Forest signs
The so-called “forest language of the Elves” is actually known by only a few Elves. Any of the Rivelaelfte will recognize it. It is used mostly by non-evil Faerie of the wood.
The forest language is a language of signs. Rocks, twigs, and leaves may be arranged to sign the language; markings may be made in dirt or on wood. For those who are unaware of the language, the markings are difficult to see. They blend in with the foliage and look as if they naturally belong.
The forest language may be used to discuss fairly complex but concrete topics. It can be used to discuss things, races, directions, times, colors, actions, and numbers. It is more difficult to use the forest language to discuss individuals, philosophical concepts, and specific items.
The Leaves of History
The Elves have a library filled with scrolls detailing the history of their race and their gods. There are three libraries: one open to any Elf or Elf-friend, one open to trusted Elves or trusted friends, and one open only to the Ilendor. The second library includes much information brought back by the Rivelaelfte about the cultures and ruins of Highland and the surrounding areas.
The third library includes more secret information brought back by the Rivelaelfte, but also includes ancient scrolls predating the Melantalen. Some of these scrolls describe a world completely unlike that in which the Elves currently live.
Communication: Language
Language: Alphabet
The alphabet of the Elves uses seventeen basic glyphs, with two variations of each glyph. You can download what is currently a very unstable truetype font of the Elven alphabet at http://www.hoboes.com/library/downloads/Biblyon/HighlandElvish.zip. This version does not handle circling multiple letters.
Alphabet: Vowels
In Elvish, vowels are mayamuh (maROmE).
| i | nice, like | I | set, dead |
| u | soon, flute | U | sock, rot |
| a | name, ray | A | brick, sin |
| e | steel, team | E | muck, run |
| o | own, ode | O | plan, bad |
For vowels, the first variation is a “sharp” (cri) and the second (circled) a “flat” (wol).
Lip-Consonants
Elvish sees two different kinds of consonants. One is maysuh (maZU).
| m | mayor, mine | M | white, wonder |
| b | bat, bind | B | power, plan |
| v | vase, vile | V | fun, fair |
For consonants, the first variation is a “soft” (leng) and the second (circled) a “hard” (mug) pronunciation.
Mouth-Consonants
The other kind of consonant is matehss (maDIZ).
| r | right, ray | R | yen, you |
| h | happy, home | H | light, lime, lore |
| c | cold, corn | C | garden, gamma |
| n | north, night | N | ring, sang |
| z | zeal, jazz | Z | soar, sine |
| s | shore, shell | S | chime, chop |
| t | the, thee | T | thing, thistle |
| d | deer, dance | D | tulip, tall |
| j | Jacques, Jean (French) | J | gem, joke |
Punctuation
Two slashes (.) end a sentence. If slashes appear also at the beginning of a sentence, it is an emphasized sentence, or an exclamation. Elvish rarely uses commas, but if it does, a less than and greater than symbol are used (,). Likewise, parenthetical expressions are rare in writing. But when used, the parenthetical is separated by a less than (()and then a greater than ()).
There is no question mark. Questions are preceded by “gar” (CUr). If it is obvious that the statement is or will be a question, however, the “question mark” is omitted.
Language: Word Order
Sentences tend to be in Subject Verb Object order. Adjectives tend to follow the noun they modify.
There is little distinction between nouns and adjectives. If two nouns occur next to each other, the first one tends to be the noun, and the later ones adjectives. Such constructions can be, but are not always, combined into a single word. If such a thing is encountered often or is emblematic, “the tall ruins” is “dimiler”, and “these tall ruins” is “dimileril”. Otherwise, these would be “dimi ler” and “dimilil ler”, respectively.
There are a few exceptions. For example, viredor, or king, will always be preceded by its adjectives.
Language: Dictionary
Word Modifiers
When a modifier connects via a vowel with another word that has the same vowel in that place, the vowel will either be contracted into a single vowel, or an ‘l’ or ‘t’ will be placed between them. In general, if the nearest consonants in the word are mesa, an ‘l’ will be used. If the nearest consonant in the word is a metess a ‘t’ will be used.
bel+ (bIH): empty of, void of
+de (dI): you [verb] (plural you)
den+ (dIn): long, wide
+dor (dor): high, leading, exalted
+(e)da (adU): [noun] was verbed from, verbed out of
+il (eH): this specific [thing]
(+)fey (Va): (does) to, on (something)
ki+ (ce): gerund/noun-ify a verb
+le(+) or +len (HI): (something) of (something else)
+lva (HvE): in, with (service, feeling) for something
+me (me): you [verb] (singular you)
+na+ (nO): like the, as the, of the, as in a comparison between two things
+neng (nIN): southern [thing]
+ore (ora): at the [thing]
ral+ (rOH): 10 of
+rie (rea): passing of, death of
(+)ri (re): [something] and something else
+ta (DE): across the, though the
+thon (tUn): son of [person]
+tie (Di): we [verb]
+tieh (DiI): they [verb] or he, she, it [verbs]
(+) vey (va): [did] to or on something
+vo (vo): in/at a/the [thing or place]
+ya (RE): I [verb]
Nouns and verbs
adril (OdreH): steel
adrilamean (OdrAHOmaOn): a bright, hard, meteoric metal that rivals mithril
alel (OHIH): sky
Alen (OHIn): the Sun
Alveron (OHvaron): the male ruler of the Alvirel
Alvirel (OHvirIH): the Elven pantheon
ambe (Omba): great, powerful, strong
ambean (OmbaOn): death
Ambelide (OmbIHeda): The Tyrant (a constellation and medoral)
amean (OmaOn): illumination, light
amro (Omro): pour (refreshing liquid)
ano (Ono): to set (as sun, star, moon)
Arador (OrEdor): Goddess of Memory and Learning
ark (Urc): paper
arkil (UrceH): book
arlie (OrHeI): wisdom, understanding
arlin (UrHAn): forest
Arlindor (UrHAndor): High Forest of the Alvirel
Avieglien (UveaCHeIn): messenger-god and trickster
bari (bUre): is for, exists for
bedaroltav (badUroHDOv): juggler
Bedaroltav (badUroHDOv): The Juggler (a constellation and medoral)
bien (bean): until such time as, until
caero (cUaro): the lands, the countries
Careleran (cOrIHarOn): Elven Lands (Long Lakes)
Carenarlindor (cOrInUrHAndor): High Forest, the Elven homeland
caro (caro): ground, land, country
Cartoril (carDoreH): Elven Island (Eastern Continent)
cri (cre): a sharply pronounced vowel
dagla (dOCHE): to guide, to lead
danvir (dOnver): spiders
daro (dOro): to bear, carry, use
daya (dURE): I am [something]
deme (dIma): three
dier (dear): carried, transported
dimi (deme): ruins
egla (aCHE): message
eglien (aCHeOn): messenger, courier
elanvedo (IHOnvado): welcome to (a place)
elda (IHdE): sight, eyesight
eleber (IHabar): to appear as from nowhere, to come into sight as a surprise
elessan (IHIIZOn): swords, weapons
elessar (IHIZUr): starlight
elide (IHeda): eyes
eran (arOn): snow
Erilen (arAHIn): Winter
ero (aro): to snow
evano (avOno): from henceforth, from now on, in the future
eyanvir (IROnver): butterfliders
fedama (VIdUmE): to defeat in battle
fediam (VIdeOm): [someone] defeated in battle [someone else]
fien (VeIn): wind
gar (CUr): the following sentence is a question
genesiervel (CInIZearvIH): the screaching dead
Genesiervel (CInIZearvIH): The Banshee (a constellation and medoral)
Giblen (CAbHIn): short Night Troll
hik (hAc): new
idal (edOH): care
idali (edOHe): carefully
Ilendor (eHIndor): Elven Council
iltava (eHDUvE): weaving
ire (era): silence
Iredana (eradUnE): The goddess of weavers and the bearer of the thread of life
Karug (caruC): Dwarves, as a race
Karvan (carvOn): Summer
Kiero (cearo): Elven peoples (Long Lakes)
Kilanv (ceHOnv): year
Kilian (ceHeOn): Elven peoples (Dark Forest)
Kilon (ceHUn): Halflings
Kimel (cemIH): Elven peoples (River Valley)
Kir (cer): Elves (of Cartoril)
kiriev (cereIv): love
kirivel (cerivIH): living
komor (comor): squirrel
Komor (comor): The Squirrel (a constellation and medoral)
komorleran (comorHarIn): snow squirrel
lanvo (HOnvo): to circle, revolve
lavel (HOvIH): to protect
lear (HIUr): smith
leece (HeZ): hatred, racial
lelanv (HaHOnv): during, in the time of
lelern (HIHarn): bird, sparrow
Lelern (HIHarn): The Sparrow (a constellation and medoral)
lene (HInI): above
Lenecarilestetel (HInIcarAHIZDIDIH): The Deep Forest
leng (HIN): a soft consonant
lentav (HInDOv): fire
Lentav (HInDOv): The Fire (a constellation and medoral)
ler (HIr): tall
Leralv (HIrOHv): the Long Lakes
lero (HIro): tallest
Lerovian (HIroveOn): North Star
lian (HAOn): tree
Lian (HAOn): The Tree (a constellation and medoral)
lilen (HeHIn): protector
lirel (HerIH): sword
Lirel (HerIH): The Long Sword (a constellation and medoral)
lon (HUn): an animal burrow in the ground
madra (mUdrE): to forge
maedra (mUadrE): forged
Magiblen (mOCAbHIn): large Night Troll
mayama (maROmE): vowel
Medoral (mIdorOH): star's month
Medoralenalveron (mIdorOHInOHvaron): Alveron’s month
Melantalen (mIHOnDOHIn): the Cataclysm
mele (mIHI): humans
melo (mIHo): to rain
mentav (mInDOv): magic
mentavassar (mInDOvEZUr): sorcerors
mesa: a lip-formed consonant
metess (maDIZ): a mouth consonant
meth (mIt): our
Mien (meIn): Dragon
mithril (metrAH): Elven steel
Morefien (moraVeIn): the god of ocean, lake, and river
morilvan (morAHvOn): traveller, wanderer
morlv (morHv): river
Morlv (morHv): The River (a constellation and medoral)
mug (mEC): a hard consonant
natang (nEDON): battle, serious fight
ngor (Nor): cold, adjective
panvono (BOnvUno): victory
rael (rUIH): peace, serenity
Ralmostine (rOHmoZDen): 980 years
ralv (rOHv): lake
ralvana (rOHvUnE): boat
Ralvana (rOHvUnE): The Boat (a constellation and medoral)
rejh (rIj): stone, rock
rerar (rIrOr): forget
ril (reH): metal
rivel (rivIH): life
Rivelaelfte (rivIHaHVDI): Elven scouts
rugo (ruCo): earth
samessang (ZOmIZON): armies, troops
siero (Zearo): horrible
siervel (ZearvIH): undead
Talen (DOHIN): day (sunrise)
tang (DON): war
tava (DOvO): craftsmanship
tel (DIH): deep (below)
Temas (DamUz): 7 years (14, old)
teno (Dano): to rise (as sun, star, moon)
thlien (tHeIn): turned back, sent away, forced away
tial (DAOH): reign
Tialnambe (DeOHnOmba): A great princess of the elder race of man
tien (DeIn): eagle
Timostine (DemozDen): 98 years (196, old)
tir (Der): moon
Tirtalien (DerDOHeIn): the female ruler of the Alvirel
tor (Dor): high, exalted
toraln (DorOHn): star
Toralne Deme (DorOHnadIma): The Three Stars (a constellation and medoral)
toril (DoreH): silver
torilvan (DoreHvOn): constellation
valon (vOHUn): along side, along with, joined with
vana (vUnE): horse
vaneda (vUnadU): to appear/arrive (somewhere)
vano (vOno): to ride (a riding animal), to sail (a boat)
vel (vIH): under, protected by, shrouded by
velire (vIHera): to disappear (from sight)
vera (verO): gratitude, thanks
vest (vIZD): cavern
Vestelerivel (vIZDIHIrivIH): Caverns of Life
vi (ve): not, no
vian (viOn): rolling plains
viredor (verIdor): ruler, king
virethon (verITUn): prince
vlang (vHUN): scream, yell
vonorel (vUnorIH): unicorn
Vonorel (vUnorIH): The Unicorn (a constellation and medoral)
wenthes (mInTIz): was presented to, was gifted to
weos (MaUz): present to, gift to, give to
were (MIrI): mountain
weta (MaDA): to leave, go, disappear (from somewhere)
wol (MUH): a flatly pronounced vowel
