Christine feehan - Dark Slayer 20

Note: As mentioned earlier, vowels often get inserted between the word and its suffix so as to prevent too many consonants from appearing in a row (which would produce unpronounceable words). For example, in the table on the previous page, all nouns that end in a consonant are followed by suffixes beginning with «a.»

Verb conjugation. Like its modern descendents (such as Finnish and Hungarian), Carpathian has many verb tenses, far too many to describe here. We will just focus on the conjugation of the present tense. Again, we will place contemporary Hungarian side by side with the Carpathian, because of the marked similarity of the two.

As with the possessive case for nouns, the conjugation of verbs is done by adding a suffix onto the verb stem:

As with all languages, there are many «irregular verbs» in Carpathian that don't exactly fit this pattern. But the above table is still a useful guideline for most verbs.

3. EXAMPLES OF THE CARPATHIAN LANGUAGE

Here are some brief examples of conversational Carpathian, used in the Dark books. We include the literal translation in square brackets. It is interestingly different from the most appropriate English translation.

Susu. I am home.

Moert? What-for?

csitri little one

ainaak enyem forever mine

ainaak sivamet jutta forever mine (another form) note 4

sivamet my love note 5

Tet vigyazam. I love you. note 6

Sarna Rituaali (The Ritual Words) is a longer example, and an example of chanted rather than conversational Carpathian. Note the recurring use of «andam» («I give»), to give the chant musicality and force through repetition.

Sarna Rituaali (The Ritual Words)

Te avio palafertiilam. You are my lifemate.

Entolam kuulua, avio palafertiilam. I claim you as my lifemate.

Ted kuuluak, kacad, kojed. I belong to you.

Elidamet andam. I offer my life for you.

Pesamet andam. I give you my protection.

Uskolfertiilamet andam. I give you my allegiance.

Sivamet andam. I give you my heart.

Sielamet andam. I give you my soul.

Ainamet andam. I give you my body.

Sivamet kuuluak kaik etta a ted. I take into my keeping the same that is yours.

Ainaak olenszal sivambin. Your life will be cherished by me for all my time.

Te elidet ainaak pide minan. Your life will be placed above my own for all time.

Te avio palafertiilam. You are my lifemate.

Ainaak sivamet jutta oleny. You are bound to me for all eternity.

Ainaak terad vigyazak. You are always in my care.

To hear these words pronounced (and for more about Carpathian pronunciation altogether), please visit: http://www.christinefeehan.com/members/.

Sarna Kontakawk (The Warriors' Chant) is another longer example of the Carpathian language. The warriors' council takes place deep beneath the earth in a chamber of crystals with magma far below that, so the steam is natural and the wisdom of their ancestors is clear and focused. This is a sacred place where they bloodswear to their prince and people and affirm their code of honor as warriors and brothers. It is also where battle strategies are born and all dissension is discussed as well as any concerns the warriors have that they wish to bring to the Council and open for discussion.

Sarna Kontakawk (The Warriors' Chant)

Veri isaakank-veri ekaakank. Blood of our fathers-blood of our brothers.

Veri olen elid. Blood is life.

Andak veri-elidet Karpatiiakank, es wake-sarna ku meke arwa-arvo, irgalom, han ku agba, es wake kutni, ku manaak verival. We offer that life to our people with a bloodsworn vow of honor, mercy, integrity and endurance.

Verink sokta; verink ka?a terad. Our blood mingles and calls to you.

Akasz enak ku ka?a es juttasz kuntatak it. Heed our summons and join with us now.

To hear these words pronounced (and for more about Carpathian pronunciation altogether), please visit: http://www.christinefeehan.com/members/.

See Appendix 1 for Carpathian healing chants, including the Kepa Sarna Pus (The Lesser Healing Chant), the En Sarna Pus (The Great Healing Chant), the Odam-Sarna Kondak (Lullaby) and the Sarna Pusm O Mayet (Song to Heal the Earth).

4. A MUCH-ABRIDGED CARPATHIAN DICTIONARY

This very much abridged Carpathian dictionary contains most of the Carpathian words used in these Dark books. Of course, a full Carpathian dictionary would be as large as the usual dictionary for an entire language (typically more than a hundred thousand words).

Note: The Carpathian nouns and verbs below are word stems. They generally do not appear in their isolated, «stem» form, as below. Instead, they usually appear with suffixes (e.g., «andam»-«I give,» rather than just the root, «and»).

agba-to be seemly or proper.

ai-oh.

aina-body.

ainaak-forever.

ak-suffix added after a noun ending in a consonant to make it plural.

aka-to give heed; to hearken; to listen.

akarat-mind; will.

al-to bless; to attach to.

alatt-through.

aldyn-under; underneath.

al?-to lift; to raise.

alte-to bless; to curse.

and-to give.

andasz entolem irgalomet!-have mercy!

arvo-value (noun).

arwa-praise (noun).

arwa-arvo-honor (noun).

arwa-arvo olen g?idnod, ekam-honor guide you, my brother (greeting).

arwa-arvo olen isanta, ekam-honor keep you, my brother (greeting).

arwa-arvo pile sivadet-may honor light your heart (greeting).

arwa-arvod mane me kodak-may your honor hold back the dark (greeting).

asti-until.

avaa-to open.

avio-wedded.

avio palafertiil-lifemate.

belso-within; inside.

bur-good; well.

bur tule ekamet kuntamak-well met brother-kin (greeting).

ca?a-to flee; to run; to escape.

coro-to flow; to run like rain.

csecsemo-baby (noun).

csitri-little one (female).

diutal-triumph; victory.

eci-to fall.

ek-suffix added after a noun ending in a consonant to make it plural.

eka-brother.

ela-to live.

elasz arwa-arvoval-may you live with honor, live nobly (greeting).

elasz jelabam ainaak-long may you live in the light (greeting).

elava-alive.

elava ainak majaknak-land of the living.

elid-life.

ema-mother (noun).

Ema Ma?e-Mother Nature.

en-I.

en-great, many, big.

en jutta felet es ekamet-I greet a friend and brother (greeting).

En Puwe-The Great Tree. Related to the legends of Ygddrasil, the axis mundi, Mount Meru, heaven and hell, etc.

engem-me.

es-and.

etta-that.

faz-to feel cold or chilly.

fel-fellow, friend.

fel ku kuuluaak sivam belso-beloved.

fel ku vigyazak-dear one.

feldolgaz-prepare.

fertiil-fertile one.

fesztelen-airy.

fu-herbs; grass.

g?idno-road, way.

gond-care; worry; love (noun).

han-he; she; it.

han agba-it is so.

han ku-prefix: one who; that which.

han ku agba-truth.

han ku kaswa o numamet-sky-owner.

han ku kuulua sivamet-keeper of my heart.

han ku meke piramet-defender.

han ku pesa-protector.

han ku saa kuc3aket-star-reacher.

han ku tappa-deadly.

han ku tuulmahl elidet-vampire (literally: life-stealer).

han ku vie elidet-vampire (literally: thief of life).

han ku vigyaz sielamet-keeper of my soul.

han ku vigyaz sivamet es sielamet-keeper of my heart and soul.

hany-clod; lump of earth.

hisz-to believe; to trust.

ida-east.

igazag-justice.

irgalom-compassion; pity; mercy.

isa-father (noun).

isanta-master of the house.

it-now.

jalleen-again.

jama-to be sick, wounded or dying; to be near death.