Kelpien language

Kelpien fortress illustration — Kelpien script (bottom left, border) and Ba'ul script (top left, far right) in a history book

Su'Kal painting — The name "Su'Kal" signed on a painting

The Kelpien language was the language spoken by Kelpiens from the planet Kaminar.

History

When making first contact with the Kelpien Saru, Lieutenant Philippa Georgiou showed him the universal translator in her communicator making their conversation possible. (ST: "The Brightest Star")

Aradar was also heard speaking Kelpien during the harvest ritual in "The Brightest Star."

During Airiam's funeral, Saru sang a Kaminar song of remembrance in Kelpien. (DIS: "The Red Angel")

The word su'kal did not have an exact translation, but meant something like "beloved gift". Traditionally, a Kelpien family that had suffered a great tragedy would name their next child Su'Kal, to symbolize the end of suffering, as with Su'Kal aboard the KSF Khi'eth. (DIS: "Su'Kal")

Examples of spoken language

Miankook bakai minakau ... tu dee ben ... toosay doorah, abrahm Saru.: It's a pleasure to finally put a face to the name, Mr. Saru. An entirely new face, at that. (ST: "The Brightest Star")

Key-zhay yoos X!ay-doo-uh-knock cow loo-ruh X!ah-nay-oo X!ine.: I was not certain you would come.

Based on background materials tweeted by Bo Yeon Kim, literally: "I not had-been-certain that you come possible."[1]

X!ung leesay duk X!oo-lay-zak oo-nay mak X!ine?: Might the priest spare a moment? (DIS: "The Sound of Thunder")

Aa X!pee-ota.: Yes, of course.

Ree-joo tayna oo-vay-oo ee-joo mayzka.
Ree-jah tayna oo-vay-nah hen-hee lay-tah.
Pah-kay rah-dee X!ay-see lopa.
Ee-vavay ee-zoo kay loo-pah.
X!ah-vay-jah tay-buh-vay ee-tah sah X!rah-vaa oo-loo.: A Kelpien song of remembrance. (DIS: "The Red Angel")

Yay dah-noo kah-nej. To-sek yay dah-noo kah-nej.: Exit program. Emergency end program. (DIS: "Su'Kal")

Background information

The Kelpien language was created by Marc Okrand, first heard in "The Brightest Star". [2]

"The Sound of Thunder" writers Erika Lippoldt and Bo Yeon Kim once suggested that the Kelpiens used the Ba'ul alphabet because they had lost their own written language. [3] "Su'Kal" later showed two different scripts alongside each other representing Kelpien and Ba'ul joint history, including the established Ba'ul script.