View source for Bolian Language and Literature

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The [[Bolian]] language is a collection of mutually intelligible dialects that differ mostly in accent and idiom. 

==Water Imagery==
Given the nature of [[Bolarus IX]], ocean and water imagery play a large part in the language. The human standard term "birthday" in Bolian best translates to "the day I met the [[Bolian Ocean Day Celebrations|Ocean]]."{{SimRef | SIMLINK=https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-arrow/c/kPSKra6JSxY/m/47S4gKcyAAAJ | CHARACTERS=Ensign Zenno | SIMTITLE=Playing the Uno Reverse Card | SHIP=[[USS Arrow]] }}

At last count, there were over 100 terms for water. This includes terms for drinking water, water in the ocean, river water, fresh water, salt water, and the like. There are additional terms for weather-related water such as rain, sleet, or drizzle.{{SimRef | SIMLINK=https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-arrow/c/EVK0yYqVOlY | CHARACTERS=Ensign Zenno | SIMTITLE=Water Dancing | SHIP=[[USS Arrow]] }}

==General Words==

*Ajah Mai, A Bolian [[Bolian Water Sculpture|Water Sculpture]]
*Ajahi Mailos, An artisan who specializes in Ajah Mai
*Ajahi Mailosin, An apprentice to an Ajahi Mailos{{SimRef | SIMLINK=https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-arrow/c/ICFiT5PtwZg | CHARACTERS=Lt Zenno | SIMTITLE=Unexpected Mail Call | SHIP=[[USS Arrow]] }} 
*Arvadathi, Bolian tomato soup, but only the authentic variety made from Arvaditum
*Sihawey, wind, specifically one that blows over the ocean

==Kinship Terms and Examples==

The Bolian language has a rich set of terms to describe family relationships. With multiple births being so common, there are special terms to designate siblings born at the same time. Although one must remember that the Bolians do not mean the day of live birth, but of the [[Bolian Ocean Day Celebrations|Ocean Day]]. There are also words to denote siblings born of the same biological parents, half-siblings, and those raised together as siblings with no biological relationship. 

Regarding terms for siblings, there are no gendered terms such as brother or sister. (Mother and Father do have analogues in the language.) However, the Bolian language does make distinctions between older and younger siblings, but those distinctions apply only if they had different Ocean Days. A group of twins would all have the same Ocean Day, so there is no distinction of the “older” and “younger” twin in this case. But if another child came along later to the same parents, the twins would be the older ones and the new child would be considered the younger sibling. For Bolian purposes, the twins are the exact same age.

*Mibu, Mother, biological and primary parent, paired with Adahh, either exclusively or in a group
*Adahh, Father, biological and primary parent, paired with Mibu, either exclusively or in a group
*Mibu-Im, biological mother but not in the household
*Im-Adahh, biological father but not in the household
*Mibu-Ah, Mother: Non-biological female parent, partnered to the Adahh, either exclusively or in a group. This term is used for one who does primary parenting.
*Mibu-Ahno: Term for any other female parents in the household. Not a primary parent.
*Adahh-Lo, Father: Non-biological male parent, partnered to the Mibu, either exclusively or in a group. This term is used for one who does primary parenting.
*Adahh-No: Term for any other male parents in the household. Not a primary parent.
*Sarndah, generic term for all siblings in a household. Older, younger, biologically related, or not are included.
*Sarn-Alah, siblings of the same biological parents who share the same Ocean Day in the same household 
*Sarn-Dihaj, siblings sharing one biological parent who share the same Ocean Day in the same household 
*Sarn-Alaj, siblings not biologically related who share the same Ocean Day in the same household 
*Dah-Im, biologically (either half or fully) related siblings not in the household
*Sirma-Dah, older sibling in the same household, no biological relationship
*Slawah-Dah, younger sibling in the same household, no biological relationship
*Tian-Vah, literally "Uncle/Aunt of Blood and Water," meaning the person is a full biological Brother or Sister of a Mibu.

Examples: Bolian male Rett is in a group marriage with Vott (male), Nixx (female), and Slass (female). Rett and Nixx produce children. The children would call Rett Adahh and Nixx would be Mibu. Vott would be Adahh-No and Slass would be Mibu-Ahno. Rett leaves the household. He immediately becomes Im-Adahh. Female Tivv joins the household, primary with Nixx, and brings her older children. Tivv would be Mibu-Ahno and her children would be Sarndah to Rett and Nixx’s offspring. The younger children would call the older ones Sirma-Dah.

==Common Idioms==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Term
!Meaning
!Example
|-
|Be in the blue and silent water{{SimRef | SIMLINK=https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-arrow/c/fDAwpDUNM_w/m/tCyR0gudAwAJ | CHARACTERS=Ensign Zenno | SIMTITLE=Am I right? Am I wrong? | SHIP=[[USS Arrow]] }}

|Don’t make a fuss, be at peace
|Put down your PADD, it's making you angry. Eat your dinner. Be in the blue and silent water.
|-
|Bottle the wind{{SimRef | SIMLINK=https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-arrow/c/9Dax1zthGls/m/oxF-PklEDQAJ | CHARACTERS=Ensign Zenno | SIMTITLE=Vulcan Surprise | SHIP=[[USS Arrow]] }}

|You are imagining things or lost in thought.
|Stop trying to bottle the wind and help me align these phaser couplers.
|-
|Swear upon ocean and river{{SimRef | SIMLINK=https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-arrow/c/kPSKra6JSxY/m/47S4gKcyAAAJ | CHARACTERS=Ensign Zenno | SIMTITLE=Playing the Uno Reverse Card | SHIP=[[USS Arrow]] }}

|A promise. Sometimes used as a jest.
|I swear upon ocean and river, I will find those responsible for this crime. ''(Serious)''
I swear upon ocean and river, I will never gamble at Quark's again! ''(A jest)''
|-
|May the waters bless our meeting{{SimRef | SIMLINK=https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-arrow/c/ru8pplKuUW4/m/8BP6aom8GAAJ | CHARACTERS=Ensign Zenno | SIMTITLE=Breakfast of Champions | SHIP=[[USS Arrow]] }}

|Used in formal introductions
|Ah, Scientist Jaynes, how fortunate that you are here. May the waters bless our meeting.
|}

==Literature==
Most poems and long-form stories begin with an invocation to the wind or water. This is simply a tradition in high Bolian literature, kept since antiquity.

One of the more famous Bolian poems from antiquity is the Lays of Zemnsuirahh written by Xott the Merciful. Xott was an ancient warlord and also a poet who wrote poems of his own victories. {{SimRef | SIMLINK=https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-khitomer/c/Z35O_OELESQ | CHARACTERS=Lt Zenno | SIMTITLE=A Whisper of Echoes, Part I | SHIP=[[USS Khitomer]] }}

{| class="wikitable"
|+A Sample Poem{{SimRef | SIMLINK=https://groups.google.com/g/sb118-arrow/c/gRnnZjT98Wc/m/Dprw5RogIAAJ | CHARACTERS=Ensign Zenno | SIMTITLE=Thinking of the Sea | SHIP=[[USS Arrow]] }}
|-
!Bolian!!Federation Standard
|-
|Ajah, lasi du sihawey Ah 


Abiruh adalah sing dan kirusa adelusa 

Keindulan angin dir 

Manjulin awgul dere 

Berbisa layar quan dan alemusa kirasey 


Durjalan terhampar quah a salarah Ah 

Berjamayan sandin vere 

Qualijayin jernuh veer 

Ber cadar zu kita anglim sahdusa Zha
|Hear my words, Oh Water and Wind! 


The sapphire sea sings of the wind 

Hearing the call, she answers 

The jasmine scented air swirls 

Azure waters sigh and a sea spray rises on the East wind 


The sailor sees, but says nothing. 

This moment of perfect grace and beauty 

He moves on the water and the wind blesses him 

The Sun's light is low in the West as the zephyr carries the sweet fragrance of home
|}

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Bolian]]
[[Category:Society_and_culture]]