Ancient language
From SGCommand
Ancient is the name given to the language spoken and written by the Alterans and their descendants, the Ancients and the Ori. The language is fairly similar to Latin spoken on Earth. Unlike in English and Latin, there are not separate letters for “F” and “U,” both are represented by the same symbol.
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[edit] Speakers
Several people at Stargate Command were successful in understanding written and spoken Ancient. Daniel Jackson was the one who unlocked the mysteries in that language, so that more could learn it. Other people who are fluent in the language or at least understand it at a reasonable level are Jonas Quinn, Rodney McKay, Elizabeth Weir, Samantha Carter, and an unnamed Air Force Linguist. (SG1: "The Fifth Race", "Full Circle", "Avalon, Part 1") (ATL: "Hide and Seek", "The Gift")
Also, at two occasions, Jack O'Neill was able to speak it, after getting huge amounts of information from the Ancients' Repository of Knowledge, but the Asgard were forced to erase it from his memory, and he never retained any knowledge. (SG1: "The Fifth Race", "Lost City", "New Order") Jack O'Neill and Teal'c may understand some Ancient as they were forced to learn and memorize it when they were stuck in an 8 hour time-loop for several months. (SG1: "Window of Opportunity")
Daniel Jackson further expanded his knowledge of the Ancient language when he ascended (SG1: "Fallen").
To protect his computer systems, Anubis used elaborate ciphers coded in the oldest known Ancient dialect. Despite the Goa'uld's long known history of acquiring Ancient relics, the Tok'ra were unable to translate them. (SG1: "Fallen", "Prototype")
Some of the Athosians have displayed knowledge of Ancient, and some give prayers in Ancient (ATL: "Hide and Seek")
The Wraith language is derived from Ancient. (ATL: "The Gift")
Words upside down can have different meanings. (SG1: "Reckoning, Part 2")
[edit] Words
| Latin | Ancient | Pronunciation | English | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adventus | Adventus | Ad-ven-tus | Approaching, coming | Window of Opportunity |
| Altera | Alteras | Al-ter-as | Alterans, (The) Others | Avalon |
| Amici | Amacuse | Am-a-cu-se | Friends | Lost City, Part 2 |
| Antiqui | Anquietas | An-qwee-e-tas | Ancients | The Fifth Race |
| Arcarum Veritas | Armeria Verimas | Ar-me-ri-a Ve-ri-mas | Ark of Truth | Stargate: The Ark of Truth |
| Adservio | Asordo | A-sor-do | Help | The Fifth Race |
| Astrum Porta | Astria Porta | As-tri-a por-ta | Stargate | Avalon |
| Atlantis | Atlantus | At-lan-tus | Atlantis | Lost City, Part 2 |
| Ave, Vale | Aveo | A-ve-o | Goodbye, Farewell | Lost City, Part 2 |
| Clavis | Clavia | Cla-vi-a | Key | The Quest, Part 1 |
| Clementia | Clementia | Kleh-men-ti-ah | Mercy | Stargate: The Ark of Truth |
| Colonia | Colonian | Co-lo-ni-an | Colony | Window of Opportunity |
| Commodo | Comdo | Com-do | Please | The Fifth Race |
| Contagio | Contagia | Con-ta-gi-a | Disease, contagion | The Quest, Part 1 |
| Cruris | Cozars | Ko-zars | Legs | The Fifth Race |
| Curvus | Cruvis | Krew-vis | Wrong | The Fifth Race |
| Deductus | Deductavum | De-duc-ta-vum | (To have been) Taken away | Window of Opportunity |
| Demens | Derentis | De-ren-tis | Crazy, Insane | Lost City, Part 1 |
| Desiderare | Deserde | De-ser-de | Desire, Seek, Wish | The Fifth Race |
| Deus[1] | Ori | Or-i | Ori, gods | Avalon |
| Discere | Disce | Dis-ke | To learn | Flesh and Blood |
| Dominus | Domiwaitus | Doh-mi-wa-tos | Master | Window of Opportunity |
| Dormire | Dormata | Dor-ma-ta | Sleep | Lost City, Part 2 |
| Egeo | Indeo | In-de-ow | (I) Need | The Fifth Race |
| Ego | Ego | E-go | I | The Fifth Race |
| Aeternus | Etere | E-te-re | Eternal | Hide and Seek |
| Eu | Euge | Ee-u-jee | Good | The Fifth Race |
| Facultas | Fallatus | Fal-lat-us | Ability | The Fifth Race |
| Finitus (est) | Fargit | Far-git | (To be) Finished, done | The Fifth Race |
| Fron | Fron | Fron | (Fore)head | The Fifth Race |
| Glacies | Glaciuse | Glac-ee-u-se | Ice | Lost City, Part 2 |
| Hic | Hic | Hic | Place, Here | The Fifth Race |
| Illac | Illac | Il-lac | Path, Way | Talion |
| Incursio | Incursis | In-kur-sis | Attack, invasion | Echoes |
| Infinitus | Infinitas | In-fin-i-tas | Infinite | Memento Mori |
| Lateo | Lacun | La-kun | Lost, hidden | Fallen |
| Locus | Locas | Lo-cas | Location | The Fifth Race |
| Lumen | Lume | Lu-me | Light | Hide and Seek |
| Merlinus | Moros | Mor-os | Merlin | The Pegasus Project |
| Novus | Navo | Na-vo | New | The Fifth Race |
| Necesse | Netario | Ne-ta-rio | Necessary | Avalon |
| Nos | Nou | Noo | We | The Fifth Race |
| Omnis | Omnes | Om-nes | All | Flesh and Blood |
| Patri | Pare | Pa-re | Fathers | Hide and Seek |
| Perditus Ignis | ProclarushTaonas | Proc-lar-ush Ta-on-as | Lost in Fire | Lost City, Part 2 |
| Putare | Puta | Pu-ta | Believe, Think | Avalon |
| Regnum | Renin | Ren-in | Kingdom | Talion |
| Sanctus | Sanctus | Sanc-tus | Hallowed, sacred | Beachhead |
| Ita Vero | Etium | E-ti-um | Yes | The Fifth Race |
| Sol | Sua | Su-ah | Sun | Window of Opportunity |
| Sub | Subo | Su-bo | Under, Below | Lost City, Part 2 |
| Sumus | Ani | A-nee | To be | The Fifth Race |
| Tempus | Tempus | Tem-pus | Time | Window of Opportunity |
| Templum | Tempo | Tem-po | Temple | Hide and Seek |
| Terra | Terra | Ter-rah | Earth | Lost City, Part 2 |
| Thesaurus | Thessara | The-sar-a | Treasure | Memento Mori |
| Universus | Avernakis | A-ver-na-kis | Universe | The Fourth Horseman, Part 2 |
| unus, una, unum | uno | u-no | one | Flesh and Blood |
| Ventus | Ventio | Ven-tee-oh | Wind | The Quest, Part 1 |
| Veritas | Verimas | Ve-ri-mas | Truth | Stargate: The Ark of Truth |
| Via Lactea | Avalon | A-va-lon | Milky Way | Avalon |
| Videmur[2] | Videum | Vi-de-um | Legacy | The Fifth Race |
| Vis Urban | Vis Uban | Vis Or-ban | Place of Great Power | Fallen |
[edit] Phrases and Sentences
| Ancient | English | Episode |
|---|---|---|
| Aveo, Amacuse. | Goodbye/Farewell, my friends. | Lost City, Part 2 |
| Clava thessara infinitas | Key to infinite treasure | Memento Mori |
| Domiwaitus westul motobilum | Master of the uncertain past | Window of Opportunity |
| Comdo asordo. | Please help. | The Fifth Race |
| Ego deserdi asordo. | I seek/desire help. | The Fifth Race |
| Ego indeo navo locas. | I need a new location. | The Fifth Race |
| Ex uno disce omnes. | From one, all will learn. | Flesh and Blood |
| Hic qua videum. | The place of our legacy.[3] | The Fifth Race |
| Illac Renin | Kingdom of the Path | Talion |
| Mia clementia, denar esto | Have mercy. I was blind, but now I see. | Stargate: The Ark of Truth |
| Nou ani Anquietas. | We are the Ancients. | The Fifth Race |
| On na matta netario. | This is really unnecessary. | Avalon, Part 1 |
| Pare lume tempo eteri | Fathers of light of the everlasting temple | Hide and Seek |
| Sanctus Ori | Hallowed are the Ori | Beachhead |
| Tua puta ego. | I believe you. | Avalon, Part 1 |
[edit] References
- ↑ Not a direct translation.
- ↑ Videum: Not a direct translation. Videmur is Latin for we are seen, we are understood, we are recognized, referring to the passing-on method of the Ancients' Repository of Knowledge. The German word for Knowledge, Wissen, is derived from the same root: the Proto-Indo-European word *wid- meaning to see, or metaphorically to know.
- ↑ Dr Jackson offered a less likely translation "A piece of our leg", but this was disregarded due to the former translation fitting more accurately given the context.
