Notes:
1. An apostrophe signifies either a pause or - if the apostrophe is situated between two r's - a trill in a word. For example, elves will trill the double r in Zar'roc, a sound often ignored by humans in favor of the more straightforward method of splitting the name into two parts
Only a few words or names warrant apostrophes in the ancient language. An apostrophe is often introduced into a word that was previously free of one to force a pause or trill and to give it an added layer of importance. Shur'tugal is one such word. Said properly, the apostrophe makes you spend an extra half-second on Shur'tugal, emphasizing the Rider's elevated status.
In the case of Urû'baen and Ristvak'baen, baen is part of each name, but because it represents such a powerful and complex form of grief, it is set off by the apostrophe. (A side note on Urû'baen: The name is a bastardization coined by Galbatorix. Urû is a dwarf word - obcious since the ancient language uses no circumflexes - that means elders or sages. Urû'baen then translates as the elders' grief/sorrow, the elders' folly, or even the elders' downfall. Galbatorix knew that most humans wouldn't understand the deeper meaning, but for the elves and dwarves, the capital's name is an open insult.)
2. By default, all verbs in the ancient language are set in the present tense. Thus älfr ach thornessa (literally, he do this) translates as he does this. Future tense is indicated by using shall, will, and other appropriate words. Past tense is formed by adding the suffixes í and o.
Eka ero - I was
Eka eddyr - I am
Eka weohnata waíse - I will be
älfr ero - he was
älfr er - he is
älfr weohnata waíse - he will be
älfr achí - he did
älfr ach - he does
älfr weohnata ach - he will do
therr erní - they were
therr eru - they are
therr weohnata waíse - they will be
3. Unless you are using formal grammar or if their absence causes confusion, am and both definite and indefinite articles are often excluded from sentences, as in Eka aí fricai un Shur'tugal, which translates literally as I a Rider and friend but means I am a Rider and a friend. The line can even be written Eka fricai un Shur'tugal or I a Rider and friend without changing its intent. The example given below, älfrinn ero koma ramrsja - she was a woman strong-looking - but would be interpreted as she was a strong-looking woman.
4. The ancient language has no present participles (walking, building, throwing). Whereas in English we would say, "Walking into the room, Eragon sees Arya," the elves say, "As walk into the room, Eragon see Arya." Other examples: "As I was running down the hall" has no direct correlation in the ancient language. The closest you can come to saying this is "As I ran down the hall." Sam for "As I am running down the hall," which becomes "As I rund down the hall."
she was a strong-looking woman - älfrinn ero aí koma ramrsja
she looked like a strong woman - älfrinn sjaí aí koma ramr
she is a strong-looking woman - älfrinn aí koma ramrsja
she will be a strong-looking woman - älfrinn weohnata waíse aí koma ramrsja
5. Titles, honorifics, and descriptions usually follow the person or item named. King Evandar is Evandar Könungr. A strong woman is aí koma ramr, where koma is woman. Descriptions can be placed in nearly any order so long as they follow the item being described. Translators are free to use their discrimination in arranging the words.
6. In the ancient language, if you place an accent mark over a vowel that is the first of a pair of vowels, the pronunciation of the first vowel changes, while the second vowel is pronounced independently and reverts to its native sound. Thus äenora (ay-eh-NOR-uh) versus aenora (ay-NOR-uh), or alalëa (ahl-ah-LAY-uh) versus alalea (ahl-ah-LEH-uh). However, if you modify the second vowel with an accent, the first vowel does not revert to its native sound but retains the pronunciation that it ould otherwise have: alalëa (ahl_ah-LAY-ay), not (ahl-ah-LEH-ay), and guliä(GOO-lee-ay), not (GOO-lih-ay).
There are a few exceptions, mainly the result of how the spelling of the ancient language has changed over the millennia. The elves have allowed these exceptions to remain because they do not interfere with the existing pronunciation. In Alagaësia, the ¨ is redundant because ae would still say ay without it. Technically, the word could even be said al-uh-GAH-zee-uh, but no elf would pronounce it in that fashion unless he or she wished to appear snobbish and condescending . . . rather like those who spell cooperate as coöperate.
Another example is gedwëy. Again, the ¨ is superfluous, since it makes e say ay, and ey says ay anyway. But since ¨ just places added emphasis on the word's existing sound, it has been left. Some scholars drop the redundant accent marks, while others cling to the old forms and styles. Because of the epic nature of Eragon's saga, the ancient language has been presented in the traditional manner.
7. The ancient language does not have the letters q or x.
