Goa'uld language

The Goa'uld language is a fictional language spoken by the Goa'uld from the television series Stargate SG-1. The Goa'uld language started out as the Unas Language, but it was limited by the vocal abilities of the Unas. But as the Goa'uld started to take more human hosts, their language developed and became a primary influence for Ancient Egyptian. It is now the primary language throughout the galaxy.

Grammar

The grammar of the Goa'uld language is fairly simple to grasp, the language uses a subject, verb object (SVO) word order, as in English.

Pronouns

The pronouns of Goa'uld are fairly simple. At present, it is believed that Goa'uld has no third-person pronoun; instead, one uses the proper noun for that object.

The pronouns are:

• "Ta"=I
• "Lo"=You

To form the plural of either of the above pronouns, one simply adds the suffix -k. For example: "Tak"=Us, "Lok"=you all. The proper noun can also be used instead of the pronoun. It is unknown as to whether any special suffixes are used to indicate posession.

Verbs

In goa'uld there seem to be no verb forms; that is, past, present and future tense are the same. The verb remains the same regardless of the subject (no conjugation). For example: "tal pac"=to fall, falling, fell, will fall, etc. In general, the context of the situation or time phrases in a sentence will indicate when the verb is taking place.

Suffix Order

Suffixes will be numbered (1), (2), (3) in the order that they belong. This is similar to the Klingon language. For example:
"nok"(now) with "-ia"(not)(1) and "-k"(to be)(2) is "nokiak" (in the beginning there was). Notice that this is translated to "in the beginning" and not "in the end" or "not now", although it could mean either. One could say "mel nok" or 'after now'. Therefore, "mel nok" is almost exclusively used to mean 'later', while "nokia" is used for 'earlier'.

Kree

The word "Kree" has many meanings, but essentially, it means attention or be ready ("yoo hoo" as O'Neill once said). It also means prepared, in action (not inaction), aim, and prepare. "Kree" can be combined with verbs to say that a thing is happening. For example: "Kree" + "Hol" (execute, engange, go) = 'we are going' or 'Go!' by adding "mel" (to die, to expire, to end) it becomes "Kree hol mel" (standby, halt, wait). It is frequently heard in the common order, "Jaffa, Kree!" (Listen up, Jaffa!, Attention, Jaffa!)

Lo'tar

In goa'uld, "Tar" is slang for "Tau'ri" or 'Human'. This word literally translates "You, human"; which is probably how it began. Over time it evolved to become a very prestigious position among slaves to the Goa'uld.

Modifying Words

In Goa'uld, adverbs go before the verb they modify. And sometimes, a direct object will precede the verb, rather than follow it.

Dual Sentence

Goa'uld is a very powerful language because of the dual sentence ability of the language. This allows two separate ideas to be expressed in one sentence. If the ideas have a common word, then it is only said or written once, saving time and effort.

For example:

"Lo tak meta satak oz" means both 'You are speaking to the great Oz' and 'I am the great OZ'. If we break it down, we see "Lo - meta satak Oz" You(Lo) speaking to(meta) great Oz(satak Oz). We also see "Tak - satak Oz" I am(Tak) the great Oz(satak Oz).

Writing

The Goa'uld nahkt alphabet

The Goa'uld use several different forms of writing, most of these different systems are based on Egyptian hieroglyphics, or vice-versa. There is also a cursive Goa'uld script, that appears not be based on anything in particular.

The alpahbet illustrated has been seen in the series, in a text message sent by the Goa'uld to the SGC. It is the only Goa'uld script in the series that can be translated easily. The alphabet in the series is actually the Nahkt hieroglyphic font, and it was used to write various in jokes in the series. Another hierogyph font used in the series was the Meroitic script font. For the fonts in question, see here

Goa'uld is usually written left to right, top to bottom, whne this is the case with the hieroglyphic script, the glyphs come one after the other sequencially. It can be written in a single column, top to bottom, this is usually the case for decorative inscriptions. Cursive has been seen written in columns two characters wide, going from top to bottom.

The Goa'uld have also been known to use various other ancient scripts and languages. Among them are; Greek, Chinese characters, Cuneiform, Cretan Linear A and Maya hieroglyphics.

Translation exercise

The following a translation of a well known passage. Translate the following into english (Answers at the bottom of the page).

• 1. Nokia goa'uld me'la mi'la
  
• 2. Mi'laiak, mi'lak terac shri
  
• 3. Goa'uld meta "kitelk", kitelk
  
• 4. Goa'uld ju' kitelk hak, goa'uld primia kitel, kitelia
  

Dictionary

A

• Al'kesh = mid-ranged warship
• Aroush = village
• Ashrak = assassin, hunter (see above)

C

• Chappa'ai = Stargate
• Chell'nak = very cool
• Cra = to (I went "cra" the store)

D

• Delmak = crystal

G

• Goa'uld = Symbiote/God

H

• Hak = Good/Advanced
• Hakor = To banish
• Hara kesh = torture device (see above)
• Hashak/Hassak = Derogatory word/?weakling?
• Ha'taaka = Derogatory word
• Ha'tak = Goa'uld mothership, also means 'attack' ("Jaffa, Ha'tak")
• Heelk'sha = Gods of the underworld
• Hol = Execute, engange, go

I

• -ia = not
• In'tar = Stun weapon used during training

J

• Ju' = To see

K

• -K = to be
• Kel = Hello, Greetings
• Kel no'reem = meditative state
• Khek = Weakness/Death
• Kitel = Light
• Kree = Attention, Ready (see below)
• Krist'a = Outcast

K

• Lo = you
• Lo'tar = rank, highest among humans (serving goa'uld)

M

• Mai'tac = Damn
• Me'la = To make (meh-lah)
• Mel = To die/to expire/to end
• Mi'la = everything (mee-lah)

N

• Naquadah = quartzite stone
• Nikta = ass
• Nok = now

O

• Onac = person, a sentient entity
• Or' = here is a/the (Or'onac shol'va = here is the traitor)

P

• Pel'tak = bridge on the Ha'tak
• Prim = To join/To unite
• Prim'ta = larval goa'uld, ceremony of implantation

R

• Rai = star
• Renek = Honor

S

• Satak = great/the great
• Shaaka = free (not in cost)
• Shol'va = traitor (also heretic, as to betray the Goa'uld is to betray one's gods)

T

• Ta = I
• Tal'pac = To fall
• Tau'ri = Humans from Earth
• Terac Shri = oblivion
• Tok = against

U

• Unas = the first ones

V

• vol'cume = device for recording and transmitting messages

Z

• Zat'ni'katel = sidearms used to stun, kill or disintegrate targets

Answers to Translation Excercise

1:1 In the beginning God created everything
1:2 And everything was, but it was not, for everything was as oblivion
1:3 God said "light exists", and light did exist
1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God did not join that which is light with that which is not.

See Also

• Stargate SG-1
• Goa'uld