Looking for a New Language to Conquer? Try Dothraki

Doth what? HBO’s Game of Thrones has now pretty much become part of today’s TV culture, with viewers from all over the world. Those who are still waiting for the series to be shown in their part of the world are itching to get their hands on it. It’s safe to say that HBO has got a winner on their hands, isn’t it?

If you have been following the TV show weekly since it first aired, you would already know that one of the most interesting – and controversial – band of characters are the Dothraki, a group of nomads who are fierce warriors as well. I may be wrong, but they remind me strongly of the Native Americans of old, with elements of Genghis Khan’s warriors as well.

Also, you would already have noticed that the Dothraki have their own language. And just like any work of fantasy (and sci-fi for that matter), the makers of Game of Thrones have put some effort into creating a language for this special group of characters. Think Klingon. Think Na’vi.

If you want to understand what Khal Drogo (the leader of the Dothraki) and his warriors are saying without having to read the subtitles, there is hope for you. The Dothraki language already has a lot of followers, and you can be one of them, too.

Some resources on learning Dothraki:

• Dothraki Press Release – Audio
• The Learn Dothraki Web Site
• Learn Dothraki on Twitter

Need a tutorial on how to pronounce Dothraki consonants? Watch this video.

Learning a new language is fun, although it does need some effort. With the language being so new, it shouldn’t be that hard. Currently, there are less than 3,000 words in the language, which is an encouraging thing!

Now if you want to show off, here are some key phrases in Dothraki that you can memorize.

1. Yer affesi anna. The literal translation is “You make me itch” and you say this phrase to someone you don’t like or someone who makes you uncomfortable.
2. Yer jalan atthirari anni. The literal translation is “You are the moon of my life”. Yes, the Dothraki can be sentimental in spite of their fierceness. Try saying this to a girl, and you just might score points – if she knows Dothraki, that is.
3. Graddakh. No language is complete without some expletives. This word refers to waste, and can be likened to words we exclaim when we’re disgusted or frustrated, but not necessarily insulting or cursing at someone else.

I’m off to read the Dothraki dictionary to see if I can make any sense of it, although I have a feeling I’ll be saying graddakh most of the time.