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Since their discovery over 150 years ago, scientists have argued about whether Neanderthals had a language and how it might have sounded. Some believe that Neanderthals would have had a language as rich and complex as those used today. Others suggest that they would have done little more than grunt. After consulation with some of the leading protagonists in the debate, Neanderthal gave its Neanderthals a limited spoken language. It had a small vocabulary and simple grammar. The language was adapted from the one written by Anthony Burgess for the film, Quest for Fire. Ailsa Berk, a specialist in primate movement, ran a training programme to teach the actors their new language. As well as learning how to pronounce the spoken words, the actors also had to learn the body movements that accompanied them. |
| English | Neanderthal |
| AGAIN | Ri (RI:: ) (Scottish Rolled 'R') |
| AGRESSION BUILDING TO CRESCENDO |
(Note: A development of sounds and physical action performed by the group, essentially a three stage progression, perhaps one member of the group could start later progression before main group has stopped) T'KA - T'KA - T'KA(Very quick) D'GA - D'GA - D'GA ARR |
| ALARM |
OOOWA (uu::::wa!) Suggested
alternatives |
| REPLY TO ALARM (WHEN QUESTIONED BY MAIN GROUP) | WA WA (wa wa) |
| ALIVE (FIRE LIVES) |
HIDOOP (hi'du::p) |
| ANGER | SMER (modified from SMERDOLOR). Also extended 's' to long 'ssss' resembling spitting sound. ('smerdolor) |
| BAD | GARSNA ('ga:rsn(a)) |
| BIG | MEG (me:g) |
| BROTHER | BRATT (brat) |
| BROKEN | VRAGDA ('vragda) |
| COLD | FRIKA (fri.ka) |
| DEATH | VRAGDA ('vrag'dat)MARDI ('ma:di) |
| TO DRINK | ESSACHAI AGA (Esa'tSai-aga) |
| TO EAT | ESSACHAI (Esa'tSai) |
| ENEMY NON FRIEND |
NYIMI
(nji'mi) NYIMIZI (nji'mi:zi) NAKYIMI (nak'ji:mi) |
| FAR | PAU (pa::u) |
| FIRE | ATRA ('atra) |
| FIGHT | SLACKH ('slax) |
| FOOD | ESTACHAI (esa'tSai) |
| FOLLOW (AFTER, BEHIND) |
EFTEMA (eftmeta) |
| FRIEND | YEEMI (ji:mi) |
| TO GO | DJAN ('dza?an) |
| FOREST(tree-tree) | DONDR- DONDR (dondr-dondr) |
| GOOD | OTIM ('otim) |
| GIVE | DOW
('d-o-:e) (o sound through nose) |
| GREETING | KHONIA ('xonja) |
| HEAVY | PYOM (pjøo:m) |
| HIGH
(HEIGHT) |
(eelt)
: very high (alt) : high (ølt) : level (elt) : low (alt) : very low (extended vowel for graduation) |
| HOT | RIARTCHSS (ri'a:rtS) |
| HOW
MANY (REPLY TO ABOVE) |
KWAN
(Kuan) TAAN (tan) |
| HUNGER (FOOD WANT) |
ESSACHAI VOW (esa'tSai vau) |
| HUNT | TIR PRENG ('tir pre-nj) |
| I | YEYKA ('jEk(a)) |
| MAMMOTH | TIR MEG (tir me::g) |
| MAN | VIR (vir) |
| MOON | WUUB (wu:b) |
| OK | HAN ('an) |
| OVER THERE | SITO PAUH (sito pau: ) |
| PAIN | SMERDOLOR ('smerdolor) |
| QUICK (QUICKLY) |
VITRASH (vi.traS) |
| RAIN | AGA KEL (aga ke:l) |
| REINDEER | TIR DONDR (tir dondr) |
| RUN | KORO (koro) |
| SKY | KEL (ke:l) |
| TO SLEEP | DOMADISHL ('domadisSl) |
| STOP | MOR (mor) |
| STRONG | KRAS (kras) |
| SUN | OGODION (odo djøn) |
| TALK | DEKTE ('dEkta) |
| THEY | TIKAM ('tikam) |
| TREE (GOT?) | DONDR (dondr) |
| WATER | AGA (aga) |
| WEAPON | SLAKHATAKA ('slaxtaka) |
| WHAT | KWOLA ('kwola) |
| WOLF | WUFTUR ('lwu.ftur) |
| WOMAN | VIRKU (virku) |
| WOUNDED | VRAGDA ('vragda) |
| YES | SIYEDA (siyeda) |
| YOU | VADA ('vada) |