Lupa Language

This page contains information and word lists/breakdowns for the Lupa language.

General Information

The Lupa of course have their own language, which incorporates three distinct sets of communication.

The first is the sound language, consisting of the different types of throat noises the Lupa can make. This includes growling, whines, guttural noises, and pitched sounds. To a Terran, they can make noises that are feline (no, Lupa do not purr), canine, lupine, and then some other sounds that don’t fit into any of these categories. They can also make some sounds that are below or above what a Terran can naturally hear.

The second is the body language. There are of course both fur and skin body language, and they overlap quite a bit. The fur body language is based more on tail and ear signs, and skin more on limbs. However, both have teeth or mouth signals, such as snapping or curling back the lips, head movements, and body positions. Any Lupa can sit on their haunches in either skin or fur. Through the change, they become aware of every part of their bodies from a young age, and therefore can read signals through muscle groups, etc., once they are in their placement years.

The third language is the word language. Their language is practical, but often uses very similar words for similar meanings. For example, the words hunt (ansā), pursue (ansī), court/engage/pursual (ansīa), and to catch/get (ansant) are all based on the word “ansa,” The Hunter (constellation). People in an ansīa relationship will often use ansa as an endearing name. After all, they are making a concentrated effort to eventually become mates. And so they in a sense they hunt or pursue each other.

As a general rule, Lupa do not speak Lupa in front of non-Lupa, unless they are doing it discretely. Sound language would only be used in appropriate times, or with animals.

Nanomi did all of the initial translating when the Lupa first came to Terra. She chose words that made it easy for Terrans to understand some foreign ideas, which comes across in today’s English with words such as pack. People understand this kind of structure from nature around them, but the Lupa communities do not literally operate this way. Hunters of Lupa are almost always referred to as Hunters, no matter what language they speak (unless it’s someone who’s never been exposed to western culture or English). Everything else is translated normally, i.e., “Speaker” for Speaker. Some words have gone into standard Lupa as well, such as [an ancient word for] rabbit (they were among the first imports to the HW). The Lupa do not have separate words for battle, war, or fight, and the word they use is translated as fight. They don’t have words for politics, most kinds of weapons (anything that takes bullets, missiles, etc.), technologies like computers or electricity, etc. They do not translate the names of people. Therefore, Moon’s name doesn't mean moon, but is something that's often used by Hunters who think Lupa are werewolves.

Structure

Action, subject, object/noun. The subject ALWAYS comes immediately after the verb, and if the verb is negative the ‘en’ will come after the subject.

Nka sa Lupa. (I am Lupa)
Nka sa en Lupa. (I am not Lupa.)

Nka=am/are
Nki=was/were
Nkia=will

Sa=I
Se=we/us
Si=you
Sia=they

The natural progression for tenses is (a) present, (i) was, and (sia) will.

Astral, astralgi (immortal/extreme), astralgia (high level), ralgi (Touched, to touch), fian (Gifted, gift)

How Lupa Speak

Lupa is a fast-paced language in which one might find any combination of English letters pushed up against each other, and incorporates an incredibly wide sets of sounds. A certain subset of sounds cannot be pronounced by most humanoids, as they require less intense growling or sounds which the Lupa vocal cords can make in skin which most other species can't, such as the xcha sound, where, in English, the x represents a growl.

While there are always variations in subtlety and beauty in how individual Lupa may speak, for the most part they are more practical and forthright when they speak. Generally speaking, inquiring if someone is tired rather than if they want to do something else is the epitome of subtlety for this species. They say what they mean in plain language, and aren't usually afraid to say exactly what they mean. (Perhaps this has to do with bonds and knowing they'd rather be understood properly than afraid of offending someone.)

Lists

change: sku'ra

• this is conjugated by fur or skin—sku'ra (to fur) or sku'na (to skin)

sku’rarei: changing form
Miara: mia (wind) and ara (to see, be visible, etc.) so the meaning is “visible wind”
Nirsi: a name Miara made for Hulking Figure, from “shape” and “many”
Minilya: a name from vilya (snow) and minche (notice or warning)

Most Lupa will use the given or full use name of a person they don’t really know. However, agemates, mates, and other close persons will usually shorten the name. Lupa also always shorten names when speed matters.
Mother = ana
Father = dia
Baby = yari
Child, affectionate = apa (f)/apā (m)
Mentor = īryati
Student = yatī
Sibling = naithi
Sister = naina
Brother = naida
Agemate = inthi
Grandmother = aishana
Grandfather = aishdia
Mate = natari (ata or atar are used as affectionate forms for one’s mate, possibly ansa if you’re more possessive at the time)
romantic partner; boy/girlfriend (not yet mated) = nathari
Soulmate = inti mthli
Mother/child bond = anapa mthli
Twinbond = naimthli
Soul bond = mthli
A close person for which one feels affection, but is neither family, mate, nor strictly a student or friend. May be translated in several ways, such as "my dear," "dear friend", or in other manners. Often used in situation where the relationship is either unclear or expected to evolve in some way. = zathi

0 = en
1 = pa
2 = lu
3 = ne
4 = sa
5 = ri
6 = ko
7 = gi
8 = mo
9 = te
10 = yu

Color: io
Blue = tien
Green = ena
Purple = iseda
Yellow = edar
Orange = edak
White = iosian
Silver = naya
Black = ioen
Red = edan
Brown = len
Pink = isi
Gray = nayar
Bluegreen = tiena

alkai: sunflower

• al = sun, kai = flower
  

bit’ten = sky

• bit = over, high above; tien = blue
  

iout = black/evil heart

• ioen = black, utu = heart
  

ītenāl: good morning; lit. the sun rises

• īten: ī = denotes time; ten = rise; āl: sun
  

ītenān: good evening/good night; lit. the moon rises

• (āan used in long and/or compound words is shortened to ān)
  

reiska = path, lit. way to go

• rei = go/travel/move; ska = way
  

riya = star; lit. light distant ri = light; ya = far, distant
suk’liana = joyous flight

• suka = flight, to fly; liana = joy
  

trokai: fooled milk flower

• troka: fooled milk; tro = fooled/fake, ka = milk; kai = flower
  

uffago: head in the clouds

• uffa = cloud; ago = head
  

vinxcha: blizzard

• vi from vilya = snow; xcha = forced dominance
  

xcheamo: home orb

• xche = home; amo = orb/planet/world/something spherical
  

āan = moon
ago = head
aish = before, preceding, predecessor
āl = sun
alta = stand
amo = orb/planet/world/something spherical
ansā = hunt
ansī = pursue
ansīa = court/engage/pursual
ansant = catch/get
axch = constant
bit = over, high above
enni = level
fenn = place
huk'shi = traitor
inil = metal
isi = new
īsi = many
jamān = constellation
kaya = chair
lumik = voice
minche = notice, give warning or notice
mōna = song
monnani = lullaby
nir = shape
onni = tall
rahā = island
rahāsi = area of land
rāva = hope
ri = light
rufon = aggressor (in a fight/conflict/argument)
sāo = thank you
sian = all
tāri = trust
ten = rise
tē’a (tae ya) = an expression that means also, the same, me too
uffa = cloud
utu = heart
urvōn = interval, period of time, over (set) time
verān = clear, clarity
vilya = snow
xchamat = normal dominance
xcha = forced dominance
xche = home
xchtax = guard
ya = far, distant
yatu = full heart; used for someone who is always feeling, wears heart on sleeve, etc.; Miara or Guyver
zā = is used for the exclamation “aha!” or used to express “you don't know what you're going to get”

āankai: moon flower

• āan = moon; kai = flower
  

edanti = redfruit (Primarily used for juice. Do not call your lover by this name in public.)
insi = leaf
kai = flower (often used as a name; appears at the end of many flower names)
kolle = may refer to the kolle tree or the fruit thereof (very common fruit; evergreen but not a fir tree)
schwa = field grass (sound of long, swaying grass)
tien = short grass
tinta = wood grain
trint = tree (may be used as a name)

drongi = one of xcheamo's fiercest predators (a leading cause of fatality among hunting-related deaths)
ili = the general term for insect/bug
mu = a large red and black flying beetle that eats other bugs
saliena = bird

Ansa = the hunter
Valeria = the wind girl (fall)

(not yet complete) As one might expect from a species that masters the body and fighting, the Lupa have many more words for fighting than most other species, based on the type of fight. While they have developed single words in Lupa to express these ideas, it also means many of them don't translate well and require longer explanations.

competition match
fighting for a spot/position
fighting to fight
fuck-and-fight (maybe reversed, by the usual order it happens in?)
pain-seeking, pain-as-alternative
play fighting
rage fight (both sides. is this different than needing to beat something?)
rage fight with someone better/stays in control who can direct your anger and hurt you as much but not more than you need