Language of the Gargoyle

Introduction

“Gargoyle” is an English corruption of gargl, the Gargoyles’ name for themselves and their language. An informal English label for the Gargoyle language is Gargish.

Spoken Gargish is grammatically flexible. Parts of speech (noun/verb/adjective) are signaled by gesture and intonation, not word endings. This flexibility shows up in magic spell phrases derived from Gargish (e.g., Vas Sanct Lor ← Gargish vas saengkt lor), where permutations like saengkt vas lor or lor saengkt vas are also correct.

Gargoyles commonly omit words they consider unnecessary (like pronouns) and often speak in infinitives.
- Human-like phrasing: í est ker í le vid ú prae — “I’m certain that I’ve seen you before.”
- Gargish idiom: ker le vid prae (or ker prae vid le) — “to be certain having seen before.”
With practice, implied pronouns can be deduced, but not always easily.

Written vs. Spoken

Because writing cannot show intonation/gesture, suffixes mark parts of speech and verb tense/aspect. Many suffixes are also free words in Gargish (e.g., adjectival -de means “of” on its own).

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Common Suffixes

Suffix	Literal	Function	Example(s)
-char	“part”	Names a tool for an action	agrachar “weapon”
-de	“of”	Forms adjectives/adverbs from nouns/verbs	—
-ku	“with”	Forms adjectives	mirku “watery”
-le	“end”	Past tense / perfective aspect	—
-lem	“one”	Agentive (“-er” as in baker, writer)	—
-re	“begin”	Future tense	—
-sa	“able”	“-able / -ible”	—
-tas	“quality”	Abstract noun	ámotas “love” (cf. ámo “to love”)
-te	“in”	Present tense / imperfective aspect	—
-ve	“like”	Forms adjectives “-like / similar”	misve “similar”

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Names

Most Gargoyle names describe a profession, e.g., Lorrelinlem “Lensmaker.” Some are meaningful (Behlem “the Just One”), while elite individuals may bear nontransparent names (e.g., Draxinusom). See the vocabulary for additional examples.

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Writing

Gargoyles use a 30-letter alphabet arranged 5×6. Similar sounds group by row/column.

• First row (labials): p b m f v u
• First column (voiceless stops): p t ch kl k
• Remaining rows:
• t d n s z e
• ch j ny sh zh i
• kl gl nl hl l o
• k g ng h r a

Notes: - u also marks w at syllable start before a vowel.
- k-u is sometimes ku (e.g., kuante) but more often kw (traditionally qu) as in quas.
- ny, nl, hl complete the chart but do not occur in contemporary speech.

Vowel Length

Gargish distinguishes long vs. short vowels. Spelling usually omits the distinction unless needed to avoid confusion (e.g., uus “up” vs. us “diligence”). In this document, long vowels take an acute accent: us vs. úus, súm vs. summ.

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Sample Sentences

Each line shows: Gargish → literal gloss → idiomatic English.

Teresta sit lem antende nóm.
place-that lie ones not-have-of name
“Here lie those that had no names.”

Estatim i perle lorrel re inwíslor kódex ad quad.
that-time I used light-change begin make-know-light codex upon cube
“Then I used the lens to form an image of the Codex upon the cube.”

Ánte esta terreg máníte múr anísh zen.
in that place-home living number strange creature
“In that land live many strange creatures.”

A qua lemmúr wíste, an zen anku vol verde wís.
but what ones-number knowing, not creature not-with wing true-of knowledge
“But as everyone knows, no creature without wings is truly intelligent.”

Ánte kódex skríle prí ben esh ver res quí quae.
in codex written one well and true answer any problem
“Within the Codex is written the one right and true answer to any problem.”

Anvolde lem ansa lók, esh anten skítas de volde lem.
not-wing-of ones not-can speak, and not-have know-ness of wing-of ones
“The wingless ones cannot speak, and lack the intelligence of the winged ones.”

Tú rete ku klí axi: ún, or, esh us.
all beginning with three principle: control, passion, and diligence
“All begins with the three principles: Control, Passion, and Diligence.”

Ita anai de axi vidúkte trak semde bentas, ord.
thus absence of principle see-guiding toward seven-of well-quality, order
“Thus the absence of the principles points toward the seventh virtue, Order.”

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Vocabulary

Formatting: headword (pronunciation) — definition(s). Sub-entries are indented.

a (a) — but; yet

ad (ad) — upon

ade (ade) — however

aglo (aglo) — armor

ágra (ágra) — attack; hit
- ágra-char: weapon
- ágra-char-in-lem: weaponsmith
- ágra-lem: fighter; guard; warrior
- ágra-tas: struggle

áh (áh) — sixty-four

ai (ai) — there is; there are
- ai-re: there will be

áilem (áilem) — matter; thing
- áilem-de: solid

ak (ak) — sharp

aki (aki) — hawk

alb (alb) — white

axi (axi) — principle
- axi-múr: the three principles

ali (ali) — (an)other

alt (alt) — deep

am (am) — honesty; honest

ámo (ámo) — love
- ámo-lem: friend; loved one

an (an) — negate; not; none; no
- an-ai: absence
- an-áilem: nothing
- an-ámo: hate; hatred
- an-ámo-lem: enemy
- an-bal-sil-fer: False Prophet
- an-ben: sick; ill
- an-ex: slave; enslave
- an-ex-por: lock; locked; closed
- an-flam: cold; douse; put out
- an-húr: calm
- an-in: destroy
- an-jux: safe; untrap; remove danger
- an-kad-sa: infallible
- an-kal: banish
- an-kans: famine
- an-kred: discredit
- an-ku: without
- an-lor: dark; darkness
- an-lor-tim: night
- an-mání: hurt; harm
- an-múr: few
- an-múr-de: countless
- an-nax: cure poison
- an-nax-áilem: antidote
- an-ord: chaos
- an-ort: negate magic
- an-por: still; stop; rest
- an-quas: real; reality
- an-rel: static; unchanging
- an-sá: cannot
- an-saengkt: unprotected; cursed
- an-ten: lack
- an-tim: never
- an-vol-de: wingless
- an-wís: foolish; unwise; forget
- an-zen: inanimate
- an-zú: awake; awaken

anísh (anísh) — strange

Anmánívas (anmánívas) — (name)

Ansikart (ansikart) — (name)

ánte (ánte) — enter; in; into; within

apér (apér) — open
- apér-ter: door; gate

ápta (ápta) — proper; correct
- ápta-de: properly

arb (arb) — bush; vegetation
- arb-flam: forest fire

arch (arch) — bow

arg (arg) — silver

arí (arí) — berserk

ark (ark) — hide; keep (away)

art (art) — master

átri (átri) — hall

au (au) — or

aud (aud) — hear; listen; ear
- aud-char: song

aur (aur) — gold

Aurvidlem (aurvidlem) — (name)

aux (aux) — help

ávatar (ávatar) — Avatar

bal (bal) — evil; bad; doom
- bal-lem: Evil One
- bal-sil: prophecy
- bal-sil-fer: prophet
- bal-zen: monster

beh (beh) — justice
- beh-de: proper
- beh-lem: just one; judge

ben (ben) — well
- ben-de: properly; well
- ben-fin: success
- ben-in: craft
- ben-in-áilem: artifact
- ben-in-lem: goods-crafter
- ben-in-tas: precision
- ben-mon-tas: administration
- ben-om-mání: prosperity
- ben-tas: virtue

bet (bet) — small
- bet-lem: child
- bet-ter-mír: well (water)
- bet-tim: young; new
- bet-zen: insect

Betra (betra) — (name)

Bólesh (ból esh) — (name)

brák (brák) — arm

chan (chan) — allow
- chan-por: admit
- chan-por-tas: admittance

char (char) — part
- char-zen: member

dáemón (dáemón) — daemon

de (de) — of; from; than; like; belong; possess

delsa (delsa) — soft

des (des) — reduce; lower; down
- des-áilem: hail; meteor storm
- des-de: below
- des-in-tas: foundation
- des-lem: Gargoyle worker
- des-por: descend
- des-ter: valley
- des-ter-múr: underworld

dig (dig) — finger

dis (dis) — apart; asunder

don (don) — give; drop; yield

Draxinusom (draxínusom) — (name)

dúk (dúk) — guide

dur (dur) — for (time)

drak (drak) — dragon

ek (ek) — six

equi (equi) — horse

er (er) — so

esh (esh) — and

est (est) — be; exist; is; are

esta (esta) — that; those
- esta-de: thereby
- esta-tim: then

ex (ex) — freedom; free; release
- ex-por: open; unlocked

fel (fel) — wrong
- fel-tas: error
- fel-wís: false; falsehood; lie; fable

felúka (felúka) — Felucca (moon)

fer (fer) — bring; bear

fin (fin) — end

fírm (fírm) — close; shut

flam (flam) — flame; fire; heat
- flam-tim: summer

Fódus (fódus) — (name)

for (for) — strong

foranámo (foranámo) — (name)

forbrák (forbrák) — (name)

forlem (forlem) — (name)

forskis (forskis) — (name)

ful (ful) — brown

gargl (gargl) — Gargoyle; Gargish

glór (glór) — glory

grat (grat) — thank(s)

grav (grav) — energy; power

gres (gres) — out; exit; way (out)
- gres-por: exit; leave; go out; hatch

harm — harmony

hiúman (hiúman) — human

Horffé (horffé) — (name)

hori (hori) — gray

húr (húr) — wind; air

í (í) — I; me

íde (íde) — my

ílem (ílem) — we/us (he/she/they and I)

in (in) — make; create; cause; become
- in-bet: shrink; focus
- in-des: reduce
- in-ex: free; release
- in-flam: ignite
- in-húr: blow
- in-jux: endanger
- in-korp: die; kill
- in-lor: illuminate
- in-mání: heal
- in-mání-lem: healer
- in-nax: poison (v)
- in-ort: enchant
- in-ten: maintain
- in-por: go; come
- in-por-dis: avert
- in-saengkt: protect
- in-vas: grow; enlarge
- in-wís: learn; teach; study
- in-wís-lók: interpret
- in-wís-lor: create an image
- in-zen: be born; birth
- in-zú: fall asleep

Inforlem (inforlem) — (name)

init (init) — begin

Inmánílem (inmánílem) — (name)

int (int) — join

Inwíslóklem (inwíslóklem) — (name)

ista (ista) — this

ita (ita) — thus; so

júr (júr) — oath

jux (jux) — danger; harm; damage
- jux-ark: protect (from harm)
- jux-wís: alert

kad (kad) — fail; collapse

kah (kah) — sacrifice
- kah-mání-zen-de: sacrificial

kans (kans) — use; consume; eat
- kans-in-lem: foodmaker

kal (kal) — summon; greet; usher in
- kal-ort: cast (a spell)

kas (kas) — helm

kat (kat) — fall

ker (ker) — sure; certain
- ker-de: certainly

kír (kír) — circle

klár (klár) — bright

klau (klau) — chamber

klep (klep) — take; get; steal
- klep-lem: thief; pirate

klí (klí) — three
- klí-tim: thrice

kódex (kódex) — book; codex

kor (kor) — courage

korp (korp) — death; dead

kred (kred) — believe; think; consider
- kred-don: entrust

Krill (krill) — (name)

ku (ku) — with
- ku-ánte: within
- ku-por: combine

kul (kul) — knife

lai (lai) — joy

lap (lap) — stone; rock

Laplem (laplem) — (name)

le (le) — end; completed action; could
- le-in: achieve
- le-in-tas: achievement

leg (leg) — read

lem (lem) — he/she/it/they; one; those
- lem-de: his/her/its/their
- lem-múr: everyone; those

len (len) — gentle
- len-tas: gentleness

líbrum (líbrum) — librum

ling (ling) — language

lók (lók) — say; speak; tell
- lók-de: talking

lor (lor) — light
- lor-rel: lens
- lor-rel-in-lem: lensmaker
- lor-tim: day; daytime

lum (lum) — humility

lup (lup) — wolf

mag (mag) — important

mán (mán) — remain
- mán-char: remains

mání (mání) — life; healing; live
- mání áilem: food

mánu (mánu) — hand

mar (mar) — sea

mek (mek) — sword
- mek-lem: swordsman; fighter

mel (mel) — black

min (min) — less

mír (mír) — water
- mír-mání: healing potion
- mír-sarp: sea serpent

mis (mis) — same; too
- mis-tas: balance
- mis-tim: also
- mis-ve: similar

mon (mon) — to lead
- mon-wís: advice

mont (mont) — mountain

mú (mú) — compassion

mul (mul) — pride

múr (múr) — number; group; many
- múr-om: society

nax (nax) — poison (n.); poisonous

Naxátilor (naxátilor) — (name)

násh (násh) — (name)

neb (neb) — mist

nes (nes) — must; require

ni (ni) — no; neither

nóm (nóm) — name

o (o) — by

ok (ok) — eight
- ok-de: eighth

om (om) — spirituality
- om-de: sacred; holy
- om-jux: desecrate

os (os) — bone

ov (ov) — egg

pa (pa) — by

pál (pál) — pale

par (par) — equal
- par-de: equally

ped (ped) — foot

pen (pen) — five

per (per) — use; function
- per-sa: valuable

pisk (pisk) — fish

plú (plú) — more; most
- plú ben: better

por (por) — move; bring; movement
- por-áilem: take; remove
- por-char: leg
- por-mír: stream; river

pos (pos) — after; follow
- pos-tim: future; will; shall

prae (prae) — before
- prae-tim: past; ago
- prae-tim-de: ancient

prí (prí) — one; first; unity
- prí-de: single
- prí-in: unify
- prí-lem: lord; ruler
- prí-tas: singularity

qua (qua) — what; which; as
- qua-lem: who; someone
- qua-ter: where
- qua-tim: when
- qua-wís: why; because; reason

quad (quad) — cube

quae (quae) — problem

Quaeven (quaeven) — (name)

Quan (quan) — (name)

quar (quar) — four

quas (quas) — illusion
- quas-korp: fear (illusion of death)
- quas-zen: clone
- quas-áilem: duplicate

quí (quí) — any; anything

quó (quó) — how

ra (ra) — valor

rap (rap) — quick; urgent; now
- rap-tim: nigh; quickly approaching

re (re) — to (begin); will; shall
- re-in: begin

reg (reg) — home

rel (rel) — change; changing
- rel-por: moongate; moongate travel

res (res) — answer

reskí (reskí) — remember

rit (rit) — ritual

rót (rót) — turn

rú (rú) — red

Rúneb (rúneb) — (name)

sá (sá) — can; able; may

sadis (sadis) — pain; torture
- sadis-túrn: dungeon

saengkt (saengkt) — protection
- saengkt-grav: force field
- saengkt-lor: invisible; invisibility

sal (sal) — spring (forth)

sarp (sarp) — serpent; snake
- sarp-an-zen-ex-lem: snakecharmer
- sarp-arí-lem: berserker

Sarpling (sarpling) — (name)

sek (sek) — two; second; both
- sek-de: other

sel (sel) — choose; select

sem (sem) — seven
- sem-de: seventh

semi (semi) — half

sent (sent) — feel; feeling

si (si) — if; whether

sik (sik) — dry

sil (sil) — star; astrology; prediction

Silámo (silámo) — (name)

síní (síní) — blue

Sin’Vraal (sinvráal) — (name)

sit (sit) — lie; rest

skí (skí) — know; knowledge; tell
- skí-tas: intelligence; knowledge

skis (skis) — cut; separate

skrí (skrí) — write; writing
- skrí-lem: writer

sku (sku) — shield

sol (sol) — only; but

son (son) — sound

súm (súm) — suppose

summ (summ) — honor

súr (súr) — sun

ta (ta) — shoot
- ta-re-por: boomerang

tablap (tablap) — slab

tan (tan) — touch

tas (tas) — quality

-te (-te) — present tense; in-progress
- te-in: continue
- te-mání: survive
- te-mání-tas: survival
- te-per-tas: persistence

tem (tem) — storm

ten (ten) — have

ter (ter) — place
- ter-alt: interior
- ter-áilem: plane
- ter-ánte: entrance; cave mouth
- ter-ark: hiding place
- ter-esta: there
- ter-flam: fireplace
- ter-húr: sky
- ter-init: originally
- ter-ista: here
- ter-ista-por: come
- ter-mír: lake
- ter-múr: world
- ter-ort: temple; shrine
- ter-por: reach
- ter-reg: land
- ter-vas-arb: forest
- ter-zú: bed

Teregus (teregus) — (name)

tim (tim) — time; wait
- tim-por: arrive; come

trak (trak) — to; toward; for
- trak-por: pull; draw
- trak-tas: direction

Trámel (trámel) — Trammel (moon)

trí (trí) — interesting

tú (tú) — all
- tú-tas: whole
- tú-tim: always; forever

túrn (túrn) — cave

ú (ú) — you

ul (ul) — final; last
- ul-tim: ultimate

úlem (úlem) — you (pl.)

um (um) — shadow

ún (ún) — control

ung (ung) — claw

urs (urs) — bear

us (us) — diligence
- us-agra-lem: troop-leader
- us-arb-vas-lem: leader of farmers

úus (úus) — raise; up
- úus-lem: Gargoyle leader
- úus-por: ascend

Vaglem (vaglem) — wanderer

Válkadesh (válkadesh) — (name)

vas (vas) — great; big; long; ultimate
- vas-áilem: everything
- vas-an-ben: plague
- vas-an-lor: eclipse
- vas-arb: tree
- vas-arg-sarp: silver serpent
- vas-des: bottom
- vas-korp-ágra: battle; war
- vas-mír: ocean
- vas-por-áilem: tremor
- vas-quas: confusion
- vas-tim: old; epoch
- vas-úus: top
- vas-wís: (ultimate) wisdom

ve (ve) — like; as

vel (vel) — even

ven (ven) — find

ver (ver) — true; right
- ver-de: truly
- ver-in-de: perfect
- ver-vid: heed; respect

vers (vers) — all right

vest (vest) — search
- vest-tas: quest

vía (vía) — path; road

vid (vid) — see; look; eye
- vid-lem: seer
- vid-dúk: point
- vid-dúk-tas: sign

vír (vír) — green
- vír-mír: swamp

vit (vit) — glass

vol (vol) — fly; wing
- vol-de: winged

vórtex (vórtex) — vortex

wí (wí) — we/us (you and I/me)

wíde (wíde) — our

wílem (wílem) — we/us (all of us)

wís (wís) — know; wise; wisdom
- wís-char: head
- wís-de: wisely
- wís-lem: scholar
- wís-lor: see; vision; image

Wíslem (wíslem) — (name)

Wís Súr (wíssúr) — (name)

zash (zash) — something; somewhat

zen (zen) — creature; being; animal
- zen-korp: undead; daemon
- zen-múr: race; people
- zen-tú: body

zhel (zhel) — iron

zhen (zhen) — family

zú (zú) — sleep
- zú-áilem: sleep dust
- zú-tim: winter

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Gargoyle Font

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Copyright © 1996 Origin Systems, Inc.