Bolian Language and Literature

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 Ocean."

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.

Words

• Ajah Mai, A Bolian Water Sculpture
• Ajahi Mailos, An artisan who specializes in Ajah Mai
• Arvadathi, Bolian tomato soup, but only the authentic variety made from Arvaditum
• Sihawey, wind, specifically one that blows over the ocean

Common Idioms

Term	Meaning	Example
Be in the blue and silent water	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	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	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	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.

A Sample Poem

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