching the language element. Have you got anything on your world? I don't have a background in conlanging at all, so probably making some fundamental mistakes. it does seem to be a bit repetitive or limited in its sounds, but that could have been me as much as anything else.
Check out Shadowfire
You really have been working on this for a while! It's surprising how much that can remember, was it hard to get it going? How have you been approaching the structure of it all? I haven't gotten that far with it yet, only how it sounds to those that don't speak it. As a stand alone article no, I'm starting with names of things rather than fundamentals of languages. I've talked about it a bit in the main story, how the world perceives it. Their language is written in basic rune shapes similar Celtic Runes, and are the same runes used in quite a few magic systems in the world. But much of it has been lost and is (conveniently for me) being rediscovered. Much of it phonetical, I'm trying to keep a few base things consistent, but I don't have a background in linguistics either lol. So the few examples I have is a word called Iber'vhing roughly means meditation. Broken apart Iber meaning Quiet, Vhing meaning stillness. That word over time has being Ibering which just means meditation and has no broken down version. Much of what I have written about their language is peppered throughout the world, more as an reward for people who read a lot of the content.