The language is heavily influenced by Old Norse , the Germanic Language once spoken by the inhabitants of Scandinavia and their overseas settlements during the Viking Age , until about 1300 . It evolved from the older Proto-Norse , in the 8th Century .
The Ancient Language was the language of the Grey Folk, who were not elves. It is not known for certain what they were.
The Ancient Language wasn't always the language of magic. Originally, magic was controlled by the magic user's thoughts; if the magic user was distracted, the consequences could have been terrible. Eventually, there was a tremendous magical disaster, and the Grey Folk decided to do something about the danger of employing magic. They cast the greatest spell in history, and changed the very nature of magic so that their language controlled it, and even if someone's thoughts were distracted when they were casting a spell, if they used the language the spell would be cast as the words commanded it to be. The effort this spell took caused the Grey Folk to Die Out . They were said to be the first magic users in the world.
There are some specific forms of courtesy among the Elves in the world of Eragon . When two elves meet they touch their first two fingers to their lips to indicate ''"We shall not distort the truth during our conversation"'', followed by a series of phrases, depending from the situation. In fact, using the Ancient language, one can only speak the truth.
:First elf: ''"Atra esterní ono thelduin"''
The person of lower rank speaks first. The first elf may be greeting another of greater status, or he may be wishing to honour a subordinate.
:Second elf: ''"Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr"''
This is the normal response to the first greeting, compulsory if you don't want to lack respect.
:First elf: ''"Un du evarínya ono varda."''
Used only in formal situations.
If one is uncertain of their position, they should give their interlocutor a chance to speak. If the answer is silence, they should speak first.
All phrases are taken from the back of ''Eragon'', the ''Eragon'' Deluxe Edition, and ''Eldest''.
- - A warden of the Riders lacks passage.
- - He does this.
- - May good fortune rule over you/Peace live in your heart/And the stars watch over you.
- - She was a strong-looking woman.
- - Let luck and happiness follow you and may you be a shield from misfortune.
- - Let us be warded from listeners.
- - Broad fire!
- - Reduce the magic that holds Saphira and me!
- - Earth, change!
- - Dominance of Fate (book)
- - dream stare
- - The Blasted Mountains
- - The Dragon War
- - Hold the gate!
- '' - ''"The Sighing Mists"'' (a poem song)
- - Death of the Shadows
- - The Burning Plains
- - The Wandering Path
- - The Guarding Forest
- - I am a Rider and a friend!
- - Bird, I will not harm you. Flap to my hand.
- - death friend
- - Sing O white-browed Fate/Of ill-marked Berundal/Born under oaken leaves/To mortal woman...
- - to go backward
- - to go forward
- - Unite that arrow with my hand.
- - Unite and raise the mist!
- - shining palm
- - Dull the Knife!
- - Break their calves!
- - a bat; Ra'zac's mounts (literally, leather-flapper)
- - Stop those arrows!
- - Poetic Script
- - Release my calves.
- - Memory! Fate! Thought!
- - Stone, change!
- - Blanket, rise!
- - the Mourning Sage
- - Raise/Lift the water.
- - May you find peace.
- - May your swords stay sharp!
- - May this serpent have life's movement.
- - Shield us from fire
- - Dragon, I honor you and mean you and your Rider no harm. Let us be friends.
- - Raise stone!
- - Rest in peace, King Hrothgar.
- - Compress the earth.
- - Compress the air.
- - Traverse stone and let me hear!
- - The Cripple Who Is Whole
- - tempering the fool's wisdom (level in the Riders' training)
- - Upon my word as a rider.
- - Elf Friend
- - Be healed!
- - For you.
- - For my happiness
All words are taken from the back of ''Eragon'', the ''Eragon'' deluxe edition, and ''Eldest''.
- - of
- - do; does
- - water
- - broad
- - celebration
- - Blood-oath Celebration
- - a
- - the Morning Star
- - he
- - she
- - silver
- - Silver Hand
- - may; let
- - Brightscales
- - Flapper
- - blood
- - blood-oath
- - halt; stop
- - broad
- - reduce
- - family house
- - fire
- - Hallowed Day
- - mists
- - earth
- - a green-leafed plant with purple flowers
- - dominance
- - city
- - dream
- - dream stare
- - the
- - dwarves
- - master
- - empty
- - Unconquerable
- - a tor or prominence
- - go, leave
- - I; me
- - a gender nuetral honorific; the highest praise in du liduen Kveadhi
- - to
- - litterally brave or mighty
- - was
- - is
- - invoke
- - stars
- - a picture taken by magical means
- - from
- - friend
- - mountains
- - feather
- - bird (literally feather-flapper)
- - an honorific for a young man of great promise
- - death
- - friend
- - war
- - light
- - path; passage
- - hold
- - luck
- - thornapple
- - harm
- - heal
- - The Gates of Death
- - heart
- - run
- - silent
- - oath
- - thought
- - hold
- - white
- - my (informal)
- - happiness
- - fire
- - break; hit
- - greetings
- - catch
- - stare
- - woman
- - greetings, friend
- - hand
- - leather
- - a bat; the Ra'zac's mounts (literally leather-flapper)
- - stop
- - life
- - release
- - to bind of hold in place; confine
- - memory
- - change
- - peace
- - blanket
- - a mixture of beeswax and hazelnut oil used to moisten the skin
- - Blasted
- - us
- - you
- - your
- - my (formal)
- - strong
- - misfortune
- - raise/lift
- - rise
- - Place of Sorrow
- - witch
- - that
- - Dragon Rider
- singing
- - look; looking
- - shield
- - shielded
- - scale
- - dragon (literally scale-flapper)
- - sleep
- - stone
- - rest
- - shadows
- - a formal honorific for an elf woman of great wisdom
- - follow
- - this
- - thrust;compress
- - and
- - in
- - lack; need
- - magic; elf
- - watch
- - the Warders or warden
- - warded
- - air
- - a male honorific of middling praise
- - a thin, straight stick
- - a male honorific for a close friend
- - for
- - be
- - will
- - fate
- - elven name for the Forsworn
- - a bond of trust
- - misery
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