Redwall Abbey

Brian Jacques' Works (Spoilers) => History, Legends and Myths => Topic started by: Osu on June 11, 2014, 07:36:28 PM

Title: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: Osu on June 11, 2014, 07:36:28 PM
Let's talk about grammar, everybody! I have often puzzled over this small aspect of the Redwall universe: what are the notable aspects and residents of a place referred to as? Redwallers are often just called, well, Redwallers, or Abbeydwellers; and anything that comes from Redwall might just be 'Abbey + thing' (for example, 'Abbey accent.') How about those who reside in Mossflower in general? Or Salamandastron (Salamandastronese? Teehee.), or Southsward, or the Lands of Ice and Snow?

I fondly imagine Sampetra = Sampetran, Northlands = Northlanders, and so on.

And while we're on the subject, what language do the characters speak? It can't be 'English' because there is no England. Mossflowerian? Mossflowerite? Mossflowerish? Mossfloweran? 'The Common Tongue?'
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: Wylder Treejumper on June 11, 2014, 07:52:32 PM
I've got a good one for the language... How about Mamalian, since the frogs, lizards, etc. don't seem to speak it accurately or don't speak it at all!

Salamesque, maybe? Still funny words... 
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: The Mask on June 12, 2014, 07:33:05 AM
I'm pretty sure they mentioned a 'common tongue' or something to that effect. Can't remember which book though
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: Captain Tammo on June 12, 2014, 08:48:41 PM
Jacquanese? lol
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: The Skarzs on June 12, 2014, 09:15:14 PM
I think Common Tongue would be the best term, as most animals understand each other (this is mine, stay away, sort of thing)
Reptiles and amphibians, being completely different group of species (cold-blooded vs warm-blooded), might have a different language because of their huge gap in species.
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: The Mask on June 13, 2014, 07:55:08 AM
Oh! Another thing there are mentions of OTHER languages. In particular, something akin to Indian. In a lot of the books hares say 'wallah'. E.G. 'Where is the grub wallah?'In Indian 'wallah' means something a bit like person. So it's s bit like saying 'Where is the grub person?'
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: Tim Churchmouse on August 30, 2014, 08:51:24 AM
I'm guessing that they ARE all 'English' as all the accents in Redwall are based on accents in the UK. Here's a list of them (being a Briton myself)
Hedgehogs: West Country (Bristol, Exeter, Gloucester, Lydney, Plymouth e.t.c)
Squirrels: Modern English (2000-2010) with some Scots exception
Mice: Old Fashioned English (1980-2000)
Moles: Bristolian (The City of Bristol, West Country)
Voles: Irish/Northern
Hares: 1900s Stereo-typical English accents (with a few exceptions [Scots])
Vermin: Londonian/Eastern Country (London, Norwich, Peterborough)
Other Vermin: Northern (Newcastle, Sunderland, Carlisle, Manchester Leeds e.t.c.
Anyone who finds any of these remarks offensive please contact and I will delete.
I hope this helps.
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: Lutra on October 25, 2014, 02:29:08 PM
Otters have that stereotypical pirate talk you know.  Arr matey! ;)  I can't see anyone speaking like that.
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: Tam and Martin on November 03, 2014, 12:54:23 PM
We know who is an otter fan  ;D ^^^

Anyway, I never really thought about this at all. I always realized that different places and people had different accents the cause of which is where they came from or what type of creature they were but I never really figured anything else out. My brain is too small for this matter  :P
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: The Skarzs on November 03, 2014, 03:18:23 PM
Since they're animals, I think different accents would be more appropriate than different languages. Heavier accents would still make gaps in communication, but would not make it unbelievable.
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: SilentSam on November 03, 2014, 05:44:29 PM
Mossflowerer? Idk :P
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: LT Sandpaw on November 18, 2014, 06:32:32 PM

I can't remember anywhere in the stories where they use different languages. It's been awhile since a read some of them though
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: SilentSam on November 29, 2014, 06:50:42 PM
Quote from: LT Sandpaw on November 18, 2014, 06:32:32 PM

I can't remember anywhere in the stories where they use different languages. It's been awhile since a read some of them though
Well technically, Sparra is another language.
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: LT Sandpaw on November 29, 2014, 07:16:23 PM
Not really it's just a different dialect of English.
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: SilentSam on November 30, 2014, 01:18:25 AM
True, but it is called another language.
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: The Mask on December 09, 2014, 07:05:41 AM
Maybe not necessarily another language but the Painted Ones used some kind of hand gesturing system.
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: SilentSam on December 16, 2014, 09:42:53 PM
Mossese?
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: willruth on December 27, 2014, 12:05:48 PM
And in Legend of Luke, there were the tropical snake worshiping weasels and many reptiles have there own whispering dialect/language!oh, and all birds are still technically reptiles... ;D
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: SilentSam on December 27, 2014, 02:58:41 PM
You mean the Flitcheye? Flitchese? Flitchy? :P
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: The Skarzs on December 27, 2014, 08:26:06 PM
No, they were the. . . *Looks them up.* Eh, they aren't named, but their leader was called the Marrahagga, they worshipped a big snake (undefined species), and they caught them with drugged fruit. :P
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: willruth on December 28, 2014, 09:09:58 AM
And my point exactly, they were an isolated island tribe that diverged from the common tongue of mossflower and southsward . Or...

they were using a language much more primitive than the common tongue and never developed the newer language!

Also, it could be that other tongues exist in the far north, like the primitive howling the Urgan Nagru used to converse with the dirgecalllers from The Bellmaker
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: Hickory on December 28, 2014, 06:57:39 PM
It said that the Juska had aancient language, where Taggerung (or was it Zann?) meant Mighty One.
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: willruth on December 29, 2014, 12:49:57 PM
Yes,of course!!! ;D
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: Hickory on December 29, 2014, 05:20:51 PM
Also, the painted ones and the rats from LEgend of Luke spoke a different language.
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: Nadaz, voice of the host on November 19, 2017, 07:39:50 PM
I don't know what the language was called but in Mattimeo the tree rats communicate in whistles and shreiks
Title: Re: Adjectivization in Redwall (Nationalities)
Post by: Ashleg on November 20, 2017, 03:28:14 AM
Like the kids at my school! ;D