Gungan Dialect (In Otoh Gunga) Version 1.0
Yousa liken de way mesa talkin’? Den take a look at dis! :)
(BTW, sorry for any misspelled words!)
Me , You, Etc..
When referring to a single Gungan, "yousa" is commonly used. "Yous" can be used alone.
If speaking to more than one Gungan at once, "yousan" is commonly used.
Using "yousan" to refer to a single Gungan usually adds emphasis as a command.
Where English uses "me" or "my", "mesa" is commonly used. "Me" can be used alone.
Where English uses "I", "my" is commonly used. "I" translating into "me" is rarely used.
The Gungan words "mesa" and "yousa/yousan" can be used also to express "I’m (I am)" and "you’re (you are)" respectively
Contractions in English including "I", such as "I’ve (I have)" for example, would be "my’ve", but would never be "me’ve".
Where using the English word "us", the Gungan word "usan" is commonly used.
Where using the English word "we", the Gungan words "wesa" and "wesan" are appropriate. "Wesa" can also be used for "we’re (we are)".
Where using the English word "our" possessively, the Gungan words "oursa" and "oursan" are appropriate.
Him, Her, Etc...
When referring to a single Gungan where "he" would be appropriate in English, "hesa" would commonly be used.
When referring to a single Gungan where "him" would be appropriate in English, "hesan" would commonly be used. "Hesan" can be used as "he" also.
When referring to a single Gungan where "she" would be appropriate in English, "shesa" would commonly be used.
When referring to a single Gungan where "her" would be appropriate in English, "shesan" would commonly be used. "Shesan" can be used as "she" also.
When referring to more than one Gungan where "they (males, females, or both)" would be appropriate in English, "deysa" would be used. "Deysa" can be used as the English contraction "They’re (they are)" also.
Where the English word "the" would be appropriate, "de" can be used if the next word contains the vowel/s "e", "i", "o" or "y" in the first syllable. "Da" can be used if the next word contains "a", "u", or "o (pronounced as in ‘boot’)" in the first syllable (This is for convenient speech flow).
Where the English word "it" would be appropriate, "itsa" can be used. "Tis" can be used for the English contraction "it’s (it is)" also.
When referring to the English word "its (possessive)", either "itsan" or "itsen" is commonly used.
This, That, and the Other...
Where the word "this" in English would be used, "dis" is commonly used in Otoh Gunga.
"Disen" can be used to express the English words "This is".
Where the word "that" in English would be used, "dat" is commonly used in Otoh Gunga. Either "dats" or "dat’s" can be used to express the English contraction "that is".
Where the word "these" in English would be used, either "desen" or "desan" is commonly used ( the "en" ending usually refers to relatively close objects, whereas the "an" ending usually refers to relatively far away objects).
Where the word "those" in English would be used, either "dosen" or "dosan" is commonly used ( the "en" ending usually refers to relatively close objects, whereas the "an" ending usually refers to relatively far away objects).
The word "here" is the same in English as it is in Gungan.
Where the word "there" in English would be used, "dere" is commonly used in Otoh Gunga.
Who, What, Where, When, Why, How and Other Essential Questions...
When asking "who", "whosa" is commonly used. "Whosan" is the command form of "whosa" (command form, meaning that it commands an answer).
When asking "what", either "whatsa" or "whasa" is commonly used. Either "whatsan" or "Whasan" is the command form of "whatsa" and "whasa" respectively.
When asking "where", either "wheresa" or "where" is commonly used. "Wheresan" is the command form of "wheresa" or "where".
When asking "when", either "whensa" or "when" is commonly used. "Whensan" is the command form of "whensa" or "when".
When asking "why" ,either "whysa" or "why" is commonly used. "Whysan" is the command form of either "whysa" or "why".
When asking "how", either "howsa" or "how" is commonly
used. "Howsan" is the command form of either "howsa" or
"how".
When asking a question using "did", "can", "could",
"should", "will", and their negative counterparts, the Gungans use the
same words as English uses.
When asking a question that starts with "do", or "does" and then "you, I, he, she, etc...", the "do" or "does" can be left out and the question can begin with the appropriate Gungan word for "you, I, he, she, etc...".
Any other question word is the same as the respective English word in meaning and mechanics.
Verbs...
When referring to infinitives in English, for example "to go" as in the English sentence "he has to go to Otoh Gunga", Gungans use the same word as English speakers do.
When referring to the verb in the past tense, for example "went" as in the English sentence "he went to Otoh Gunga", Gungans use "had" + gerund form. A gerund is when a verb is modified by adding an "ing (‘in’’ in Gungan)" to the end of its infinitive. For example, the English past tense verb "went" comes from the infinitive "to go". "To go" would drop the "to", and "go" would become "going". Slap a "had" to the beginning, and "went" in English becomes "had goin’" in Gungan (sorry for the long explanation!)
When referring to the verb in the present tense, for example "goes" as in the English sentence "he goes to Otoh Gunga", Gungans use the same word as English speakers do.
When referring to the verb in the gerund tense, for example "going" as in the English sentence "we’re going underwater, OK?", Gungans use the same tense as English, but with the abbreviated Gungan form "in’". Thus, "going" would become "goin’".
Any other tense or exceptions in English verbs carry their exceptions to Gungan dialect, plus any changes according to the guides above.
Special Verbs
The verb infinitive "to crunch" refers universally to any sort of harm done to a Gungan by an outlander. Example, Sebulba!
The verb infinitive "to munch" refers universally to any sort of eating.
The verb infinitive "to hep" refers to the English infinitive "to help".
The verb infinitive "to spek" refers to the English infinitive "to speak".
Adjectives
When using adjectives to describe something pleasant, or something feminine, Gungans add the letter "a" to the end of the adjective.
When using adjectives to describe something unpleasant, or something masculine, or something neutral, Gungans add the letter "o" to the end of the adjective.
The above two guides are only usually used during formal speech, or to emphasize the Gungan’s feelings. They are not absolute.
Special Adjectives
Terms used by Gungans to describe words in English are sometimes different:
The Gungan adjective "maxibig" is similar to the English word "enormous" or "very big".
The Gungan adjective "stinkowiff" is similar to the English word "lousy" or "awful".
The Gungan adjective "cawazy" is similar to the English word "crazy" or "insane".
The Gungan adjective "bombad" is a slang term similar to the English words "good", "cool", or "grand". "Bombad" in its other sense (according to context) can mean "not good", "destroyed", or "crippled".
The Gungan term "mooie mooie" is similar to the English word "interesting", "impressive", or "very ( when used to compliment another adjective)
The Gungan adjective "hot" is similar to the English word "useful" or "helpful".
More terms to be included later.(including ones we make up in IRC!)
Special Words
Words used by Gungans in Otoh Gunga to greet each other:
"Heydo", "heydey ho", "hidey", "hidoe", and "hey" are commonly used as "hello" is in English.
"Welcome backo" is used to express happiness towards the return of a Gungan.
Words used by Gungans in Otoh Gunga to bid farewell to each other:
"gooday", "byesy-bo", and "byebye" are commonly used as "good bye" is in English.
"nightey-no", "nightnight", and "nightey" are commonly used as "good night" is in English.
"taken care" is similar to "take care" in English.
Special Nouns
Many nouns in English are exactly the same as those in Gungan dialect, with a few exceptions:
The Gungan noun "Bongo" refers to the Gungan submarine.
The Gungan noun "maccaneks" refers to machines (droids, MTTs, AATs etc...).
The Gungan noun "boyo" refers to a buddy or friend.
The Gungan noun "boomer" refers to the unstable energy balls used by the Gungans as projectile weapons.
The Gungan noun "every" is an abbreviation of the English words "everyone" or "everything", depending on the context.
The Gungan noun "okieday" is similar to the English word "okay" or "OK".
The Gungan noun "moola" is the English slang word for "money".
The Gungan noun "gud" is the English word god.
The Gungan noun "Kaadu" refers to a large flightless bird used by Gungans for swift transportation.
The Gungan noun "locaaton" refers to the Gungan’s military police, that protect Otoh Gunga.
The Gungan noun "shield" refers to the hydrostatic field that creates a transparent wall that is capable of deflecting large objects traveling at low velocities, and small objects traveling at high velocities.
The Gungan noun "Chuba" refers to a frog-like creature that the Gungans find particularly tasty.
The Gungan product "ChubaFizz" refers to a favorite drink that Gungans enjoy (strange, I know!*smile*)
The Gungan expression "ooie booie!" is similar to the English expression "oh boy!".
The Gungan expression "ayousa" is usually used as an emphasis on happiness towards "you".
The Gungan word "mebbe" is similar to the English word "maybe".
The Gungan term "bommin’" (possibly) refers to the English term of "luck" or "karma".
The Gungan word "heyblibber" refe---- err ummm.. My no know!! *smile*
(I’m sure I just scratched the surface of the terms Gungans in Otoh Gunga use! We’ll continue to add nouns, and other terms later, so keep looking for them!)
Main References:
Brooks, Terry. Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. The Ballantine Publishing Group: New York, New York 1999.
Reynolds, David West. Star Wars Episode 1: Incredible Cross Sections. DK Publishing, Inc.: New York, New York 1999.
The purpose of the preceding is to clarify the Dialect used by Jar Jar Binks, and the Gungans. In no way are the contents of this page meant to offend any race, religion, gender, or age group. This is just for fun, and enjoyment! Okieday?? :)
Compiled by Moh Kai Jonks.
