A Naboo wedding goes like this...

[lily_handmaiden]

Okay. So, I'm a big huge dork. And this is what I've done now. Most of you know that, for no real reason that I can think of at the moment, I have started creating a native language for the planet Naboo. It seems to me that most planets, particularly ones with unique cultures such as the Naboo have, probably have their own ancestral language. Maybe it's spoken commonly in a few villages or was in the recent past (and the accents among Naboo people such as Queen Jamillia and Rabé indicate that this is the case on this planet) and taught in schools, etc. So, I started building up a Naboo vocabulary in a language I eventually came to call Nubaé. I wanted to use it in some of my fanfics. Until very recently, the Naboo could actually do very few things in their language-- come, go, be, stop, love, see, speak, write, and I think that's it. Well, now they can do lots more.

My story Surrender is going to (after tomorrow) include Anakin and Padmé's wedding. In order to do this, I went about writing "ancient" texts of marriage for the Naboo, mainly by combining Joseph Campbell with Vedic marriage texts. I then shamelessly plugged in things like the phrase "across the stars" (twice) and came up with a vow ceremony I'm pretty happy with. I then went about the arduous task of translating it into Nubaé. I had to make up many, many words while trying to keep a fairly consistent sound to the language. I think I was successful. Since I won't be able to include the whole thing in the story without slowing the whole thing down and making it awkward, I am putting it up here. The actual vow part I did not translate, because that for sure would slow down the story and, besides, Anakin doesn't speak Nubaé, so that would be kind of unfair to him.

Holy Man: (Basic) Marriage is the reunion of the separated. Originally, you were one. You are now two in the world, but through your eyes, from across the stars, you have recognized your other self, and love for the other has conquered your heart. Today you celebrate life in the experience of love as a force which opens the heart to the sad, bittersweet melody of being through love, one's anguish and one's joy, the light and dark interacting, the relationship between male and female. Marriage is a life commitment to that which you are. Through marriage the two become one flesh. One not only physically, but above all, spritually. The true marriage starts with the spiritual impact of love and is confirmed in sacred physical union. When you sacrifice in marriage, you sacrifice not to the other but to unity, you sacrifice the visible for what cannot be seen. You live in loyalty; through whatever trials or suffering, you remain true. In marriage, every day you love, and every day you forgive. Together you become the image of God. You have given yourself to something greater than yourself.

(Nubaé of above) Almathienn sé den anrelanten den nisemaaé. Anolenni, ta syd en. Ta sen sha lin a den unab, na yal tiratué, dei habir den sila, ta sen rasanyd unien d'mirtué, é amia bai den unien sé birajyd coratué. Disu ta aiomen ular a den lansu amiaé, en vali do fona den cor a den miré, tithypamié sirilas sen-yal-amiaé, jomiri ené é keiri ené, lua é marua bydajinen, den alaina nasu é nasié. Almathienn sé en ular-attalin a do tu sé. Yal almathienn den lin baven en fir. En ni nor afireé, na jotha maiaeé. Den almathienn vedé eejuna a'den maiaé vali amiaé é sé taganyd a maivalé afiré anlinsu. Ca ta thumirten a almathienn, ta thumirten ni a den unien, na a anlinsi, ta thumirten do ta san bai do ta ni san. Ta rularthen a sedama; yal dando gara na jomiri, ta attan vedé. A almmathienn, jeida dasu tu ama, é jeida dasu to baden. Sama ta baven den asaa Valié. Ta sen shaardenyd d'mirté a do sé tasiar d'mirté.

Anakin, the gods free you from your duties as a son. You may take Padmé's hand as a symbol of the unity which you share.

Anakin: I will accept your hand, so that you will grow old as my wife. The gods have given me to you as your husband. I take you in health or sickness, in wealthor poverty, in good times and in bad. But I take you as my center, and you are my bliss, not the wealth that you might bring me, not the social prestige, but you.

Holy Man: Padmé, the gods free you from your duties as a daughter. You may take Anakin's hand as a symbol of the unity which you share.

Padmé: I will accept your hand, so that you will grow old as my husband. The gods have given me to you as your wife. I take you in health or sickness, in wealth or poverty, in good times and in bad. But I take you as my center, and you are my bliss, not the wealth that you might bring me, not the social prestige, but you.

Holy Man: (Basic) Here he is, and here she is, and here they are. O gods, illuminate us with your might and bring us good fortune. Bring balance and unity to this new family, and help them to resist fear and evil. Anakin and Padmé, your life is now here, where your love is. You are no longer one alone. You and the other are now one, as you were one to begin with. Though you may be separated by worlds, across the stars you are joined forever by a bond which cannot be broken by any evil, not even death. May you know compassion and kindness, may your children be heroes, may you have the blessing of the gods and live in peace. May the Force protect you and your children from suffering and fear. May the gods lead you from here, hand in hand, into your new home. What has been joined together in this sacred marriage is one and cannot be parted.

(Nubaé of above) Lo su sé, é lo si sé, é lo dy sen. U Mayavala, lachsonaa tumar a'tué vali é mebaa tumar cai talé. Mebaa samatyu é anlinsi a di par benari, é mellaa dyr a nitisen erath é akau. Anakin é Padmé, ulartué sé sha lo, va amitué sé. Ta sé ni jeida en enor. Tu é den unien sen sha en, yi ta senyd en a anolaa. Anee ta ban sen nisamenyd ya unabua, habir den sila ta sen laninsenyd peré yal en mana do ni-ben nasgenyd sé yal nida akau, ni aja marutor. Benn ta yaren ajomir é kewin, benn kylaatué valorrie sen, benn ta hallen den caimae den Mayavalaé é rularthen a var. Benn den Vali pratha ta é kylaatué dei jomiri é erath. Benn den Mayavala meben ta dei lo, gaberu a gaberu, a par nubatué. Ka sé laninsenyd sama a di maivalé almathienn sé en é ni-ben sé nisamenyd.

How does that look to everyone? Like a real language?

Comments

[sacred-tide.livejournal.com]

Eee! I adore it. That sounds like a beautiful language, and I think it's rather convincing. And the English part is really cool, as well ^.^

<3

[conrads-space.livejournal.com]

How do you say "Erin kicks so much ass not even a death star could blow her up cause she kicks so much ass." ?

;)

[lily-handmaiden.livejournal.com]

Not sure, but I'll let you know the minute it comes up. :)
Thank you for thinking I kick ass for my dorkiness!

[(Anonymous)]

Awesome! but it raises a question...I wonder how the Naboo deal with homosexual marriage...

[lily-handmaiden.livejournal.com]

They change the words. The Naboo are cool. That is the standard text 'cause it's ancient, but they are fine with changing the words in some cases... for example, I'm toying with changing "gods" to "Force" a few times for this particular ceremony.
Sign your entries!

[(Anonymous)]

Very Cool! But O MI GAWD you have WAY too much time on your hands.
A.B.F.G

[lily-handmaiden.livejournal.com]

Hey, it's Spring Break! :)