#gem castes

[the-homeworld-speech]

Roshdyavel/RoshdyavetH [ɹɒʃdjævɛl / ɹɒʃdjævɛtħ] (noun l.): Smoky Quartz.

Notes: From rosh, “tectosilicate”, dyath, “irradiation”, and vel, “silicon”.

[the-homeworld-speech]

Shorayaiyav/Shorayaiyad [ʃoɹəjaɪjæv / ʃoɹəjaɪjæd] (noun r.): Nephrite.

Notes: From shor, “iron”, ayai, “inosilicate”, and yav, “magnesium”. Most Gem names put the silicate structural component first, but when it begins with a vowel, it is usually put in the middle. (Really, I was trying to make the word for “Nephrite” have the same lexical envelope as “gurgle-click-click”, because given that nephrite is the same green as Centi’s gem and Bismuth mentions one being pulled out of a dropship cockpit, like the one Centi piloted, I’m fairly sure Centipeetles are corrupted Nephrites.)

[the-homeworld-speech]

Is there a general word for Quartzes? Since Quartz Gems seem to compromise a single caste

Biologically, the general word is roshta, Gems with a tectosilicate base. Socially, the word is uvuthresheta, high-class warriors.

[the-homeworld-speech]

Teleoshe/teleoshetH [tɛliɒʃɛtħ / tɛliɒʃɛtħ] (noun l.): Governor, aristocrat.

Notes: the Diamonds are technically teleosheta but usually referred to as am’lelHta more than teleosheta. Sapphire, at least on Homeworld, would be a better example of a teleoshe.

[the-homeworld-speech]

Uvuthreshe/uvuthreshetH [uvuθɹɛʃɛ / uvuθɹɛʃɛtħ] (noun l.): High-class warrior or bodyguard.

Notes: Quartz-based gems are usually uvuthresheta.

[the-homeworld-speech]

Lalsarshe/lalsarsheng [lɑlsɑɹʃɛ / lɑlsɑɹʃɛŋ] (noun r.): Diplomat, messenger; lit “communicator”.

Notes: Sapphire fulfilled this role when she went to Earth; Gems in communications-technology roles would also be lalsarsheta.

[the-homeworld-speech]

Uthreshe/uthresheng [ʊθɹɛʃɛ / ʊθɹɛʃɛŋ] (noun r.): Low-class warrior or scout.

Notes: Rubies are a good example of uthresheta.

[the-homeworld-speech]

Sadrashe/sadrasheng [sædɹæʃɛ / sædɹæʃɛŋ] (noun r.): Servitor.

Notes: Daur- stem gems are the quintessential sadrashta, but this caste also includes technicians like Peridots and possibly whatever Lapises are.