The unnamed Altari Language is spoken almost exclusively by the Altari and Riven groups, though some humans have learned it as well. The language is never formally described, and most information about it originates from inferred translations and certain allusions within the text. It is most heavily featured in The Portal and the Veil and The Starlit Loom, though references to it and isolated words derived from it appear as early as Chapter 2 of The Box and the Dragonfly.
The Altari Language is dying.
A table of possible words and phrases, with translations, is featured below.
WORD OR PHRASE
|
POSSIBLE TRANSLATION
|
EVIDENCE
|
NOTES
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Altari | Makers (possibly) | The Altari are also called the Makers, as described in The Box and the Dragonfly, Chapter 21; this may be an alternate name, not a translation | |
| Alvalaithen | Earthwing | "Earthwing" is the English name for the instrument, as described in The Box and the Dragonfly, Chapter 20 | |
| Doba | house; dwelling; hollow underground room | Defined by Mrs. Hapsteade in The Box and the Dragonfly, Chapter 19 | |
| Dumin | |||
| Dumindar | |||
| Fel'Daera | Box of Promises | "Box of Promises" is the English name for the instrument; Mr. Meister describes it as a rough translation in The Box and the Dragonfly, Chapter 20 | |
| Jithandra | |||
| Kesh'kiri | Riven (possibly) | "Kesh'kiri" is the Riven's name for themselves, as described in The Box and the Dragonfly, Chapter 17; this may be an alternate name, not a translation | What the Riven call themselves. |
| Laithe | |||
| Malkund | |||
| Mazzoleni | Unknown | N/A | May not be an Altari word at all. |
| Mordin | |||
| Nevren | |||
| Ongrellonda | Unknown | N/A | Inferred singular. One of only two words on this list that pluralizes in the manner of a Latin word. |
| Tan'ji | the taken route; the opened gift | Mrs. Hapsteade's explanation in The Box and the Dragonfly, chapter 15 | |
| Tan'kindi | Unknown | N/A | |
| Tanu | Unknown | N/A | |
| Tinker | Human (pejorative) | Derived from Tan'kindi; spelling may be anglicized | |
| Tourminda | Unknown | N/A | One of only two words on this list that pluralizes in the manner of a Latin word. |
| Vithra | Unknown | N/A | May be a name rather than a normally used word. |
| Vora | Unknown | N/A |