Post by Raelia on Oct 11, 2009 16:53:14 GMT -7
Over the years, both Pern and the rest of the universe have undergone lingual shifts. For the most part, Pern's language has remained the same, thanks to the diligent efforts of the harpers to preserve Pern's history. There are, however, a few new words.
Ancients: a name for the first colonists (settlers) who came to Pern. They had technology that was far superior to what Pern had by the time of the Ninth Pass.
Blast the shell and sear the skin: A Pernese curse
Blood will tell: Pernese proverb, meaning that ones true nature will always show or prevail eventually
Boll Blood: said of someone who has a swarthy complexion. The quote from Dragon's Fire goes: "They get swarthy down there"
By the Egg: a Pernese saying/oath
By the egg of Faranth: a Pernese saying/oath
By the First Egg: a Pernese oath
By the golden shell of the queen: a Pernese oath
By the shell of the first Egg: a Pernese oath
By the Void that spawned us: a Pernese saying/oath
Chilblains: Pernese name for itching fingers because of the cold
Cold Season: also called the Cold. A Pernese name for winter.
Deadglow / Dimglow: a numbskull, stupid. The term is derived from glow.
The Egg: a Pernese oath
Finless: An insulting name for a human used by dolphins
First Egg: Pernese oath
For the love of little green apples: Pernese saying used also in other books by Anne McCaffrey (fiction as well as non-fiction) who seems to have a special liking for it.
For the love of little dragons: Pernese saying
Furs: a name used for bedding
Hidebound: slang for someone who is set in their ways
Hot Igen: a nickname for Igen Weyr
I have been begging the Egg for...: Pernese saying
If you are hungry enough, even tunnel snake tastes good: Pernese proverb, meaning that under dire circumstances people will do things they normally wouldn't.
In the name of the egg: a Pernese oath
Long-foot: An insulting name for a human used by dolphins
Looks to: Pernese expression meaning: is Impressed by.
Mercy: Pernese term for active euthanasia.
More than one way to skin a wherry: Pernese proverb meaning there are more ways than one to get the result you want
New brooms sweep clean; old Terran proverb that was also in use on Pern
Auntie: elderly woman, usually senile and/or unable to care for herself anymore
Uncle: elderly man, usually senile and/or unable to care for himself anymore
Preaching to the dedicated: old Terran and Pernese proverb. (Terran equivalent: "Preaching to the choir")
Records: histories. Each Hall, Hold, and Weyr has its own
Sevenday: the Pernese equivalent of a week.
Seventh Day: the Pernese equivalent of a rest day, like Terran Sunday
Shards: a Pernese expletive or swear word.
Shells: a Pernese expletive or swear word.
Shipfish: Pernese name for dolphins. Considered an insult by dolphins
Silly fins: A delphinic name for an ignorant calf or a stupid dolphin
Sleeping fur: a fur that is used as a blanket, to sleep under
Sweet course: Pernese name for desert after a meal
Sweet sand: Pernese equivalent of soap.
Taking a short dragon-ride: a euphemism for the ending of an unwanted pregnancy by going between when you are pregnant
Thread-lost: a Pernese expression, meaning being out in the open while Thread is falling.
Turn: a Pernese year. The name Turn came into use around the time of start of the Second Pass in 258 at which time there were still people that scorned the use of the new name
When the moons turn green: Pernese proverb
Why under the double moons: Pernese proverb
Begreened: a mild Pernese curse
Great Faranth: this or any variation thereof is a common oath or exclamation of surprise or disbeleif
By Pansk's infernal egg! - Pande's most common saying
^ because I(Pande) can