Vulcan

SPOKEN BY

Vulcan is spoken by Vulcans in the Star Trek universe: in the television series [Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek: The Original Series (1966–1969), Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973–1974), Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999), Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001), and Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005)] and the film series [(Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989), Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), Star Trek Generations (1994), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Star Trek: Insurrection (1999), Star Trek Nemesis (2002), and Star Trek (2009)].

DOCUMENTED BY

The Vulcan language and culture developed over time as various writers and directors included additional information in the stories they told.

BEHIND THE WORDS

The Vulcans were the first extraterrestrial species to make contact with human beings, as recounted in Star Trek: First Contact. As a species, the Vulcans prize logic above all, and Star Trek: The Original Series features a Vulcan, Mr. Spock, as the first officer on the Enterprise. Spock was not, however, the first Vulcan to serve on a Federation ship; that honor belonged to T’pol, who served aboard the first Enterprise under the command of Jonathan Archer.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LANGUAGE

The Vulcan language uses a verb-subject-object structure.

A TASTE OF THE LANGUAGE

Aluk (noun)—fish

Ek’’zer (noun)—jewel

Fas-top (verb)—to cook

Ha-kel (noun)—home

Ifis-tor (verb)—to transport

Ko-mekh (noun)—mother

Lipau (noun)—knife

Nashiv-tor (verb)—to attack

Nem-tor (verb)—to take

Nesh-kur (adjective)—black

Salan (noun)—wind

Sa-mekh (noun)—father

Semek (adjective)—cold

Suk (adjective)—big

Temok (noun)—wall

Tev-tor (verb)—to fall

Yar-kur (adjective)—green

Yel (noun)—star

Yem-tukh (noun)—food

Yokul (verb)—to eat

Yon (noun)—fire

SOME USEFUL PHRASES

Tu’ash’voh svep. (Open the door!)

I’poprah fasei setebihk t’ovsotuhl-ozhika. (Now receive from us this symbol of
total logic.)

Du vravshal srashiv t’Kolinahr. (You have not achieved Kolinahr.)

Dif-tor heh smusma. (Live long and prosper.)

NUMBERING SYSTEM

wahkuh—one

dahkuh—two

rehkuh—three

kehkuh—four

kaukuh—five

shehkuh—six

stehkuh—seven

ohkuh—eight

naukuh—nine

lehkuh—ten

PHILOLOGICAL FACTS

In 1967, linguist Dorothy Jones Heydt constructed a Vulcan language for fans to use in writing Star Trek fan fiction. She also originated the Star Trek Concordance. The self-published fandom publication was later picked up by Ballantine Books.

Vulcan, at the time of the events of Star Trek (in all its incarnations), was written in vertical columns running top to bottom and left to right. A more complex version of the script had been used in ancient times. A somewhat simplified version of Vulcan script, consisting of squiggles, spirals, and dots, was occasionally used in modern times.

IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING THE LANGUAGE

To learn Vulcan, click on over to the Vulcan Language Institute (www.stogeek.com/wiki/Category:Vulcan_Language_Institute) and work your way through the lessons.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Review the works listed above, the resources listed in the bibliography, and the web page: “Vulcan Language Institute Reclamation Project” (www.stogeek.com/wiki/Category:Vulcan_Language_Institute).