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Ancient alpahabet

The Alterans' alphabet and numbers.

Anquietas is the name given to the language spoken and written by the Alterans and their descendants, the Alterans and the Ori. The language is fairly similar to Latin spoken on Earth. Unlike in English and Latin, there are not separate letters for 'F' and 'U'; both are represented by the same symbol. In addition the language is ruled by right angles.

In Atlantis, the letters and numbers of the language appears both upright and upside down and variating in direction.

Speakers

Several people at Stargate Command were successful in understanding written and spoken Alteran. Dr. Daniel Jackson was the one who unlocked the mysteries of the language, so that more could learn it, and gained an innate understanding after his Ascension and subsequent descension. Other people who are fluent in the language or at least understand it at a reasonable level are Jonas Quinn, Dr. Rodney McKay, Dr. Elizabeth Weir, Colonel Samantha Carter, Colonel Harold Maybourne, Dr. Nicholas Rush

Eli Wallace, Dr. Adam Brody, Dr. Dale Volker, Dr. Lisa Park, Dr. Amanda Perry, Dr. Lindsay and numerous others. including some Wraith. (SG1: "The Fifth Race", "Full Circle", "Fallen", "Avalon, Part 1", SGA: "Hide and Seek", "The Gift", SGU: "Air, Part 1", "Darkness")

Also, at two occasions, Lt. General Jack O'Neill was able to speak it, after having the entire knowledge base of the Alterans downloaded into his mind through the Repository of knowledge; each time, the Asgard erased it to save his life (SG1, "The Fifth Race", "Lost City, Part 1", "Lost City, Part 2", "New Order, Part 2"). O'Neill and Teal'c may understand some Alteran as they were forced to learn and memorize it when they were stuck in a 10-hour time loop for several months (SG1: "Window of Opportunity").

To protect his computer systems, Anubis used elaborate ciphers coded in the oldest known Alteran dialect. Despite the Goa'uld's long known history of acquiring Alteran relics, the Tok'ra were unable to translate them. (SG1: "Fallen", "Prototype")

Some of the Athosians have displayed knowledge of Alteran, and some give prayers in Alteran. (SGA: "Hide and Seek")

The Wraith language is derived from Alteran. (SGA: "The Gift")

Words upside down can have different meanings. Letters that can be turned into another while upside down are J and R. (SG1: "Reckoning, Part 2")

Words

Latin Alteran Pronunciation English Episode
adventus adventus ad-ven-tus approaching, coming (SG1: "Window of Opportunity")
Alii (mpl), Alteri (mpl) Alteras al-teh-ras Alterans, (The) Others

(SG1: "Avalon, Part 1")

amicus (m) amacus ah-mah-kus friend (SG1: "Lost City, Part 2")
Antiquitas (f) or Antiqui (adj mpl) Anquietas ang-kwih-eh-tas (The) Alterans (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
armarium (n), arca (f) armeria ar-meh-rih-ah ark (SG1: "The Ark of Truth")
Armarium Veritatis Armeria Verimas ar-meh-rih-ah veh-rih-mas Ark of Truth (SG1: "The Ark of Truth")
adiumentum (n), ordo (m) asordo ah-sor-doh help (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
Astrorum Porta (f) Astria Porta as-trih-ah por-tah Stargate (SG1: "Avalon, Part 1")
Atlantis (f) Atlantus at-lan-tus Atlantis (SG1: "Lost City, Part 2")
ave (sg), avete (pl) (ave/avete means "greetings" and rarily "goodbye"), vale (sg), valete (pl) (vale/valete means "goodbye", "farewell") aveo ah-veh-oh goodbye, farewell (SG1: "Lost City, Part 2")
clavis (f) clavia klah-vih-ah key (SG1: "The Quest, Part 1")
clementia (f) clementia kleh-men-tih-ah mercy (SG1: "The Ark of Truth")
colonia (f) colonian coh-loh-nih-an colony (SG1: "Window of Opportunity")
quaeso (adv), amabo te, commodus (adj) comdo com-doh please (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
contagio (f), contagium (n; pl contagia) contagia con-tah-gih-ah disease, contagion (SG1: "The Quest, Part 1")
crura (pl of crus, n) cozars koh-zars legs (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
vitiosus, cursus cruvus krooh-vus wrong (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
deductus (m), -a (f), -um (n) (adv deducte or deductum), deducatus (m), -a (f), -um (n) (adv deducate or deducatum) deductavum deh-duk-tah-vum (to have been) taken away (SG1: "Window of Opportunity")
demens derentis deh-ren-tis crazy, insane (SG1: "Lost City, Part 1")
desiderare deserdi deh-ser-dih to desire, to seek, to wish (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
Di/Dei,[1] orti (pl of ortus)[1] Ori oh-rih Ori, in English "gods" and/or maybe "god" (SG1: "Avalon, Part 1")
discere disce dis-keh to learn (SG1: "Flesh and Blood")
dominus (m), magister (m) domivaitus doh-mih-vy-tus master (SG1: "Window of Opportunity")
dormire, dormitare dormata dor-mah-tah sleep (SG1: "Lost City, Part 2")
egeo ("I need"; infinitive egere) indeo in-deh-oh (I) need (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
ego ego eh-goh I (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
aeternus (adj; adv aeterne or aeternum) etere eh-teh-reh eternal (SGA: "Hide and Seek")
bene (adv of bonus, "good"), eugae (adv, "bravo"), euge (adv, "bravo") euge ev-geh good (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
facultas (f) fallatus fal-lah-tus ability (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
finit (v; "he, she, it is finished/done") fargit far-git (to be) finished, done (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
frons (f) fron fron (fore)head (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
glacies (f) glaciuse glah-kih-ooh-seh ice (SG1: "Lost City, Part 2")
hic hic hik place, here (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
illac (adv.) illac il-lak path, way (SG1: "Talion")
incursus (f) incursis ing-kur-sis attack, invasion (SGA: "Echoes")
infinitas (f) infinitas in-fih-nih-tas infinite (SG1: "Memento Mori")
celatus, latens lacun lah-kun lost, hidden (SG1: "Fallen")
locus (m) locas loh-kas location (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
lux (f), lumen (n) lume looh-meh light (SGA: "Hide and Seek")
Merlinus Moros moh-ros Merlin (SG1: "The Pegasus Project")
Morgan Le Fay (no Latin name) Ganos Lal gah-nos lal Morgan Le Fay (SG1: "The Quest, Part 2")
mundus (m) mundus mun-dus world (SGU: "Common Descent")
novus navo,
novus
nah-voh,
noh-vus
new (SG1: "The Fifth Race"),
(SGU: "Common Descent")
necessarius (adj; adv necesse) netario neh-tah-ri-oh necessary (SG1: "Avalon, Part 1")
nos nou noh-ooh we (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
omnes (pl of omnis) omnes om-nes all (SG1: "Flesh and Blood")
patres (pl of pater) pare pah-reh fathers (SGA: "Hide and Seek")
Perditus Igne Proclarush Taonas proh-clah-rush tah-oh-nas Lost in Fire (SG1: "Lost City, Part 2")
putare (infinitive; imperative puta) puta pooh-tah believe, think (SG1: "Avalon, Part 1")
regnum (n) renin reh-nin kingdom (SG1: "Talion")
sanctus sanctus sank-tus hallowed, sacred (SG1: "Beachhead")
ita (est), ita vero, sic (est), etiam etium eh-tih-um yes (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
Sol Sua sooh-ah Sun (SG1: "Window of Opportunity")
sub subo sooh-boh under, below (SG1: "Lost City, Part 2")
esse, anima (f) ani ah-nih to be (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
tempus (n) tempus tem-pus time (SG1: "Window of Opportunity")
templum (n) tempo tem-poh temple (SGA: "Hide and Seek")
Terra Tener Tenara teh-nah-rah The Land of the Young or The Land of Young (SGU: "Common Descent")
Terra (f) Terra ter-rah Earth, Tau'ri homeworld. (SG1: "Lost City, Part 2")
thesaurus (m) thessara tes-sah-rah treasure (SG1: "Memento Mori")
universum (n) avernakis ah-ver-nah-kis universe (SG1: "The Fourth Horseman, Part 2")
unus (m), una (f), unum (n) uno ooh-noh one (1) (SG1: "Flesh and Blood")
ventus (m) ventio ven-tih-oh wind (SG1: "The Quest, Part 1")
veritas (f) verimas veh-rih-mas truth (SG1: "The Ark of Truth")
Via Lactea Avalon ah-vah-lon Milky Way (SG1: "Avalon, Part 1")
videmur (v.),[2] videre,[2] visio (f),[2] visus[2] videum vih-deh-um legacy (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
Vis Urbs Vis Uban vis ooh-ban Place of Great Power (SG1: "Fallen")

Phrases and sentences

Alteran Latin
Latin equivalents of the English sentences
English Episode
Aveo, amacus. Valete/Salvete amici mei. Goodbye/Farewell, my friends. (SG1: "Lost City, Part 2")
Clava Thessara Infinitas. Clavis Thesauri Infinitas. Key to infinite treasure. (SG1: "Memento Mori")
Calium videre eessit, et eraos ad sidera tollere vultus. Quando eam vides, caelum tu vides, et illi Tellure eorum facies tollere necesse sunt ad astra. like the Alteran sentence: Caelum videre esset, et erimus ad sidera tollere vultus. When you see her, you see the sky, and those on earth must lift their faces toward the stars. (SG1: "Flesh and Blood")
Domivaitus vestul motobilum Magister incertorum praeteritorum Master of uncertain past (SG1: "Window of Opportunity")
Comdo asordo. Quaeso adiuva. Please help. (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
Ego deserdi asordo. Desidero adiumentum. I seek/desire help. (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
Ego indeo navo locus. Egeo novum locum. I need a new location. (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
Enimun lupum purnum pravis intus. Enim, peccatorem corruptum expurgabo intus. like the Alteran sentence: Enim lupum purum pravis intus. Verily, the corrupted sinner will be cleansed from within. (SG1: "The Ark of Truth")
Ex uno disce omnes. Ex uno disce omnes. From one, all will learn. (SG1: "Flesh and Blood")
Hic qua videum. Locus nostrae hereditatis. like the Alteran sentence: Hic qua hereditas. The place of our legacy.[3] (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
Illac Renin Iter Regni like the Alteran sentence: Illac Regni Kingdom of the Path (SG1: "Talion")
Mia clementia, denar esto. Habe clementiam. Caecus eram, sed iam video. like the Alteran sentence: Mea clementia, denique esto. Have mercy. I was blind, but now I see. (SG1: "The Ark of Truth")
Nou ani Anquietas. Nos sumus Antiqui. We are the Alterans. (SG1: "The Fifth Race")
On na matta netario. Hic est recte non necesse. This is really unnecessary. (SG1: "Avalon, Part 1")
Pare lume tempo eteri. Patres lucis templi aeterni. like the Alteran sentence: Patres lucis templo aeterni. Fathers of light of the everlasting temple. (SGA: "Hide and Seek")
Sanctus Ori. Sacrati sunt Orti. like the Alteran sentence: Sancti Orti. Hallowed are the Ori. (SG1: "Beachhead")
Tua puta ego. Te credo. like the Alteran sentence: Tu crede ego. I believe you. (SG1: "Avalon, Part 1")
Verus Gen Bree. Terra Veritatis Regiae. like the Alteran sentence: Vera Gens ... Land of royal truth. (SG1: "Morpheus")

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Not a direct translation.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Videum is not a direct translation. Videmur means we are seen, referring to the passing-on method of the Alterans' Repository of knowledge. Videmur is plural of first person of the verb videre, meaning "to see". Another words to mention can be visio, "vision", and visus, "seen". The German word for Knowledge, Wissen, "knowledge", is derived from the same root: the Proto-Indo-European word *wid- meaning to see, or metaphorically to know.
  3. Dr. Daniel Jackson offered a less likely translation "A piece of our leg", but this was disregarded due to the former translation fitting more accurately given the context.

External links

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