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JRRT

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  1. JRRT
    [There has been some recent interest in my
    very old, very outdated Matoran Dictionary as of late; due, I think, to the discussions in this very interesting topic. Well, interest breeds motivation, and I've worked up the motivation to work out some significant revisions to the Dictionary, bringing it up-to-date with my most recent conceptions of Matoran etymology, as discussed at length in the "Meaningless Names" series. So enjoy this "Second Edition", if you will.]






    [update 8/6:
    It is finished. Rejoice! I have split the completed dictionary into a series of Volumes, due to the fact that our silly blog software cannot handle formatting at this level of intensity. Stay tuned.]






    A Matoran Dictionary



    2nd Edition




    Original materials compiled by the Scholar Ihu, 80m., Ko-Metru, Metru Nui. This dictionary is organized according to the order of the first letter of the Matoran word, in the sequence in which these letters appear in the General Alphabet of the Matoran ( through ). Each entry provides a description of the basic meaning(s) of the word and parts of speech, followed by an explanation of the word’s usage, etymological history, form, and development. Words whose etymologies are uncertain are labeled as such.







    † Entries marked with this symbol are entirely “non-canon”, i.e., they are reconstructed from authentic lexical elements but are not themselves attested in any Matoran source document. These entries are solely the fabrications of the human writing under the alias “Tolkien” and should be denoted as such in academic references.


     

    VOLUME I :: A-D


     
    -A-
     
    aft |n.cmpd.| bright mind [aft < av-et, from av “elemental light” (variant of avo, see entry) and et, a heavily reduced form of atu “mind/will”]
    agi-ya |v.| to wash over, immerse [From the modified verbal stem agi “elemental water; washing, immersion” (see entry ga) and the verbal particle ya]
    agni |n.| guard, soldier; lit. “great bravery” [agni < aki-nī, from aki “courage, bravery; aptitude, capability” and nī, a reduction of nui “great, significant”]
    ahkmou |adj.| 1. fitting, proper; lit. “according to measure”; 2. subversive, dishonest; lit. “through deception/trickery” [ahkmou < a-hiki-mou, from hiki (multiple meanings, see entries hiki¹, hiki²) and the split-particle -amu (a...mou) “through, by (transitional-instrumental)”]
    ai |pro.| he/she/it [3rd pers. sg., subject form - FD: LM#7]†
    ai-nā |pro.| they [3rd pers. pl., subject form - FD: LM#7]†
    aiye |vn.| collecting, assembling, gathering up [aiye < a-yi-i, from the verbal complex yi-ya “to collect, gather, bring together” (see entry) with splitting+displacement of the verbal particle ya. Variant forms: ayi, ai, ī]
    aiyeto |n.cmpd.| assembly, construction [aiyeto < aiye-et-ō, from aiye “collecting, assembling, gathering up”, et, a heavily reduced form of atu “mind, will” (see entry), and the nounal particle ō]
    aiyetoro |n.cmpd.| assembly-line, construction process [aiyetoro < aiyeto-ro, from aiyeto “assembly, construction” and ro “line, edge” (variant of rho, see entry)]
    aju |adj./n.| intelligent; intelligence [aju < atu-zu, from atu “mind, will” and zu “tactical”]
    -ak |p.| intensive particle
    aka(i) |vn.| power, empowerment, ability; lit. “energizing, empowering, actualizing/activating [akai > a-ka-i, from the verbal complex ka-ya with splitting+displacement of the verbal particle]
    akaku |n.| x-ray vision; lit. “sight-of-sight” [akaku < aku-aku, from an intensivizing reduplication of aku “sight, vision”]
    akamai¹ |n.cmpd.| mastery of courage/bravery [akamai < aki-amayi, from aki “courage, bravery” and amayi “adeptness, flexibility, mastery”]
    akamai² |n.cmpd.| unified mastery of power [akamai < akai-mayi, from akai “power, empowerment, ability” (see entry) and the stem-compound ma-yi “unified-mastery”]
    akamu |adv.| skillfully; lit. “through skill” [akamu < aka-amu, an adverb grammaticalized from the nounal complex aka-amu, from aka(i) “power, empowerment, ability” and the particle -amu “through, by (transitional-instrumental)”]
    akari |vn.| exertion, resistance; lit. “exerting, applying power” [akari < a-kar-i, from the verbal complex kar-ya with splitting+displacement of the verbal particle]
    akataiku |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi) lit. “empowerment of heat-vision” [akataiku < aka-taiaku, from akai “power, empowerment, ability” and taiaku “heat-vision”. Variant forms: akataku, akatāku, akataiaku - FD: NM]†
    akawi |vn.| flying, soaring, moving freely [akawi < a-kau-i, from the verbal complex kau-ya, with splitting+displacement of the verbal particle ya]
    aki |n.| courage, bravery; aptitude, capability; (honorific) leader, lord [aki < akai-ī, from akai “power, empowerment, ability” and the nounal particle ī, with slight metaphoric semantic shift]
    akili |n.| athletic-skill, skillfulness, adeptness [akili < aki-li-ī, from aki “courage, bravery; aptitude, capability”, the primeval modifying particle li and the nounal particle ī]
    akilini |n.| great athletic-skill [akilini < akili-nī, from akili “athletic-skill, skillfulness, adeptness” and the particle nī, a reduction of nui “great, significant”. Used as a term for a highly competitive and skill-intensive Matoran sport]
    aku |n.| sight, vision [etymology uncertain; possibly from a primeval verbal stem akoi, derived from ko “elemental ice; clarity, focus” via verbal modification, i.e., addition of the verbal particle ya, with splitting+displacement (ko-ya > a-ko-i > akoi > aku)]
    akuavo |n.| sun, star; title of one of the twin suns of Metru Nui [Originates as a conjunction of the ancient elemental stem avo "light" and the term aku "sight, vision". The word's usage as a title for one of the twin suns in the city of Metru Nui is probably historically based upon the fact that vision is given through light (as in the light of the eyes of the Matoran), and more colloquially upon the idea that the twin suns somehow represent the "eyes of Mata Nui", an idea which is afforded little credence by the educated community]†
    akuhi |n.| eye(s); lit. “sight-things” [akuhi < aku-hī, from aku "sight, vision" and the particle hī "thing, object, place"]†
    akuta |n.| knowledge [akuta < aku-tau, from aku “sight, vision” and the u-modified elemental stem tau “elemental fire; spirit/essence, result of process”]
    aku-ya |v.| to know [From aku “sight, vision” and the verbal particle ya]†
    ally |vn.| excellence, kindness, good-naturedness; lit. “being good/excellent” [ally < a-la-i, from the verbal complex la-ya “to be good/kind” with splitting+displacement of the verbal particle ya. Variant form: alai]
    amahti |n.| hand, grip; lit. "thing that holds, grips" [amahti < amat-hī, from the stem amat "use, hold, utilize" and the particle hī "thing, object, place". Variant form: amahi]†
    amaja |n.| council; lit. “using/expounding strategy” [amaja < amat-za, from amat "use, hold, utilize" and the stem za “planning, tactic”]
    amaki |n.| finger; lit. "part of hand/grip" [amaki < amat-kī, from the stem amat "use, hold, utilize" and the particle kī "part, piece, portion of". Variant form: amatki]†
    amana |n.| (re)forming, (re)making; (Kanohi-) healing [etymology uncertain; - FD: NM]
    amat |v./stm.| use, hold, utilize [etymology uncertain; possibly amat < a-mat-i via verbal modification, i.e., addition of the verbal particle ya, with splitting+displacement]
    amaya |n.| lit. “jack of all trades” [amaya < amayi-ha, an independent lexicalization of the nounal complex amayi-ha, from amayi “adeptness, flexibility; lit ‘unified mastering’” and the particle ha “from, out of (origin)”]
    amayi |vn.| adeptness, flexibility, mastery; lit. “unified mastering” [amayi < a-mayi-i, from the verbal complex mayi-ya “to accomplish, achieve; lit. ‘master (a) unified whole’”]
    -amu |p.| through, during (transitional-instrumental) [Variant forms: o(u)...ma, a...mou, o...m/n (splitting+displacement) - FD: LM#8]†
    ān |n.| being, individual [Variant form: -ann (Skakdi variant)]
    ana |n.| group, host; many beings [ana < ān-nā, from ān “being, individual” and the plural particle nā]
    anae |vn.| proliferation, multiplying [anae < a-nai-i, from the verbal complex nai-ya “to multiply, proliferate” with splitting+displacement of the verbal particle ya]
    antai |vn.| enlightenment [antai < a-nita-i, from the verbal complex nita-ya “to uplift, enlighten” with splitting+displacement of the verbal particle ya]
    antro |n.| administration, rule; lit. “guidance of beings” [antro < ān-trē-ō, from ān “being, individual”, trē (< tēr) “guide, guiding force”, and the nounal particle ō]
    antroz |n.cmpd.| tyrant; lit. “violent ruler” [antroz < antro-azi, from antro “administration, rule” and azi (variant of zī, see entry) “violence, predatory”]
    aodhan |n.| traveler [aodhan < aodhi-ān, from aodhi “travel (on foot)” (variant of aoduhi, see entry) and ān “being, individual”]
    aoduhi |vn.| travel (on foot) [aoduhi < a-oduh-i, from the verbal complex oduh-ya “to walk, travel on foot” (see entry) with splitting+displacement of the verbal particle ya. Variant forms: aduhi, aodhi]
    arktinen |n.cmpd.| glacier-climber [arktinen < ari-kotini-ān, from ari “striving, struggling; climbing” (variant of rī, see entry), kotini “glacier”, and ān “being, individual”]
    arta |n.| bondage, hindrance, limitation; (a) prison; lit. against-the-spirit” [arta < ār-ta, from the particle ār “applied, application (of)” (with later semantic shift to “(applied) against, resistance, hindering”) and ta “elemental fire; spirit, being, essence” - FD: MN#6]
    artakha¹ |n.| (archaic) forger, crafter [artakha < ar-takha-a, from the split-particle ār (ar...a) “applied, application (of)” and takha “crafting, craft” (see entry) - FD: MN#6]
    artakha² |n.cmpd.| (modern) (a) refuge, safe haven; lit. out-of-bondage [artakha < arta-ha, from arta “bondage, hindrance, limitation” and the particle ha “from, out of (origin particle)” - FD: MN#6]
    arthra |n.| echo, resonance [From a word coinage meant to reflect the sound of an echo via a reversible syllable structure. Variant forms: atra, artra, arthro]
    arthron |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi-) sonar-user; lit. “one who echoes/resonates” [arthron < arthro-ān, from arthro “ech, resonance” (variant of arthra) and ān “being, individual”]
    artidax |n.cmpd.| lit. “bondage/imprisonment-toward-greater-order”; paraphr. “prison to promote greater order” [artidax < arta-īda-ak-si, from arta “bondage, hinderance, limitation; prison” (see entry), the nounal complex ī-da “toward order”, the intensive particle -ak, and the comparative adjectival particle si - FD: MN#6]
    aso |n.| sand [etymology uncertain; possibly from a primeval stem ās with a rough meaning of "shifting/dispersing earth/sand" and the nounal particle ō - FD: MN#2]
    aso-mahri |n.cmpd.| sea-shore, beach [From aso "sand" and mahri "ocean, sea"; also see synonymous entry asoro]†
    asoro |n.| beach; lit. "sand-shore" [asoro < aso-rho, from aso "sand" and rho "line, edge"; also see synonymous entry asomahri]†
    atu |n.| mind, will [etymology uncertain; possibly from a primeval verbal stem atoi, derived from tō “elemental fire; spirit, being, essence” (variant of tā with final ā > ō vowel shift, see entry) via verbal modification, i.e., addition of the verbal particle ya, with splitting+displacement (tō-ya > a-tō-i > atoi > atu). Variant forms: et, at, oth]
    atui |adj.| willful; of the mind [atui < atu-ui, from atu “mind, will” and the adjectival particle ui. Variant forms: atti, atī]
    atu-ma |v.| to want, will [From atu "mind, will" and the verbal particle ma]†
    auhno |n.| mimicry, impersonation; lit. “many imitations” [auhino < auhi-nā, an independent lexicalization of the nounal complex auhi-nā, from auhi “imitation, practice” (variant of auhui, see entry) and the plural particle nā (with final ā > ō vowel shift). Variant form: ōhno]
    auhui |vn.| imitation, practice [auhui < a-uhu-i, from the verbal complex uhu-ya “to practice; imitate” with splitting+displacement of the verbal particle ya. Variant forms: auhi, ōhi]
    avahi |n.| (period of) time [avahi < avai-hī, from avai “time, progression” and hī “thing, object, place”]†
    avai |vn.| progression (of time); lit. “progressing of time” [avai < a-vā-i, from the verbal complex vā-ya, with splitting+displacement of the verbal particle]†
    avak |n./adj.| great brightness; blazing/painfully bright [avak < av-ak, from av “elemental light” (variant of avo, see entry) and the intensive particle -ak]
    avaku |n.| sun, star; title of one of the twin suns of Metru Nui [avaku < avo-aku, from avo "elemental light" and aku "sight, vision"; also see entry akuavo for further discussion of origin and usage]†
    avo |n./stm.| elemental light [avo < āvo, from the primeval elemental stem āvo “elemental light”. Variant form: av]
    avoborui |n.cmpd.| lightvine [avoborui < avo-oborui, from avo “elemental light” and oborui “vine, creeper” (see entry)]†
    avohkah |n.cmpd.| (Rahi-) thing of light and energy [avohkah < avohi-kahi, from the compound avohi “light-thing” and kahi “power/energy-thing”]
    avohkī |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi-) lit. “measurer/measurement of light” [avohkī < avo-hīkī, from avo “elemental light” and hīkī (> hiki) “measurement” (see entry hiki¹)]
    avotai |n.| (a) lit torch [avotai < avo-ta-hī, from avo "elemental light", ta “elemental fire”, and hī “thing, object, place”]†
    avsa |n.| (Kanohi-) hunger for light [avsa < av-sā, from av “elemental light” (variant of avo, see entry) and the primeval stem sā “hungering, devouring, scattering” (related to ās "shifting/dispersing earth/sand", see entry aso)]
    avu |adj.| revealed, (newly) discovered, exposed [avu < avo-u, from avo “elemental light” and the adjectival particle u. Variant form: ava]
    awai |vn.| (Kanohi-) growth; lit. “becoming large, increase” [awai < a-wa-i, from the verbal complex wa-ya, with splitting+displacement of the verbal particle - FD: NM]†
    axalara |n.cmpd.| boundless capability; lit. “more excellent untamed capability” [axalara < axo-la-ra, from axo “greater capability” (see entry), the modifying particle -la “good, excellent”, and ra “wild(ness), untamed”]
    axo |n.| greater capability, valor [axo < aki-si-ō, from aki “brave, courageous, capable” (see entry), the comparative adjectival particle si, and the nounal particle ō. Variant forms: akso]
    axon |n.cmpd.| valorous/capable being [axon < axo-ān, from axo “greater valor” and ān “being, individual”. Variant form: axonn]
    azahi |n.| crime [azahi < azai-hī, from azai “violence” and hī “thing, object, place”]†
    azai |vn.| violence; lit. “attacking” [azai < a-zā-i, from the verbal complex zā-ya, with splitting+displacement of the verbal particle]†
    azibo |n.| pressure, strain; structural stress [azi-bā, from azi (variant of zī) “violence, predatory” and the elemental stem bā “elemental gravity; weight” (with final ā > ō vowel shift)]

    -B-
     
    ba |n./stm.| 1. elemental gravity; 2. weight, consideration, pondering [ba < bā, from the primeval elemental stem bā “elemental gravity”. Variant forms: ba-, bal (l-modification), bō (ā > ō / __#)]
    bahrag |n.cmpd.| lit. “elder of the followers, vigilant/waiting elders” [bahrag < boh-raga, from boh “vigilance, watchfulness; awaiting, on-standby, ready-to-respond” and raga “elder, wise one” - FD: MN#2]
    balta |n.| pondering spirit [balta < bal-ta, from the l-modified elemental stem bal “elemental gravity; weight, consideration, pondering” and ta “elemental fire; spirit, being, essence”]
    barra |n.| war, conflict; instability, imbalance, chaos [barra < ba-ār-ra, from ba-ār “stability, balance; lit. application-of-gravity” (compound of ba “elemental gravity” and ār “applied, application (of)”) and ra “wild(ness); untamed” - FD: MN#5]
    barraki |n.cmpd.| warlord, military leader [barraki < barra-aki, from barra “war, conflict; instability, imbalance, chaos” and aki “leader, lord” - FD: MN#5]
    bitil |n.cmpd.| attentive/mindful one, one who is aware of surroundings [bitil < bi-til, from the stems bi (< vibi < fi-pi) “subtle creature” and til (< ti-el) “attentive(ness); lit. ‘sense of space’”]
    bo |n./stm.| 1. elemental plant-life; the Green; 2. living, growing, thriving [bo < bō, from the primeval elemental stem bō “elemental plant-life”. Variant forms: bo-, bol (l-modification), boul/bul (u/l-modification)]
    boga |n.| (plant-)sap; blood [boga < bo-ga, from bo “elemental plant-life” and ga “elemental water”. Variant form: bogga]
    boggarak |n.cmpd.| lit. “scourge of sap/blood; dehydrator” [boggarak < bogga-rak, from bogga “(plant-)sap; blood” (variant of boga, see entry) and rak “menace, scourge”]
    boh |stm.| vigilance, watchfulness; awaiting, on-standby, ready-to-respond [etymology uncertain - FD: MN#2]
    bohi |n.| (a) plant; form of vegetation [bo-hī, from bo ”elemental plant-life” and the particle hī “thing, object, place”]†
    bohrok |n.cmpd.| awaiting commands, vigilant for commands; vigilantly awaiting/following words [bohrok < boh-oro-ak, from boh “vigilance, watchfulness; awaiting, on-standby, ready-to-respond”, oro “word, unit of communication”, and the intensive particle -ak - FD: MN#2]
    boki |n.| leaf; branch [boki < bo-kī, from bo “elemental plant-life” and the particle kī “part, piece, portion; segment”]†
    bolo |n.| fruit [bolo < bol-ō, from the l-modified elemental stem bol “elemental plant-life” and the nounal particle ō]
    bomba |n.cmpd.| trunk, branch, limb of plant [bomba < bo-mī-ba, from bo “elemental plant-life”, mī “up, upward, above” and ba “elemental gravity”, yielding a sense of “plant that rises against gravity”]
    bomo |n.cmpd.| hunter, tracker; lit. “master of vigilance/patience” [bomo < boh-mā, from boh “vigilance, watchfulness” and mā “mastery, control” (variant of ma(t), see entry, with final ā > ō vowel shift)]
    bomonga |n.cmpd.| lone hunter/tracker [bomonga < bomo-nga, from bomo “hunter, tracker” and nga “one; first, lone”]
    bonu |n.| grass [bonu < bo-onu, from bo “elemental plant-life” and onu “elemental earth”]†
    bonu-leru |n.cmpd.| acid-grass [From bonu "grass" and the adjective leru "acidic". A term for the species of acid-grass found in the Northern Continent and in the island of Xia]†
    bordakh |n.cmpd.| lit. “vigilant judge/law-keeper” [bordakh < bor-dahki-ak, from bor (reduction from bohrok, see entry), dahki “judge, law-keeper”, and the intensive particle -ak - FD: MN#3]
    boreas |n.cmpd.| jungle-bird [boreas < bo-reas, from bo “elemental plant-life” and reas “bird; nesting creature” (variant of ris, see entry). Variant form: boris]
    botar |n.cmpd.| overseer, monitor; lit. “vigilant guide” [botar < boh-tar, from boh “vigilance, watchfulness; awaiting, on-standby, ready-to-respond” and the stem tār (< tēr) “guidance; guiding force”]
    bour |n./stm.| wilderness, barrenness [bour < bo-ūru, from bo “elemental plant-life; living, growing, thriving” and ūr(u) “un-, negative, not”. Variant forms: bouru, buuru]
    brakas |n.cmpd.| rahi-monkey; lit. mischievous-kau [brakas < brā-kau-s, from the stem b(e)rā “antagonistic, warlike, rogueish, mischievous”, the onomotapoeic element kau (an imitation of the kau-kau call of the Brakas monkey), and the Rahi-designation affix -s. Variant forms: brākas, brakashi, berakas - FD: MN#5]
    brander |n.cmpd.| mischief-maker, practical-joker; lit. “application-of-cunning-mischief” [brander < brā-nidi-er, from the stem b(e)rā “antagonistic, warlike, rogueish, mischievous”, nidi “cunning, slyness; thievery” and the particle er (< ār) “application of” - FD: MN#5]
    brutaka |n.cmpd.| warlike lesser-spirit of power [brutaka < brautaka < brā-ūta-ka < brā-ukuta-ka, from the stem b(e)rā “antagonistic, warlike, rogueish, mischievous”, uk(u)ta “lesser-spirit, being-of-lesser-rank; (a) kuta-level being”, and ka “power, energy, force, ability” - FD: MN#5]
    bula |n.| good fruit, berry [bula < bol-la, from the u/l-modified elemental stem boul “elemental plant-life” and the modifying particle la “excellent, good”]
     
    -D-
     
    dahki |n.| judge, law-keeper; lit. measurer-of-authority/order [dahki < da-hiki, from da “authority, order” (< za-ta) and hiki¹ “measurement, extent” (see entry). Basically synonymous with the parallel term vahki (see entry)]†
    daikau |adj.| rahi-like, beast-like [daikau < daika-u, from daika (variant of dika²) “rahi, beast” and the adjectival particle u. Applied to a species of carnivorous plant]
    dalu |n.| confidence, self-assuredness; lit. “orderly awareness” [dalu < da-lu, from da “authority, order” (< za-ta) and the u-modified elemental stem leu “elemental air; listening/hearing/speaking”]
    damek |n.| efficient organization [damek < dame-ak, from dame (variant of dami, see entry) “organization, engineering” and the intensive particle -ak]
    dami |n.| organization; engineering; lit. “increasing in order” [dami < da-mī, from the stem da “authority, order” and mī “up, upward, rising”]
    darex |n.cmpd.| high command; highest authority [darex < da-rex, from da “authority, order” and rex “superior command, upper echelon” (variant of orix). Variant form: drex]
    daxia |n.cmpd.| authority/order over planning/schematics [daxia < dā-xia, from dā “authority, order” and xia “planning, schematic, engineering” (variant of zia, see entry)]
    de |n./stm.| elemental sound [de < dē, from the primeval elemental stem dē “elemental sound”. Variant form: de-]
    defilak |n.cmpd.| lit. “very cunning voice” [defilak < dei-fili-ak, from dei (< dehi) “voice, mouth”, fili “subtle, cunning”, and the intensive particle -ak]
    dehi |n.| voice, mouth [From de "elemental sound" and hī “thing, object, place”]†
    deika |n.| note, music [From dei “(physical) noise, sound” (from de “elemental sound” and the nounal particle ī) and ka "(creative) power, energy, force, ability"]†
    dekar |n.cmpd.| distress call, cry of distress; lit. “struggling cry” [dekar < deka-ari, from deka “rahi-noise; cry” (variant of dika¹, see entry) and ari “striving, struggling; climbing” (variant of rī, see entry)]
    de-ma |v.| to make noise/sound [From de "elemental sound" and the verbal particle ma]†
    derui |n.cmpd.| jaw; lit. "joint of mouth" [derui < dehi-rui, from dehi "mouth" and rui "joint". Variant form: dehirui]†
    destral |n.cmpd.| guidance system, charted course; lit. “guided/controlled course” [destral < desi-trali, from desi (< duisi) “course, passage” and trali “guided controlled” (see entries)]
    dezalk |n.cmpd.| warning cry; lit. “voice sensing great danger” [dezalk < dei-zali-ak, from dei (< dehi) “voice, mouth”, zali “foreboding, premonition, sense of danger”, and the intensive particle -ak]
    dika¹ |n.| whistle, tune; rahi-noise, cry [dika < dīka < deika, an independent lexical item derived from older deika “note, music”]
    dika² |n.| rahi, beast [A further lexicalization from dika¹ "whistle, tune; rahi-noise, cry" (see entry), eventually embodying the concept “beast; thing that makes rahi-noises”]
    dikapi |n.| Rahi-bird; lit. “whistling creature” [dikapi < dika-pi, from dika¹ “whistle, tune; rahi-noise, cry” and the particle pi “creature”. Variant form: daikapi]
    dosne |n.cmpd.| vein of rock/earth [dosne < dosi-onew, from dosi “course, passage” (variant of duisi, see entry) and the u-modified elemental stem onew (also onuw) “elemental earth; firm, steadfast; earthy”]
    dui |n.| limb, appendage; extension [dui < du-hī, from the stem du “extension, scope, reach; influence” and the particle hī “thing, object, place”]
    duisi |n.| course, passage [duisi < du-isi, from du “extension” and isi “possible; possibility”. Variant forms: desi, dosi]
    dume |n.| influence, (political) power; lit. “extending (one’s) reach” [dume < du-mē, from du “extension, scope, reach; influence” and mē “up, upward, rising” (variant of mī, see entry)]
     
    ---------------
     
    Key:
    |adj.| - Adjective
    |adj.cmpd.| - Adjective Compound
    |adv.| - Adverb
    |aff.| - Affix
    |n.| - Noun
    |n.cmpd.| - Noun Compound
    |p.| - Particle
    |p.cmpd.| - Particle Compound
    |pro.| - Pronoun
    |stm.| - Stem
    |v.| - Verb
    |vn.| - Verbal Noun
    |vn.cmpd.| Verbal Noun Compound
     
    Some entries are marked with FD “Further Discussion”, followed by a reference to a blog entry containing more explanatory content related to that etymology. The references are as follows:
     
    NM - “Nameless Masks”
    MN#1-X... - “Meaningless Names #1-X...”
    LM#1-X - “Learning Matoran, Lesson 1-X...”
     
  2. JRRT
    Looks like we've reached the end of this three-installment series. Next MN, I'll have to find something else to talk about. Anyways, this final entry focuses on the words in Group 3, as quoted from MN#4:
     
    3) artakha, artidax, teridax, tren krom, pridak, jaller
     
    Group 3:
     
    The distinguishing factor for words in Group 3 is simply the presence of the particle ār in some form or another, making Group 3 the least restrictive of Groups 1-3. Any members of the preceding groups could also be included, since they all contain some form of ār, though usually as a part a stem-compound.
     
    We’ll begin with the most significant (and most complex) etymology, the name Artakha:
     
    artakha, n./n.cmpd. 1. (archaic) “forger, crafter, lit. one-who-applies-craft”; 2. (modern) “(a) refuge, safe haven; lit. out-of-bondage”
     
    The difference between the meanings exhibited by this name/term is not necessarily a sole consequence of any semantic shift, unlike the name/term karzahni from MN#4. It is instead a consequence of a complete reinterpretation of the internal structure of the word, albeit a reinterpretation made on the basis of a semantic shift. We’ll start with the original (now archaic) decomposition of the term:
     
    takha, vn. “crafting, craft”
    ār, p. “applied, application (of); later (applied) against, resistance, hindering” [exhibits “splitting” and “variable placement”: ar. . .a, with displacement of ar before the stem.]
     
    The element takha is a verbal noun derived directly from the verbal complex ta-ha “lit. to make-with-fire; to heat, forge, weld; to craft (smthg.)”. In this instance, the particle ār exhibits “splitting” and “variable placement”, whereby it is separated into two units a and ar, the latter of which is displaced before the stem to which it is applied (takha, in this case). This yields the complex form ar-takha-a, modernized as artakha, “one-who-applies-craft”.
     
    This translation is widely attested at early stages of Matoran records, and was even used as a general term for crafter-Matoran, in addition to its usage as the name of the legendary crafter-spirit Artakha. This translation was, however, eventually supplanted by a reinterpreted formation, putatively motivated by the emergence of a mytho-historical idea that the realm of Artakha was the “Great Refuge”, the place where Matoran went out of “bondage” (“working in darkness”, literally ki arta-krāho “in the bondage of darkness”). The reinterpretation of the internal structure involved the following elements:
     
    arta, n. “bondage, hinderance, limitation; (a) prison; lit. against-the-spirit”
    -ha, p. “from, out of (origin particle)”
     
    The element arta was an independently lexicalized word that emerged after the semantic meaning-shift of the particle ār (“applied, application (of)” > “(applied) against, resistance, hindering”). It consists of a combination of ār and the elemental stem ta, in this case with reference to “spirit”, yielding a rough meaning of “against-the-spirit”, later acquiring the concepts of “bondage, limitation” and “imprisonment”. The origin-particle -ha was then straightforwardly applied to yield the nounal complex arta-ha, modern artakha “out-of-bondage; (a) refuge, safe haven”. This newly-formed term encapsulated the mytho-historical concept of Artakha as both ruler and representation of “The Great Refuge”.
     
    -----
     
    artidax, n.cmpd. “bondage/imprisonment-toward-greater-order; paraphr. (a) prison for the promotion of greater order”
     
    arta, n. “bondage, hinderance, limitation; (a) prison; lit. against-the-spirit”
    ī-, p. “to/toward (endpoint particle)”
    da, stm. “order, authority; execution-of-a-strategy/plan”
    -ak, p. “intensive particle”
    -si, p. “more, -er (comparative adjectival particle)”
     
    The term arta should be familiar from above. In this case, arta is combined with an internally complex element ī-da-ak-si. This consists of the stem da (from earlier zata) with the general meaning of “order, authority”. This stem is combined with the intensive particle -ak and with the comparative adjectival particle -si to yield a complex with the meaning “toward greater order”. When compounded with arta, the meaning of “bondage, hinderance” is added, with the specific meaning of “prison” becoming particularly salient. The meaning of the resulting compound arta-īdāksi > artīdaxi > artidax references the usage of the southern island Artidax as an ancient prison by the Brotherhood of Makuta: a prison intended to keep dangerous experiments confined in order to promote (i.e. as a means to the end of) “greater order”.
     
    -----
     
    teridax, n.cmpd. “guidance-toward-greater-order; guidance-toward-(better)-execution-of-strategy/plan”
     
    tae-ār, stm.cmpd. “application of spirit/leadership/initiative; guidance, direction, (a) guide”
    ī-, p. “to/toward (endpoint particle)”
    da, stm. “order, authority; execution-of-a-strategy/plan”
    -ak, p. “intensive particle”
    -si, p. “more, -er (comparative adjectival particle)”
     
    The stem-compound tae-ār undergoes the same processes of reduction as the other stem-compounds with ār, yielding variants ter-, tar-, tre-, etc. In this case, the compound is combined with an internally complex element ī-da-ak-si. This consists of the stem da (from earlier zata) with the general meaning of “order, authority”, but also with connotations of “execution of a plan or strategy”, deriving from the original meaning of the elements za “strategy, plan” and ta “elemental fire; leadership, initiative, execution”. This stem is combined with the intensive particle -ak and with the comparative adjectival particle -si to yield a complex with the meaning “toward greater/better execution of a plan/strategy”. When compounded with tae-ār, the meaning of “guidance, direction” is added: taeār-īdāksi. “guideance toward greater/better execution of a plan/strategy”, modern reduction taeār-īdāksi > tērīdaxi > teridax.
     
    This meaning is somewhat ironic, given the intended purpose (and ultimate intentions) of the Makuta who bore this designation. The Makuta-teridax was meant to serve as a crucial stand-in for the Great Spirit during the final stages of the Great Beings’ plan (literally a “guide toward the execution of the plan”), but he instead chose to devise his own Plan for seizing control of the Great Spirit’s position, in which case the name-designation teridax still remains applicable: “a guide toward the execution of the (Makuta’s) Plan”.
     
    -----
     
    Tren, n. “(a) guide; lit. (a) guide-being”
    Krom, n.cmpd. “lesser-master; lit. master-within-boundaries” [variant forms kroma, kromata, kiro-mata]
     
    trē, stm. “guidance, guiding force” [from tae-ār via metathesis: taeār > tār > trē]
    -an, aff. “being, person”
     
    -oki, ke/ki-. . .-ō, p. “in/on/at/within (basic locative particle)”
    rhō, stm. “ring, edge, boundary”
    ma(t), stm. “mastery, control”
     
    These two separate titles were applied simultaneously to the mythic being Tren Krom, who is characterized in Matoran mytho-history as a presage of Mata Nui. The first term tren derives transparently from the element trē, a variant of the stem-compound tae-ār, with addition of the affix -an yielding a complex trē-an “guiding-being”, modern form tren. The decomposition of the second term krom is somewhat more complicated. Krom consists of a stem rhō combined with the basic locative particle, resulting in the nounal complex ki-rhō-ō “within (an) edge/boundary”. This complex is then combined with the element ma(t) to form the compound ki-rhō-ō-ma(t) “master-within-(an)-edge/boundary”, eventually reducing ki-rhō-ō-ma > kirhōma > krōma > krom. The status of Tren Krom as a presage or counterpart of Mata Nui is reflected in surviving etymological variants of the Krom motif: kiro-ma, kiro-mata “Mata-within-boundaries; lesser-Mata”.
     
    -----
     
    pridak, n. “great ruler, governor” [variant forms prida’k, prīdak, praizdak, prīzdak, paridak]
     
    praida, prīda, n.cmpd. “governance, rule, strong-authority; lit. applying strength toward order” [variant forms praizda, prīzda, parida]
    -ak, p. “intensive particle”
     
    The element praida/prīda combines straightforwardly with the intensive suffix -ak, yielding the compound praida-ak, prīda-ak with an original meaning of “extremely strong governance”, eventually shifting toward an agentive/honorific meaning “great ruler, governor”.
     
    The term praida/prīda itself originates as a compound of the stem pra (from older par(a) < po-ār) and the lexicalized nounal complex ī-da, consisting of the endpoint particle ī- “to/toward” and the heavily reduced stem da “authority, order” (earlier zda < zata).
     
    -----
     
    jaller, n.cmpd. “excellent strategist/tactician; lit. application-of-good-strategy”
     
    jā, n. “strategy, tactics, planning ahead; strategist, tactician”
    -la, p. “good, excellent (modifying particle)”
    -er, p. “application of ” [modifying particle, derived directly from older ār]
     
    The element jā originally derives from a stem-compound ta-za, roughly meaning “fire/spirit of strategy” (eventually reduced ta-za > tzā > jā). This stem combines with the modifying particle -la to form the compound jā-la “excellent strategy/tactics/planning”, itself an independently lexicalized word. Combination with the particle -er “application of” (from older ār, see MN#4) yields the final complex form jā-la-er > jāler > jaller.
  3. JRRT
    This (rather brief) entry focuses on the words in Group 2, as quoted from the start of the previous entry:
     
    2) barraki, brakas, brutaka, brander
     
    Group 2:
     
    All of the words in Group 2 exhibit an element bar-, b(e)ra-, or some variation thereof. These variants all derive from an ancient compound consisting of the stem kae and the particle ār: kae-ār.
     
    barraki, n.cmpd. “warlord, military leader”
     
    barra, n. “war, conflict; instability, imbalance, chaos”
    aki, n. “leader, lord” [from aka “power, ability, skill” (< kā) plus common nounal particle -ī]
     
    The decomposition of barraki into barra and aki is very straightforward. The element barra originates from a stem-compound consisting of the elemental stem bae “gravity” and the particle ār “applied; application (of)” combined with the ancient stem rā “wild(ness), untamed”: bae-ār-rā. The compound bae-ār denotes the concept “stability, balance; lit. application of gravity”. In combination with rā, this yields a meaning of “imbalance, instability; lit. wildness-of-balance/stability” eventually acquiring the meaning “conflict, war”.
     
    -----
     
    brakas, n.cmpd. “Rahi-monkey; mischievous-kau” [brākas, brakashi, berakas]
     
    b(e)rā, adj. “antagonistic, warlike, rogeuish, mischievous” [from bae-ār via metathesis: baeār > baar > brā]
    -s, aff. “(rahi-)beast, spawn” [affix directly derived from shi “spawn, descendant” with eventual reduction to -s in final position; variants -shi -sh]
     
    The term brakas dissolves into the element b(e)rā (an adjectival derivative of bae-ār) plus the onomotapoeic element kau (an imitation of the kau-kau call of the Brakas monkey) and the Rahi-designation affix -s, yielding the compound brā-kau-s, modern brakas.
     
    -----
     
    brutaka, n.cmpd. “warlike lesser-spirit of power”
     
    b(e)rā, adj. “antagonistic, warlike, rogeuish, mischievous” [from bae-ār via metathesis: baeār > baar > brā]
    uk(u)ta, n. “lesser-spirit, being-of-lesser-rank; (a) kuta-level being”
    ka, n. “power, energy, force, ability”
     
    The element b(e)rā combines straightforwardly with the elements uk(u)ta and ka to form the compound brā-uk(u)ta-ka, eventually reduced brā-ūta-ka > brautaka > brutaka. The ukuta-component of the name signifies a rank within the hierarchy of beings or “spirits” within Matoran cosmology. An ukuta or kuta-spirit was a being of middle-rank (uku “middle, in the middle of” ta “fire, spirit”), above the rank of Matoran and Toa but below the rank of Mata Nui. Interestingly, the Makuta were also classified as (perhaps higher-level) kuta-rank beings. The parallel in status is significant if only for the light it sheds on the subtle connection between these two different species; namely the extraordinary effects of antidermis (the incorporeal substance of the Makuta-species) upon members of the being Brutaka’s species.
     
    -----
     
    brander, n.cmpd. “mischief-maker, practical-joker; lit. application-of-cunning-mischief” [variant form branider, brandar]
     
    b(e)rā, adj. “antagonistic, warlike, rogeuish, mischievous” [from bae-ār via metathesis: baeār > baar > brā]
    nid(i), stm. “cunning”
    -er, p. “application of ” [modifying particle, derived directly from older ār]
     
    The elements b(e)rā, nid(i), and the particle -er combine in a relatively transparent manner to form the compound brā-nid(i)-er, modern form brander.
  4. JRRT
    Alright, after that brief interlude, we’re back on schedule. This is going to be a semi-regular series, posted on Monday or Tuesday, as possible. I’ve abbreviated “Meaningless Names” to “MN”, since I originally wanted to call it “Matoran Notes”. Best of both worlds, this way. =P
     
    Before jumping into the discussion, I’ll start with a brief plan for this entry and the next two entries: Three groups of words, some (seemingly) related, some (seemingly) unrelated. Ultimately, it will be seen that the etymologies of all three groups are interrelated in some way.
     
    1) karzahni, carapar, keras, koro, icarax, crast, krekka, parakrekks
     
    2) barraki, brakas, brander, brutaka
     
    3) artakha, artidax, teridax, tren krom, pridak, jaller
     
    This entry will focus only on Group 1, tying together the etymologies of the members of this group in an effort to highlight the underlying elements which are shared across the spectrum of these (seemingly) distant terms. The next entry will deal with Group 2, the next with Group 3.
     
    Group 1:
     
    All of the words in Group 1 exhibit an element kar(a)-, kera-, kre-/kra-, or some variation thereof. These variants all derive from an ancient compound consisting of the stem kae and the particle ār: kae-ār.
     
    kae, stm. “power, energy, force, ability” [a semi-elemental stem]
     
    ār, p. “applied, application (of); later (applied) against, resistance, hindering (see discussion below)” [exhibits “splitting” and “variable placement”: ar. . .a, with displacement of ar before the stem.]
     
    kae-ār, stm.cmpd. “application of power/force/ability; later application of power against (smthg.), rejection, repulsion (see discussion below)”
     
    Both the meaning of the compound kae-ār and the meaning of the particle ār underwent a particular semantic shift at an early stage. This shift is attributed to events surrounding the actions of the being Karzahni, whose name exemplifies the compound. The meaning of kae-ār acquired connotations of “repulsion, rejection, application of power against (smthg.)” as a consequence of the pseudo-rebellion of Karzahni, whose name (kaeār-zahni) originally translated as “keeper-of-the-plan; lit. one-who-applies-power-according-to-the plan/strategy” (in reference to Karzahni’s original purpose). The meaning-shift here is roughly “one who applies power to X” > “one who applies power against X; one who rejects” (“one-who-rejects-the-plan/strategy”, in Karzahni’s case, see discussion below). The particle ār follows an identical path of development in most cases under the direct influence of kae-ār, with the meaning of “applied, application (of)” shifting toward “(applied) against, resisting, hindering”. This shift had widespread consequences for the meaning and interpretation of other lexical elements and compounds, some of which will be examined below.
     
    But first, an etymology for the root cause of the semantic shift: the name Karzahni:
     
    Karzahni, n.cmpd. 1. (original) “one who applies power according to (a) plan/schematic/strategy”; 2. (modern) “(an) anomaly, enemy; one who rejects the plan/schematic/strategy”
     
    kae-ār, stm.cmpd. 1. (original) “application of power/force/ability”; 2. (modern) “application of power against (smthg.), rejection, repulsion”
    zahi, n. “(a) plan, schematic, strategy”
    -ni, p. “personifying particle; one who. . .”
     
    The elements above combine straightforwardly to form the compound kaeār-zahi-ni, reducing to kar-zah’ni > karzahni. In this case, the compound kae-ār yields the reduced form kar-. This is only one of several descendant forms, some of which have taken on independent lexical status.
     
    -----
     
    carapar, n.cmpd. “strong/robust resistance (also ‘shell’); stubbornness” [modern spelling karapar]
     
    kara-, kera-, stm. “resistance, resisting/repulsing; (a) shell, barrier, smthg. that resists” [< kae-ār]
    par(a), stm. “strong, stolid, robust; strengthened, made strong” [derived from po-ār “lit. application-of-strength (elemental stone)”]
     
    The forms kara (<cara>), kera are generally associated with concepts of “resistance, resisting/repulsing”. These concepts become concrete in the meaning of “shell, covering, barrier” (something that “provides resistance”). In the case of carapar, this yields a double-meaning: one with the abstract “resistance” and one with the concrete “shell”. The stem kara- is combined with par(a) to yield kara-par(a), modern form karapar (older spelling carapar).
     
    -----
     
    keras, n. “name for a rahi-crab; lit. shell-spawn” [variant forms karas, kerash, kerashi]
     
    kar(a), ker(a)-, stm. “resistance, resisting/repulsing; (a) shell, barrier, smthg. that resists” [< kae-ār]
    -s, aff. “(rahi-)beast, spawn” [affix directly derived from shi “spawn, descendant” with eventual reduction to -s in final position; variants -shi -sh]
     
    The word keras dissolves straightforwardly into the stem kera and the affix -s, which frequently denotes a form of Rahi (rahi-spawn, etc.). The translation of keras (with the concrete meaning of kera) is thus simply “shell-rahi” or “shell-spawn”.
     
    -----
     
    koro, n. “village, town, settlement defined by borders” [variant forms korro, karo]
     
    kar(a), ker(a), stm. “resistance, resisting/repulsing; (a) shell, barrier, smthg. that resists” [< kae-ār]
    rhō, stm. “ring, boundary, edge”
     
    The elements kar(a)/ker(a) and rhō combine to form the stem-compound kar-rhō with roughly the meaning “edge/boundary of resistance”. This term was originally used to refer to the outlying borders of early Matoran settlements, which were frequently delimited by walls or barriers. This term eventually develops into modern koro, now used as a general term for any (bounded) settlement, village, or town.
     
    -----
     
    icarax, n. 1. (original) “toward greater application of power/energy; toward greater motivation”; 2. (modern) “toward greater resistance/conflict” [variant forms ikarax, ikaraxi]
     
    ī-, p. “to/toward (endpoint particle)”
    kae-ār, stm.cmpd. 1. (original) “application of power/force/ability”; 2. (modern) “application of power against (smthg.), rejection, repulsion”
    -ak, p. “intensive particle”
    -si, p. “more, -er (comparative adjectival particle)”
     
    The term icarax is attested at a fairly early stage, early enough to undergo the same shift in meaning experienced by words containing the stem-compound kae-ār. The endpoint-particle ī- in combination with this stem-compound and with the functional particles -ak and -si yields a complex form ī-kaeār-ak-si, modern for icarax (īkāraksi > ikaraxi > ikarax, icarax).
     
    An alternate etymology has also been proposed for this term based on the relatively rare compound term kara “ambition, pride; lit. wild/rampant-power”. This would yield a compound with roughly the meaning “toward greater ambition/pride”.
     
    -----
     
    Kanohi Crast, n. “Mask of Repulsion; allows the wearer to repel other objects with violent force” [variant forms krasta, kras’ta, kraseta, krest]
     
    krā, krē, stm. “repulsion, resistance, forcing back” [older spellings <crā>, <crē>; from kae-ār via metathesis: kaeār > kār > krā, krē]
    sta, s’ta, seta, stm.cmpd. “driving-out, removing, taking away” [From compound sae-tae, possibly with original meaning of “scattering/consuming fire; leader-of-scattering”; sae is likely related to sā “scattering, dispersing; sand”, see previous post for discussion]
     
    The elements krā/krē and sta/seta combine straightforwardly to yield the compound krā-s(e)ta, roughly “driving-out/away-(via)-repulsion”, modern form crast (but see variant forms above).
     
    -----
     
    krekka, n.cmpd. “extremely resistant force/power” [variant form krakka]
     
    krā, krē, stm. “repulsion, resistance, forcing back” [older spellings <crā>, <crē>; from kae-ār via metathesis: kaeār > kār > krā, krē]
    -ak, p. “intensive particle”
    ka, n. “power, energy, force, ability”
     
    The stem krā/krē combines with the intensive particle -ak to form a unit krē-ak “extremely resistant, extreme resistance”. This is then combined with ka to form a compound krē-ak-ka “extremely resistant force/power”, modern form krekka.
     
    -----
     
    parakrekks, n.cmpd. “name of a Rahi-species: strengthened/robust and extremely resistant force”
     
    par(a), stm. “strong, stolid, robust; strengthened, made strong” [derived from po-ār “lit. application-of-strength (elemental stone)”]
    krekka, n.cmpd. “extremely resistant force/power” [variant form krakka]
    -s, aff. “(rahi-)beast, spawn” [affix directly derived from shi “spawn, descendant” with eventual reduction to -s in final position; variants -shi -sh]
     
    The elements par(a) and krekka combine straightforwardly to yield the compound para-krekka, with addition of the Rahi-designation affix -s leading to the modern form parakrekks (parakrekka-shi > parakrekkas > parakrekk’s, parakrekks).
  5. JRRT
    After four relatively large entries crammed with information on the Matoran language, it strikes me that I still have enough of this stuff to go on for quite a long time. It’s exhausting (yet somehow rewarding) to put these things together, and I hope someone out there derives as much enjoyment from the topic of Matoran linguistics as I have.
     
    With this in mind, I’m considering making this an actual regular thing, possibly weekly or twice-weekly, with smaller, more focused amounts of information per entry, rather than the info-dumps I’ve been doing. Already I know that I have enough content for at least another ten to twelve short(er) entries, possibly twice that, depending on how things are paced. It sounds like a lot. . .but there are a lot of words in Bionicle.
     
    But beyond that, the reason for this interim entry is actually to ask something of you. Yes, you--the reader. I see you there, lurking. Answer me this: What do you think? Are you burnt out yet? I know I’m not, but we’ll see. Do you enjoy these entries? It’s not often that I ask for comments, mostly because I know some people may read, but don’t have much to respond beyond “I (don’t) like X”. That’s the nature of the topic, of course, but even so, I’d certainly like to know. Sometimes I imagine I’m talking to myself. It’s good practice, I suppose. Talking. . .
     
    I’d also like to ask if you, the reader, have any “requests”. Are there any particular Matoran words/names/whatevers that you’d like to see translated? If so, feel free to leave a comment, and I’ll attempt to incorporate any requests into future entries.
     
    Finally, to make sure this entry isn’t entirely self-serving, I’d like to highlight two (not so) recent topics that are also aimed at putting flesh on the bones of the Matoran language:
     
    Conjecture on Matoran (language) morphology, by QuestionMark -- topic (sadly) dead as of Feb.27. (Received bonesiii’s “Key to Nongu” Award)
     
    Dual Matrix's Ultimate Guide to Matoran, by Dual Matrix -- topic still living as of April 7.
     
    I don’t frequent S&T much anymore, but if I did. . .I suppose I would've been more informed. As it is, I only discovered the existence of these topics last week. There are a lot of great and creative ideas here, so take a look! One distinction between the approach to the Matoran language exhibited in these topics and the approach I’ve taken here has to do with “canonicity”: as realistic visions of the Matoran language, these topics attempt to translate words within the fairly strict guidelines of the canon Bionicle storyline. In contrast, in this blog I have been very free in my translations, decomposing words into smaller and smaller units, affected by regular (but completely invented) phonological processes, and heavily paraphrasing “canon” translations in order to derive consistent meanings across words and morphemes that, on the surface, might seem drastically removed from each other (much as is the case in human language). For that reason, posting any of this as an official “theory” was, unfortunately, never really an option. But that’s okay. I applaud the efforts of those represented in the topics above and encourage you to peruse them for your own personal fulfillment (or amusement). It’s fun stuff. Terribly fun, you have to admit. . .And I think I’ll end it on that note. I look forward to your (possible) replies.
     
    JRRT
  6. JRRT
    Just a short one today. This entry, we’ll take an even further detour into the etymological origins of Vahki (and associated designations). Somewhat ironic, this being Tax Day. >>
     
    Vahki, n.cmpd. “law-keeper; lit. measurer-of-limits” [variant forms vah’ki, vahiki, fanhiki]
     
    fa(n), stm. “limit, restriction, range, field; also roof, ceiling, sky” [probably derived from the elemental prefix fa “magnetism; magnetic (field)”; spelling variant pha(n)]
    hiki, n. “piece/part/portion of (something); measurement, extent”
     
    The stem fa(n) combines straightforwardly with hiki to form the compound fa(n)-hiki “limit-measurement”. The term hiki may be familiar to you: it has a further shade of meaning involving “trickery, deception” as a consequence of its etymology (see dictionary entries <hiki>, <mahiki> and discussion in previous posts). Perhaps ironically, the term hiki was also used as a unit of measurement, originally for dividing up land during the settlement phases of Matoran prehistory (hī-kī “part/piece of a thing OR place”) and later as a term for measuring out substances and amounts of material in industry and trade. It is this meaning that is at work in the etymology of the term vahki (fan-hiki > fahiki > vah’ki, vahki), which ultimately took on the meaning of “law-keeper”: “one who measures limits”. This was originally a general term referring to any being involved in law-enforcement, and this usage still persists in non-Metru Nuian jurisdictions. Within the bounds of Metru Nuian culture, however, the term vahki has almost exclusively been applied to the law-enforcement automatons invented by the Onu-Matoran Nuparu.
     
    Vahki Designations:
     
    Nuparu, inventor of the first Vahki law-enforcement automatons, wrote in his memoirs that he intended the Vahki to stand as representations of law and order in a city that, to him, seemed to be slowly slipping back into the same old ways that ultimately led Metru Nui into the Matoran Civil War and its terrible aftermath. The names that Nuparu devised for the different Vahki types reflected these intentions, as well as his ultimate inspiration for the Vahki: the long-dormant Bohrok swarms.
     
    The first Vahki units were designated Borzatahkak “vigilant judges/law-keepers”, later reduced to Bordakh (borzatahkak > borzdahk’k > bordakh). This term was, in fact, patterned on the name of the Bohrok themselves. Nuparu recounts how he consulted the Ko-Metruan scholar Ihu (an authority on Matoran linguistics) on the etymology of terms related to the Bohrok swarms and ultimately devised a compound boh-oro-zatahki-ak, directly based on the original form of the name Bohrok: boh-oro-ak (see previous post for discussion of the translation of this term). The element zatahki, which Nuparu added to his invented term, is originally a compound of zata “authority, order” and hiki “piece/part/portion of (something); measurement, extent” and yields the modern dahki “judge; lit. measurer-of-authority/order ” (zata-hiki > zadah’ki > zdakhi > dahki). The terms dahki and vahki are very closely related in origin and composition, and dahki is, in fact, attested as a variant term used to refer to Vahki.
     
    The upshot of the original compound Borzatahkak is a term referring both to the fact that the Vahki units follow the orders of the law (boh-oro “following words; vigilant for words”) and that they zealously represent and enforce that law (zatahki-ak “judge+intensive particle”), in accord with Nuparu’s vision for his inventions.
     
    Other designations for the Vahki were also devised, both by Nuparu and others. The term Zatahkak, later Zadakh (zatahkak > zadahk’k > zadakh) is a shortening of Borzatahkak, later used as a designation for the Le-Metruan Vahki squads.
     
    Other terms originated as further elaborations of this original compound: the Vorzakh units take their name from a compound fa(n)-oro-zatahki-ak, making use of the stem fa(n) “limit, restriction, range, field” which, as noted above, also forms the basis of the term vahki itself (fa-oro-zatahki-ak > vaorzatahkak > vorzdahk’k > vorzakh).
     
    Likewise, the name of the Rorzakh units originates as a compound rho-oro-zatahki-ak, replacing fa(n) with the stem rho, of similar meaning, “boundary, ring, edge” (rho-oro-zatahki-ak > rhorzatahkak > rorzdahk’k > rorzakh))
     
    The two remaining Vahki-designations -- Nuurakh and Keerakh -- are also the most recent in origin. They were not, therefore, formed according to the same elaborate compound-pattern as the others. At the time of their formation, the suffix -akh had been reinterpreted as a general “Vahki-designation suffix”, rather than as a component of a larger compound zatahki-ak (manifesting as -zakh or -dakh in the reduced forms of the other Vahki designations above). In both cases, this “new” element -akh was simply applied to a stem: in the case of nuurakh, the stem nuur “firm command” (older nu-or “earth-word”) forms the basis of the compound: nuor-akh > nuurakh “firm-command Vahki”. In the case of keerakh, the stem keer “harsh/severe command” (older kee-or “harsh/severe word”) forms the basis of the compound: keer-akh > keerakh “harsh/severe-command Vahki”.
  7. JRRT
    This entry, we’ll take a detour into the etymological origins of Bohrok (and associated designations):
     
    Bohrok, n.cmpd. “awaiting-commands, vigilant-for-commands; also vigilantly awaiting/following words”
     
    boh, stm. “vigilance, watchfulness; awaiting, on-standby, ready-to-respond”
    oro, n. “word”
    -ak, p. “intensive particle”
    orok, n. “order, command; lit. intensive-word” [from oro-ak, oro “word” and -ak “intensive particle”]
     
    The deciphering of Bohrok is somewhat difficult, as it was not originally a Matoran innovation, being found instead as an inscription (albeit a legibly Matoran inscription) boh-oro-ak on the entrances of Bohrok nests. The origin of the term has been commonly attributed to the Great Beings themselves.
     
    There are two possible translations of Bohrok: The first involves the element boh combining straightforwardly with the elements oro and -ak to yield the meaning “vigilantly-awaiting/following-words”. The second involves the combination of boh with the elsewhere-attested compound oro-ak “order, command” (modern form orok) to yield the meaning “awaiting/vigilant for commands”. Both of these etymologies are equally plausible, but they present subtly different semantic interpretations.
     
    As an aside, some scholars have noted a similarity between the composition of the original boh-oro-ak compound and the composition of the original form of the term matoran: mat-oro-ān “user(s) of words”. The reason for this similarity in pattern (if it is non-coincidental) thus far remains a mystery, although some folk-etymologies persist based on the (somewhat superstitious) belief that Bohrok are revenant-Matoran (having gone from being living “users of words” to non-living “followers of words”) and that the Bohrok nests are, in fact, ancient graves.
     
    Bohrok Swarm-designations:
     
    When the Bohrok were first discovered in nests beneath Metru Nui, scholars and archivists rushed to classify them according to known species of Rahi. After close examination, however, it was discovered that the Bohrok were actually fully mechanical--the first fully mechanical constructs encountered by Matoran. A profusion of technical terms soon arose for “non-biomechs”:
     
    hi-vo and vo-hi, n. “powered-thing(s)” [from the elements hī “thing, place” and voi “elemental electricity”, with reference to the dormant artificial power-sources of the Bohrok units]
     
    hi-no, n. “protodermic-things(s)” [from the elements hī “thing, place” and noi “elemental protodermis”, referencing the non-organic makeup of Bohrok units]
     
    hi-olo, n. “thing-with-a-door/hatch” [from hī “thing, place” and ol(o) “door, gate, etc.”; a slightly whimsical term referencing the face-plate or “hatch” of the Bohrok shell]
     
    hi-oro, n. “word-thing” [from hī “thing, place” and or(o) “word”; a loosely-applied label referencing the ancient designations (“words”) written throughout the Bohrok nests; this term was patterned on the composition of the original form of the term Bohrok: boh-oro-ak (see above)]
     
    These terms were all variously incorporated into the official labels applied to the different types of Bohrok swarm-designations. As such, the labels were not so much independent words as they were technical classifications. They generally made use of the same pattern as the original term for Bohrok, boh-oro-ak, replacing boh with the elemental designation of each Bohrok nest and oro with one of the non-biomech terms listed above:
     
    Tahnok, n.cmpd. “fire-designation Bohrok” [variant forms tah’nok, tahnak; tahrok/tahlok/tahvok; Original compound ta-hino-ak, with eventual reduction: ta-hino-ak > tah’noak > tah’nok, tahnok]
     
    Gahlok, n.cmpd. “water-designation Bohrok” [variant forms gah’lok, gahlak; gahrok/gahnok/gahvok; Original compound ga-hiolo-ak, with eventual reduction: ga-hiolo-ak > gah’loak > gah’lok, gahlok]
     
    Lehvak, n.cmpd. “air-designation Bohrok” [variant forms leh’vak, lehvok; lehrok/lehnok/lehvok; Original compound le-hivo-ak, with eventual reduction: la-hivo-ak > leh’voak > leh’vak, lehvak]
     
    Nuhvok, n.cmpd. “earth-designation Bohrok” [variant forms onuhvok, nuh’vok, nuhvak; nuhrok/nuhnok/nuhlok; Original compound (o)nu-hivo-ak, with eventual reduction: (o)nu-hivo-ak > nuh’voak > nuh’vok, nuhvok]
     
    Pahrak, n.cmpd. “stone-designation Bohrok” [variant forms pah’rak, pahrok; pahlok/pahnok/pahvok; Original compound pao-hioro-ak (pao-, a variant of po-), with eventual reduction: pa-hioro-ak > pah’roak > pah’rak, pahrak]
     
    Kohrak, n.cmpd. “ice-designation Bohrok” [variant forms koh’rak, kohrok; kohlok/kohnok/kohvok; Original compound ko-hioro-ak, with eventual reduction: ko-hioro-ak > koh’roak > koh’rak, kohrak]
     
    ----------
     
    Moving along, what entry on the Bohrok would be complete without mention of the Bohrok Queens?
     
    Bahrag, n.cmpd. “lit. elder-of-the-followers; vigilant/waiting-elders” [variants bahraga, bohrag, bohraga]
     
    boh- stm. “boh, stm. “vigilance, watchfulness; awaiting, on-standby, ready-to-respond”
    rag(a), stm. “tame one, wise one; elder” [reduction of a very ancient compound rā-gae “lit. (the) wild-at-peace, the wild settled”]
     
    The modern name of the Bahrag twins was also found as an inscription in even the earliest Bohrok nests: boh-rāgae. It exhibits the same ancient element boh as the name of the Bohrok, but combines it with a different (though equally ancient) compound rā-gae. This compound is itself derived from a combination of the stem rā “wild, untamed” and the elemental stem gae “water”, in this case with reference to the stem’s itinerant connotations of “peace, calm, serenity”. The compound rāgae thus originally denoted a concept of “being tame; settling one’s wildness”, ultimately leading to the more modern meanings of rag(a) “tame one, wise one; elder”. The compound boh-rāgae thus encapsulates the symbolism of the Bahrag’s role: elders or “queens” of the Bohrok Swarms, the leaders of those who await or follow.
     
    ----------
    And what entry that includes the Bohrok and the Bahrag would be complete without mention of the Bohrok-Kal? I mean really.
     
    (Bohrok-)Kal, n.cmpd. “seeker-of-power; lit. detecting/finding/sensing-power”* [variant forms kāl, kel]
     
    kā, stm. “power, energy”
    el, stm. “finding, seeking, sensing; detection, sense”
     
    The stem kā combines straightforwardly with the stem el to yield the compound ka-el “power-seeking; seeker/finder of power”, modern form kal.
     
    *...Find the Power?**
     
    **(Live the Legend)
     
    ----------
     
    And a couple more (related) Kanohi-etymologies to finish things off:
     
    Kanohi Elda, n.cmpd. “Mask of Detection; allows the wearer to sense and find hidden things, as well as detect the location of the Kanohi Ignika” [variant forms elzata, elza]
     
    el, stm. “finding, seeking/searching, sensing; detection, sense”
    zata, stm. “authority, order; leader” [common modern (affixal) forms: za, da, zda]
     
    The element zata derives from an older compound of za (“strategy/strategic”) and the elemental stem ta (rough meaning of “leader(ship)”). The combination of zata and el yields a compound el-zata “leader-of-the-search; lit. (an) authority on detection”, with eventual reduction el-zata > elzda > elda.
     
    -----
     
    Kanohi Felnas, n.cmpd. “Mask of Disruption; allows the wearer to disrupt another being’s control of their natural powers, causing said power to go out of control”
     
    fa(n), stm. “limit, restriction, range, field; also roof, ceiling, sky” [probably derived from the elemental prefix fa “magnetism; magnetic (field)”; spelling variant pha(n)]
    el, stm. “finding, seeking/searching, sensing; detection, sense”
    nas, stm. “scattering, dispersing, disrupting” [etymology uncertain; see below for some discussion]
     
    The elements fa(n) and el combine to yield a compound fa(n)-el “sense-of-limits; limit-sense” (roughly the ability to measure and control one’s actions/potential). This compound is then combined with the stem nas to form a further compound fa-el-nas “scattering/disrupting (one’s) limit-sense”, modern form felnas. This compound encapsulates the concept whereby a Felnas-user can disrupt or scatter another being’s ability to control (i.e. sense the limits of) their powers.
     
    The etymology of the stem nas itself is uncertain. It is most likely derived from or related to the same root that yielded terms such as aso “sand” (see entries <aso>, <aswe>). Whatever its exact origins, it is clear that this element is very ancient, possibly coeval with the elemental stems themselves. One plausible etymology for nas is a combination of (o)nu “earth” and the stem-form ās (also found as sā; these stem-forms yield modern aso, aswe, etc.), with a rough meaning of “shifting/dispersing earth/sand”. Words deriving from ās/sā seem to carry an original connotation of “shifting” or “instability”, consistent with the “sand” concept.
     
    [Post-Melding insertion by Spheru-Magnan scribes: Recent linguistic analysis of Spheru-Magnan languages provides some support for the proposed etymology above. Evidence from Modern Agoric terms such as scar-āba “shifting-sand, quicksand”, scarus “treachery”, and scaral “treacherous one; Skrall” (Northern Agoric scrāl) points toward an Old Agoric stem sakar-, with attested variants skār-, sār-, and asar-. Old Agoric is believed to be (one of) the languages used by the Great Beings in constructing the earliest forms of the Matoran Language, and the almost pre-Matoran nature of the Matoran stem-forms ās and sā lends credence to the idea that these stems may, in fact, have been (indirect) modified borrowings from Old Agoric itself. This also accords with surviving accounts of Matoran prehistory, whereby the earliest Avo-Matoran tribes first emerged from Karda-Nui, traditionally characterized as a primordial desert or wasteland with a variant-name Asa-Nui, the Great Sand.]
  8. JRRT
    The streak continues, but this time with an examination of the meanings and etymologies of various other heretofore un-translated Bionicle names (i.e. not just Kanohi mask-names, although there are a few here and there). I started compiling this, and I came to the conclusion that there’s far too much here to digest in a single entry, so I’ve split it into multiple digestable entries.
     
    For now, we’ll begin with those infamous sons of shadow, the Rahkshi:
     
    Rahkshi, n.cmpd. “wild/untamable offspring/spawn” [variant forms rahkishi, rah’kshi, rah’kishi]
     
    rahk, stm. “wild/untamable thing”
    (i)shi, n. “offspring, spawn” [derived from isi “possibility; possible” by addition of the particle hī “thing, place”: isi-hī > ishi. The meaning builds on the concept of “possible thing/outcome, descendant possibility”]
     
    The element rahk began as an emergent compound rā-hī-ak. The components rā and hī should be recognizable as the basis for the independent modern term rahi “wild thing, beast”. The particle ak expresses an “intensive” meaning, hence rā-hī-ak “extremely-wild-thing; untamable-rahi”. This was the original term used by the early Matoran tribes in their first encounters with Rahkshi in the wild. It has since been gradually reduced -- rā-hī-ak > rah’ak, rahak > rah’k, rahk -- and now exists primarily as an affix-particle.
     
    The element ishi “offspring, spawn”, which was already commonly used in reference to rahi-spawn (rahishi), was applied at a later point in history once the origins of the Rahkshi (literally the “sons” or “offspring” of individual Makuta) were known to Matoran. It has also undergone reduction as a part of the name: rahk-ishi > rahkshi. See above for a larger list of common variant forms.
     
    Rahkshi names:
     
    As the different types of Rahkshi were documented, various names were devised in reference to their characteristic powers, usually formed according to the pattern of stem “power” + -rahk “wild/untamable thing”. The element rahk, in its usage as an affix-particle, eventually took on “agentive” connotations, roughly analogous to English -er (Lerahk “poisonous-wild-thing; poison-er”, see below).
     
    -----
     
    Turahk, n.cmpd. “Rahkshi of Fear; terrifying-wild-thing, causer-of-fear” [variant form tūrahk, turah’k]
     
    tūr, stm. “fear, terror”
    rahk, stm. “wild/untamable thing”
     
    The element tūr was formed as a combination of the elemental stem ta “fire” and the particle ūr(u) “un-, negative, opposite”. The stem ta usually carries connotations of “courage” and “bravery”, and, in combination with ūr(u), it takes on the general meaning of “fear, terror”, both “fearful, terrified” and “causing fear, terrifying”. In combination with rahk, it carries the latter definition: tūr-rahk “terrifying-wild-thing, causer-of-fear”, modern form turahk (also see variants above).
     
    -----
     
    Guurahk, n.cmpd. “Rahkshi of Disintegration; disintegrating-wild-thing, disintegrator” [variant forms gurahk, guurah’k]
     
    gūr, stm. “disintegrating, unsettling; un-peaceful”
    rahk, stm. “wild/untamable thing”
     
    The element gūr was formed as a combination of the elemental stem ga “water” and the particle ūr(u) “un-, negative, opposite”. The stem ga usually carries connotations of “peace”, “calm”, and “settled-ness”, and, in combination with ūr(u), it takes on the general meaning of “un-settledness, falling apart, disintegrating”. In combination with rahk it yields the compound gūr-rahk “disintegrating-wild-thing, disintegrator”, modern form guurahk (also see variants above).
     
    -----
     
    Kurahk, n.cmpd. “Rahkshi of Anger; raging-wild-thing, raging-one” [variant forms kūrahk, kurah’k]
     
    kūr, stm. “anger, rage”
    rahk, stm. “wild/untamable thing”
     
    The element kūr was formed as a combination of the elemental stem ko “ice” and the particle ūr(u) “un-, negative, opposite”. The stem ko usually carries connotations of “stillness”, “silence”, and “inner-calm”, and, in combination with ūr(u), it takes on the general meaning of “agitation”, “disturbance”, “anger/rage” . In combination with rahk it yields the compound kūr-rahk “raging-wild-thing, raging-one”, modern form kurahk (also see variants above).
     
    -----
     
    Lerahk, n.cmpd. “Rahkshi of Poison; poisonous-wild-thing, poisoner” [variant forms lūrahk, lērahk, lerah’k]
     
    lēr, stm. “noxious, toxic, poisonous” [also lūr]
    rahk, stm. “wild/untamable thing”
     
    The element lēr was formed as a combination of the elemental stem le “air” and the particle ūr(u) “un-, negative, opposite”. The stem le usually carries connotations of “liveliness”, “vigor”, and “vivacity”, and, in combination with ūr(u), it takes on the general meaning of “non-vigorous”, “dying-off”, “poisoned/poisonous” . In combination with rahk it yields the compound lēr-rahk “poisonous-wild-thing, poisoner”, modern form lerahk (also see variants above).
     
    -----
     
    Vorahk, n.cmpd. “Rahkshi of Hunger; devouring-wild-thing, devourer” [variant forms vūrahk, vōrahk, vorah’k]
     
    vōr, stm. “hunger; energy-draining” [also vūr]
    rahk, stm. “wild/untamable thing”
     
    The element vōr was formed as a combination of the elemental stem vo “lightning, electricity” and the particle ūr(u) “un-, negative, opposite”. The stem vo usually carries connotations of “power”, “energy”, and “sustenance”, and, in combination with ūr(u), it takes on the general meaning of “non-energetic”, “drained”, “hungering/consuming/devouring” . In combination with rahk it yields the compound vōr-rahk “devouring-wild-thing, devourer”, modern form vorahk (also see variants above).
     
    -----
     
    Panrahk, n.cmpd. “Rahkshi of Fragmentation; shattering-wild-thing, fragmenter/shatterer” [variant forms panurahk, pūrahk, paurahk, panrah’k]
     
    pa-nūr, stm. “shattering, breaking, fragmentation”
    rahk, stm. “wild/untamable thing”
     
    The element pa-nūr was formed as a combination of the elemental stems pa (from po) “stone” and nu (from onu) “earth” with the particle ūr(u) “un-, negative, opposite”. Both elemental stems carry connotations of “strength” and “solidness”, and, in combination with ūr(u), they take on the general meaning of “decaying”, “breaking-down”, “shattering/fragmenting” . In combination with rahk this yields the compound panūr-rahk “shattering-wild-thing, fragmenter/shatterer”, modern form (highly reduced) panrahk (also see variants above).
     
    ----------
     
    To conclude, a couple of interesting mask-name etymologies (possibly related to the above discussion?):
     
    Olmak, n.cmpd. “Mask of Dimensional Gates; allows the wearer to open portals into other dimensions” [variant forms olmatak, olomak, olomatak]
     
    ol(o), stm. “door, gate, opening; available course/pathway”
    ma(t), stm. “mastery, control”
    -ak, p. “intensive particle”
     
    The elements ol(o), ma(t), and the intensive particle -ak combine straightforwardly to yield the compound ol(o)-ma(t)-ak “powerful control of doors/gateways”, modern form olmak (see also variant forms above).
     
    -----
     
    Olisi, n.cmpd. “Mask of Possible Futures; allows the wearer to see (and cause others to see) possible future timelines” [variant form oloisi]
     
    ol(o), stm. “door, gate, opening; available course/pathway”
    isi, n./adj. “possibility; possible”
     
    The elements ol(o) and isi combine straightforwardly to yield the compound ol(o)-isi “possible available course(s)/pathway(s)”, modern form olisi.
  9. JRRT

    Nameless Masks

    By JRRT,

    What do you know: looks like I’m still on a Matoran Language streak these days, despite another interstate relocation (back to my natural habitat in the dry-bare-sandy southwest US...it’s good to be home). This time though, I’m taking a break from those pretentious Lessons in order to play around with a tangent on nameless Kanohi masks, i.e. official (and some unofficial) Kanohi masks that never received official (or unofficial) Matoran names. With a universe as sprawling as that of Bionicle, you can be sure that there are quite a few. Here are some musings on what some of those masks might have been called if they had only been important enough:
     
    ----------
     
    Kanohi Vaamaku, n.cmpd. “Mask of Psychometry; allows the wearer to see the history of an object/place through physical contact” [variant vāmaku]
     

    Etymology:


     
    vā, stm. “time (absract)”
    -amu, p. “through, during (transitional-instrumental particle)”
    aku, n. “sight”
     
    The element vā-amu translates straightforwardly to “through/across time”, with the application of the transitional-instrumental particle (see Lesson 8, section IIf.). This is combined with aku “sight” to yield the historical compound vā-amu-aku “through/across-time sight”, modern form vaamaku.
     
    ----------
     
    Kanohi Amana, n.cmpd. “Mask of Healing; allows the wearer to heal visible/known physical injuries” [variant form mana]
     

    Etymology:


     
    amana, n. “(re)forming, (re)making; healing”
     
    The element amana is of uncertain etymology. It is almost certainly related to (or even directly derived from) the ancient stem ma(t), denoting “control, mastery, use, etc.”, with a variant meaning of “form, shape, create”. See dictionary entries <mat> and <manta>.
     
    One possible solution involves an etymology patterned after the name Mata (lit. All-Master: cf. Mata Nui “the Great Spirit”), which derives from the ancient stem mat combined with a (generally intensive) particle ā. Application of such a particle to a hypothetical stem ?man could yield a form ?man-ā, with displacement of the particle (“variable placement”*) resulting in a further form a-man-a, dividing the particle ā (literally aa) into two units: a and a. This would be in accord with the variant form mana (see variant form above) and with the attested dialectal variants of the Mata-name, namely Amata, as well as with the obscure title Amana Nui, which, in Matoran cosmology, may in fact be a further pseudonym for Mata Nui himself, with a meaning roughly analogous to “Great Healer”, “Great (Re)Former”, or (post-Bara Magna) “Great Melder”.
     
    ----------
     
    Kanohi Onweku, n.cmpd. “Mask of Intangibility; allows the wearer to become intangible (non-solid)”
     

    Etymology:


     
    onwe, adj. “solid, stable”
    -ku, p. “non-, un- (negative particle)”
     
    The element onwe derives from the metaphoric meaning of the elemental stem onu “earth”, with application of the (relatively rare) adjectival particle -ee (onu-ee > onwe). This is combined with the general negative particle ku, yielding the compound onwe-ku “non-solid; intangible”.
     
    ----------
     
    Kanohi Isima, n.cmpd. “Mask of Possibilities; allows the wearer to subtly alter fields of probability”
     

    Etymology:


     
    isi, n. “possibility”
    ma(t), stm. “mastery, control”
     
    The element isi combines straightforwardly with the element ma(t), yielding the compound isi-ma(t) “control of possibility”, modern form isima.
     
    ----------
     
    Kanohi Awai, n.cmpd. “Mask of Growth; allows the wearer to increase in physical size” [variant forms waia, waya, waaya]
     

    Etymology:


     
    wā, stm. “great, large, broad; large size”
    ya p. “verbal particle”
     
    The original stem wā denotes “great, large, broad; large size”. This stem is verbalized by the addition of the verbal particle ya, yielding a compound wā-ya roughly with the meaning of “become large”. The particle ya exhibits “variable placement”*. It can be “split” into two separate units i and a, with the latter unit being displaced before the stem to which the particle is applied. In this case, this yields the form a-wā-i, modern form awai. This basic verbalization of a stem with displacement of the verbal particle is frequently used to denote a generalized (nounal) event, equivalent to a gerund (or possibly infinitive) in English: “becoming large, increasing, growing”. Variants of this mask-name do appear without the displaced particle (see variant forms above), but they are dialectically very restricted.
     
    -----------
     
    Kanohi Mautru, n.cmpd. “Mask of Mutation; allows the wearer to mutate organisms”
     

    Etymology:


     
    mautru, n. “change, mutation”
     
    The original stem maut denotes “change, differentiation”. Application of the (relatively rare) nounal particle -rū, denoting an object or place embodying a concept, yields the compound maut-rū, modern form mautru.
     
    ----------
     
    Kanohi Mutuku, n.cmpd. “Mask of Emulation; allows the wearer to analyze and replicate the powers of other beings temporarily”
     

    Etymology:


     
    mutu, adj. “different, unlike”
    -ku, p. “non-, un- (negative particle)”
     
    The element mutu derives from the older stem maut “change, differentiation”, with application of the adjectival particle -u (maut-u > mut-u). This is combined with the general negative particle ku, yielding the compound maut-u-ku “not-different, not-unlike”, modern form mutuku.
     
    ----------
     
    Kanohi Mautatu, n.cmpd. “Mask of Charisma; allows the wearer to convince others to agree with the wearer’s perspective/will by subtly altering their perception of the world”
     

    Etymology:


     
    maut, stm. “change, differentiation”
    atu, n. “mind, will”
     
    The original stem maut denotes “change, differentiation”. In combination with atu, this yields the compound maut-atu “lit. change-mind/will; changing/altering the mind or will”.
     
    ----------
     
    Kanohi Eyi, n.cmpd. “Mask of Fusion; allows the wearer to forcibly fuse with one or more beings to form a single, larger being”
     

    Etymology:


     
    e-, p. “make/cause X (causative particle)”
    yi, adj/adv. “together”
     
    The adjectival element yi is combined with the causative (verbal) particle e-, yielding a semi-verbal compound e-yi “make together; cause-to-be-together”.
     
    ----------
     
    Kanohi Konomau, n.cmpd. “Mask of Biomechanics; allows the wearer to interface with and assume mental control over (bio)mechanical systems” [variant form konomatu, konoimau, konoimatu; noimatuko, noimauko]





    Etymology:


     
    uko, p. “outside, external (locative particle)”
    noi, n. “(physical protodermic) body”
    ma(t), stm. “control, mastery”
     
    The elements noi and ma(t) combine to form the compound noi-ma(t) “body-control”. The element noi is used in reference to the (bio)mechanical nature of the Matoran body. The particle uko exhibits “variable placement” (see Lesson 7 IIId., Lesson 8 Ia.). It can be “split” into two separate units u and ko, with the latter unit being displaced before the stem to which the particle is applied. In this case, the particle uko is applied to the compound noi-ma(t), yielding the form ko-noi-ma(t)-u “external body-control; body-control from outside“, modern forms konomau (-noi- > -no-) and konomatu. Variants of this mask-name also exist using the unsplit form of the particle (see variant forms above).
     
    ----------
     
    [Note: the following masks are not officially confirmed Kanohi powers, but they are powers that (I think) could be exhibited by Kanohi (e.g. Makuta/Rahkshi powers)]
     
    Kanohi Koramau, n.cmpd. “Mask of Rahi Control; allows the wearer to exert control over various species of Rahi” [variant forms korahimau, korahimatu; rahimat-uko, rahima-uko]
     

    Etymology:


     
    uko, p. “outside, external (locative particle)”
    rahi, n. “Rahi, animals, fauna (general term)”
    ma(t), stm. “control, mastery”
     
    The elements rahi and ma(t) combine to form the compound rahi-ma(t) “rahi-control”. The particle uko exhibits “variable placement”*. It can be “split” into two separate units u and ko, with the latter unit being displaced before the stem to which the particle is applied. In this case, the particle uko is applied to the compound rahi-ma(t), yielding the form ko-rahi-ma(t)-u “external rahi-control; rahi-control from outside“, modern forms koramau (-rahi- > -ra-) and koramatu. Several variants of this mask-name did exist early on using the unsplit form of the particle (see variant forms above) but these were dialectically very restricted.
     
    ----------
     
    Kanohi Kokrimau, n.cmpd. “Mask of Insect Control; allows the wearer to exert control over various species of Insect Rahi” [variant forms kokirimau, kokirimatu; kirimat-uko, kirima-uko]
     

    Etymology:


     
    uko, p. “outside, external (locative particle)”
    kiri, n. “insects (general term)”
    ma(t), stm. “control, mastery”
     
    The elements kiri and ma(t) combine to form the compound kiri-ma(t) “insect-control”. The particle uko exhibits “variable placement” (see Lesson 7 IIId., Lesson 8 Ia.). It can be “split” into two separate units u and ko, with the latter unit being displaced before the stem to which the particle is applied. In this case, the particle uko is applied to the compound kiri-ma(t), yielding the form ko-kiri-ma(t)-u “external insect-control; insect-control from outside“, modern forms kokrimau (-kiri- > -kri-) and kokrimatu. Several variants of this mask-name did exist early on using the unsplit form of the particle (see variant forms above) but these were dialectically very restricted.
     
    ----------
     
    Kanohi Akataiku, “Mask of Heat Vision; allows the wearer to project beams of heat along the wearer’s line of sight” [variant forms akataku, akatāku, akataiaku]
     

    Etymology:


     
    aka, n. “power, ability” [independent augmented form of ka, see dictionary entries <aka>, <ka>]
    taiaku, n.cmpd. “heat-vision” [from ancient compound tae-aku; also tāku]
     
    The element aka combines straightforwardly with the element taiaku, yielding the compound aka-taiaku “power of heat-vision”, modern form akataiku (also see variants above).
     
    ----------
     
    [Note: the following masks are not actually nameless. They have official names, but no official etymologies. Here are unofficial etymologies for them.]
     
    Kanohi Komau, n.cmpd. “Mask of Mind Control; allows the wearer to exert mental control over a target” [variant forms komatu, matuko, mauko]
     

    Etymology:


     
    uko, p. “outside, external (locative particle)”
    ma(t), stm. “control, mastery”
     
    The particle uko exhibits “variable placement”*. It can be “split” into two separate units u and ko, with the latter unit being displaced before the stem to which the particle is applied. In this case, the particle uko is applied to the stem ma(t), yielding the form ko-ma(t)-u “external control; control from outside“, modern forms komau (more frequent) and komatu. Variants of this mask-name did exist early on using the unsplit form of the particle--mat-uko and ma-uko—but these were dialectically very restricted.
     
    ----------
     
    Kanohi Suletu, n.cmpd. “Mask of Telepathy; allows the wearer to communicate with others telepathically, along with a range of other telepathic abilities” [variant form selatu]
     

    Etymology:


     
    seu(l), stm. “elemental Psionics” (modified form of elemental prefix se-, ce-)
    atu, n. “mind, will”
     
    The element seu(l) is an elaboration of the elemental Psionics prefix se- (also spelled ce-) modified along a similar pattern as, e.g. ga > (a)gal- (see dictionary entries <gah>, <ehel>, <galnu>). This is combined with atu (from older *aetu) to yield a compound seul-aetu “psionic will; mental will”, modern forms suletu (more frequent), selatu.
     
    ----------
     
    Kanohi Mahiki, n.cmpd. “Mask of Illusion; allows the wearer to create and manipulate visual illusions”
     

    Etymology:


     
    ma(t), stm. “control, mastery”
    hiki, n. “deception, trickery”
     
    The ancient stem ma(t) combines with the element hiki to form the compound ma-hiki “control of deception/trickery”. The etymology of hiki is somewhat interesting to note. The concept of deception or trickery in the emergent Matoran culture appears to have been associated with “incompleteness”, “part of a whole”, or “something held back”. The composition of hiki reflects this association: the element ki denotes “(a) part, piece”, while hī denotes “(a) thing, place”, with the original meaning of hiki being “part of a thing”.
     
    ----------
     
    Kanohi Akaku, n.cmpd. “Mask of (X-Ray) Vision; allows the wearer to see with enhanced vision, even through solid matter”
     

    Etymology:


     
    aka, n. “power, ability” [independent augmented form of ka, see dictionary entries <aka>, <ka>]
    aku, n. “sight, vision”
     
    The element aka combines straightforwardly with the element aku, yielding the compound aka-aku “power of vision”, modern form akaku.
     
    ----------
     
    Kanohi Kakama, n.cmpd. “Mask of Speed; allows the wearer to move at extremely high speeds” [variant form kamaka]
     

    Etymology:


     
    ka, n. “power, energy”
    ka-ma, v. “to move”
     
    The element ka combines with the verbal complex ka-ma to form the compound ka-kama “power of moving/movement”. In order to express the generalized (nounal) event of “moving, movement” intended here, the verbal particle is also sometimes displaced (“variable placement”*), yielding the variant verbal complex ma-ka (and the variant form kamaka, see variant form above).
     
    ----------
     
    Kanohi Vahi, n.cmpd. “Mask of Time; allows the wearer to control the flow of time itself”
     
    vā, stm. “time (abstract)”
    hī, stm. “thing, place”
     
    The elements vā and hī combine straightforwardly to yield the compound vā-hī, literally meaning “time-thing”, modern form vahi.
     
    [*see Lesson 6 I., Lesson 7 IIId., Lesson 8 Ia. for more information on “splitting” particles and “variable placement”]
  10. JRRT

    Learning Matoran: Lesson 8

    By JRRT,

    LEARNING MATORAN



    - LESSON 8 -


     
    I. Objective Particles:
     
    You have already encountered the subject, basic objective, and possessive particles in previous lessons, but there are many particles that remain to be discussed. The particles discussed in this lesson can also be classified as objective particles, but, in contrast to the basic objective particle, they provide information on the spatial and temporal positioning of a noun, as well as on nature of the action denoted by the verb. Six particles will be discussed in this lesson, and these can be organized into two series of three particles each: The first three are “locative” in nature, while the last three deal with concepts such as the endpoint, origin, and transition/path of an action.
     
    Ia. The Basic Locative Particle.
     
    The basic locative particle specifies a position spatially in/at/on or temporally during the noun with which it is paired. The exact interpretation (i.e. temporal or spatial) is up to the context and the denotation of the noun itself.
     
    The basic form of the particle is two-fold, depending on its placement with respect to the noun. Recall from the previous lesson the discussion of “variable placement” with the possessive particle: wa(i) before the noun, but ui/u’i after the noun. The basic locative particle exhibits a very similar case of variable placement, although it is more analogous to the variable placement of the verbal particle ya, which can be “split” into a- and -i (see Lesson 6, section I.).
     
    To begin, the basic form of the particle is oki when it is placed after the noun. This particle can be “split” into a particle ki or ke (interchangeable) which is displaced before the stem, and a particle ō which remains after the stem. A few examples will be useful to illustrate the variation (the particle ō can vary with ou, particularly if it follows a vowel):
     
    1) a. matoran-oki OR ki-matoran-ō, ke-matoran-ō “in/on/at the Matoran”
    b. wahi-oki OR ki-wahi-ou, ke-wahi-ou “in/at the Wahi”
    c. aval-oki OR ki-aval-ō, ke-aval-ō “in/during the time/period” (aval “time, period (of time)”)
     
    IIb. The Ante-Locative Particle.
     
    The ante-locative particle specifies a position temporally before/preceding/prior to or spatially behind/on the other side of the noun with which it is paired. The exact interpretation (i.e. temporal or spatial) is up to the context and the denotation of the noun itself.
     
    The basic form of the particle is oki or okī (interchangeable) and it is always placed before the noun. Additionally, the o- of the particle can optionally be dropped (oki > ki, okī > kī). Note that the basic form of this particle is identical to that of the previous particle except for its position with respect to the noun.
     
    2) a. (o)ki-nuyo, (o)kī-nuyo “behind/on the other side of the mountain”
    b. (o)ki-matoran, (o)kī-matoran “behind/on the other side of the Matoran”
    c. (o)ki-azal, (o)kī-azal “before/prior to the attack”
     
    IIc. The Post-Locative Particle.
     
    The post-locative particle specifies a position temporally after/subsequent to or spatially after/in front of/on this side of the noun with which it is paired. The exact interpretation (i.e. temporal or spatial) is up to the context and the denotation of the noun itself.
     
    The basic form of the particle is hi, and it is always placed after the noun.
     
    There are a few variations in the form of the particle, depending on the form of the stem: If the stem ends in a short vowel, hi is strengthened to khi (hoto-hi > hotokhi). If the stem ends in a long vowel, hi becomes gi (kolhī-hi > kolhīgi). If the stem ends in a consonant, hi becomes ki (brakas-hi > brakaski), unless the consonant is n, in which case hi becomes gi (matoran-hi > matorangi).
     
    In addition, there is some variability that is the consequence of etymological developments in noun stems. For example, if a noun stem ends in a long vowel, the particle would usually become gi (kolhī-hi > kolhīgi). Historically, many noun stems ended in long vowels which have since shortened, leading to variation between the khi and gi forms of the particle. One common example involves the derivational nounal particle hi (as in wa-hi, kano-hi, etc.), which has been shortened from older hī. As a result, the form of the post-locative particle when it is attached to such stems frequently varies between khi and gi: wahikhi vs. wahigi, kanohikhi vs. kanohigi, etc.
     
    3) a. ihnu-khi “in front of/on this side of the hill” (ihnu “hill”)
    b. matoran-gi “in front of/on this side of the Matoran”
    c. daika-khi “after/subsequent to the music” (daika “music, notes”)
    d. azal-ki “after/subsequent to the attack”
     
    IId. The Endpoint Particle.
     
    The endpoint particle specifies that the noun with which it is paired is the endpoint of the action of the verb. It will usually be translated into English as “to”. Depending on the context and the denotations of the noun and verb, an endpoint can manifest in many different ways. For example, with a verb expressing some kind of movement, the endpoint could be expressed as the location to which the subject moves (“Kopaka went to Ko-Koro.”). Conversely, with a verb expressing an event where the subject affects an object in some way, the endpoint could be the person or location at which the object ends up (“Tahu gave the mask to Gali.”). Additionally, there is an interplay between this particle and the basic locative particle discussed above, particularly with verbs expressing the latter situation. This interplay will be noted in a later lesson.
     
    The basic form of the particle is ī or ih, and it is always placed before the noun. The ī form is usually used before a stem beginning in a consonant (ī-matoran), while the ih form is used when a stem begins with a vowel (ih-akaku).
     
    4) a. ī-metru “to/toward the city”
    b. ī-matoran “to/toward the Matoran”
    c. ihazal “to/toward the attack”
     
    IIe. The Origin Particle.
     
    The origin particle specifies that the noun with which it is paired is the origin-point of the action of the verb. It will usually be translated into English as “from” or “out of”. Depending on the context and the denotations of the noun and verb, an endpoint can manifest in many different ways. For example, with a verb expressing some kind of movement, the endpoint could be expressed as the location from/out of which the subject moves (“Kopaka came from Ko-Koro.”). Conversely, with a verb expressing an event where the subject affects an object in some way, the endpoint could be the person or location from which the object originates (“Tahu took the mask from Gali.”). Additionally, as with the other particles, there is an interplay between this particle and the other objective particles, particularly with verbs expressing the latter situation. This interplay will be examined in a later lesson.
     
    The basic form of the particle is ha, and it is always placed after the noun.
     
    There are a few variations in the form of the particle, depending on the form of the stem (note that these variations mirror the variations exhibited by the posterior-position particle hi): If the stem ends in a short vowel, ha is strengthened to kha (hoto-ha > hotokha). If the stem ends in a long vowel, ha becomes ga (kolhī-ha > kolhīga). If the stem ends in a consonant, ha becomes ka (brakas-ha > brakaska), unless the consonant is n, in which case ha becomes ga, frequently strengthened to gō, from earlier *gā (matoran-ha > matoranga, matorangō)
     
    In addition, just as with the post-locative particle hi, there is a degree of variability that is the consequence of etymological developments in noun stems. For example, if a noun stem ends in a long vowel, the particle would usually become ga (kolhī-ha > kolhīga). Historically, many noun stems ended in long vowels which have since shortened, leading to variation between the kha and ga forms of the particle. One common example involves the derivational nounal particle hi (as in wa-hi, kano-hi, etc.), which has been shortened from older hī. As a result, the form of the post-locative particle when it is attached to such stems frequently varies between kha and ga: wahikha vs. wahiga, kanohikha vs. kanohiga, etc.
     
    5) a. ihnu-kha “from/away from/out of the hill”
    b. matoran-ga, matoran-gō “from/away from the Matoran”
    c. metru-kha “from/away from/out of the city”
    d. azal-ka “from/away from the attack”
     
    IIf. The Transitional-Instrumental Particle.
     
    The transitional-instrumental particle specifies that the noun with which it is paired is the path, transition, or instrument by which the action of the verb progresses. It will usually be translated into English as “through” or “by” or “with”. Depending on the context and the denotations of the noun and verb, a path/transition meaning can manifest in many different ways. For example, with a verb expressing some kind of spatial movement, the transition could be expressed as the location through or by means of which the subject moves (“Kopaka came/went through Ko-Koro.”). Conversely, with a verb expressing an event where the subject affects an object in some way, the transition could be expressed as the instrument through or by means of which the object is affected (“Tahu attacked the Rahi with his sword.”). Additionally, as with the other particles, there is an interplay between this particle and the other objective particles, particularly with verbs expressing this latter instrumental situation. This interplay will be examined in a later lesson.
     
    Mirroring the basic locative particle, the basic form of the transitional particle is two-fold, depending on its placement with respect to the noun (“variable placement”). To begin, the basic form of the particle when it is placed after the noun is amu when the stem ends in a consonant and mu when the stem ends in a vowel. This particle can be “split” into a particle u or ou (interchangeable) which is displaced before the stem, and a particle ma (with a truncated variant -n) which remains after the stem. A few examples will be useful to illustrate the variation:
     
    6) a. matoran-amu OR (o)u-matoran-ma “through/by the Matoran”
    b. wahi-amu OR (o)u-wahi-ma, (o)u-wahi-n “through/by the Wahi”
    c. azal-amu OR (o)u-azal-ma “through/with the attack”
    d. onoto-amu OR (o)u-onoto-ma, (o)u-onoto-n “by/with the tool”
  11. JRRT

    Learning Matoran: Lesson 7

    By JRRT,

    LEARNING MATORAN
    - LESSON 7 -


     
    We’re back! Might as well jump right in. This lesson, we’ll be looking at some aspects of the paradigms for nouns and pronouns. It's fun! I promise.
     
    I. Nouns and Pronouns: Overview.
     
    As you may have guessed, nouns in Matoran are a bit different from typical English nouns. Just like verbs, they are generally made up of a stem and they may take a variety of particles expressing different relationships between the noun and other elements (verbs, other nouns, etc.) in the sentence. Unlike verbs, however, nouns in Matoran do not take a dedicated set of particles in the same way as verbs. For example, many nouns are simply stems in their own right, while all verb-stems must be paired with a verbal particle. Nominal particles do exist, of course, and some of them function in similarly to verbal particles, i.e. indicating that the stem with which they are paired is of the category “noun”, rather than some other category. Such particles would technically be referred to as “derivational”, and they contrast with the “functional” particles that are more abundant for nouns. These functional particles will be the primary subject of the following discussions. In this respect, verbal particles are both derivational and functional: they indicate that the stem is a verb, in addition to encoding functional content such as Tense. In contrast, nominal particles are mostly functional, encoding content such as “subject”, “object”, “possessor”, etc. Regardless, as in the case of verbs, the combination of stem+particle will be referred to as the nominal complex when necessary.
     
    Pronouns follow the same paradigms as nouns, although they are, in many respects, more irregular. Originally, pronouns took nominal particles identically to nouns, and they therefore encoded the same functional content (“object”, “possessor” etc.). With time, however, pronoun+particle sequences merged drastically, such that, in current stages of Matoran, they form single units.
     
    We will begin with a discussion of the subject forms of pronouns (the simplest paradigm) before moving on to a discussion of the paradigms for a few of the essential nominal particles, a complete discussion of the other (more complicated) paradigms being delayed until later.

    II. Pronouns: Subject Forms.
     
    Before we get to a discussion of particles and the nominal complex, we’ll start off with some simple things. For this section, all you need worry about are the subject forms of pronouns (these were called “nominative” in previous lessons—same function). In anticipation of future discussion, however, it will be good to know that the “subject” category contrasts with the “objective” category, which, for nouns, includes a basic “objective” particle indicating direct/indirect object status (I threw the snowball.), as well as a range of more descriptive markers indicating spatial and temporal positions (“I arrived in Ko-Koro before sundown.”), along with aspectual contours of events (“I threw the snowball to Kopeke” vs. “I threw the snowball at Kopeke” vs. “I threw the snowball toward Kopeke”, etc.).
     
    The subject forms of pronouns for first-person through “fourth-person” (an impersonal/generic pronoun “one, some”) are as follows (the particle nā indicates plural number):
     
    Sg. Plural
    1 o o nā
    2 oa oa nā
    3 ai ai nā
    4 ua ua nā
     
    You can see that the paradigms for the plural pronouns are actually much simpler now than they were in previous lessons. Rejoice! Subject-pronouns are usually positioned directly before the verb. This is a fairly rigid rule; however, due to the variability of word order in Matoran, an object or other element could intervene between the subject-pronoun and verb. This is much more common when the subject is non-pronominal, however. The following examples will illustrate:
     
    1) a. o okoma “I sleep.” (oko ma “to sleep; to pause/rest”)
    b. ai nā okonnā “They are sleeping.”
    c. oa orahō “You spoke.”
    d. ai orahōna “He was speaking.”
    e. o nā kamē “We will go.”
    f. ua orakha “One speaks...” (example context: “One should speak only when spoken to...”)
    g. airahi oa akumō “You saw Rahi.” (aku ma “to see”; airahi < ai-rahi. The particle ai is objective.)
    h. oa airahi akumō “You saw Rahi.”
     
    The patterns of combination here are very straightforward. Note that (1g), which exhibits a full nominal object preceding the pronominal subject and the verb, would be more standard than (1h), which has a full nominal object intervening between subject and verb, although (1h) is certainly not ungrammatical.
     
    III. Nominal Particles: Introduction.
     
    Now that you’re aware of the overall structure of the nominal complex and you’ve been introduced to the subject-forms of pronouns, it’s time to jump into the first few types of nominal particles. These are the subject particle, the basic objective particle, and the possessive particle.
     
    IIIa. The Subject Particle.
     
    As its name suggests, the subject particle indicates that the noun is the subject of a sentence (generally the agent). The particle takes the form ai or ka, and is always positioned after the noun. The ai form generally occurs with stems ending in a consonant (ussal ai or ussalai), but can also occur with stems ending in a or a long vowel (or diphthong), in which case it is frequently shortened to -‘i (mata ai > mata’i; kolhī ai > kolhī’I, hau ai > hau’i). The ka form generally occurs with stems ending in a short vowel other than a (hoto ka, rhotu ka). As usual, the particle can be written as a separate word or attached to the noun either directly or with a dash.
     
    One exception to the usage rules of ai/ka is as follows: if a stem ends with n, ka is frequently used instead of ai and merges with the noun stem itself, forming -nga: matoran-ka > matoranga.
     
    Also, note that the subject particle is actual optional in many cases! For example, if a noun is placed directly before the verb (a common pattern), and information from context makes it possible to distinguish between the subject and object, the subject particle can be dropped. There is, in fact, an interesting interplay between word order and particle-marking that will be discussed in a later lesson.
     
    IIIb. The Basic Objective Particle.
     
    The basic objective particle indicates that the noun is a direct or indirect object, depending on the context and the verb involved. It is the most commonly used of the objective particles. The particle itself takes the form of ai or ak. The ai form generally occurs with nouns beginning in a consonant (rahi > ai rahi), while the ak form is used with nouns beginning in a vowel (ak ussal). As you can see, the particle is always positioned before the noun, and can be written as a separate word or attached to the noun either directly or with a dash (ai rahi, ai-rahi, airahi; ak ussal, ak-ussal, akussal).
     
    One exception to the usage rules of ai/ak is as follows: if a stem begins with n, ak is frequently used instead of ai and merges with the noun stem itself, forming ang-: ak-nohi > angohi. This mirrors the exception to the usage rules of the subject pronoun discussed above.
     
    Finally, note that, much like the subject particle, the basic objective particle is also optional in many cases, depending on the context, the presence of other forms of marking, and the word order. This interplay between factors will be discussed in-depth in a later section.
     
    IIIc. Examples.
     
    Now that you know something about the subject and basic objective particles, a few examples are in order:
     
    2) a. matoranga ak-ussal usyōna. "The Matoran was riding the Ussal." (us ya “to ride”)
    b. ai-piraka toa’i zyōna. "The Toa attacked the Piraka." (zya “to attack”)
    c. turaga’i orahē ai-matoran nā. "The Turaga spoke to the Matoran (pl.)."
    d. kanohika crasyō ak-azal. “The Kanohi repelled the attack.” (cras ya “to repel”, azal “attack”)
    e. gehelai galya. “The river flows.” (gehel “river, stream”, gal ya “to flow”)
    f. angenu toa’i vikimē. “The Toa cut the grass.” (angenu < ak-nenu “grass”, viki ma “to cut”)
    g. brakasai matyō ak-enerui. “The Brakas used (climbed) the vine.”
     
    IIId. The Possessive Particle.
     
    The possessive particle indicates—you guessed it—possession! It is attached to the possessor-noun (the noun that possesses something: Tahu’s mask, Makuta’s evil plan). The particle comes in two different flavors, each of which is historically descended from a single possessive marker. These two forms are wai, which is always placed before the noun, and ui or u’i, which is always placed after the noun. The wai form frequently truncates to wa- when the stem begins with a vowel. In addition, as you can see, the possessor-noun itself (stem+particle or particle+stem) is positioned after the noun it possesses.
     
    Both of these markers descend from a single historical marker *-uai, which was originally placed after the noun. Recall, however, that in the case of verbs, verbal particles may be displaced before the stem to which they are attached. This is, in fact, a consistent pattern that extends beyond verbal particles, and the variation in the forms of the possessive particle are one of the results. Indeed, this concept of “variable position” will feature prominently in future discussions of the remaining objective particles.
     
    A few examples, to conclude:
     
    3) a. ussal wai-huki “Hewkii’s ussal”
    b. onoto matoranui “Matoran’s tool” (onoto “tool”)
    c. azahi pirakau’i “Piraka’s crime” (azahi “crime”)
    d. onuyo wa-ihu “Ihu’s mountain” (truncation of wai to wa; (o)nuyo “mountain”)
     
  12. JRRT

    Learning Matoran: Lesson 6

    By JRRT,

    LEARNING MATORAN



    - LESSON 6 -


     
    Well, it’s been a long time. Time makes for changes. Change is scary. But after a long hiatus, I’ve worked up the motivation to post another installment of this project. Recently, I have actually been surprised to see some interest in the continuation of this endeavor, and for that I am grateful.
     
    I’m afraid the changes to this conception of the Matoran Language have been significant--enough so that some of the previous lessons are now a bit outdated. This installment will deal with a more in-depth description of verbs in Matoran. Luckily, I never delved too deeply into the verbal system in previous lessons, so the changes won’t really be apparent. The pronominal system is largely intact, so check out Lesson 5 if you need a refresher. Nouns won’t make an appearance at all, so you don’t have to worry about them. One extremely minor change: I have been using the macron diacritic over a vowel to indicate a long vowel (ā, ē, ō, etc.), mainly as a space-saving convention. A double vowel is technically more in line with the orthography of Bionicle names, and it can still be used.
     
    One final note: the tone of this “revised” lesson may be slightly less user-friendly than the tone of prior lessons. I’m afraid that that is an unfortunate result of the more in-depth nature of the topics discussed here. If you are really interested in learning more about some particular facet of this version of the Matoran Language, but find that the discussion here is worded obtusely or in a confusing manner, or if you have any general questions at all, feel free to leave a comment and let me know or send me a PM. Otherwise, have fun.
     
    I. Verbs: Overview.
     
    Verbs in Matoran are different from the typical English verb. They are made up of a stem and a verbal particle. There are three major verbal particles that will be mentioned here: ha, ya, and ma. These particles basically serve to indicate that the stem with which they are paired is of the category “verb” (rather than another category, such as “noun” or “adjective”). Some examples of common verbs are ka ma “to move”, ora ha “to speak”, and mat ya “to use/master”.
     
    The combination of stem+particle will be referred to as the verbal complex. This complex does not always form a rigid unit, since the particle can be separated from the stem in many cases. A few examples will illustrate (recall that the first person subject pronoun is o “I”):
     
    1) a. o ka ma “I move.”
    b. o ma ka “I do move.”
    c. o ora ha “I speak.”
    d. o ha ora “I do speak.”
     
    (1a) compared to (1b) and (1c) compared to (1d) show one particular difference in the positioning of the particle with respect to the stem. If the particle is placed before the stem, it serves to emphasize the “reality” of the event described, much as in English. Placing the particle after the verb is the more standard procedure, however. Note that, in both cases, the subject (o “I”) precedes the entire verbal complex (stem+particle). It is a general rule for subjects to precede the verbal complex (especially when they are pronominal).
     
    The particle ya is slightly irregular compared to ha and ma. When it is positioned before the stem, it is essentially “split”, leaving behind a vowel i, while a is displaced before the stem as usual (mat ya > a mat i).
     
    In writing, the stem and particle can be written either as separate units (as above), as a single unit (i.e., kama, maka), or as separate units joined by a dash (ka-ma, ma-ka). It is usually standard procedure to write the stem and particle as a single unit when the particle follows the stem (kama), but as separate units (joined by a dash or not) when the particle precedes the stem (ma ka, ma-ka, but not usually maka). These are not hard-and-fast rules, but I will follow them in most cases for the sake of clarity in the discussions that follow.
     
    II. Verbs: Inflection.
     
    Verbs in Matoran are inflected for Tense and Aspect. Tense takes the form of Present Tense, Past Tense, and Future Tense. Aspect takes the form of Imperfective Aspect (non-completed action) and Perfective Aspect (completed action).
     
    IIa. Tense.
     
    Tense is encoded on the verbal particle by modification of the basic form of the particle.
     
    Present Tense is the simplest, with no change to the particle:
     
    2) a. oraha > o oraha “I speak.”
    b. matya > o matya “I use (smthg.)”
    c. kama > o kama “I move/go.”
     
    Past Tense changes the vowel of the particle to -ō (can be written -oo or just -o in shorthand; -ō develops from earlier -ā, showing that the formation of the past tense was originally just lengthening of the particle vowel a > ā):
     
    3) a. ora ha > o orahō “I spoke.”
    b. mat ya > o matyō “I used (smthg.)”
    c. ka ma > o kamō “I moved/went.”
     
    Future Tense changes the vowel of the particle to -ē (can be written -ee or just -e in shorthand; -ē develops from an earlier diphthong -ae, showing that the formation of the future tense was originally the addition of a vowel -e to the particle vowel -a > -ae).
     
    4) a. ora ha > o orahē “I will speak.”
    b. mat ya > o matyē “I will use (smthg.)”
    c. ka ma > o kamē “I will move/go.”
     
    Tense inflection can also occur with the reversed particle+stem configuration, in which case the tense-marked particle is simply displaced before the stem (e.g., orahō > hō-ora, matyē > ē-mati, etc.).
     
    IIb. Aspect.
     
    Aspect is encoded by the addition of an aspectual particle to the verbal complex. If no aspectual particle is added, the interpretation is ambiguous between the different types of aspect (e.g., imperfective, perfective, etc.). Aspectual particles always follow the verbal complex, regardless of whether or not the complex is stem+particle (e.g., ora ha) or particle+stem (ha ora):
     
    Imperfective Aspect is equivalent in meaning to the progressive construction in English (be+...-ing: "I am/was/will be playing with Legos."). It is indicated by the addition of the particle ana to the verbal complex. This particle frequently merges with the stem or particle preceding it, taking on the form of a suffix more than an independent particle. In such cases, it can be written either as -na or -‘na. The imperfective particle can be used with all tenses: present, past, and future:
     
    5) With present tense:
    a. ora ha > o oraha ana > o orahana OR o oraha’na “I am speaking.”
    b. mat ya > o matya ana > o matyana OR o matya’na “I am using (smthg.)”
    c. ka ma > o kama ana > o kamana OR o kama’na “I am moving/going.”
     
    6) With past tense:
    a. ora ha > o orahō ana > o orahōna OR o orahō’na “I was speaking.”
    b. mat ya > o matyō ana > o matyōna OR o matyō’na “I was using (smthg.)”
    c. ka ma > o kamō ana > o kamōna OR o kamō’na “I was moving/going.”
     
    7) With future tense:
    a. ora ha > o orahē ana > o orahēna OR o orahē’na “I will be speaking.”
    b. mat ya > o matyē ana > o matyēna OR o matyē’na “I will be using (smthg.)”
    c. ka ma > o kamē ana > o kamēna OR o kamē’na “I will be moving/going.”
     
    These tense/aspect combinations can also occur with the reversed particle+stem configuration, in which case the aspectual particle still follows the verbal complex and instead attaches to the stem itself (rather than the particle):
     
    8) With present tense:
    a. ha-ora > o ha-ora ana > o ha-orana OR o ha-ora’na “I am speaking.”
    b. a-mati > o a-mati ana > o a-matyana “I am using (smthg.)”
    c. ma-ka > o ma-ka ana > o ma-kana OR o ma-ka’na “I am moving/going.”
     
    9) With past tense:
    a. ha-ora > o hō-ora ana > o hō-orana OR o hō-ora’na “I was speaking.”
    b. a-mati > o ō-mati ana > o ō-matyana “I was using (smthg.)”
    c. ma-ka > o mō-ka ana > o mō-kana OR o mō-ka’na “I was moving/going.”
     
    10) With future tense:
    a. ha-ora > o hē-ora ana > o hē-orana OR o hē-ora’na “I will be speaking.”
    b. a-mati > o ē-mati ana > o ē-matyana “I will be using (smthg.)”
    c. ma-ka > o mē-ka ana > o mē-kana OR o mē-ka’na “I will be moving/going.”
     
    Perfective Aspect is equivalent in meaning to the perfect construction in English (have+...-ed: "I have/had/will have played with Legos."). It is indicated by the addition of the particle anga to the verbal complex. This particle frequently merges with the stem or particle preceding it, taking on the form of a suffix more than an independent particle. In such cases, it can be written either as -nga or -‘nga. The perfective particle can also be used with all tenses: present, past, and future:
     
    11) With present tense:
    a. ora ha > o oraha anga > o orahanga OR o oraha’nga “I have spoken.”
    b. mat ya > o matya anga > o matyanga OR o matya’nga “I have used (smthg.)”
    c. ka ma > o kama anga > o kamanga OR o kama’nga “I have moved/gone.”
     
    12) With past tense:
    a. ora ha > o orahō anga > o orahōnga OR o orahō’nga “I had spoken.”
    b. mat ya > o matyō anga > o matyōnga OR o matyō’nga “I had used (smthg.)”
    c. ka ma > o kamō anga > o kamōnga OR o kamō’nga “I had moved/gone.”
     
    13) With future tense:
    a. ora ha > o orahē anga > o orahēnga OR o orahē’nga “I will have spoken.”
    b. mat ya > o matyē anga > o matyēnga OR o matyē’nga “I will have used (smthg.)”
    c. ka ma > o kamē anga > o kamēnga OR o kamē’nga “I will have moved/gone.”
     
    These tense/aspect combinations can also occur with the reversed particle+stem configuration, in which case the aspectual particle still follows the verbal complex and instead attaches to the stem itself (rather than the particle):
     
    14) With present tense:
    a. ha-ora > o ha-ora anga > o ha-oranga OR o ha-ora’nga “I have spoken.”
    b. a-mati > o a-mati anga > o a-matyanga “I have used (smthg.)”
    c. ma-ka > o ma-ka anga > o ma-kanga OR o ma-ka’nga “I have moved/gone.”
     
    15) With past tense:
    a. ha-ora > o hō-ora anga > o hō-oranga OR o hō-ora’nga “I had spoken.”
    b. a-mati > o ō-mati anga > o ō-matyanga “I had used (smthg.)”
    c. ma-ka > o mō-ka anga > o mō-kanga OR o mō-ka’nga “I had moved/gone.”
     
    16) With future tense:
    a. ha-ora > o hē-ora anga > o hē-oranga OR o hē-ora’nga “I will have spoken.”
    b. a-mati > o ē-mati anga > o ē-matyanga “I will have used (smthg.)”
    c. ma-ka > o mē-ka anga > o mē-kanga OR o mē-ka’nga “I will have moved/gone.”
     
    IIc. Stem changes and irregularities.
     
    Oh dear! You thought you were going to get off easy, didn’t you? Well, don’t be too nervous: most of these “irregularities” are pretty straightforward:
     
    - Verbal complexes containing the particle ha exhibit a strengthening of h to kh when it occurs between vowels. Thus:
     
    17) a. ora ha > orakha (basic present tense)
    b. ha ora > ha-ora (basic present tense, particle+stem order, no strengthening)
    c. ora ha ana > orakhana (present imperfective)
    d. ha-ora ana > ha-orana (present imperf., particle+stem order, no strengthening)
     
    - Verbal complexes containing the particle ma in which the stem ends in a vowel (e.g., ka ma “to move/go” but not jut ma “to decay”) exhibit an assimilation of m to n in the presence of the imperfective particle ana, along with an overall reduction of the verbal complex itself. This only occurs in the present tense:
     
    18) a. ka ma ana > kamana > kanna (present imperf.)
    b. ka mō ana > kamōna (past imperf., no assimilation/reduction)
    c. jut ma ana > jutmana (present imperf., no assimilation/reduction)
     
    [Does (17a) look familiar? How about (18a)? If you’re familiar with the previous Lessons (Lesson 3, to be precise), you may recognize that these “irregularities” are essentially the same as the “stem gradation” of older versions of the Matoran Language. The end result is very similar, but the original system of “stem gradation” had no real etymological basis, so it was significantly revised. Is it a blast from the past, or just a horrible over-complication? I don’t know!*]
     
    *I don’t care!
  13. JRRT

    Wttv 1.4

    By JRRT,

    WttV Entry 1.4


     
    “Remember, creature.”
     
    “Perhaps then you will learn to listen...”
     
    The Hau faded into the starlight as Takanuva moved away, its eyes glittering with a knowing look as it flickered and vanished.
     
    The wind began to moan again as Takanuva jogged off down the ruined track of the road. His focus was now turned to a new duty—a new goal. He was running out of time. He felt the urgency of his plight keenly now. He would have to finish this task quickly if he was to continue.
     
    Before him, along the horizon, the silver light rose up into the towers and spires of a vast city. A City of Silver. The stars paled in comparison as he ran briskly down the winding track. Here and there to the side of the road a stone pillar loomed among the trees, and sometimes he glimpsed the remains of ruins deeper in the forest, broken and buried beneath ancient dust and the winding of dead roots.
     
    The forest ended abruptly before the walls of the Silver City. Straight from the earth it rose, smooth and glass-like. Takanuva approached and ran a hand along the surface. It was almost frictionless. Impossible to climb, for sure. The metal or crystal of which the wall was made glowed with an inner light, filling the sky above him with its silver radiance.
     
    He turned back to the road. Now he saw that it wound its way parallel to the wall, vanishing in the dusk to his right. He followed it, moving more slowly now, staff in hand, ready for anything he might meet.
     
    After a while, he found that the roadway was paved. Closely-fitted stones made the path straight and even. The stones were well-carved, bathed in the same silver light as the city. No Po-Matoran could do better...
     
    For a moment, faced with memories rising in his mind, Takanuva felt the strangeness of his situation. Lost in a dead forest in some Mata Nui-forsaken land, searching along a glowing road beside a glowing city. He certainly never expected to be doing this.
     
    A sound broke his reverie—the noise of shouts. He realized that he had slowed to a walk, but now he quickened his pace. There was a commotion ahead. Some kind of uproar. He squinted through the dimness, around the curve of the wall. This must be the danger the Hau had spoken of.
     
    He would find out soon enough. . . .Read on.
     
     
     

    JRRT


  16. JRRT

    Wttv 1.3

    By JRRT,

    WttV Entry 1.3


     
     
    It was a hau.
     
    It was a Hau.
     
    A Kanohi Hau was hanging in the night air before him, huge and spectral. A Hau made of light.
    The stars seemed to glimmer through its face, through its two huge eyes. They were deep eyes, ancient and tranquil. The pattern of the stars found an order in those eyes.
     
    “Wh-who are you?” Takanuva asked, finally finding his voice. His eyes were wide, almost disbelieving the image that hung before him. The shock of seeing such a familiar likeness in such a foreign place seemed to clash with the relief he felt at finding something living in this dead forest.
     
    “I am...of the Great Beings,” the Hau said, staring down at him impassively. Its eyes seemed to pierce him through, gazing into his heart and mind.
     
    “Can you...can you tell me where I am?” Takanuva replied. He felt his heartbeat quicken at the mention of the Great Beings. Perhaps he wasn’t as far from home as he had thought.
     
    “You are lost.” it replied, and Takanuva thought he caught a glimmer of humor in the mask’s face.
     
    “Yes, I know,” he said, frowning a little, “I mean, can you help me find my way?”
     
    “I can.” Now the image of the mask turned its eyes downward. Takanuva’s gaze followed, and, there in front of him, he saw the shape of the gnomon, still quivering slightly, pointing straight toward the floating Hau. He picked it up gingerly, finding that it no longer burned him.
     
    “Why did this lead me to you?” Takanuva asked, turning the small rod in his fingers.
     
    “It is also of the Great Beings.”
     
    “Oh? But it’s just a gnomon.”
     
    “Appearance should not be judged so hastily,” the mask said with a tinge of reproach. “You will only deceive yourself that way.”
     
    Takanuva sighed. The mask was a riddle-maker. . . .Read on
     
     

    JRRT


  17. JRRT

    Wttv 1.2

    By JRRT,

    WttV Entry 1.2:


     
    An hour went by. The gravel of the forest floor crunched under his armored feet. The stars shone down, unblinking.
     
    Takanuva was beginning to feel restless. Striding on through the endless darkness, there was no destination, no real direction. He had no goal, other than getting out of the forest, and now he felt as if he were going in circles.
     
    The trees seemed to gather more thickly around him as he went on, the branches lowering like twisted arms. It was an unsettling place, this forest. No sound disturbed the silence, other than the crunch of gravel and the mourning of the wind. There were no rahi here. Nothing at all.
     
    It was a place that felt...left behind. Abandoned. Empty. A house with no inhabitants...
     
    He shivered. Would the night never end? Perhaps here night was eternal.
     
    ”Ironic,” he thought. "They said I was supposed to drive out the night, bring a ‘new day’. Now I can’t even manage a flicker...”
     
    He squinted, putting a hand out in front of him to push away the low-hanging twigs.
     
    “A Toa of Light in need of a lightstone...” . . . Read on
  18. JRRT

    Wttv 1.1

    By JRRT,

    WttV - Entry 1.1:


     
    A flash, and stars flickered across his vision, but not just the stars of shock or pain.
     
    Real stars.
     
    An unfathomable darkness opened beneath him, a gaping absence. The endless depth of the Void yawned, tearing at his being as he hurtled onward. Onward through the emptiness, through the black, reeling darkness...
     
    Onward!
     
    A thud, and the heavy weight of gravity seized his limbs as he collapsed to solid earth.
     
    It was over.
     
    Takanuva lay still, his lungs heaving, perspiration and fear clouding his vision like a fog. His jaw was clenched tight, muscles seizing as he began to shudder. The feeling of abject terror that enveloped him was like nothing he had ever encountered, and it was slow to abate.
     
    But it did abate, gradually releasing its hold upon him. He exhaled, letting his body go limp, exhausted from the journey. His mind was still dazed, and his eyes roved around him, trying to focus on his surroundings. Where was he? . . . Read on
     

    JRRT


  19. JRRT
    “Go.”


     
    The voice echoed in the dry air of the chamber. Helryx’s voice was terse, thick with urgency. She stepped forward and pressed something into his hand. It was the gnomon—a piece of the ancient sundial he had unlocked. What did it mean? He could not say.
     
    Takanuva glanced to his left. The Silent Toa still stood motionless, his eyes grim. Krakua was a strange Toa, Takanuva thought; but, of the three beings which surrounded him in this dim chamber, he trusted him the most.
     
    Krakua nodded, his voice echoing in Takanuva’s mind: “Go.”
     
    The other being was there too: Brutaka, the traitor, the one whom they said had despaired, once.
     
    “Once condemned, but now redeemed,” Helryx had said. The scarred mask upon Brutaka’s face flickered with a dangerous light. The Olmak was perilous. A thing that could open doors…gateways.
     
    Windows through the Void.
     
    There was nothing for it now. No other task, no other cause.
     
    No other duty.
     

    “Go!”
     
    Takanuva faced forward now, steeling his nerves, eyes wide against the terrible light of what loomed before him.
     
    The portal gaped.
     
    He stepped forward.


     
     

    Windows Through the Void


     

    - A serial -


     


    Main Topic : Review Topic

     
    Okay, after a brief delay caused by the awesomeness of LEGO LotR, here is an official blog entry for this epic. This story is meant to mirror the Bioniclestory.com serials of the past, taking especial inspiration from "Takanuva's Blog," in which the various travels of Takanuva on his way to Karda Nui were described.
     
    Each entry will be posted in the main topic, but I will also add a corresponding update to this blog, featuring a portion of the entry (not the whole thing, of course) and a link to the new post. Why is this? Visibility, mainly. And also so that a record of the serial is preserved as a category in this blog. At the time of writing this, I have enough material for every-other-week updates for the next couple of months, meaning that this'll last a while.
     
    As always, your comments and criticism are very welcome, but, above all, your readership is most appreciated. Stay tuned.
     
    JRRT
  20. JRRT

    Learning Matoran: Lesson 5

    By JRRT,

    Hi folks. It's been a terribly long count of years (months), but I'm still, here, writing this stuff. I think it helps keep me sane. . .Whatever the case, if you're here to read this new lesson on the Matoran Language, it might do to read up on some of the older stuff. I don't know, maybe like the previous four lessons?
     
    Lesson 1
    Lesson 2
    Lesson 3
    Lesson 4
     
    And now that that it's all fresh in your mind, move on to Lesson Five: Pronouns I:

    =l Pronouns I l=


     
     
    Matoran pronouns have much the same function as they do in English: they replace nouns, serving as the subject or object of a sentence, and fulfill most of the roles played by nouns. Consequently, Matoran pronouns are modified for the same functions that nouns are: Case, Motion, and Time/Location.
     
    However, the current means of modification is through inflection, rather than a particle system. Although pronouns were previously modified by particles, these particles have since become “eroded,” in a sense, and have now developed new pronoun forms.
     
    Pronouns and Case:
     
    Pronouns are inflected for the same three-fold case system of Nominative (Subject), Objective (Object), and Genitive (Possessive).
     
    Now, in English, whereas nouns function in these roles by their Word Order in a sentence, pronouns also have the extra feature of inflection. For example, the Nominative (Subject) form of the first person pronoun is “I”, while the Objective (Object) form is “me” and the Genitive (Possessive) form is “my”. These characteristics manifest in the other persons as well. Third person Nom. “he/she/it”, Acc. “him/her/it”, Gen. “his/her/its”. Second person Nom. “you”, Gen. “your”, etc.
     
    Matoran features a similar—if a bit more complex—structure, with pronouns being marked for the various cases and numbers (singular or plural). As with nouns, we’ll start off with the Case Pronouns:
     
    -Nominative:
     
    As is the case with all the pronouns, there are three Persons: first, second, and third. These come in singular and plural forms, the plurals being historically formed from the singulars by a particle -ee, which has since been assimilated to the pronoun stem. There is also a "fourth" person, which is the equivalent of English "one," as in "One is bored when one has nothing to do." This is classified as the "impersonal" subject and has no plural form.
     
    Here are the forms of the nominative pronouns, beginning with the singulars:
     
    1 o – “I”
    2 oa – “you”
    3 ia, ai – “he/she/it”
    4 hua – “one”
     
    Now the plurals:
     
    1 oe, u – “we”
    2 ue – “you (pl.), you all”
    3 ie – “they”
     
    These pronoun forms are usually placed directly before or after the verb, regardless of the verb’s position in the sentence. This is a pretty strict placement rule.
     
    -Objective:
     
    Next, the objective case forms. Historically the singulars were formed with the addition of a particle aak-. The plurals were formed by a combination of the ee particle and the addition of the n-prefix from the nounal case particles.
     
    Singular:
     
    1 ako – “me”
    2 akoa – “you”
    3 akia, akai – “him/her/it”
    4 ahua – “one”
     
    Plurals:
     
    1 ngoe, ngu – “us”
    2 ngue – “you (pl.), you all”
    3 ngie – “them”
     
    -Genitive:
     
    Lastly, the genitive pronouns. Singulars are formed with the addition of the genitive particle ui (which you should recognize from the general nounal particles). Plurals are formed by the further addition of plural ee and the n-prefix (with subsequent assimilation):
     
    Singular:
     
    1 uio – “my”
    2 uikoa – “your”
    3 uikia, uikai – “his/her/its”
    4 uihua – “one’s”
     
    Plural:
     
    1 moe, mu – “our”
    2 mue – “your (pl.)”
    3 mie – “their”
     
    Genitives are placed after the nouns they modify in the same way that genitive-case nouns are.
     
    -Usage and Examples:
     
    The usage of the different cases with respect to pronouns is the same as with nouns. Thus, nominative pronouns are used as subjects, objectives are used as direct or indirect objects, and genitives are used to show possession. I will now offer some examples of these different cases forms:
     
    Ia teryo ea matoran.
    “He/she/it attacked the Matoran.”
     
    Teryo i rahi uikia akia.
    “His/her/its Rahi attacked him/her/it.”
     
    O kanna wo wahi a.
    “I went through the region.”
     
    Na oro orakhe oa.
    “You will say words.”
     
    Matoran akia kharmo.
    “The/a Matoran made it.”
     
    Oe kamo ii koro uio.
    “We went toward my village.”
     
    Na kanohi moe kharmo ie.
    “They made our Kanohi (pl.).”
     
    [Note once again that the word order is not crucial in these examples (except for the placement of genitive pronouns, of course): it is the case inflection that determines the role of a noun or pronoun in the sentence.]
     
    This concludes the discussion of case for pronouns. Still to come: Time/Location Particles on Nouns, Motion/Time/Location and Pronouns, Adjectives. Stay tuned.
     
    JRRT
  21. JRRT
    [bump'd, 4/21/11. Because I wanted to. So there.]
     
    [Wouldn't you know it: I go to add new material to this, and it tells me I've reached the limit for a blog entry. So be it. I've thus split this "dictionary" into two "volumes" (because "volume" just sounds so much more important).
    In terms of describing the content of this "update": I've added around 120-130 new entries in all, in addition to modifying and revising older entries. Most of the words have to do with plants, landforms, colors, and the Matoran body. So enjoy, if you will. I know I did.]
     
     

    =ll=
     
    A Dictionary and Etymology of the Matoran Language
     
    =l Volume I l=
     
    As inscribed by the Scholar Ihu of the Knowledge Tower Oroko in Ko-Metru in the Great City of Metru Nui.
     
    This record being written in the ninth century of the Golden Age of Metru Nui: the year 79908 since the Beginning and the Time of the Great Beings.
     
    Prefatory Notes:
    The organization of this dictionary is according to the order of the first letter of the Matoran word, in the sequence in which these letters appear in the Alphabet of the Matoran. Thus Volume I begins with those words which start with A and continues until L, while Volume II begins with M and continues to Z.
    Each entry gives a description of the basic meaning and classification of a word, followed by a more thorough explanation of the word's usage, as well as its etymological history, form, and development. Those words whose etymologies are uncertain are labeled as such.


    -A-
     
    aan, n. being, individual [etymology uncertain; also used as the name for the letter a]
    aavel¹, n. brightness, shining [Derived from the elemental word avo "elemental light"; it originates from an ancient stem modification involving the suffix -li and the reduplication of the stem vowel as a prefix, forming the hypothetical form *aavoli, eventually to aaveli, with usual vowel change of o > e and eventual loss of -i, finally becoming aavel]
    aavel², adj. bright, shining, luminous [Originates as an adjectival form of the noun aavel¹ (see entry); used frequently in compounds]
    aka, n. power, ability [An independent augmented form of the original element ka (see entry ka)]
    akaku, n. cmpnd. the power of vision [From the elements aka "power, ability" and aku "sight, vision"]
    aki, n. courage, bravery, ambition; (honorific) leader, lord [Historically a conjunction of the semantic suffix -ak, at the time meaning something like "active" or "intensified" (although now it has come to have negative connotations), and the general nounal suffix -i; basically synonomous with the term tai (see entry)]
    aku, n. sight, vision
    akuavo, n. sun, star; title of one of the twin suns of Metru Nui [Originates as a conjunction of the ancient elemental stem avoi "light" and the term aku "sight, vision". The word's usage as a title for one of the twin suns in the city of Metru Nui is probably historically based upon the fact that vision is given through light (as in the light of the eyes of the Matoran), and more colloquially upon the idea that the twin suns somehow represent the "eyes of Mata Nui", an idea which is afforded very little credence by the educated community]
    akuhii, n. lit. things of sight; eye(s) [Formed from the elements aku "sight" and the suffix -hii "thing, object, place"]
    amahti, n. hand, grip; lit. "thing that holds, grips" [From the modified stem (a)mat "hold, grip, contain" with addition of the suffix -hii "thing, object, place"]
    amakii, n. finger; lit. "part of hand/grip" [From the modified stem (a)mat "hold, grip, contain" with addition of the suffix -ki(i) "part/piece of"]
    amakii-ovo, n. cmpnd. fingertip [A compound formed from the elements amakii "finger" and -ovo "end, finish"]
    apalikavo, n. cmpnd. lit. light-power in hardness; lightstone [Originates from the archaic word apali "hardness, rigidity" (see entry opoli) and the compound form kaavo "light power/energy"(from the elements ka "energy" and avo "elemental light")]
    arratu, n. resonating musical instrument [From the word coinage artra (see entry) with addition of the nounal suffix -tu, denoting a thing or concept that embodies the stem meaning]
    arta, n. refuge, haven
    arti, n. prison; banishment
    ar(t)ra, n. echo, resonance [From a word coinage artra, based on a reversible syllable structure meant to reflect the sound of an echo; variants include eastern ardra, ardro and southern arthra, arthro]
    ar(t)rau, adj. echoing, resonant [From the word coinage artra (see entry) with addition of the adjectival suffix -u]
    aso, n. sand [Derived from the stem aes "sand, gravel, dirt" with addition of the suffix -o denoting a substance or physical concept; also appears as a variant form aswe with alternate suffix -we]
    aso-mahri, n. cmpnd. sea-shore, beach [Formed from the elements aso "sand" and mahri "ocean, sea"; also see synonymous entry asorho]
    asorho, n. beach; lit. "sand-shore" [Formed from the element aso "sand" and the suffix/prefix rho "line, edge"; also see synonymous entry aso-mahri]
    aswe; see entry aso
    atu, n. mind, will [etymology uncertain; it appears that the word atu may have diverged from the ancient stem maet "mind, thought" at a very early point. In meaning it refers specifically to the Will of an individual, as distinct from thought or intellect (ideas associated with the similar term metye (see entry))]
    atuma, v. to think, consider [Formed from the element atu "mind, thought, will" with addition of the verbal suffix -ma]
    avaku, n. sun, star; title of one of the twin suns of Metru Nui [Originates as a conjunction of the ancient elemental prefix av(o)- "light" and the term aku "sight, vision"; also see entry akuavo for further discussion of origin and usage]
    avenerui, n. lightvine [Originates as a conjunction of the ancient elemental prefix av(o)- "light" and the term enerui "vine, creeper"]
    avo(h), n. elemental light [Originally avoi, still attested in some rare cases; also found as the adjectival prefixes av- and avo-]
    av(o)ta, n. (a) light, torch [From the elemental word avo "elemental light" with addition of the nounal suffix -ta, denoting a concept or thing that embodies the stem meaning]
     
    -B-
     
    barra, n. war, conflict
    Barraki, n. cmpnd. lit. war-leader; (honorific) Warlord [From the elements barra "war, conflict" and aki "leader, lord" (see entries)]
    bohye, n. vigilance, watchfulness [From the ancient stem bo "vigilance, watchfulness" with addition of the nounal suffix -hye, denoting a general universal concept; also realized simply as boh]
    bora, n. watcher, guard [From the ancient stem bo "vigilance, watchfulness" with addition of the agental suffix -ra]
     
    -D-
     
    daika, n. note, music [Originally a compound of the ancient stem dae (an augmented form of the elemental word dei "elemental sound") and the element ka "creative power" with development of the diphthong ae > ai]
    deh, n. elemental sound [Originally dei, still attested in some rare cases; also found as the adjectival prefix de-]
    dema, v. to make noise/sound (base-stem) [From the stem deh "elemental sound" (older dei) with addition of the general verbal suffix -ma]
    deta, n. voice, mouth [From the elemental word deh "elemental sound" (older dei) with addition of the suffix -ta, denoting a thing or concept that embodies the stem meaning]
    detarui n. cmpnd. jaw; lit. "joint of mouth" [Composed of the elements deta "mouth" and -rui "joint" (see entry)]
    dika¹, n. whistle, tune; rahi-noise, cry [A further progression from the term daika "note, music" (see entry) with development of the original diphthong ae > ai > i]
    dika², n. rahi, beast [Developed from the similar dika¹, meaning "whistle" or "tune", but more importantly "rahi-noise, cry" (see entry), eventually embodying the concept of a beast or a thing that makes rahi-noises; also found as diika]
     
    -E-
     
    edrai, v. to control, rule (ai-stem, e-declens.) [Derived historically from the ya-stem verb terya "to influence, persuade" (see entry; originally from the obscure ancient word form ter(e)n "guidance, direction, purpose") with addition of the prefix e-, denoting that the action is turned fully outward (tereya > eterai > etrai > edrai)
    ehel, n. flow, course, current [Historically from elemental word gae; it derives from an ancient stem modification involving the suffix -li and the reduplication of the stem vowel as a prefix, forming the hypothetical form *agali, eventually to egeli, with usual vowel change of a > e and loss of -i, finally becoming ehel (with eventual weakening of intervocalic g)]
    ekama, v. to move (something); to send (away) (base-stem, e-declens.) [Derived from the base-stem verb kama "to move" with addition of the prefix e-, denoting that the action is turned outward]
    ekurma, v. to anger, enrage (base-stem, e-declens.) [Derived from the base-stem verb kurma "to rage, be angry" with addition of the prefix e-, denoting that the action is turned outward]
    elesma, v. to listen; eavesdrop (base-stem, e-declens.) [Derived from the base-stem verb lesma "to hear" (see entry) with addition of the prefix e-, denoting that the action is turned outward]
    emaima, v. to lift, raise (base-stem, e-declens.) [Derived from the base-stem verb maima "to rise" (see entry) with addition of the prefix e-, denoting that the action is turned outward]
    ematya, v. to take, possess (ya-stem, e-declens.) [Derived from the ya-stem matya "to master, use" with addition of the prefix e-, denoting that the action is turned outward]
    eneh, n. stem [Derived from the ancient elemental stem nei "elemental plant-life" (modern neh)]
    eneh-palnehu, n. cmpnd. bamboo, tree-trunk; lit. "woody-stem" [Composed of the noun eneh "stem" and the adjective palnehu "woody"]
    enerui, n. cmpnd. vine, creeper; lit. "jointed stem" [Composed of the elements eneh "stem" and -rui "joint" (see entry)]
    eterma, v. to plan, arrange (base-stem, e-declens.) [Derived historically from the base-stem verb terma "to guide" with addition of the prefix e-, denoting that the action is turned fully outward]
    ezai, v. to attack, strike at (ai-stem, e-declens.) [supplanted older archaic zya; originally from the same root zaa "violence, retribution" with addition of the prefix e-, denoting that the action is turned outward, along with the verbal suffix -ya, forming the hypothetical *ezaaya > *ezaai > ezai]
     
    -F/PH -
     
    fanne, n. sky; ceiling, roof
    phantoka, n. cmpnd (archaic) lit. spirits of the sky; birds, flying things [From the older element phane "sky" (see modern fanne) and -tika "spirit, form, shape" with alteration of -tika to -toka in accordance with historical vowel pattern a-o-a]
     
    -G-
     
    gah, n. elemental water [Also has connotations of peace, purity, and serenity; Originally gae, still attested in some rare cases; also found as the adjectival prefix ga-]
    gahre, n. weight, mass, importance [From older garahye, originally from the ancient stem gar(a), with addition of the suffix -hye, denoting a generally universal concept; also attested as garye]
    galinyohi, n. cmpnd. jungle; lit. "wet-forest" [Composed of the elements gal- "wet" and inyohi "forest"; also found as galinyo-wahi]
    galinyo-wahi; see entry galinyohi
    galno; see entry galnu
    galnu, n. mud, swampy earth [Contracted from an older compound gal-onu "wet earth"; also found as a variant galno]
    galonuhi n. swamp; lit. "watery earth" [Derived from the older compound gal-onu with addition of the nounal suffix -hii "thing, place"]
    galonu-wahi; see entry galonuhi
    garai, v. 1 (phys.) to weigh 2 (meta.) to consider, weigh, ponder [From the ancient stem gar(a) with original addition of the verbal suffix -ya (garaya > garai)]
    garye; see entry gahre
    gauru, adj. discordant, conflicting; separate [Probably derived from an intermediary term *gauur (elemental gah and suffix -uur, see entry guur) with adjectival suffix -u]
    gea(-o), adj. blue [Originally from an augmented form of gae "elemental water" with addition of the usual adjectival color-suffix -o]
    gehel, n. river, stream [Contracted from the original compound ga-ehel "flow, current of water" (see entry ehel)]
    graal, n. rahi bear; Ash Bear [Originally an onomatopoeic word symbolizing the roar of the Ash Bear]
    gukko, n. rahi bird species [The term is a southern dialectal form of the original word goko (still used in some dialects), which was historically gokua; goko is used to define a specific species of rahi bird, including the kahu, kewa (or goko-kahu) and taku and originates as a compound of the onomatopoeic word goh (imitating the call of the kahu subspecies) and the element kua "flying thing" (related to stem kua "free, free-flowing, flying")]
    guur, n. discord, fragmentation, separation [A perversion of the elemental word gae with addition of the negative suffix -uur]
     
    -H-
     
    hah, adj. calm, peaceful [From the stem hah "peace, calm, safety"]
    hahu, adj. calm, peaceful [From the stem hah "peace, calm, safety" with addition of the general adjectival suffix -u]
    hara n. rope; flax [etymology uncertain; may be descended from a hypothetical stem *haar(a) "fiber, weave"]
    harakeke, n. cmpnd. lit. "flax-bush" or "rope-bush" [Composed of the elements hara "flax, rope" and keke "bush, shrub"]
    hau, adj. defending, protecting; used as the name of the Kanohi Mask of Shielding [Originates from the ancient stem haa (also attested as hoh) "protection, defense" with addition of the adjectival suffix -u, denoting an "active" or "outwardly focused" meaning]
    haye, peace, security, calm [From the stem hah "peace, calm, safety" with addition of the nounal suffix -hye, denoting a universal concept]
    hoi, n. shield, protecting thing [Originally hohii, from the ancient stem hoh "protection, defense" with addition of the suffix -hii "thing". Originally used in reference to the protective Kanohi shell of the Hoi Turtle, the first of which were actually Kanohi Hau (to which the word hoi is etymologically related)]
     
    -I-
     
    ihnenu, n. tall/high grass [Formed from a conjunction of the elements iih "high, high up" and nenu "grass"]
    ihneye, n. tree [Formed from a conjunction of the elements iih "high, high up" and neye "plant"; also found as contracted forms inye, inyo (see entries)]
    i(h)no; see entry ihnu
    ihnu, n. hill/mound [Formed from the conjunction of the elements iih "height, high up" and (o)nu "elemental earth"; also attested as later forms ihno and ino]
    iihe, n. high place; mountain-top [From the stem iih "height, high up" and the suffix -hii with alteration of -hii to -he due to the presence of preceding long i in the stem; also see related entries iiho and iiho-nuyo]
    iiho, n. peak, crest [From the stem iih "height, high up" with the nounal suffix -o, denoting a physical concept; also see related entries iihe and iiho-nuyo]
    iiho-nuyo, n. cmpnd. mountain peak, crest [Composed of the elements iiho "peak, crest" and nuyo "mountain"; also see related entries iihe and iiho]
    iiho-yehonu, n. cmpnd. ridge [Composed of the elements iiho "peak, crest" and yehonu "slope, incline"]
    iihu, n. high, far-seeing; wise, transcending (as a proper noun) [From the stem iih "height, high up" with addition of the adjectival suffix -u]
    ik(i), adj. high, tall; happy [A Le-Matoran dialectal convention derived from the stem iih "high up"; also found as ikh(i) and ih(i)]
    Inai(tea), n. the Red Star [From the stem inaeh "star", along with the adjectival tea-o "red, fiery"; also attested as Initeo]
    ini, n. star [Historically inaeh or iniih]
    inihe, n. lit. star-places, the heavens [Formed from the modified stem iniih "star" (descended from an earlier inaeh) and the suffix -hii with alteration of -hii to -he due to the presence of a preceding (historically) long i in the stem.]
    inika, n. cmpnd. lit. star-energy/power, energy of a star [Formed from the elements ini "star" and ka "power, energy"]
    ino-nui, n. cmpnd mountain [Composed of the noun ino "hill, mound" (from ihno) and the adjective nui "great, mighty, vast". Synonyms: (o)nuiwe, (o)nuyo]
    inye n. tree [Contracted from the older ihneye "tree"; also found as a variant inyo]
    inyo; see entries ihneye, inye
    inyo-galnu swamp tree
    inyohi n. forest, wood [A more modern term derived from the word inyo "tree" (itself contracted originally from the earlier ihneye) with addition of the nounal suffix -hii "thing, place"; also found as a variant compound inyo-wahi]
    inyo-wahi; see entry inyohi
     
    -J-
     
    jaga, n. rahi scorpion
    johve, n. subtlety, cleverness [From older jovohye, originally from the ancient stem jov(o), with addition of the suffix -hye, denoting a generally universal concept; also attested as jovye]
    jota, n. detail, complexity [Originally from the ancient stem jov(o) with addition of the suffix -ta, denoting a thing or concept that embodies the stem meaning]
    jovye; see entry johve
    jutma, v. to collapse, decay
     
    -K-
     
    ka, n. power, energy; ability, (creative) potential [Theoretically is may have developed from a form *kae; also spelled cah or ca (using the old orthographic c); also realized as aka, akha, kan, kar, kha(r ) and in very rare cases as the prefix gah- (separate from the elemental ga-)]
    kaatu, n. color [Derived from a hypothetical root *kaa "energy, light, color" (related to ancient stem *kae) with addition of the abstract nounal suffix -tu]
    kaatuhi, n. flower [Derived from the word kaatu "color" with addition of the suffix -hii "thing, object"]
    kai, n. skill, talent, ability [An augmented form of ka "power, ability, potential" (see entry) with addition of general abstract suffix -i]
    kaihe, n. Unity [Developed from the older compound form ka "energy, potential", the adjectival form yi "together, combined", and the nounal suffix -hye, denoting a universal concept; also see analogous entry kaita]
    kai-o, adj. colorful [Originally from an augmented form of ka "power, energy, light" with addition of the usual adjectival color-suffix -o]
    kaita, n. lit. potential combined/together; unity [Developed from the older compound form kayita, which is composed of the elements ka "energy, potential", the adjectival form yi "together, combined", and the abstract, nounal suffix -ta; also see analogous entry kaihe]
    kama¹, v. to move [From the element ka "energy, potential" with addition of the general verbal suffix -ma]
    kama², n. motion, speed [Originates as an abstract nounal form of the verb kama¹ (see entry)]
    kan; see entry ka
    kane, n. energy, passion; rahi bull [This term has come to be associated principally with the species of rahi-bull; kane "power, energy, passion" is formed of the element kan "power, energy" and the general nounal suffix -e]
    Kane-ra, n. cmpnd. wild bull [used to describe the Kane-ra species of bull; it is formed of the word kane "bull" (see entry) and the term ra "wild" used here as a type of adjectival compound]
    kano, n. mask [used as an alternate term for kanohi; the term kano originated as a craft-word used by those of the mask-making profession and only passed into common use after the origination of the kanoka disks, in which word it is used (see entry kanoka for further historical notes)]
    kanohi, n. cmpnd. mask of power [Formed from the word nohi "face, mask" and the element ka "power, ability"]
    kanoka, n. cmpnd. disk of power [The etymology of this term is rather complex. When the first of the disks of power, from which Kanohi masks are more easily forged, were created, the Scholars decided upon the term kanoka by considering the history of the word kanohi, since the two objects—disk and mask—are closely related. Kanohi comes originally from nohi, which means both "face" and "mask". And nohi, in turn, derives from its ancient form noihii, made up of the elements -hii "thing, object" and noi, the elemental word for the substance of Protodermis. The Scholars chose to form a new word—noka—from the elements noi and ka "power" to define the concept of the disks, which, in essence, utilize the power of Protodermis, and they made the further addition of the element ka to better distinguish the Disks of Power as unique. Thus, the term kanoka was formed and has since passed entirely into common use.]
    kar; see entry ka
    kara; see entry kharra
    karahe, adj. passionate, rash, reckless; unstable [From the compound element ka-ra (ka "energy", ra "wild, untamed") and the adjectival suffix -he "having"]
    karda, n. heart, core, engine [From the element kar "energy, power" (see entry ka) and the suffix -ta, denoting a concept or thing that embodies the meaning of the stem, with eventual assimilation of t > d, due to the preceding r]
    kau, n. breath [From the element kau "breathing, free-flowing"]
    kea, n. rahi shark
    keke, n. bush, shrub [etymology uncertain]
    kha(r ); see entry ka
    kharma, v. to make, form [Originally from the element khar "energy, ability, potential" with addition of the verbal suffix -ma]
    kharra, n. maker, builder, shaper [Formed from the element khar "energy, ability, potential" and the agental suffix -ra; also attested in a simplified form kara]
    kh(i)ye, n. that/the place, thence [A grammatical function word. It originates historically from a conjunction of the suffixes -hii "place" and -hye "abstract concept", forming the hypothetical compound *hiihye, which was then later contracted and strengthened to khiye]
    kini, n. temple
    koh, n. elemental ice [Also has connotations of sternness, and severity, as well as silence, calm, and composure; originally koi, still attested in some rare cases; also found as the adjectival prefix ko-]
    koro, n. village, town; walled city [Originally from a stem (o)kor "wall, barrier, landform", which is derived from an older hypothetical form *kaer "hinder, repulse" under influence of a coeval stem rho(k) "boundary, ring, edge". The term has gradually shifted its meaning from "wall, barrier" to a "walled city" and thence to "village, town"; see related entry korwe]
    korwe, n. wall, barrier [Originally from a stem (o)kor "wall, barrier, landform" (see entry koro for full etymology) with addition of the nounal suffix -we "substance, physical concept"]
    korwe-mahri, n. cmpnd. sea cliff [Composed of elements korwe "wall, barrier[/i] and mahri "sea, ocean"]
    kou adv. external, outside; around [etymology uncertain]
    koyo, adj. white [Originally from an augmented form of koi "elemental ice" with addition of the usual adjectival color-suffix -o]
    kraah, n. elemental shadow [Originally krae; also found as the adjectival prefix kraa-]]
    kraahkan, n. cmpnd. power/energy of shadow [From the elements kraah "elemental shadow" and kan "energy, power"]
    kraata, n. cmpnd the will of shadow [Formed from the elements kraah "elemental shadow" and atu "will, mind, thought", with eventual assimilation of final -u to -a]
    kua, n. bird, flying thing; liberty, independence
    ku-amahi, n. cmpnd. palm; lit. "mid-palm" [Composed of the initial element (u)ku "middle, half" (modified from an older stem keu(n)) and the form amahi, contracted from amahti "hand" (see entry)]
    ku-ino, n. cmpnd valley; lit. "between hills" [Composed of the initial element (u)ku "middle, half" (modified from an older stem keu(n)) and the form ino "hill" a variant of ihno (see entry)]
    ku-mirehe, n. cmpnd. elbow; lit. "mid-arm" [Composed of the initial element (u)ku "middle, half" (modified from an older stem keu(n)) and the word mirehe "arm" (see entry)]
    ku-noiwe, n. cmpnd. see entry ku-noyo
    ku-noyo, n. cmpnd. waist, lit. "mid-body" [Composed of the initial element (u)ku "middle, half" (modified from an older stem keu(n)) and the word noyo "body" (see entry); also appears as a variant form ku-noiwe]
    kuta, n. knowledge
    kur, n. anger, rage [A perversion of the elemental word koi with addition of the negative suffix -uur]
    kurma, v. to rage, be angry (base-stem) [From the stem kur "anger, rage" with addition of the general verbal suffix -ma]
    ku-warehe, n. cmpnd. knee; lit. "mid-leg" [Composed of the initial element (u)ku "middle, half" (modified from an older stem keu(n)) and the word warehe "leg" (see entry)]
     
    -L-
     
    leh, n. elemental air [Originally lei, still attested in some rare cases; also found as the adjectival prefix le-]
    ler, n. acid, poison; sickness, illness [A perversion of the elemental word lei with addition of the negative suffix -uur; also found as luur]
    leru, adj. acidic [From the stem ler with addition of the general adjectival suffix -u]
    lehel, n. wind, breeze, wind current [Contracted from the original compound le-ehel "flow, current of air" (see entry ehel); synonymous with the later term lehelye (see entry)]
    lehelye; see entry lehel [A synonymous term for "wind, breeze" derived from lehel with the abstract nounal suffix -hye]
    leo, adj. green [Originally from an augmented form of lei "elemental air" with addition of the usual adjectival color-suffix -o; also found as ly in southern dialects (with shift of diphthong eo > y]
    lesma, v. to hear (base-stem) [From the verbal stem les "hear" (from lus, older lues) with addition of the general verbal suffix -ma]
    lhihke, n. righteousness, virtue, honor [From the stem lhi(k) "virtue, justice" with addition of the nounal suffix -hye (lhihkye > lhihke)]
    lhii, adj. virtuous, right, honorable [From the stem lhi(k) "virtue, justice" with addition of the adjectival suffix -ii; also found as hli in some compounds and as a feature of Le-Matoran dialects (see entry)]
    lhikhe, n. just, fair [From the stem lhi(k) "virtue, justice" with addition of the adjectival suffix -he]
    lusak, n. deafness [A more colloquial word used to describe deafness that is unnatural or was caused by something and has negative results; originates from the stem lus "hearing" (older lues) with addition of the negative suffix -ak; common southern dialect forms include lesek (with common alteration of -ak to -ek) and shorter lesk (lek in compounds or names); also see entry lusuur]
    lusse, n. listening, hearing [From the stem lus "hearing" (older lues) with addition of the general abstract suffix -e]
    lusta, n. ear [From the stem lus "hearing" (older lues) with addition of the suffix -ta, denoting a thing or concept that embodies the stem meaning]
    lusuur, n. deafness [From the stem lus "hearing" (older lues) with addition of the negative suffix -uur; primarily used as a scientific or medical term; also see entry lusak]
     
    Here ends Volume I. Volume II continues with entries M-Z.
     
    JRRT
  22. JRRT
    A Dictionary and Etymology of the Matoran Language
     
    =l Volume II l=
     
    Compiled by Ihu, Scholar of Metru Nui, k. 79908. This volume continues with entries M through Z.


    -M-
     
    mahri, n. ocean
    m(a)i, adv. up, above, over [From the stem *maeh "up, above, over"]
    maima, v. to rise (base-stem) [From the stem *maeh "up above, over" with addition of the general verbal suffix -ma]
    maita¹, n. brain [From the ancient stem maet "mind, thought" with addition of the nounal suffix -ta, denoting a thing or concept that embodies the stem meaning, and with development of the ancient diphthong ae > ai]
    maita², adj. mental, of the mind [Originally maihta, the word eventually merged in form with the earlier maita¹ (see entry). It derives from the ancient stem maet "mind, thought" with addition of the adjectival suffix -ha, and with development of the ancient diphthong ae > ai]
    mai(h)te, adj. intelligent, mindful, reasoned [From the ancient stem maet "mind, thought" with addition of the adjectival suffix -he "having" and with development of the ancient diphthong ae > ai]
    Makuta, n. cmpnd. Master of Knowledge [From elements ma- "master, user of" and kuta "knowledge"]
    manas, n. monster, fearful thing
    Mana-ko, n. cmpnd silent monster [From older Manasko]
    manta, v. to create (base-stem) [From the element man (see entry mat) and the general verbal suffix -ta]
    mareno, n. (the) West [Apparently derived from an older stem mairee- (which eventually produces our modern term mirehe "arm"), in conjunction with the ancient elemental stem (o)noi, referencing the element of Protodermis.The term follows a trend in the derivation of "location-words" in which the words for the cardinal points originate from terms for parts of the body. See related entries metiono "north", merhono "east", and wareno "south" for further discussion]
    mat (ma-), n. user, master, creator [etymology uncertain; it is believed that mat first originated as *maa but this is not definitively attested; also appears as man]
    Mata, n. lit. Master of All [used only in reference to the Great Spirit; mata is formed of the element mat "master, user" and the ancient intensive suffix -a]
    matatu, n.cmpnd. master/user of the mind [From the elements mat "master, user" and atu "mind, will"]
    mator(o), n. cmpnd. word master, a master of words [From the two elements ma(t) "master (of)" and oro "word(s)"]
    Matoran, n. lit. word-master-beings, generalized as "speakers", "those who speak" [From the older matoroan, it is formed from the element mator(o) "word master" and the suffix -an "being, individual"]
    matya, v. to master, use (ya-stem) [From the element mat "master, user" and the verbal suffix -ya]
    mau(h)te, adj. changed, altered [From the ancient stem maut "change, difference" with addition of the adjectival suffix -he "having"]
    mautur, n. ruin, distortion [From the ancient stem maut "change, difference" with addition of the negative suffix -uur, denoting an opposite meaning; the term originally meant "idleness" or "stagnation", but later took on the meaning of a similar word mutak "ruin, distortion", eventually supplanting the term and losing the historical meaning]
    mautye, n. change, modification; mutation [From the ancient stem maut "change, difference" with addition of the nounal suffix -hye, denoting a generally universal concept; also found as the more modern muhtye, with development of diphthong au > u]
    merhono, n. (the) East [Apparently derived from an older stem mairee- (which eventually produces our modern term mirehe "arm"), in conjunction with the ancient elemental stem (o)noi, referencing the element of Protodermis. This origin is identical with the related term mareno "west", differing only in the combination of the two elements (merhono showing the gradual prevalence of the onoi element, whereas mareno shows the opposite). The term again demonstrates the usual convention by which the names of the cardinal points all originate from terms for parts of the body. See related entries metiono "north", mareno "west", and wareno "south" for further discussion]
    metii, n. head [From the ancient stem maet "mind, thought" with addition of the nounal suffix -hii "thing, place" and with development of the ancient diphthong ae > e]
    metineye, n. cmpnd canopy; lit. "tree-head" [Composed of the noun metii "head" and a contracted form of ihneye "tree"]
    metirui, n. neck; lit. "head joint" [Composed of the elements metii "head" and -rui "joint" (see entry)]
    met(i)ono, n. (the) North [Apparently derived from an older form of the stem met-, at the time meaning "mind" or "head", in conjunction with the ancient elemental stem (o)noi, referencing the element of Protodermis. There is still debate over the exact motivation for the derivation of this term, although some have proposed that it is related to the location of the city of Metru Nui in the north of the world, the term metru sharing the same or similar etymology (from the ancient stem maet "mind, thought"); also see related entries mareno "west", merhono "east", and wareno "south", all of which seem to be derived from terms for parts of the body]
    metru, n. city [etymology uncertain; it appears that metru originated from the ancient stem maet "mind, thought" with obscure suffix -uu (which may signify a place embodying a concept), eventually becoming -ru with loss of preceding diphthong ae. It is unclear why a term for a city originated from such a stem; however, this could be explained by the fact that maet may have developed from the older hypothetical stem *maa (see entry mat), connecting its meaning with the early construction of a city. There is no considerable consensus on this (or the preceding) interpretation.]
    metye, n. mind, intellect [From the ancient stem maet "mind, thought" with addition of the nounal suffix -hye and with development of the ancient diphthong ae > e]
    mirehe, n. arm [Historically composed of the adjectival element mai- "up, upper" and the word reehe "limb, appendage"]
    mirehovo, n. cmpnd. wrist [A compound formed from the elements mirehe "arm" and -ovo "end, finish"]
    misso, n. mist, fog [Formed from the stem miis "mysterious, unkown" with addition of the suffix -o denoting a substance or physical concept; also appears as a variant form miswe with alternate suffix -we]
    missu, adj. unknown, mysterious [From the stem miis "mysterious, unkown" with addition of the adjectival suffix -u]
    miswe; see entry misso
    misye, n. mysteriousness, (the) Unknown [From the stem mis "mysterious, hidden, unknown" with addition of the suffix -hye, denoting a universal concept; also found as mishe in southern and eastern dialects, with common dialectal shift of sy > sh]
    mo, n. field, plain, country
    moa, n. lit. of the plains; plains-dweller, desert bird [Historically moha, from the elements mo "plain, country" and the adjectival suffix -ha "of the…"]
    mora, n. wilderness, wild country; landscape [From the elements mo "field, plain, country" and ra "wild untamed"]
    motara, n. desert; hot, barren region [Historically a triple-compound formed from the elements mo "field, country", ta "fire, hot", and ra "wild, untamed"]
    mua, n. rahi cat, tiger
    mudra, n. changer (one who changes things) [Historically mutra, it originates from the ancient stem maut "change, difference" with addition of the agental suffix -ra and with usual later development of diphthong au > u; complementary to the similar word munna (see entry)]
    muhtye; see entry mautye
    mukai, v. to ruin, distort (ai-stem) [Historically derived from the ya-stem verb mutya through analogy of the archaic stem mutak, forming the hypothetical form *mutakya (with insertion of -ak into the stem), eventually developing into the form mukaya and thence to mukai]
    munna, n. changer (one who changes) [From the ancient stem maut "change, difference" with addition of the agental suffix -na and with usual later development of diphthong au > u; complementary to the similar word mudra (see entry)]
    mutaku, adj. ruined, distorted, disparate [Originally derived from an archaic stem mutak "ruin, distortion" (now unused, supplanted by more recent mautur (see entry)) with addition of the general adjectival suffix -u]
    mutu, adj. different, unlike [From the ancient stem maut "change, difference" with addition of the adjectival suffix -u and with usual later development of diphthong au > u]
    mutya, v. to change (ya-stem) [From the ancient stem maut "change, difference" with addition of the verbal suffix -ya and with usual later development of diphthong au > u]
     
    -N-
     
    neh, n. plant-life element [Originally nei; also realized as the adjectival prefix ne-]
    neto, n. leaf [Derived from a stem (e)net, modified form of the elemental root nei, with addition of the nounal suffix -o "physical concept"]
    nekua, adv. thus, so, in that way [etymology uncertain]
    nenu, n. grass [etymology uncertain]
    nenu-leru, n. cmpnd acid grass [A term for the species of acid grass found in the Northern Continent and in the island of Xia, it is composed of the noun nenu "grass" and the adjective leru "acidic"]
    neo, n. nature; the Green [Originally from the ancient elemental root nei "elemental plant-life" with addition of the nounal suffix -o "physical concept"; also found as ny in southern dialects (with shift of diphthong eo > y). Translation of the term as "the Green" stems from the similarity of the modern form of the word to other color-words derived from elemental stems (cf. leo "green")]
    neto-kaatuhi, n. cmpnd. petal; lit. "flower-leaf" [Composed of the elements neto "leaf" and kaatuhi "flower"]
    neye, n. plant [Modified from the ancient elemental root nei "elemental plant-life"]
    nohi, n. (outer) face, mask [used by mask-makers to refer to the powerless Matoran mask; nohi comes from the ancient form noihii, which, in turn, is formed from the ancient elements -hii "thing, object" and noi, the elemental word for the substance of Protodermis. Thus, nohi may, historically, be rendered as "thing of Protodermis"]
    noiwe; see entry noyo
    noka, n. disk [A more modern addition to the Matoran lexicon, noka is formed from the elements noe "elemental protodermis" and ka "power, ability" to have the historical meaning of "power of protodermis". (see entry kanoka for further historical notes)]
    noyo, n. body [Derived from the ancient stem onoi, with the repurposing of the initial o as a suffix]
    nui, adj. great, powerful
    nuva, adj. new
    nuyorho, n. mountain range [Originates as a conjunction of the word (o)nuyo "mountain" and the suffix/prefix rho "line, edge"]
     
    -O/Y-
     
    ohama, v. to come, move toward (base-stem) [Formed from the older verb kama "to move", with addition of the prefix o(h)-, denoting that the action is turned inward]
    okune, n. (a) silence, pause, rest [From the element koh "elemental ice (also connoting 'silence' and 'calm')" with addition of the circumfix o-…-hi construction, denoting "an instance/object within the concept of the stem"; the development of the theoretical historical form *okoohi into the modern form okune occurs according to a process by which the -hi suffix, in the presence of a preceding "back" consonant sound (in this case k), is strengthened to -ne, while the historically long vowel oo is raised to u due to the effect of the original -hi]
    onkoro, n. cliff [Derived from the word koro in combination with the elemental earth prefix onu-; also appears as a variant onkorwe with suffix -we "physical concept"]
    onkoro-nui, n. cmpnd. the Great Barrier [composed of the noun onkoro "cliff" and the adjective nui "great, mighty, vast"]
    onkorwe; see entry onkoro
    (o)nuiwe, n. mountain [Originates from the ancient elemental stem onue "elemental earth" with addition of the stem iih "high, high up" and the nounal suffix -we "physical substance/concept" [onue-iih-we > onuih-we > onuiwe]. Synonyms: (o)nuyo, ino-nui]
    (o)nuyo, n. mountain [Originates from the ancient elemental stem onue "elemental earth" with addition of the stem iih "high, high up" and the nounal suffix -o "physical substance/concept" [onue-iih-o > onuih-o > onuio]. Synonyms: (o)nuiwe, ino-nui]
    onne, n. solidness, steadfastness, loyalty; stubbornness [A very ancient word derived from the element onu "elemental earth (also connoting 'solidness' and 'loyalty')" with addition of the general nounal suffix -e]
    on(o)to, n. tool, instrument; weapon [From the older form ono "tool, weapon, implement" (etymology uncertain), with further addition of the suffix -to, also indicating a tool or implement; the stem ono is possibly descended from an older form *hno, similar in shape to the hypothetical stem *hro, see entry oro]
    ono-vawe, n. cmpnd. island [A compound of the elements ono "elemental protodermis" (derived from the ancient stem (o)noi) and vawe "foundation" (see entry). Synonyms: pauhi, pa-nui, vawe]
    (o)nuh, n. elemental earth [Originally (o)nue; also realized as nu, nuu, and as the adjectival prefix onu-]
    onwo, adj. black [Originally from an augmented form of onue "elemental earth" with addition of the usual adjectival color-suffix -o]
    opahi, n. (a) stone, rock [From the element pah "elemental stone" with addition of the circumfix o-…-hi construction, denoting "an instance/object within the concept of the stem"]
    oraha, v. to say, speak (base-stem) [Consists of the verbal stem ora, which is in turn derived from the older stem of oro "word" with addition of the verbal suffix -ha]
    yraha, v. to tell, relate (base-stem) [Originally derived from the older verb oraha "to say, speak", with addition of the prefix e- (forming the archaic eoraha), denoting that the action is turned outward; it then exhibits the development of the diphthong eo > y in initial position]
    oran, n. word being, being(s) who use words (language) [used as a reference to those races throughout the universe who speak with language, Matoran or otherwise; oran (older oroan) is formed from the element oro "word" and the suffix -an "being, individual" with eventual absorption of the -o in oro.]
    oro, n. word [etymology uncertain; possibly descended from a stem *hro]
    oturhe, n. (a) fear, fright [From the word tur " fear, cowardice" (older tuur) with addition of the circumfix o-…-hi construction, denoting "an instance/object within the concept of the stem"]
    ovahi, n. (a) time, instance, moment [used in reference to a specific point in time; it is formed from the elemental word vae, with addition of the circumfix o-…-hi construction, denoting "an instance/object within the concept of the stem", so "a specific point within the concept of time"]
    ozahi, n. violent act, crime [From the element zaa "retribution, conflict, violence" with addition of the circumfix o-…-hi construction, denoting "an instance/object within the concept of the stem"]
     
    -P-
     
    paavelta, n. cmpnd. lit. luminous stone; lightstone [Originates from the elements pao "elemental stone" (see entry poh) and the archaic word aavelta "luminous, shining thing" (itself formed from the element aavel "shining, luminous" and the suffix -ta, denoting a thing or concept that embodies the stem meaning)]
    pah; see entry poh
    paka, n. strength, hardness [Physically, denotes the strength of a physical object or individual, but metaphorically paka can refer to a hard or stern personality; paka is formed from the elements pa "elemental stone" and aka "power, ability" to have a literal, historical, meaning of "power of stone"]
    palneh, n. trunk; lit. "hard stem" [Contracted from an older compound pal-eneh "hard stem"]
    palnehu, adj. woody [Derived from the older compound pal-eneh "hard stem (trunk)" with addition of the general adjectival suffix -u]
    palnewe, n. wood [Derived from the older compound pal-eneh "hard stem (trunk)" with addition of the nounal suffix -we "substance"]
    pa-nui, n. cmpnd. island [Composed of a variant of the ancient elemental stem pao "elemental stone" and the adjective nui "great, mighty". Synonyms: pauhi, vawe, ono-vawe]
    pauhi, n. island [Derived from the ancient elemental stem pao "elemental stone" with addition of nounal suffix -hii "thing, place". Synonyms: vawe, ono-vawe, pa-nui]
    pawo, adj. brown [Originally from an augmented form of pao "elemental stone" with addition of the usual adjectival color-suffix -o]
    piraka, n. cmpnd lit. "agent of evil"; (obscenity) a thief or murderer [Formed from the elements piir "perpetrator, agent of" and -raka "great destruction, evil" (from -rak and older intensifier -a)]
    pire, n. perpetrator, agent; participant [From the stem pir (older piir) with addition of the general nounal suffix -e]
    poh, n. elemental stone [Originally pao, still attested in some rare cases; also realized as pah and as the adjectival prefix po-]
    pura, n. friend, companion [From the stem pu (originally from the elemental po) "friendly, pleasant" with addition of the agental suffix -ra]
     
    -R-
     
    ra, 1 adj. wild, free, untamed; 2 n. wildness, freedom [An extremely ancient word element applied mostly to animate things, it has inherently both nounal and adjectival properties which have never been separated into distinctly different words; historically raa]
    rahi, n. wild thing/creature [Formed from the element ra "wild" and the suffix -hii "thing"; historically raahii.]
    rama, n. flying rahi insect
    rau, n. understanding, translation, decipherment [Originates from the stem oro "word" (see entry)]
    raura, n. teacher; translator, "understander" [Derived from the word rau "understanding, decipherment" (originally from the older oro "word") with addition of the agental suffix -ra]
    reehe, n. limb, branch; appendage [Probably from a stem like *(e)ree (modified from the ancient stem raa "wild, chaotic, deviant"), signifying "divergence" or "branching off", also with addition of the suffix -hii "thing, object, place"]
    rehovo, n. cmpnd. foot; lit. "end of limb" [A compound formed from the elements reehe "limb" and ovo "end, finish"; also found as an alternate form warehe-ovo, with more modern warehe "leg"]
    rhot(t)u, n. ring, wheel [Historically rhoktu, from the stem rho(k) "ring, circle, edge" with addition of the nounal suffix -tu, denoting a thing or concept that embodies the stem meaning]
    rhovawe, n. shore, shoreline [Composed of the element vawe "foundation, basis, island" and the suffix/prefix rho "line, edge, circle"]
    rho(we)-nuyo, n. cmpnd. mountain range [Composed of the elements rho(we) "line, edge" (with nounal suffix -we "physical concept") and nuyo "mountain"]
    rodye; see entry rohte
    rohte, n. truth, reality [From older rotohye, originally from the older stem rot(o) (augmented from the stem oro, see entry), with addition of the suffix -hye, denoting a generally universal concept; also attested as rodye]
    rui(hi), n. joint [etymology uncertain; possibly derived from an earlier modification of the ancient stem form raa "wild, chaotic, deviant", with a reversal of the meaning (thus "together, converging, united, etc.")]
    rui-mirehe, n. cmpnd shoulder [A compound formed from the elements mirehe "arm" and rui "joint"]
    rui-rehovo, n. cmpnd toe-joint [A compound formed from the elements rehovo "foot" and rui "joint"]
    rui-warehe, n. cmpnd hip [A compound formed from the elements warehe "leg" and rui "joint"]
     
    -S-
     
    sa(a), conj. and [A conjunction used to connect words of the same type (noun-noun, verb-verb, etc.)]
    suva, n. shrine, gathering place
     
    -T-
     
    tah, n. elemental fire [Also has connotations of courage, bravery, and leadership; originally tae, still attested in some rare cases; also found as the adjectival prefix ta-]
    tai¹, n. courage, bravery, leadership [From the elemental word tah (older tae) with addition of the general nounal suffix -i; the term merged at an early point with the adjectival form taii (see entry tai²); also see synonomous term aki]
    tai², adj. brave, courageous, bold [From the elemental word tah (older tae) with addition of the adjectival suffix -ii (*taeii > taii > tai)
    taka, n. light, illumination [Can refer more to the light of a fire or a torch, thereby also carrying the connotation of "leading" or "revealing", as the light of a torch reveals the way]
    takea, n. all-king (honorific) [The etymology of this term is at once simple and obscure. This is primarily because of its usage: the term takea can be used as an honorific of great respect, denoting mastery and power, but it is also used as the name of the Rahi Takea Shark. This dual usage has resulted in a double meaning of sorts, since, as the name of a Rahi, it is used to mean "king of sharks". The constructions used for this latter meaning are the elemental prefix ta-, denoting authority and leadership, and the word kea "rahi shark". However, in its primary (or historical) usage, takea can be traced back to the ancient word aki "leader, lord" with the intensive suffix -ea (historically -eaa). This forms the term akea, which, combined again with the prefix ta-, yields the "all-king" honorific. Because of this variety in meaning, it may perhaps be simpler to classify both words as completely separate.]
    tea(-o), adj. red, fiery [Originally from an augmented form of tae "elemental fire" with addition of the usual adjectival color-suffix -o]
    ter(e)na, n. keeper, guider [From the obscure ancient word form ter(e)n "guidance, direction, purpose" with addition of the agental suffix -na]
    terenhe, adj. purposeful, meaningful [From the obscure ancient word form ter(e)n "guidance, direction, purpose" with addition of the adjectival suffix -he "having"]
    terenye, n. guidance, direction, purpose [From the obscure ancient word form ter(e)n "guidance, direction, purpose" with addition of the suffix -hye, denoting a generally universal concept]
    terma, v. to guide (base-stem) [From the obscure ancient word form ter(e)n "guidance, direction, purpose" with addition of the general verbal suffix -ma]
    terne, n. intention, goal [From the obscure ancient word form ter(e)n "guidance, direction, purpose" with addition of the general nounal suffix -e]
    terya, v. to influence, persuade (ya-stem) [simplified from older tereya; it originates from the obscure ancient word form ter(e)n "guidance, direction, purpose" with addition of the general verbal suffix -ya (terenya > tereya > terya)]
    tika, n. spirit, form, shape
    tur, n. fear, terror, cowardice [A perversion of the elemental word tae with addition of the negative suffix -uur]
     
    -U-
     
    ua-eneh, n. cmpnd root; lit. "under-stem" [Composed of the adjectival element ua- "down, lower, under" and the word eneh "stem"]
    ua(h), adv. down, beneath, under [etymology uncertain]
    uama, v. to descend, go down; drop (base-stem)
    ussa, n. steed [etymology uncertain]
    usya, v. to ride (ya-stem)
     
    -V-
     
    vah, n. elemental time [Originally vae, still attested in some rare cases]
    vahye, n. Time [used in reference to Time as a universal concept, in contrast to the elemental concept, represented by vah; it is formed originally from the elemental word vae with the addition of the suffix -hye, denoting a universal concept]
    vau, adj. treacherous, dangerous [From the stem bwa "treacherous, trickery" with addition of the adjectival suffix -u and with usual change of bw > v; also found as a place name Fau, with de-voicing of initial consonant characteristic to Le-Matoran dialects]
    vawe, n. foundation, basis; island [From the stem vu(a) "source, beginning" with addition of the nounal suffix -we, denoting a physical substance or concept embodying the stem meaning (vuawe > vaawe > vawe); also see entry ono-vawe "island"]
    vawe-nui, n. cmpnd. continent, large landmass [Composed of the nounal element vawe "foundation, island" and the adjective nui "great, vast, mighty"]
    vike , n. edge, sharp edge [etymology uncertain; possibly related to the adjectival prefix vi- "narrow, fine"]
    vikuino n. cmpnd. ravine, crevasse, narrow valley [Composed of the element ku-ino "valley" and the prefix vi- "narrow"]
    visso, n. venom, poison [From the stem viis "poison, venom" with addition of the nounal suffix -o, denoting a physical substance; also found as viswe with alternate suffix -we]
    vissu, adj. venomous, poisonous, deadly [From the stem viis "poison, venom" with addition of the general adjectival suffix -u]
    viswe; see entry visso
    voake, n. greed, gluttony [From the stem bwo "hunger, need, consumption" with addition of the abstract, negative suffix -ak (with usual development of -ak > -ake in vowel-final, monosyllabic stems); also voage]
    voakhe, adj. greedy, gluttonous [From the original form voak (see entry voake) with addition of the adjectival suffix -he "having"]
    vohye, n. hunger, appetite; desire, need [From the stem bwo "hunger, need, consumption" with addition of the suffix -hye, denoting a universal concept]
    voita, n. end, completion, termination [Derived from a stem voe "end, finish, completion" with addition of the nounal suffix -ta "concept embodying stem meaning"]
    vuana, n. founder, beginner [From the stem vu(a) "source, beginning" with addition of the agental suffix -na; synonomous with the term vuara (see entry)]
    vu(a)neye, n. seed, spore; lit. "plant-source" [Contracted from an older compound vua-neye]
    vuara, n. founder, beginner [From the stem vu(a) "source, beginning" with addition of the agental suffix -ra; synonomous with the term vuana (see entry)]
    vuata, n. source, beginning [From the stem vu(a) "source, beginning" with addition of the nounal suffix -ta, denoting a thing or concept that embodies the stem meaning]
    vuneye-nenu, n. cmpnd. fern; lit. "spore-grass" [Composed of the elements vuneye "seed, spore" and nenu "grass"]
    vurenye, n. Destiny [Historically a compound of the stem vu(a) "source, beginning" and the older word terenye "guidance, purpose" (vuaterenye > vuatrenye > vurenye); also realized as the more archaic compound ter(e)vua]
     
    -W-
     
    wa, adj. wide open, great, large [Historically waa]
    wahi, n. region, place [From the elements wa (historically waa) "wide open, large" and -hii "place, thing"]
    wanoyo, n. chest [From the elements wa "wide" and noyo "body, torso"]
    warehe, n. leg [Historically composed of the adjectival element ua- "down, lower" (eventually contracting to wa-) and the word reehe "limb, appendage"]
    wareh(e)ki, n. shin [Derived historically from the word warehe "leg" with the suffix -ki(i) "part, piece of". The term is more modern than warehe, since at the time of its derivation the -hii suffix in warehe (older wareehii) had already been retracted to -he [ua-ree-hii > wareehii > warehe-kii > wareheki]]
    warehe-ovo; see entry rehovo
    wareno, n. (the) South [Apparently derived from an older stem uaree- (which eventually produces our modern term warehe "leg"), in conjunction with the ancient elemental stem (o)noi, referencing the element of Protodermis, exhibiting the general convention of deriving "location-words" from terms for parts of the body. See related entries metiono "north", merhono "east", and mareno "west" for a more thorough discussion]
     
    -Y-
     
    yehe, n. back, side; surface [Originally a development from an older form ike- (from which is also derived the grammatical particle ihe "before, behind") with addition of the nounal suffix -hii; frequently appears as a prefix ye- in compounds]
    yehonu, n. cmpnd slope, incline, hill-side [Composed of the noun yehe "side" and the ancient stem onu "elemental earth", here used to represent "hill, mountain"]
    yemetii, n. cmpnd back of head [Composed of the initial element ye- "back, rear, side" and the word metii "head" (see entry)]
    yenoyo, n. cmpnd back, spine [Composed of the initial element ye- "back, rear, side" and the word noyo "body" (see entry)]
    yerehovo, n. cmpnd heel [Composed of the initial element ye- "back, rear, side" and the word rehovo "foot" (see entry)]
     
    -Z-
     
    zya, v. (archaic) to attack (ya-stem) [A highly archaic term, usually supplanted by the more modern ezai (see entry); historically it originates from the stem zaa, with a meaning of "violence" or "retribution", and the addition of the verbal suffix -ya (*zaya > zya)]
     
    Here ends the Dictionary.
     
    ...whew.
     
    JRRT
  24. JRRT

    Learning Matoran: Lesson 4

    By JRRT,

    Lhe ke ovahi o,
    gaa kaira teraio’na
    a Taka a Kraa, e’ Arta a Khar.
    Ie te ngie zyo.
    I ava e’ awa ekamo.

    During that time,
    Two brothers ruled
    Light and Dark, Arta and Khar
    They strove against each other
    And the first cast down the second.

    -- From “The Legend of the Bionicle”

    --------------------

    My, folks, it's been a while. Don't worry. I'm not dead or anything. The project continues!

    In fact, it's like...it's like I can't stop.

    ...

    Help me.

    --------------------

    =l Nouns II l=

    Recall again the basic structure of the Matoran Noun System: particles placed before, after, or around the noun which indicate the purpose of the noun in a sentence. Thus far, we have seen the first three of these particles—the Case Particles—dealing with the grammatical roles of Subject, Object, and Possession. Six particles remain, and these are split into two groups: Motion and Time/Location. We'll deal with the first group here.

    Motion Particles:
    The three-fold particle structure is repeated for particles indicating Motion. Otherwise, the Motion particles are rather straightforward.

    “Toward/Into”
    The particle ii, placed before the noun, specifies motion toward, at, or into a noun. The plural form is nii.

    wahi – “region”
    ii wahi – “toward/into (a/the) region”
    nii wahi – “toward/into regions”

    “Through/By”
    Motion through, by/beside, or past a noun is expressed by the particle wo…a, with the plural form mo..a. This type of particle differs from the other particles discussed thus far, in that it consists of two parts—one placed before the noun and one placed after, but both forming a single particle. Therefore:

    wahi – “region”
    wo wahi a – “through/by (a/the) region”
    mo wahi a – “through/by regions”

    Technically, particles such as this would probably be classified as “circumpositions” (think preposition: before the noun; circumposition: around the noun). But, for the sake of simplicity, we will hold to the “particle” definition.

    “From/Out of”
    The last of the Motion particles is ka (plural nga), expressing motion out of, away, or originating from a noun. It is always placed after the noun.

    wahi – “region”
    wahi ka – “from/out of (a/the) region”
    wahi nga – “from/out of regions”

    This concludes the discussion of particles expressing Motion.

    Simple Sentences:

    Lastly in this lesson, I’d like to lay out some simple sentences, using vocabulary referenced in previous lessons.

    Ne matoran ii wahi kamo.
    "Matoran (pl.) went toward (the/a) region"

    First, we have matoran with the nominative plural particle ne. This is, of course, the Subject of the sentence. Next, there's wahi preceded by the singular motion particle ii "to/toward". And lastly, we have the verb kamo, past tense (note the suffix -o) of kama "to move, go".

    Rahi ui matoran wo wahi a kanna.
    "The Matoran’s Rahi goes through the region."

    The subject here is rahi (lacking the optional nominative particle i), and it is modified by matoran with the singular genitive (possessive) particle ui. Again we have wahi, now surrounded by the motion particle wo...a "through/by". This is followed by the verb: kanna (from kama) with gradation to show the present tense.

    Wahi ka rahi kanne.
    "The Rahi will go out of the region."

    This sentence begins with wahi followed by the motion particle ka "out of/away from". Next we have the subject rahi, which in turn performs the action of the verb kanne (future tense, with both gradation and the suffix -e).

    Something to notice in these sentences is the word order—the placement of nouns, verbs, etc. within the structure of a sentence. Matoran word order is less restricted than English word order, and thus we can see in the third sentence that the phrase wahi ka “out of the region” precedes the subject rahi: “Out of the region the Rahi will go.” This is not necessarily a standard structure for English, but in Matoran it is completely permissible, along with a variety of other permutations. For example, one could also say Kanne wahi ka rahi. "Will go out of region Rahi," or even Kanne rahi wahi ka. "Will go Rahi out of region."

    Vocabulary and Exercises:

    Here are some practice exercises focusing on some of the elements in this (and previous) lessons.

    First, try translating these English sentences into Matoran:
    1) "The Matoran spoke words."
    2) "The Turaga's Rahi attacked the village." (<use terya as the verb)
    3) "The Toa went to the city."
    4) "The Matoran went to the Turaga's village."

    Next, try translating these simple Matoran sentences into English:
    1) Rahi kamo koro ka.
    2) Matoran ea kanohi kharmo.
    3) Ohanne toa ii suva.
    4) Turaga orakha na oro.

    And here's some useful (if rather random) vocabulary to help with both tasks.

    Nouns:
    kanohi, n. mask of power
    kanoka, n. disk of power
    koro, n. village
    metii, n. head
    metru, n. city
    mua, n. rahi cat, tiger
    oro, n. word
    suva, n. shrine, gathering place
    ussa, n. steed (< think "Ussal" crab)

    Verbs:
    atuma, v. to think, consider
    kharma, v. to make, form
    ohama, v. to come, move toward (Note: verbs such as ohama usually take particles of Motion on their objects)

    If you happen to be interested in more vocabulary, take a look at the two volumes of the Matoran Dictionary.

    -------

    Probably next on the docket: Lesson 5—Pronouns and Adjectives.

    JRRT
  25. JRRT

    A Pleasant Surprise...

    By JRRT,

    I know I'm late on the draw, but I just wanted to post an entry expressing my thanks to BZP Reporter Senjo for the complimentary news article on Despair, as well as to the people who consequently went to read the story and gave their thoughtful responses. It's all been very encouraging.
     
    JRRT
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