Post by Narimya on Sept 10, 2010 18:03:36 GMT -5
There are some words in the Ancient Language that seem to mean different things, such as in the following examples.
Ai is used as "as". Aí is used as "a", and is a completely different word.
Atra is used as both "let" and "may" in some circumstances, such as the following: Atra esterni ono thelduin (May good fortune rule over you). Here it is used as the word "may." However, in the phrase Atra nosu waise vardo fra eld hornya (Let us be warded from listeners), it is used as the word "let."
There also seems to be two words that mean "may": Atra and Se. Se is used as "may" in the following sentence: Se onr sverdar sitja hvass (May your swords stay sharp). However, I don't believe it is a formal and informal reason for the two words meaning "may", because the phrases that they're used in are both formal. For the answer to a question like this, we'd have to ask Paolini himself.
Eka is mainly used as "I" in the Ancient Language. However, it can also be used as "me", and can imply being, such as " ".
Eragon uses the phrase "Eka aí fricai un Shur'tugal.", which is "I am a Rider and friend". In this case, Eka implies being: "I am". Aí is simply "a", so later in Eldest when Eragon says "Eka fricai un Shur'tugal.", it is not a typo: the aí was unnecessary, and therefore excluded. This was done presumably to show Eragon's increasing knowledge of the Ancient Language.
CONCERNING "Ai" and "Aí"
Ai is used as "as". Aí is used as "a", and is a completely different word.
CONCERNING "ATRA" AND "SE"
Atra is used as both "let" and "may" in some circumstances, such as the following: Atra esterni ono thelduin (May good fortune rule over you). Here it is used as the word "may." However, in the phrase Atra nosu waise vardo fra eld hornya (Let us be warded from listeners), it is used as the word "let."
There also seems to be two words that mean "may": Atra and Se. Se is used as "may" in the following sentence: Se onr sverdar sitja hvass (May your swords stay sharp). However, I don't believe it is a formal and informal reason for the two words meaning "may", because the phrases that they're used in are both formal. For the answer to a question like this, we'd have to ask Paolini himself.
CONCERNING 'EKA'
Eka is mainly used as "I" in the Ancient Language. However, it can also be used as "me", and can imply being, such as " ".
Eragon uses the phrase "Eka aí fricai un Shur'tugal.", which is "I am a Rider and friend". In this case, Eka implies being: "I am". Aí is simply "a", so later in Eldest when Eragon says "Eka fricai un Shur'tugal.", it is not a typo: the aí was unnecessary, and therefore excluded. This was done presumably to show Eragon's increasing knowledge of the Ancient Language.
