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Post by amrathelion on Sept 21, 2017 22:39:43 GMT -5
Untitled Synopsis/Draft a.k.a. The Shumballa Typescripts
Kushite, Nemedian
"Have you taught her Kushite, as I commanded?" -The Shumballah Draft
Moving inland Conan is in the city of Shumballa in the land of Kush in the The Shumballah Typescripts. He speaks Kushite/Cushite and probably Nemedian to Diana with whom he escapes.
"His emissary bought a Nemedian girl, Diana, from a Shemitish slave-trader, who had captured her from an Argossean trading vessel."- The Shumballa Synopsis
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Post by amrathelion on Sept 21, 2017 22:40:37 GMT -5
Xuthal of the Dusk
Kothic, Shemitish, Stygian, Brythunian
In Xuthal of the Dusk while traveling as the sole survivors of an army fighting his way through Koth (knowing Kothic which he speaks from Black Colossus), Shem (knowing Shemitish having learned with the Zuagirs, whilst traversing Stygia (probably picking up more Stygian building on his knowledge learned as a corsair), and finally to the strange city of Xuthal in the deserts south of Kush.
I think he is probably speaking Brythunian to Natala that he would have learned crossing Brythunia in his youth. He speaks his newly learned Stygian to Thalis in Xuthal.
"The girl was Brythunian, whom Conan had found in the slave-market of a stormed Shemite city, and appropriated."- Xuthal of the Dusk
"'Lir an mannanan mac lir!'he swore..." - Xuthal of the Dusk
Conan swearing in his native Cimmerian tongue naming two Celtic gods Lir, and "the son of" (mac in Gaelic) Lir, Mannanan. Curiously Howard does not mention either god in a list of Cimmerian gods "Crom, Badb, Morrigan, Macha, Nemain, war-goddeses, Diancecht, Dagda" nor other northern barbarian gods such as the Nordheimr god "Ymir". - Howard in Hyborian Names and Countries
"After a tense moment he spoke, in a far-away detached tone, and a language his hearers did not understand. On a venture Conan replied in Stygian, and the stranger answered in the same tongue: 'Who are you?'"- Xuthal of the Dusk
"'Who are you' bluntly countered Conan, who quickly wearied of answering questions.’I am Thalis the Stygian,' she replied...'I am Conan, a Cimmerian, and this is Natala, a daughter of Brythunia', he answered." - Xuthal of the Dusk
Brythunian is never mentioned by Howard as a language, I name it after the people, or the country or region it is spoken in.
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Post by amrathelion on Sept 21, 2017 22:42:12 GMT -5
Iron Shadows in the Moon
Hyrkanian, Ophirean
Conan learns to speak Hyrkanian as a Zuagir fighting the Turanians prior to The Man-Eaters of Zamboula and as a Kozaki and speaks it in the story. Conan also speaks to Olivia presumably in her native tongue Ophirean.
"'You Hyrkanian dog!' mouthed this apparition in a barbarous accent. 'The devils of vengeance have brought you here!' 'Kozak!' ejaculated Shah Amurath, recoiling." - Iron Shadows in the Moon
"'I am Conan, of Cimmeria,' he grunted. 'I was with the kozaki, as the Hyrkanian dogs called us.' ...'I am a daughter of the king of Ophir,'she said." –Iron Shadows in the Moon
Ophirean is never mentioned by Howard as a language, I name it after the people, or the country or region it is spoken in.
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Post by amrathelion on Sept 21, 2017 22:43:47 GMT -5
The Devil in Iron
Hyrkanian, Yuetshi, Nemedian
The Devil in Iron has Conan speaking the Hyrkanian learned in Iron Shadows in the Moon. He already speaks Yuetshi presumably learned in the same time period as a Kozaki and member of the Red Brotherhood in the region, in Iron Shadows in the Moon and directly after.
"Yezdigerd, King of Turan, was the mightiest monarch in the world... His fleets of purple-sailed war galleys had made Vilayet an Hyrkanian lake." – The Devil in Iron
"We will ask for a parley with the kozaks in regard to prisoners, at the edge of the steppes by Fort Ghori." – The Devil in Iron
"with the kozak chief with whom- by compulsion- she had she had shamelessly flirted in the pavilions of the camp by Fort Ghori, where the Hyrkanian lords had parleyed with the warriors of the steppes." – The Devil in Iron
"Hyrkanian kingdom of Turan" - REH in The Hyborian Age
"Presently she spoke, but the tongue was unfamiliar to him, and he shook his head. She yawned again, stretched lithely, and without any show of fear or surprise, shifted to a language he did understand, a dialect of Yuetshi which sounded strangely archaic." – The Devil in Iron, Yateli speaking to Conan.
"The fisherman was typical of his race, that strange people whose origin is lost in the gray dawn of the past, and who have dwelt in their rude fishing-huts along the southern shore of the Sea of Vilayet since time immemorial." – The Devil in Iron
“Then we will send a spy – a Yuetshi fisherman will do – to the kozak camp, who will tell Conan that Octavia is hiding on Xapur.” – The Devil in Iron
“The fisherman had not lied, then; she was here!” – The Devil in Iron
Conan understands a voice coming from behind a wall.
"The tongue was Nemedian, but the voice was not human." – The Devil in Iron
He also speaks to the Nemedian girl Octavia.
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Post by amrathelion on Sept 21, 2017 22:45:02 GMT -5
People of the Black Circle
Vendhyan, Zhaibari, Afghulistani, Hyrkanian
Set in Vendhya in the cities of Ayodhya and Peshkhauri, and in the crags of the Himelians. Conan is Chief of the Afghulis the hillmen of Ghulistan or Afghulistan.
It is presumed by the text that Conan speaks Vendhyan as he speaks to the governor Chunder Shan in his native tongue.
"'Shhhh!' he warned. 'Don't make a noise, you bastard, or I'll send the devil a henchman!'" – People of the Black Circle
And also to the Devi Yasmina.
"'You dare - you dare! Your life shall pay for this! Where are you taking me?' 'To the villages of Afghulistan,' he answered, casting a glance over his shoulder." – People of the Black Circle
Conan speaks to Zhaibari tribesmen in the Zhaibar region of the Himelians, the Wazulis of Khurum.
"Conan and Yar Afzal stood a few paces before the door, and between them and the ring of warrors another man sat cross-legged. This one was addressing his chief in the harsh accents of the Wazuli which Yasmina could scarcely understand, though as part of her royal education she had been taught the languages of Iranistan and the kindred tongues of Ghulistan." – People of the Black Circle
Conan speaks to a girl from a Galzai village.
"'If you will give this woman your garments,' he said, ' I will give you this money.'" – People of the Black Circle
Zhaibari Galzai dialect
Conan speaks to the Afghuli hillmen.
"'I was riding for Ghor! he roared. 'I had not hoped to meet you dogs on the trail. Follow me as fast as your nags can push! I'm going to Yimsha, and -' 'Traitor!' The howl was like a dash of ice water in his face." – People of the Black Circle
Conan speaks to the Turanian Kerim Shah in Hyrkanian.
"'Where is the Devi?' demanded Kerim Shah.’What's it to you, you Hyrkanian spy?' snarled Conan." – People of the Black Circle
The Turanian then explains to his followers the Irakzai tribesmen showing they didn't understand the conversation in Hyrkanian.
"Kerim Shah turned to the silent Irakzai and spoke briefly: 'This chief and I are going to Yimsha to fight the wizards. Will you go with us, or stary here to be flayed by the Afghulis who are following this man?'"– People of the Black Circle
Afghuli, Zhaibari, Hyrkanian, and Irakzai are never mentioned by Howard as languages, they are named after the people, or the country or region they are spoken in.
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Post by amrathelion on Sept 21, 2017 22:46:33 GMT -5
Untitled Synopsis/Draft a.k.a. The Tombalku Typescripts
Argossean, Aquilonian, Stygian, Kothic, Kushite
The Tombalku Typescripts is set in the desert that lies south of Stygia in the Black Kingdoms. Conan and Amalric were mercenaries in an Argossean army attacking Stygia from the south coming up from the Kushite coasts they are annihilated and forced into the deserts to the south of Stygia.
The Ghanatas are mentioned but not which language they speak. "members of the bandit tribe of Ghanata, a ne gro race mixed with Shemitish blood." –The Tombalku Synopsis
Amalric meets the girl Lissa a Gazali from the city of Gazal.
"He found she spoke a language akin to the Kothic, and they could understand each other." –The Tombalku Synopsis
"The words were strange, yet possessed an illusive familiarity." –The Tombalku Draft
"Tombalku, a strange fantastic city set in the sands of the desert, beside an oasis of many springs. It was a city of many tongues. The dominant caste, the founders of the city, were a warlike brown race, descendents of the Aphaki, a Shemitish tribe which pushed into the desert several hundred years before, and mixed with the ne gro races. The subject tribes included the Tibu, a desert race, of mixed ne gro and Stygian blood; and the Bagirmi, Mandingo, Dongola, Bornu, and other ne gro tribes of the grasslands to the south."-The Tombalku Synopsis
Conan speaking Kushite:
“A horse screamed frenziedly, and a bull like voice bellowed in a strange tongue. From somewhere in the night a clamor of yells answered.” –The Tombalku Draft
"They spoke a dialect I could understand a little, it being much like that of the western Mandingo who dwell on the coast." Conan speaking –The Tombalku Draft
Conan speaks to Amalric presumably in Amalric’s native tongue.
“’The Devil!’ he roared; ‘Amalric the Aquilonian!’” –The Tombalku Draft
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Post by amrathelion on Sept 21, 2017 22:47:37 GMT -5
The Vale of Lost Women
Kushite, Ophirean
Conan and his warriors converse with Bajujh, king of Bakalah presumably in some dialect of Kushite although it is never stated in the story.
"'Who are you?'he demanded, speaking Ophirean with a barbarous accent.'By Crom, I never thought to find a white girl in this hellish land.' "My name is Livia,' she answered." –The Vale of Lost Women
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Post by amrathelion on Sept 21, 2017 22:48:46 GMT -5
The Servants of Bit-Yakin
Keshani, Corinthian
Conan speaks Keshani to the Keshan rulers and the high priest Gorulga.
Conan reads ancient Pelishtim a dialect of Shemitish.
"Remembering something, the Cimmerian drew forth the roll of parchment he had taken from the mummy and unrolled it carefully, as it seemed ready to fall to pieces with age. He scowled over the dim characters with which it was covered. In his roaming about the world the giant adventurer had picked up a wide smattering of knowledge, particularly including the speaking and reading of many alien tongues. Many a sheltered scholar would have been astonished at the Cimmerian's linguistic abilities, for he had experienced many adventures where knowledge of a strange language meant the difference between life and death. These Characters were puzzling, at once familiar and unintelligible, and presently he discovered the reason. They were the characters of the archaic Pelishtim, which possessed many points of difference from the modern script, with which he was familiar, and which, three centuries ago, had been modified by conquest by a nomad tribe. This older, purer script baffled him. He made out a recurrent phrase, however, which he recognized as a proper name: Bit-Yakin. He gathered it was the name of the writer. Scowling, his lips unconsciously moving as he struggled with the task, he blundered through the manuscript, finding much of it untranslatable and most of the rest of it obscure. He gathered that the writer, the mysterious Bit-Yakin, had come from afar with his servants, and entered the valley of Alkmeenon. Much that followed was meaningless, interspersed as it was with unfamiliar phrases and characters. Such as he could translate seemed to indicate the passing of a very long period of time." - The Servants of Bit-Yakin
"the Shemitish cities of the west, Pelishtim, Anakim, Akkharim,..." –A Witch Shall Be Born
Conan recognizes a Corinthian accent.
"I thought it was strange that a princess of Alkmeenon would speak with a Corinthian accent! As soon as I'd gathered my wits I knew I'd seen you somewhere. You're Muriela, Zargheba's Corinthian dancing girl." - The Servants of Bit-Yakin
It is probable that upon recognizing the Corinthian accent of the spoken Keshani, Conan confronts then converses with Muriela in her native tongue, which he probably learned prior to and during the tale Rogues in the House.
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Post by amrathelion on Sept 21, 2017 22:50:20 GMT -5
The Pool of the Black One
Zingaran, and at least a dozen others sung at full volume.
"Sancha, once of Kordava,..." –The Pool of the Black One (Kordava is a city of Zingara).
"'Who are you?' she demanded. 'Whence did you come?'...'I am Conan,' the other answered imperturbably. Sancha pricked up her ears anew; she had never heard Zingaran spoken with such an accent as the stranger spoke it." –The Pool of the Black One
The Pool of the Black One has Conan speaking Zingaran. He must have traveled to the coast and there became a Barachan pirate learning Zingaran along the way. After the events of The Servants of Bit-Yakin and his journey to Punt afterward he regains the coasts and rejoins them. Crawling aboard a ship from out of the sea and eventually joining the Zingaran crew as one of the Freebooters.
"I came from the Islands" –The Pool of the Black One
"Little love was lost between the Zingaran renegades and the outlaws who infested the Baracha Islands off the southern coast of Zingara." –The Pool of the Black One
"who roared ribald songs in a dozen languages" –The Pool of the Black One
Conan speaks at least a dozen languages. At this point in his career I have him speaking if not fluently then at least partially the following tongues:
Cimmerian Nordheimr Hyperborean Aquilonian Bossonian Pictish Brythunian Nemedian Zamorian Corinthian Ophirean Kothic Shemitish Hyrkanian Argossean Kushite/Cushite Stygian Yuetshi Vendhyan Zhaibari Ghulistani or Ghuli Zingaran Keshani Puntan
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Post by amrathelion on Sept 21, 2017 22:52:49 GMT -5
Red Nails
Stygian, Darfari, Aquilonian
Conan speaks to Valeria who is Aquilonian in her native tongue.
"Conan asked in the Aquilonian tongue: 'Who is this madman?' Valeria shrugged her shoulders." -Red Nails
Conan and Valeria speak to the inhabitants of Xuchotl in Stygian.
"He was gibbering in the Stygian tongue, though in a dialect unfamiliar to her." -Red Nails
Conan might have spoken Darfari with the women of Darfar that came to camp. Darfari is never mentioned by Howard, it is named after the people, or the country or region it is spoken in.
"But I saw I'd been stung when we marched to the Darfar border. The pay was poor and the wine was sour, and I don't like black women. And that's the only kind that came to our camp at Sukhmet, rings in their noses and their teeth filed , bah!" - Red Nails
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Post by amrathelion on Sept 21, 2017 22:54:06 GMT -5
Beyond the Black River
Aquilonian, Bossonian, Pictish
Conan is presumably speaking Aquilonian with the Gundermen and Aquilonians of the fort.
"'Come on out!' he called, in an accent unfamiliar to the wayfarer" - Beyond the Black River
Conan is presumably speaking Bossonian with the Bossonians of the fort.
"'But the Bossonians have sheltered you Aquilonians form the outer wildernesses for too many centuries. You need hardening.' That was true; the Bossonian marches, with thier fortified villages filled with determined bowmen, had long served Aquilonia as a buffer against the outlying barbarians." - Beyond the Black River
"The rangy figures of Aquilonian pikemen and forest runners mingled with the shorter, stockier forms of Bossonian archers." - Beyond the Black River
"The Westermarck: located between the Bossonian marches and the Pictish wilderness. Provinces: Thandara, Conawaga, Oriskonie, Schohira...Thandara was the southernmost province...Their governor was merely a military commander, elected from among themselves, their choice being always submitted to and approved by the king of Aquilonia as a matter of form. No troops were ever sent to Thandara...When the word came that Aquilonia was being torn by civil war, and that the Cimmerian Conan was striking for the crown, Thandara instantly declared for Conan, renounced their allegiance to King Namedes and sent word asking Conan to endorse their elected governor, which the Cimmerian instantly did." -REH in untitled notes of the Wolves Beyond the Border Typescripts.
"Baron Thasperas (Thespius) sent us word that we could do as we chose - he has declared for Conan and joined the rebel army." Gault speaking of one of the Bossonian barons -Wolves Beyond the Border Drafts A and B
It stands to reason that Conan can speak to the Bossonians in the Marches and the Westermarck and it is evidenced that he definitely can by the time he is King of Aquilonia and commanding the Bossonian archers as part of his armies.
"'No, Prospero,' the king continued...'I tell you it's not by chance that the Picts have of late so fiercely assailed the frontiers, so that the Bossonians have called for aid to beat them back.'" -The Phoenix on the Sword.
"In a sort of bastard-Bossonian, the priest made the chief understand his purpose, and the though extremely puzzled, Gorm gave him permission to remain among his tribe unbutchered- a case unique in the history of the race." REH speaking of Picts in The Hyborian Age.
Conan speaks Pictish.
"At his very ear had sounded the harsh gutturals of a Pict. Then he realized that Conan had called to the paddler in his own tongue." - Beyond the Black River
Conan scrawls the symbol of Jhebbal Sag.
"Conan turned, squatted and with his knife began scratching a curious symbol in the mold..." - Beyond the Black River
"'I saw it carved in the rock of a cave no human had visited for a million years,' muttered Conan. 'In the uninhabited mountains beyond the Sea of Vilayet, half a world away from this spot. Later I saw a black witch-finder of Kush scratch it in the sand of a nameless river. He told me part of its meaning- it's sacred to Jhebbal Sag and the creatures which worship him.'" - Beyond the Black River
"Once all living things worshipped him. That was long ago, when beasts and men spoke one language. Men have forgotten him; even the beasts forget. Only a few remember. The men who remember Jhebbal Sag and the beasts who remember are brothers and speak the same tongue." - Beyond the Black River
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Post by amrathelion on Sept 21, 2017 22:55:09 GMT -5
The Black Stranger
Pictish, Zingaran
"The man crouching on the ledge above them understood the Pictish tongue, but he was too far away to catch the significance of the staccato phrases snapped at the warriors by the crimson-feathered chief." - The Black Stranger
Conan speaks Zingaran throughout the tale to The Count of Zingara and his retainers, Strom and his Barachan Pirates, and Black Zarono with his Zingaran buccaneers.
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Post by amrathelion on Sept 21, 2017 22:56:32 GMT -5
Wolves Beyond the Border Typescripts
Aquilonian, Bossonian
"The Westermarck: located between the Bossonian marches and the Pictish wilderness. Provinces: Thandara, Conawaga, Oriskonie, Schohira...Thandara was the southernmost province...Their governor was merely a military commander, elected from among themselves, their choice being always submitted to and approved by the king of Aquilonia as a matter of form. No troops were ever sent to Thandara...When the word came that Aquilonia was being torn by civil war, and that the Cimmerian Conan was striking for the crown, Thandara instantly declared for Conan, renounced their allegiance to King Namedes and sent word asking Conan to endorse their elected governor, which the Cimmerian instantly did." -REH in untitled notes of The Wolves Beyond the Border Typescripts.
"Baron Thasperas (Thespius) sent us word that we could do as we chose - he has declared for Conan and joined the rebel army." Gault speaking of one of the Bossonian barons-Wolves Beyond the Border Drafts A and B
It stands to reason that Conan can speak to the Bossonians in the Marches and the Westermarck and it is evidenced that he definitely can by the time he is King of Aquilonia and commanding the Bossonian archers as part of his armies. He speaks Aquilonian as a mercenary for the Aquilonian armies.
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Post by amrathelion on Sept 21, 2017 22:57:31 GMT -5
The Phoenix on the Sword
Aquilonian, Bossonian
In The Phoenix on the Sword Conan is the king of Aquilonia and it is implied by the text he is speaking Aquilonian throughout the story. Conan mentions correspondence with the Bossonians seeking aid to protect the borders.
“I tell you, it’s not by chance that the Picts have of late so fiercely assailed the frontiers, so that the Bossonians have called for aid to beat them back. I should have ridden with the troops.” –The Phoenix on the Sword
Incidentally Phoenix also mentions that Conan is literate and has some ability in cartography.
"Behind an ivory, gold-inlaid writing-table sat a man whose broad shoulders and sun-browned skin seemed out of place among those luxuriant surroundings." –The Phoenix on the Sword
"Now he laid down the golden stylus with which he had been laboriously scrawling on waxed papyrus...." –The Phoenix on the Sword
"'What are you working at there?' 'A map,' Conan answered with pride. “The maps of the court show well the countries of the south, east and west, but in the north they are vague and faulty. I am adding the northern lands myself. Here is Cimmeria, where I was born.'" –The Phoenix on the Sword
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Post by amrathelion on Sept 21, 2017 22:58:31 GMT -5
The Scarlet Citadel
Aquilonian, Ophirean, Kothic, Kushite
In The Scarlet Citadel the King speaks the Aquilonian learned in his youth as well as Ophirean. He rushes to aid his Ophirean ally who sent word that he needs aid against the Kothian armies.
"That day Conan, king of Aquilonia, had seen the pick of his chivalry cut to pieces, smashed and hammered to bits, and swept into eternity. With five thousand knights he had crossed the south-eastern border of Aquilonia and ridden into the grassy meadowlands of Ophir, to find his former ally, King Amalrus of Ophir, drawn up against him with the hosts of Strabonus, king of Koth. Too late he had seen the trap." -The Scarlet Citadel
"'I offer you life, Conan,' said Tsotha, a cruel mirth bubbling at the back of his voice. 'I give you death, wizard,' snarled the king..." - The Scarlet Citadel
"The black spoke in a sea-coast dialect, and Conan replied; he had learned the jargon while a corsair on the coasts of Kush." - The Scarlet Citadel
"'What year is this?' he asked, speaking Kothic. 'Today is the tenth day of the month Yuluk, of the year of the Gazelle,' answered Conan." The Scarlet Citadel
“’Long have I wished to meet you, Amra,’ the black gave Conan the name – Amra, the Lion – by which the Cimmerian had been known to the Kushites in his piratical days.” –The Scarlet Citadel
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