Rihannsu

SPOKEN BY

Rihannsu is spoken by the Rihannsu (the name the Romulans use for themselves) in the Star Trek books of Diane Duane. Rihannsu is not considered canonical.

DOCUMENTED BY

Diane Duane (1952– ) has written about the Rihannsu in My Enemy, My Ally—#18 (1984), The Romulan Way—#35 (with Peter Morwood, 1987), Swordhunt—#95 (2000), Honor Blade—#96 (2000), The Empty Chair (2006), and Rihannsu: The Bloodwing Voyages (an omnibus of the first four novels, 2006).

DERIVATION OF THE LANGUAGE

The Vulcans, contrary to some beliefs, are a deeply emotional race. Because of what they view as the destructive character of emotions, Surak, a Vulcan leader, taught them to live lives without emotion, ruled by pure logic. One of Surak’s students, S’task, dissented. When the followers of S’task decided to leave Vulcan, they created a new language derived from Old High Vulcan to produce Rihannsu, which sounds a bit like Latin and Welsh. These new people became, in time, the Romulans.

BEHIND THE WORDS

Although the Romulans can be warlike when necessary, their society also includes artistic aspects such as sculpting and pottery, as well as Romulan literature, poetry, and drama.

A TASTE OF THE LANGUAGE

aedn’’voi (noun)—information

eliu (verb)—to finish

haei’’n (verb)—to signify

hre (adjective, adverb)—more

hveinu (noun)—border

hweithnaef (noun)—diversity

idh (adverb)—completely

ierra (adjective)—multiple

irrhaimehn (verb)—to settle a score

lai (noun)—premises

lh’’hd (verb)—to proceed

lhiu (verb)—to stop

mrei (verb)—to approach

ra (adjective)—excellent

te (noun)—heading, course

SOME USEFUL PHRASES

aeh’lla’hnah. (Engage cloak.)

ta’khoi. (Screen off.)

Arhem oelh’ha. (I am most happy.)

NUMBERING SYSTEM

hwi—one

kre—two

sei—three

mne—four

rhi—five

fve—six

lli—seven

the—eight

lhi—nine

dha—ten

PHILOLOGICAL FACT

Diane Duane has also written non-Rihannsu novels in the Star Trek universe: The Wounded Sky—#13 (1983), Spock’s World (1988), and Doctor’s Orders—#50 (1990) from the Original Series and Dark Mirror (1993) and Intellivore—#45 (1997) from the Next Generation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Review the works listed above, the resources listed in the bibliography, and the web page: “Rihannsu Encyclopedia” (www.pfrpg.org/RH/).

UNIVERSAL TRANSLATOR

In the long-running British television series Doctor Who (1963–89, 2005– ), the TARDIS [Time and Relative Dimension(s) in Space] translates most languages using a telepathic field.

SPEAKING OF LANGUAGES

Language exerts hidden power, like the moon on the tides.

—Rita Mae Brown