Welcome to the Ubese Language Databank! We will be posting one Ubese word of the day each day. Ubese consists entirely of verbs, so all you need to know is how to conjugate them. In this introductory post, we will cover the alphabet and various aspects of grammar. Each word of the day will showcase the definition and conjugation of each verb. Ia-to! Tages! (Let's begin!)
Alphabet and Punctuation
The Ubese alphabet is simple, consisting only of fourteen letters and three punctuation marks. Stress in vital in Ubese for distinguishing between different words, such as "ya-tei," meaning "I concur," vs "yatei," meaning "dismember me." Stress falls in an alternating pattern— for example, "ya-teiset-ga," meaning "they are not agreeable," is stressed on the even-numbered syllables, while "yateis-etga," meaning "they are not separated," is stressed on the odd-numbered syllables.
Topic Markers
Topics in Ubese indicate the the subject or object of the sentence, depending on whether the verb that follows is active or passive. For example, "o, ta-chei" means "I hear you," while "ei, tasho" means "you are heard by me." The topic marker is often voiced as a comma in spoken Ubese and is transliterated in Basic accordingly. Not every Ubese construction requires a topic— for example, "ta-chei" means "my ears work perfectly." Third person verbs are inflected with either animate or inanimate pronouns. Sentient beings, droids, animals, and plants are considered animate; all other objects are considered inanimate.
Suffixes
Negative suffixes in Ubese negate a given verb. For example, "a, ta-cheitga" means "I didn't hear that," and "edchat-ga" means "that is not edible."
Optative suffixes in Ubese express a desire for something to occur or be true; for example, "os, yo-teish" means "I want to show you something," and "udis-esh" means "may they learn."
Polite suffixes soften an otherwise direct verb form. For example, "a, yuh-to" means "give me that," while "a, yuh-tocha" means "please pass the bloodworms."
Adjectival suffixes turn verbs into descriptions, which generally serve the role of nouns in Ubese. For example, "a, eg-teis" means "we eat," while "eg-taza" means "food," or literally, "it is for eating."
Mathematics
Ubese is a highly contextual language with no actual root nouns. Thus, they do not have base cardinals. Instead, numbers are expressed in terms of arithmetic. For example, to say "I would like to buy four jogans for one credit," one would say "a, de-go. Ei, ze-gei," or, "add four jogans to my cart, I will add one credit to your pocket." Inverse operations are expressed in negatives; for example, to say "I will only give you half that much," one would say, "O, gyuh-tatga," or, "divide the amount of jogans by two."
You now understand the complete workings of Basic Ubese grammar! With these construction principles, you can conjugate any verb in the Ubese lexicon. Yu-gyosesh-cha! (I hope this lesson was satisfactory!)
Been a while, but what can you tell me about terms of endearment?
Ia-tocha! Ubese is primarily comprised of verbs, while terms of endearment in most languages are adjectives or nouns. So expressing endearment in Ubese lies mostly in physical gestures. When expressing endearment verbally, one describes affection in terms of actions, usually in the optative mood— for example, "Eis, yateis-etgash" means "May we never be parted." There is also "to love," which is more direct. To say "I love you" is "O, ab-dei." To say, "You are loved" is "adyo," which is preferred for stronger affirmations. It is often repeated for emphasis. "Ei, u-boza" means "You are my home," which is used for people one feels an especially deep bond toward. Ubese terms of endearment can be very creative, and tone is your friend. Ei, uto! Zibo-cha!
Ia-tocha! Can you please tell me all you can about Ubese insults?
Ia-tocha! There are many expressions in Ubese which are considered derogatory or otherwise rude.
Yag-b_, as we've covered, refers to someone of impure breeding. Even with the cha suffix, it is considered vulgar (though there's not usually a context in which the cha suffix would be attached to this word anyway.) Bagy_ means to breed improperly, such as with an animal or with a blood relative.
Ishgy_ means to be banished, to be exiled, to be cast out. Banishment from Uba IV is a severe punishment in Ubese law. To use it without the cha suffix strongly implies you are wishing it on someone rather than merely discussing it.
Dizch_ means to make a mistake, to mess up, to do something clumsy. When referring to a small or understandable mistake, the cha suffix is applied. Otherwise, it is used as a rebuke or ridicule.
Chu-d_ is very similar, but more versatile. Its literal meaning is "to cover something in waste." It can refer to a boss ruining a good idea, a person criticizing a holofilm, a toddler destroying a room, or a person making a ruinous and avoidable mistake. Chut_ refers to a person, object or concept that is "covered in waste." Chut_ can describe rude people, malfunctioning droids, bad holofilms, or botched operations.
Ever heard the voicelines from Leia's boushh costume in battlefront 2? Not sure how accurate they are but they seem to be more language than what we get in the movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpiHM-8IwpU
Ia-tocha! I have heard those, yes. Those lines are far more phonologically complex than the Ubese this databank deals with, and it's clear there wasn't much thought put into making them linguistically sound. As far as I'm concerned, they're just non-canon sound effects. At most, I'd say it's a different Ubese language from the one we hear in Return of the Jedi. A, uto. Zibo-cha!
This word is considered vulgar in Ubese. As a term of abuse, it is almost never used in polite contexts.
Example Usages
Yag-bocha. You dirty dog, I almost respect you. (to be half animal [2nd p. sg. polite]) lit., You animal, you.
Yag-beitga! You take that back about my mother! (to be half animal [1st p. sg. neg.]) lit., I am not half animal!
Yag-bosesh. These machines will be more terrible than anyone can imagine. (to be an abomination [2nd p. pl. optative]) lit., May these machines be abominations.
O, yag-bisza. You're a sick pervert. (you [topical obj.] to be half animal [3rd p. pl. animate descriptive]) lit., You create half-breeds.
Yebat-cha. Connect those two wires, please. (to connect [3rd p. pl. inanimate]) lit., Connect those, please.
Os, yebeit-ga. I'm separating you until you can learn to get along. (you [pl. topical obj.] to connect [1st p. sg. neg.]) lit., I'm restricting your ability to connect.
Eis, yebush. Let us marry. (us [topical obj.] to bind [3rd p. sg. animate optative]) lit., Let us be joined together.
Yeba-za. This is a power coupling. (to join together [3rd p. sg. inanimate descriptive])
This word is considered vulgar in Ubese as it refers to a sensitive topic. In polite conversation, the cha suffix is used to indicate that the speaker intends no abuse.
Example Usages
Is, ishgyo-cha. You could be banished for saying something like that. [they (topical pl. subj.) to be exiled (2nd p. sg. polite)] lit., They could banish you.
Ishgyeit-ga. You haven't seen the last of of me, dammit! [to be exiled (1st p. sg. neg.)] lit., I will not be banished!
Ishgyush. May he rot in solitude. [to be exiled (3rd p. sg. animate optative)] lit., May he be banished.
A, ishgyei-za. Can't you see I'm being framed, dammit? [this (topical subj.) to be exiled [1st p. sg. descriptive]) lit., This is an excuse to exile me.