Cyrus' father speaking Yoku, referring to him as "Sura"
Yoku, sometimes called Old Redguard,[1] Old Yokudan,[2] or High-Yokudan,[3] was the ancient native language of Yokuda. After the Yokudan migration to Hammerfell around 1E 808, the settlers began to assimilate into the larger Tamrielic theater and the language was almost entirely replaced to help stabilize foreign trade.[4] However, certain groups of Yokudans maintained their language and traditions outside of mainstream Redguard society.[5] The famous Redguard poet, Weltan of Sentinel wrote all of his work in Yoku despite also being fluent in Tamrielic.[6] By the late Third Era, the language was still spoken, albeit rarely.[7] There is a regional variant of Yoku known as the Banthan dialect. It derives from the eponymous region of Bantha.[1]
Yoku has 48 different versions of the word "honor", which all trace their roots to ugak-ta.[UOL 1] In the Yoku language, chrysocollas held a strong association with defense. Interestingly, in Yoku, the term for defense is simply a different tense of the word for offense, rather than being a distinct word.[8]
Despite the geographical proximity of the Lefthanded Elves, Yoku and the Sinestral language diverge considerably.[9]
Yoku Dictionary[edit]
- Abah
- Filthy, unclean;[10] also the name of an ancient Yokudan warrior
- Ajcea
- Downward spiral (n.) [6]
- Anka-Ra
- Former warrior, old warrior [11]
- Ansei
- Sword Saint (n.) [12] Shortened variant of the less common term "Hel Ansei"
- Anseilak
- Communion (n.) [13]
- Anselim
- Stop, to cease [2]
- Ansu-Gurleht
- Vehk the Circle Talker [UOL 1]
- Atomos
- the uncuttable (n.) [UOL 1]
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- Den
- To be, is [14][15]
- Dan
- Have (v.) [14]
- Daibethe
- Sun
- Do
- Of; sometimes also 'at'. Also marks the object of the verb napere 'to find' [14]
- Dogo
- He/she, him/her, his/her [14][15]
- Dongo
- Sister (n.) [15]
- Dua
- You, you, your, you, 'that one of yours' [14]
- Duadra
- Staying (verb in gerund form) [15]
- Dui
- About; meaning 'on the subject of' [14][15]
- Duptra
- Moving, acting restlessly (verb in gerund form) [15]
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- Elden Yokeda
- Military dictator [12]
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- Ghraewaj
- "The Crows Who Punish/Were Punished" [1]
- Greklith
- Strong King [16]
- G'ye
- Fabricator [17]
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- Hadi
- They, them, their [14]
- Hattu
- "The Father of Mountains" [12]
- Hel
- Sword (n.) [18][11]
- Hel Ansei
- Sword Saint [12]
- Hel Anseilak
- "Communion with the Saints of the Sword" [13]
- Hel Shira
- Sword Noble,[18][11] Blade Noble[11]
- Hi
- Difficult (adj.) [14]
- Hi
- Magic (n.) [14]
- Hunding
- "High Desert" [12]
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- Johad
- Rainwater Cistern [19]
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- Kai
- Thought [UOL 2]
- Kogo-hi
- Guild of mages (n.) [14]
- Kol-hadu-ranga
- Lighthouse (n.) [14]
- Koomu Alezer'i
- "We Acknowledge" [13]
- Kotu
- Edge (of a weapon) [11][20]
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- Na
- Perhaps, maybe [14]
- Naha [17]
- Napere
- Find (v.); the preposition do 'of' is used before the object; 'napere sa do dongo' literally 'to find here of sister', and means 'here to find [my] sister' [14][15]
- Na-Totambu
- Kings and ruling bodies of Yokuda [4][21]
- Ne
- Against [14]
- Netu
- Turn [2]
- Netu anselim
- Small version of "turn back" [UOL 1]
- No Lo'igra
- Deceiver [17]
- No Shira
- Noble person [12]
- Nogro
- Body, form (n.) [14]
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- Tang
- Help (n.) [14]
- Tengai
- See (v.) [14]
- Tobr'a
- Useless, evil (adj.) [4]
- Toktra
- Searching for (verb in gerund form) [14]
- Trai [17]
- Trangai
- Farewell [14]
- Tukta
- For what reason, cause (n.) [15]
- Tukta-mab'ro
- Storyteller [17]
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- Ueetonga
- My son (n.); might be the same as uetonga [14]
- Uetonga
- Son (n.); might be the same as ueetonga [14]
- Ugakta
- Rage, be angry (v.) [14]
- Ugak-ta
- "I'm pretty mad" [UOL 1]
- Ugo-no-
- Far away from; prefixed to the object of being far away from; 'ugo-no-mitana' (far away from the island) [14]
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Sentences[edit]
- Naha 'mei dogo Ra Gada lonhe trai
- "The Forebears know their place."[17]
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Yokudan Holidays[edit]
Many of the holidays extant in modern Hammerfell are said to be direct translations of older Yokudan festivals before their migration to Hammerfell.[24]
- Aduros Nau: The villages in the Bantha celebrate the baser urges that come with Springtide on Aduros Nau.
- Baranth Do: Celebrated by the Redguards of the Alik'r Desert. Pageants featuring demonic representations of the old year are popular, and revelry to honor the new year is everywhere.
- Chil'a: The blessing of the new year in the barony of Kairou, is both a sacred day and a festival. The archpriest and the baroness each consecrate the ashes of the old year in solemn ceremony, then street parades, balls, and tournaments conclude the event.
- Drigh R'Zimb: Held in the hottest time of year in Abibon-Gora, is a jubilation held for the sun Daibethe itself.
- Ghraewaj: A festival of the graces the gods have granted the people of Lainlyn over the centuries.
- Koomu Alezer'i: A tradition in Sentinel for thousands of years. The people of Sentinel solemnly thank the gods for their bounty, and pray to be worthy of the graces of the gods.
Gallery[edit]
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Saban, a Yokudan witchmother who only speaks Yoku
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Coyle, Saban's son who translates for her
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Box of Shehai Essence, covered in Yokudan runes
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Ghraewaj — Tidasus
- ^ a b c d The Horse-Folk of Silverhoof — Doctor Nabeth al-Gilane, Khefrem Academy of Yokudan Heritage
- ^ Systres History: Volume 2 — Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
- ^ a b c d e f Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: Hammerfell — Imperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
- ^ Events of Redguard
- ^ a b c The Alik'r — Enric Milres
- ^ Lord of Souls — Greg Keyes
- ^ Lefthander's Aegis Belt antiquity codex entries in ESO: High Isle
- ^ Cries from Empty Mouths — Varederil, Psijic Order
- ^ Members of the Hew's Bane Thieves Guild Answer Your Questions — Walks-Softly, Kari Coin-Counter, Velsa, Zeira, Thrag, Andarri
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Elenaire's Journal — Elenaire
- ^ a b c d e f g h Redguards, History and Heroes — Destri Melarg
- ^ a b c d Holidays in Daggerfall
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad Saban's dialogue in Redguard
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Coyle's dialogue in Redguard
- ^ a b Death Certificate in Daggerfall
- ^ a b c d e f g h i The Origin of Cyrus! — Michael Kirkbride
- ^ a b c Hel Shira's Fancy Camel Goad contraband item in ESO
- ^ Moon-Sugar in the March
- ^ a b The Book of Circles: Forging Maxims — Frandar Hunding
- ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The Ra Gada: Hammerfell — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
- ^ Sacrilege and Mayhem in the Alik'r — Doctor Tazhim of the Bureau of Outlander Affairs
- ^ The Monomyth
- ^ a b Holidays of the Iliac Bay — Theth-i
- ^ Divad the Singer — Destri Melarg
- ^ The Faerie — Szun Triop
Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.
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