The Alterans' alphabet and numbers.
Ancient language or Alteran language are the names given to the language spoken and written by the Alterans that consist of two factions: The Ancients/The Ancestors/Lanteans and the Ori. The language was given to Earth humans in the past where it evolved after hand to Latin. Both languages are little similar to each other.
The alphabet and numeral system used to Alteran have interesting and special appearances: the symbols consists of squarish dots, and as a "full symbol" there are 24 squares with 8 on each diagonal row, except the letter k. Just like the Latin alphabet in English, the Alteran alphabet has all of its letters, while both f and u have the same symbol. Classical Latin did not have j and w, but came later and can be used for names.
In Atlantis, the letters and numbers of the Alteran alphabet 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 several other. (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) | glacius | 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") |
| impetus (m), incursus (f) | incursus | ing-kur-sus | 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 | Sau | sao | 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") |
| Urbs Vis | Vis Uban | vis ooh-ban | Place of Great Power | (SG1: "Fallen") |
| 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") |
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 Ad Thesaurum Infinitum. | Key to infinite treasure. | (SG1: "Memento Mori") |
| Calium videre essit, et eraos ad sidera tollere vultus. | Quando ea vides, caelum vides, et illi Tellure eorum facies ad stellas tollere necesse sunt. like the Alteran sentence: Caelum videre iussit, et erectos 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 deserde asordo. | Adiumentum egeo. like the Alteran sentence: Ego desiderare adiumentum. | I seek/desire help. | (SG1: "The Fifth Race") |
| Ego indeo navo locus. | Novus locus egeo. | I need a new location. | (SG1: "The Fifth Race") |
| Enim lupin purnum pravus intus. | Enim peccatorem corruptum expurgabit. like the Alteran sentence: Enim lupus purum pravus intus. | Verily, the corrupted sinner will be cleansed from within. | (SG1: "The Ark of Truth") |
| Ex uno disce omnes. | Ex uno omnes disce. | From one, all will learn. | (SG1: "Flesh and Blood") |
| Hic qua videum. | Locus hereditatis nostrae. like the Alteran sentence: Hic qua visus. | The place of our legacy.[3] | (SG1: "The Fifth Race") |
| Illac Renin | Via Regni like the Alteran sentence: Illac Regni | Kingdom of the Path | (SG1: "Talion") |
| Mia clementia, denar esto. | Clementia habe. Caecus eram, sed nunc video. like the Alteran sentence: Mea clementia, negare esto. | Have mercy. I was blind, but now I see. | (SG1: "The Ark of Truth") |
| Nou ani Anquietas. | Antiquitas sumus. like the Alteran sentence: Nos sumus Antiquitas. | We are the Ancient Ones. | (SG1: "The Fifth Race") |
| Onna matta netario. | Hoc recte necesse non est. like the Alteran sentence: Non ocurrere necessitas. | This is really unnecessary. | (SG1: "Avalon, Part 1") |
| Pare lume tempo eteri. | Patres lucis templi aeterni. like the Alteran sentence: Pater lux 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 putare ego. | I believe you. | (SG1: "Avalon, Part 1") |
| Verus Gen Bree. | Terra Veritatis Regalis. like the Alteran sentence: Vera Brevia Gentis. | Land of royal truth. | (SG1: "Morpheus") |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Not a direct translation.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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. "A piece of our leg" in Latin is "pars cruris nostri".