Vode An

[Naux2010]

Since I want to actually be able to speak the language I figured songs are a good way to start. Vode An caught my attention right away and love it. There are already translations for it but I wanted to practice my own translating. When I did I was puzzled by the last lines of each stanza.

What I have seen online is this
Sa kyr'am nau tracyn kad, Vode an. (vode an is not my concern. pretty easy and straight translation)
Trans= Forged like the saber in the fires of death

Literally it's: Like Death forged fire saber

Now I understand that mando'a takes out "non essential" words which is very understandable. but when I look at the literal translations and forge it into meaning I understand it as

"We are like death forged by the fires of the saber (sword)"

I was also under the understanding that mando'a sentence structure is like English/basic: subject verb noun. If this is true then the subject of last sentence is "we" followed by the simile "like death" then verb "forged" and then the noun of saber. I feel like my translation is more accurate but it completely changes the meaning.

Please help.

[Vlet Hansen]

The sentence structure is based upon personal preference. In the original meaning, the fire of death burns away all but the worthy.

[Naux2010]

I havnt found that. interesting since that is completely different than either of the translations. actually thinking back on the taung the original sounds more of their style. I just want to get this right. I think the mandalorian culture is the was to go and having a solid language is the binding force for a culture. I just feel we need to just solidify the language.

[Vlet Hansen]

Per Wookieepedia:
Glory!
One indomitable heart, Brothers all.
We, the wrath of Coruscant, Brothers all.
And glory, eternal glory,
We shall bear its weight together.
Forged like the saber in the fires of death, Brothers all.

From what I remember, there's a lot of leeway with pronunciation and such to make songs work.

[Augest Kayd]

The song came before the language, after all.

[Tra'nau]

There are two things I think are important to recognise here. For one, this is intended to be/retconned as archaic Mando'a. For instance, jorso'ran is explained as being a future-tense form (something about 'shall') that is no longer present in modern Mando'a. Because of this whole thing, I agree it's safe to say that Taung-era Mando'a had some other major grammatical differences on top of that. Also, as I believe I've pointed out in a different post, poetry and music in Mando'a don't seem to work exactly the same as English- sure, some of the sentences are word-for-word, but many seem more intent on conveying a notion rather than a perfectly-structured sentence. Part of the beauty I see in some of this is the freedom of interpretation that seems to arise from playing it fast and loose with grammar like with this example.

[Augest Kayd]

Yeah, Mando'a is very feel-y.

[Augest Kayd]

Kote!

Solus kandosii ka'rta, vode an.
Mhi Coruscant'a'den, vode an.
Bal kote, darasuum kote,
Jorso'ran te kando tome.
Tracyn be kyr'am hetti nu'saane.

Solus kandosii ka'rta, vode an.
Mhi Coruscant'a'den, vode an.
Bal
Aru'e ca'tra tracinya.
Cuun gra'tua hett su dralshy'a.
Anay kyr'yc aruetyc runi ven'ceta.
Aru'e ca'tra tracinya.
Cuun gra'tua hett su dralshy'a.
Anay kyr'yc aruetyc runi ven'ceta.
Tracyn be kyr'am hetti nu'saane.


Wow this is terrible.