Martian Metals
It's been more than a score of years since I posted here. Much has changed on the Red Planet in that time, marriages, births, and deaths, but the language has remained (almost) constant.
The Simayamka, the principal indigenes of Mars, trade metals and can forge when there is a great enough need and sufficient fuel. The general term for metal is 'nasuko' - the syllable -ko occurs in the names of many metals, whether by chance ror some other reason, it is impossible to say. There are those who mistakenly say 'nesuko' for 'nasuko', presumably as a way of distancing the generic term 'nasuko' from 'nako' 'iron', which many Simayamka consider the default metal; again, it is difficult to determine whether the phonetic or semantic resemblance was the original connection. The third 'nako'-like term for a metal is 'nayoko' 'quicksilver', otherwise known as 'eyemo'. 'eyemo' is the more prosaic term, while 'nayoko' appears more frequently in passages contrasting the volatile nature of quicksilver with the solidity of iron. Sometimes 'nomno' 'lead' replaces 'nako', especially if the contrast is favorable towards the item compared to quicksilver.
A distinction must be drawn between worked iron, 'nako', and iron ore, 'sima', a loanword from Ulok which reflects the role of the Kingdom of Nesa as a provider of raw materials for the Simayamka of the Simakim. The raw nature of 'sima' compares with that of 'sumo' 'tin', a far more malleable substance sometimes wrongly called 'sumnu' in imitation of the vocalic pattern of that most malleable element, 'nomno' 'lead'.
Decorations in the Simakim often combine 'wako' 'gold' and 'wamo' 'bronze', an alloy of 'yono' 'copper' and 'sumo' 'tin'. In gold-starved regions, 'wako' may be substituted by 'aka-so' 'electrum', the name of which bears the typical but not universal dual suffix -so of names of alloys. So common is this use of silver that the name for silver, 'uyam-so', is invariably dual despite not being an alloy. The shiny utility of 'yono' 'copper' contrasts the dark helpfulness of 'yunima''coal or carbon' which powers the kilns of the Simayamka. The 'yunima tuki', 'the white coal', however, is the Siye word for a diamond, which are not as prized among the Simayamka as they are among Terrestrial bipeds.
Until next time, 'Kumayam pekani ikimpunikime'.
Father Leofric Reese, Apostolic Mission to Mars
The Simayamka, the principal indigenes of Mars, trade metals and can forge when there is a great enough need and sufficient fuel. The general term for metal is 'nasuko' - the syllable -ko occurs in the names of many metals, whether by chance ror some other reason, it is impossible to say. There are those who mistakenly say 'nesuko' for 'nasuko', presumably as a way of distancing the generic term 'nasuko' from 'nako' 'iron', which many Simayamka consider the default metal; again, it is difficult to determine whether the phonetic or semantic resemblance was the original connection. The third 'nako'-like term for a metal is 'nayoko' 'quicksilver', otherwise known as 'eyemo'. 'eyemo' is the more prosaic term, while 'nayoko' appears more frequently in passages contrasting the volatile nature of quicksilver with the solidity of iron. Sometimes 'nomno' 'lead' replaces 'nako', especially if the contrast is favorable towards the item compared to quicksilver.
A distinction must be drawn between worked iron, 'nako', and iron ore, 'sima', a loanword from Ulok which reflects the role of the Kingdom of Nesa as a provider of raw materials for the Simayamka of the Simakim. The raw nature of 'sima' compares with that of 'sumo' 'tin', a far more malleable substance sometimes wrongly called 'sumnu' in imitation of the vocalic pattern of that most malleable element, 'nomno' 'lead'.
Decorations in the Simakim often combine 'wako' 'gold' and 'wamo' 'bronze', an alloy of 'yono' 'copper' and 'sumo' 'tin'. In gold-starved regions, 'wako' may be substituted by 'aka-so' 'electrum', the name of which bears the typical but not universal dual suffix -so of names of alloys. So common is this use of silver that the name for silver, 'uyam-so', is invariably dual despite not being an alloy. The shiny utility of 'yono' 'copper' contrasts the dark helpfulness of 'yunima''coal or carbon' which powers the kilns of the Simayamka. The 'yunima tuki', 'the white coal', however, is the Siye word for a diamond, which are not as prized among the Simayamka as they are among Terrestrial bipeds.
Until next time, 'Kumayam pekani ikimpunikime'.
Father Leofric Reese, Apostolic Mission to Mars