Romulan Language, Culture, and History Sites (non-canon) Master Post (Updated 2-11-22)
Save you some reading and use this google doc, or read below the line.
I love romulans. It is no secret, but my nerding out knows no bounds. This is a master post for the best websites I know of for romulan language, culture, history, religion**, etc.
Do not just use the top one. Even though it is easy to navigate and has a diversity of information, it is missing some that others have. For example, the second one has actual lessons and great grammar charts, and the fourth one has culture and religion**. There is also some disagreement about grammar, culture, and definitions, since canon content is lacking.
Firstly, credit to Diane Duane’s books for bringing life to the romulans through language, culture, history, names, etc. Most sites and fans use her work as the base.
I recommend you read her books if you truly want to know everything you possibly can. They also contain information that is uncommon to see posted about, such as S’Task, romulan true/fourth/soul names (ST: Picard made that canon!), the three swords by S’Harien, and more. If you play Star Trek Online, after reading these books, things will make so much more sense!
Her books: My Enemy, My ally | The Romulan Way | Swordhunt | Honor Blade | The Empty Chair | Rihannsu: The Bloodwing Voyages, which is the first four in one.
On Inventing a Romulan Language
She also has a Tumblr!
Below the line are the sites, what they contain, and links directly to different pages on the sites.
Alternatively, instead of navigating a Tumblr post, you can use this google doc.
Updated 2-11-22
Formatting in the draft/editing is not translating to the actual post, so recommend the google doc. Or, view it on my page, and not your dash
If on mobile, please view in the google doc app or it will be squished.
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Romulan Language (non-canon) Lessons and Worksheets Master Post: Original Tumblr Post | Google Doc |
Contains: Romulan worksheets and lessons I’ve created | Learn to write/read Romulan lessons (Imperial Romulan Language Institute) | (Memrise) Part 1 — Basics Part 2 — Essentials Part 3 — Grammar
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**Not many sites have religion. Here the links directly to the religion page of those I know of. Institute of Ra'tleihfi: The Elements | The origins of Element worship | Teaching poem | Are the Elements Real? | Rihannsu Star Empire: Religion | Memory Beta: Beliefs
Links to mnhei’sahe, “Ruling Passion”, sometimes mistaken as a “code of honor”. Central Institute of the Romulan Language: mnhei’sahe | Institute of Ra'tleihfi: mnhei’sahe
Scroll to the bottom of this linked page for info on romulan tattoos.
A version of an alphabet and calligraphic script featured on ST: Picard (look at writing on Elnor’s clothing) and the site it originates from with other scripts
An old romulan language guide
Download romulan fonts (thank you, @tovan-khev , for updating me on the Romulan Institute Computer Interface and sharing the fonts).
Semi comprehensive page about Romulans in the mirror universe
Romulan nomenclature
Romulan worksheets and lessons I’ve created:
Romulan Vocabulary and Noun Declension Practice 1.1 (3 classes/groups of nouns) (finished 1-10-22)
Romulan Vocabulary and Noun Declension Practice 1.2 (5 classes/groups of nouns) (finished 1-10-22)
Romulan Pronoun Practice 1 (finished 1-14-22)
Websites/Sources:
Central Institute of the Romulan Language (Catoena ih'Swaet Doaege Rihanai)
Dictionary
Sorted by english
Common words
Greetings
Adverbs, adjectives, and others
Insults
Terms of endearment
Forms of Address; People; Organizations
Phrases
Alien races
Periodic table
Numbers
Time/calendar
Grammar
Introduction
Phonology
Vowels
Consonants
Substantives
Nouns
Irregular nouns
Derivation of nouns
Personal pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns
Relative pronouns
Interrogative pronouns
Comparison adjectives
Derivation of adjectives
Verbs
Adverbs
Temporal
Local
Adverbs of Manner
Interrogative
Relative
Miscellaneous
Pre/postpositions
Conjunctions
Syntax
Alphabet
Military ranks
Includes Tal’Shiar, economic service, land armies, and diplomatic corps
Culture
Geography
Given names
House-clans
Literature
Mnhei’sahe
Contact
Overview of the project
News archive
Imperial Romulan language Institute (Catoena ih'Shiar vr'Doægevha Rihanh'ri)
Dictionary
Sorted by the english alphabet and has a search function
Introduction
About the language, but not about the creation of it and more how it works overall and the lore
Pronunciation
Vowels
Semi Vowels
Diphthongs
Consonants
Combination consonant sounds
Glottal stop
Aspiration
Stress
Common words and word lists
Greetings and farewells
Thank yous
Yes and no
Other words and phrases
Alien species and planets
Colors
Family, romance, and forms of address
Governments and agencies
Military terms and phrases
Insults and sarcasm
Learn to write/read Romulan lessons
Grammar
Adjectives
Adverbs
Conjunctions
Names of people
Nouns
Numbers
Prepositions and postpositions
Pronouns
Syntax
“To be”
Verbs
Declension tables
Verb conjugation examples
Culture
Common given names
House clans
Flora and fauna
Romulan Institute Computer Interface
Dictionary
By english or Romulan
Search function only
Tells you where the word originates from; what author, show, or website
Grammar
About the language
It’s origin, who created this fictional language
Adjectives
Adverbs
Nouns
Numbers
Pronouns
Verbs
Culture
History
Names
Generator/translator
Other
About us
Communication (discord server)
Downloads (fonts)
Forum
News (about the site)
Institute of Ra'tleihfi, Department of Xenosociology
Dictionary
Sorted by english
Sorted by Romulan
History and background of the language
Mostly lore but also about the creation of it
Phonology
Vowels
Consonants
Valid consonant clusters
Syllabication
Accent
Tone
Morphology and syntax
Nouns
Pronouns and irregular nouns
Verbs
Adjectives and adverbs
Syntax rules
Verb “to be”
Other words
Number system
Religion and beliefs
Mnhei’sahe
The Elements
The origins of Element worship
Teaching poem
Are the Elements Real?
Promotion Ceremony
RIHANNSU STAR EMPIRE
Decent site but very old, updated 1997. Also part roleplay (some things are made up for convenience) so take the info with an extra grain of salt. Of course every source here is non-canon, but there is a difference between non-canon (licensed star trek books and stuff) and just making things up as you go.
History
Military
Military
Ships
Security
Diplomacy
Economy
Rankings
Culture
Culture
Social status
Religion
Behavior
Houses
Noble houses
Family and names
Physical
Fashion/Fun
Fashion and recreation
Uniforms
Government
Legal System
IC History
Dictionary
Sorted by english
Prefixes
Suffixes
Names
Numbers
Time
Places
Curses
Houses and family positions
Naval
Civilians
Phrases
Alphabet
Grammar
Thanks
Other sites
Contains significantly less information, are less Romulan focused, and/or are more focused on roleplay/gameplay than knowledge.
RSE International, Inc. (roleplay based)
TOS TrekMUSE (Simulation)
FKA Rihannsu Division (Simulation)
The Romulan Web (not a lot of content)
“Official” wikis
Romulan--Memory Alpha (canon content only)
Romulan--Memory Beta (non-canon content)
If you have anything to add or any comments to make, please do!
Your favourite word untranslatable into Standart/English.
Alas, a difficult question. Languages can be beautiful the Galaxy over, and of course they can be beautiful simply because of the sentiment someone is trying to convey.
I think that my favourite would have to be a Romulan word. Mnhei'sahe - it literally translates to the Ruling Passion and is often rendered by the Universal Translator as honour. Such a banal description is hardly accurate. Mnhei'sahe is more than honour, it more than duty, it's also spirituality and patriotism. It is the weary balance between a person's personal duty to themselves and their family, their duty and sense of patriotism and of course their spiritual duty as well. It's often an intricate and complex concept - one that, in navigating, has lead to the deaths of many wayward souls that misstep on its path. Mnhei'sahe is so complex because everyone's duty is different and everyone's priorities are different.
If you take my life as an example - yes, I betrayed Starfleet, but I did so in an act to protect the Maquis. On this occasion, my duty to protect the civilians of the DMZ outweighed my duty to Starfleet. My honour would not permit to see those people suffer due to the ill-advised actions of the Federation Council. Of course, Captain Sisko would argue that there's no higher calling than to the uniform, but sometimes there is the duty, not only to one's conscience, but to mercy as well. I may have sacrificed my career and therefore my honour as a Starfleet Officer, but I maintained my duty to Rebecca and the other colonists.
Apologies for such a long answer. But I think that you can agree such a beautiful and unique concept needs a more lengthy answer.
what she means: thank you, doctor mccoy, for allowing me my ways in your place where my ways are considered harsh and abhorrent. i cannot know the cost to you, even though in your view i did save my son from a more prolonged, painful death. i know full well that, had my son not been as good as dead already, you would have fought me, physically if necessary, and not alone. and the three of you would have won as you always do. thank you for your mnhei'sahe.