Lore:Jel

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This article summarizes what is understood about Jel, the language used by the Argonians.

Origin of Jel

Unlike other modern Tamrielic languages, which all devolve from Ehlnofex, the Argonian language comes from the ancient and intelligent Hist trees of Black Marsh. In the novels the teenage Argonian Mere-Glim states that Jel is the "closest speech to thought", and that other races are unable to pronounce it well enough to freely converse with it. Despite this, the Breton girl Annaïg Hoïnart was able to learn some Jel words to create a sort of pidgin language to converse with her friend prior to the events of The Infernal City and Lord of Souls.

The language is also briefly mentioned (but not in name) in the book The Madness of Pelagius, where it is stated the infamous insane emperor was able to speak it in order to converse with an Argonian visitor: "It was said that when the Argonian ambassador from Blackrose came to court, Pelagius insisted on speaking in all grunts and squeaks, as that was the Argonian's natural language."

Jel & Time

"Mere-Glim wondered what would happen if he died. It was generally believed that Argonians had been given their souls by the Hist, and when one died, one’s soul returned to them, to be incarnated once more. That seemed reasonable enough, under ordinary circumstances. In the deepest parts of his dreams or profound thinking were images, scents, tastes that the part of him that was sentient could not remember experiencing. The concept the Imperials called "time" did not even have a word in his native language. In fact, the hardest part of learning the language of the Imperials was that they made their verbs different to indicate when something happened, as if the most important thing in the world was to establish a linear sequence of events, as if doing so somehow explained things better than holistic apprehension." – The Infernal City

Unlike other languages, Jel is unique in the fact that it boasts no time-specific variations of verbs, as Argonians – or at least the more traditionalist individuals – view all of life from birth to death as a single moment. To them, 'time' is an illusion established to create a linear version of events and is therefore considered a limited way of perceiving reality. In fact, the hardest challenge for Argonians learning other languages is getting used to the presence of past tense and future tense verbs.

Jel Dictionary

Since Morrowind, we have steadily learned more of the Argonian language along with their definitions. Below is a list of all known Jel words that were extracted from numerous in-game resources. Definitions are provided when known.

Adding New Words

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

A An-Xileel D Daril A name for a drug, literally "seeing everything in ecstasy" H Haj-El Translates into "Hides-His-Eyes", an Argonian name Hej "Vaporous", as taken from its use in Hejtsetha Thtithik, Hejtsetha Thtitleel, and Hej Xajhuthi Kroni Hejtsetha "Vaporous, floating", as taken from its use in Hejtsetha Thtithik and Hejtsetha Thtitleel Hejtsetha Thtithik Wispmother, literally "vaporous, floating egg hatcher" Hejtsetha Thtitleel Wisp, literally "vaporous floating sphere" Hej Xajhuthi Kroni Literally "vaporous, dangerous crones", translated less directly as "beware of witchlights" I Ixtaxh-thtithil-meht "Exact-Egg-Cracker", the name of a great stepped pyramid in Lilmoth K Kaj "Ample", also translated as "Giant" Kaj-jeke Thota "Ample stinging insect", referring to a Giant Wasp Kajthux "Ample serpent", referring to a Giant Snake Kaoc A type of vulgar interjection, when used in context it seems to mean "crap" or "shit" Keshu Literally means "Stands Apart", It was a strong name, a good name. The name of a crocodile in a lake of shap. L Lukiul "Assimilated", meaning an Argonian living under Imperial ways M Masu "Big-mouthed reptile" (taken from its use in 'Rormasu' and 'Wamasu', respectively) P Pakseech "Clan Chair", "Patriarch", "Leader", basically a wise father concerned with the welfare of the whole family R Raj-Deelith Translates to "Elder Teacher" Rormasu Literally "big-mouthed reptile that blinks above the water", referring to a crocodile S Saxhleel "People of the Root", referring to the Argonians T Teeba-Hatsei "Hip and Tail Ball", a popular Argonian sport Theilul A type of Argonian rum made from distilled sugar cane Thtachalxan Non-Argonian guards, literally "Drykillers" Thtithil "Egg" Thux "Snake", as taken from it use in Kajthux Tsonashap Literally "Swimming Frog" Tsetha "Floating", as taken from its use in Hejtsetha Thtithik and Hejtsetha Thtitleel U Uxith "Nest" W Wamasu Roughly translated as "big-mouthed reptile of blood lightning" Waxhuthil A type of vulgar interjection, when used in context it seems to mean "dammit" Wuthilul Translates into "Mere-Glim", an Argonian name X Xanmeer A term for one of the stepped pyramids found in Black Marsh Xal-Uxith Sacred Nest, where Argonian eggs are tended to. Xhu "Yes", a type of affirmative Xhuth A type of vulgar interjection, when used in context it seems to mean "fuck"