Chapter Text
Mando’a is a constructed language that was created by Jesse Harlin for the soundtrack of Star Wars: Republic Commando video game and subsequently expanded by Karen Traviss for the Star Wars: Republic Commando novel series. A number of fans have noted that some of Mando’a’s spelling conventions—especially those related to the letters c and y—are somewhat confusing. Traviss states in her Mando’a Quick Grammar Guide that:
“Other points to note:
-uy: pronounced oo-ee
-u: oo
cye: shay
-yc: sh after a vowel
c: k, when it comes before a at the beginning of a word
c: s, when it comes before other vowels at the beginning of a word or in the middle of a word
cy sh or ch”
Unfortunately however, this is not entirely accurate compared with her glossary and the pronunciations given therein. This has understandably confused fans trying to figure out the rules of how to pronounce Mando’a. Fortunately, although the rule might not be obvious, it happens to be very nearly regular. The few exceptions are handled at the end, with suggestions given how they might be tweaked to make them regular if so desired.
This analysis is based on Traviss’s glossary published on her website and the Star Wars Insider magazine. My aim with this analysis has been to figure out a rule that is linguistically plausible and consistent with Traviss’s glossary / the corpus of canon Mando’a (Traviss’s glossary, Harlin’s music, etc.), i.e. the existing pieces of the language rather than what the original authors have said or written about it.
The data
c (without y) is pronounced as /s/ before high front vowels /e i/
cerar [sair-ARR] /sɛ.ˈɾaɾ/
ceratir [sair-AH-teer] /sɛ.ˈɾa.tɩɾ/
ceryc [sair-EESH] /sɛ.ˈɾiʃ/
cetar [set-ARR] /sɛ.ˈtaɾ/
cetare [set-ARE-ay] /sɛ.ˈta.ɾɛ/
cin [seen] /sɩn/
cinargaanar [see-NAHR-gah-nahr] /sɩ.ˈnaɾ.gaː.naɾ/
cinarin [see-NAH-reen] /sɩ.ˈna.ɾin/ *
cin'ciri [seen-SEE-ree] /sɩn.ˈsɩ.ɾɩ/
cinyc [SEE-neesh] /ˈsɩ.niʃ/
ciryc [seer-EESH] /sɩ.ˈɾiʃ/
mircin [meer-SEEN] /mɩɾ.ˈsɩn/
mircir [meer-SEER] /mɩɾ.ˈsɩɾ/
mirci't [meer-SEET] /mɩɾ.ˈsɩt/
racin [ray-SEEN] /ɾa.ˈsɩn/
tom'urcir [tohm-OOR-seer] /tɔm.ˈʊɾ.sɩɾ/
ver'mircit [VAIR-meer-seet] /ˈvɛɾ.mɩɾ.ˌsɩt/
* This is likely a typo and is supposed to be *cinarir.
otherwise as /k/
That is, before other vowels:
ca [kah] /ka/
cabuor [kah-BOO- or] /ka.ˈbʊ.ɔɾ/
cabur [KAH-boor] /ˈka.bʊɾ/
ca'nara [KAH-nah-RAH] /ˈka.na.ˌɾa/
can'gal [CAHN-gahl] /ˈkaŋ.gal/
carud [kah-ROOD] /ka.ˈɾʊd/
ca'tra[KAH-tra] /ˈka.tɾa/
copaanir [KOH-pan-EER] /kɔ.paː.nɩɾ/
copad [KOH-pad] /ˈkɔ.pad/
copikla [koh-PEEK-lah] /kɔ.ˈpɩk.la/
copyc [KOH-peesh] /ˈkɔ.piʃ/
cu'bikad [COO-bee-kahd] /ˈkʊ.bi.ˈkad/
cuir [COO-eer] /ˈkʊɩ̯ɾ/
cunak [COO-nahk] /ˈkʊ.nak/
cuun [koon] /kuːn/
cuyan [koo-YAHN] /kʊ.ˈʝan/
cuyanir [coo-YAH-neer] /kʊ.ˈʝa.nɩɾ/
cuyete [coo-YAY-tay] /kʊ.ˈʝɛ.tɛ/
cuyir [KOO-yeer] /ˈkʊ.jɩɾ/
cuyla [COO-ee-lah] /ˈkʊɩ̯.la/
du'car [DOO-kar] /ˈdʊ.kaɾ/
du'caryc [doo-KAR-eesh] /dʊ.ˈka.ɾiʃ/
ge'catra [geh-CAT-rah] /gɛ.ˈkat.ɾa/
jorcu [JOR-koo] /ˈdʒɔɾ.kʊ/
ori'copaad [OH-ree-KOH-pahd] /ˌɔ.ɾɩ.ˈkɔ.paːd/
vencuyanir [ven-COO-yah-neer] /vɛŋ.ˈkʊ.ja.nɩɾ/
vencuyot [vain-COO-ee-ot] /vɛŋ.ˈkʊ.jɔt/
vercopa [vair-KOH-pa] /vɛɾ.ˈkɔ.pa/
vercopaanir [VAIR-koh-PAH-neer] /ˌvɛɾ.kɔ.ˈpaː.nɩɾ/
…and in a word-final position:
balac [bah-LAHK] /ba.ˈlak/
bic [beek] /bɩk/
ibac [ee-BAK] /ɩ.ˈbak/
ibic [ee-BIK] /ɩ.ˈbɩk/
norac [noh-RAK] /nɔ.ˈɾak/
tebec [TEH-bek] /ˈtɛ.bɛk/
yc is always pronounced as /iʃ/
Whether this is at the end of the word…
aikiyc [ai-KEESH] /aɩ̯.ˈkiːʃ/
aruetyc [AH-roo-eh-TEESH] /ˌa.rʊ.ʋe.ˈtiʃ/
balyc [BAH-leesh] /ˈba.liʃ/
beskaryc [BES-kar-EESH] /ˌbɛs.ka.ˈriʃ/
burk'yc [BOOR-keesh] /ˈbʊɾ.kiʃ/
chakaaryc [chah- KAR-eesh] /tʃa.ˈkaː.riʃ/
copyc [KOH-peesh] /ˈkɔ.piʃ/
dalyc [DAH-leesh] /ˈda.liʃ/
daryc [DAR-eesh] /ˈda.ɾiʃ/
diryc [DEER-eesh] /ˈdɩ.ɾiʃ/
duumyc [DOO-meesh] /duː.miʃ/
etyc [ETT-eesh] /ˈɛ.tiʃ/
gaht'yc [GAH-teesh] /ˈgah.tiʃ/
gehatyc [geh-HAHT-eesh] /gɛ.haː.tiʃ/
haamyc [HAH-meesh] /ˈhaː.miʃ/
haatyc [HAH-teesh] /ˈhaː.tiʃ/
haryc [HAR-eesh] /ˈha.ɾiʃ/
hayc [haysh] /haɩ̯ʃ/
hetikleyc [hay-TEEK-laysh] /hɛ.ˈtɩk.lɛɩ̯ʃ/
hettyc [heh-TEESH] /hɛ.ˈtiʃ/
hodayc [HOH-daysh] /ˈhɔ.daɩ̯ʃ/
hokan'yc [hoh-KAH-neesh] /hɔ.ˈkaː.niʃ/
iviin'yc [ee-VEEN-esh] /ɩ.ˈviː.niʃ/
jagyc [JAH-geesh] /ˈdʒa.giʃ/
jaon'yc [jai-OHN-ish] /dʒa.ˈɔ.niʃ/
jari'eyc [JAR-ee-aysh] /ˈdʒa.ɾɩ.ˌeɩ̯ʃ./
jatisyc [jah-TEE-seesh] /dʒa.ˈtɩ.siʃ/
johayc [JO-haysh] /ˈdʒɔ.haɩ̯ʃ/
kotyc [koh-TEESH] /kɔ.ˈtiʃ/
kyr'adyc [keer-AH-deesh] /kɩ.ˈɾa.diʃ/
kyrayc [keer-AYSH] /kɩ.ˈɾaɩ̯ʃ/
kyr'yc [KEER-eesh] /ˈkɩ.ɾiʃ/
laamyc [LAH-meesh] /ˈlaː.miʃ/
lararyc [lah-rah-eesh] /la.ɾa.ɾiʃ/
majyc [MAH-jeesh] /ˈma.dʒiʃ/
morut'yc [moh-ROO-teesh] /mɔ.ˈɾʊ.tiʃ/
narseryc [nar-SAIR-eesh] /naɾ.ˈsɛ.ɾiʃ/
nayc [naysh] /naɩ̯ʃ/
neduumyc [nay-DOO-meesh] /nɛ.ˈduː.miʃ/
nehutyc [neh-HOOT-eesh] /nɛ.ˈhʊ.tiʃ/
nu'amyc [noo-AHM-eesh] /nʊ.ˈʔa.miʃ/ or /nʊ.ˈʋa.miʃ/
nuhaatyc [noo-HAH-teesh] /nʊ.ˈhaː.tiʃ/
ori'beskaryc [OH-ree-bes-KAR-eesh] /ˌɔ.ɾɩ.bɛs.ˈka.ɾiʃ/
ori'jagyc [OH-ree-JAHG-eesh]
ori'suumyc [OHR-ee-SOOM-eesh]
oyayc [oy-AYSH]
piryc [PEER-eesh]
ramikadyc [RAH-mee-KAHD-eesh]
ret'yc [RET-eesh]
ruusaanyc [roo-SAHN-eesh]
sapanyc [sah-PAHN-eesh]
shaap'yc [sha-PEESH]
shi'yayc [shee-YAYSH]
shuk'yc [shook-EESH]
shupur'yc [shoo-POOR-esh]
sol'yc [sohl-EESH]
talyc [tahl-EESH]
tomyc [TOH-meesh]
tranyc [TRAH-neesh]
tratyc [TRAH-teesh]
tug'yc [too-GEESH]
ulyc [OO-leesh]
urcir [oor-SEER]
utyc [OO-teesh]
verburyc [vair-BOOR-eesh]
verd'yc [VAIR-deesh]
vutyc [VOOT-eesh]
yaiyai'yc [yai-YAI-eesh]
Or in the middle:
barycir [bah-REE-shir]
besbe'trayce [BES-beh-TRAYSH-ay]
dirycir [DEER-ee-SHEER]
ke'gyce [keh-GHEE-shay]
majyce [mah-jEE-shay]
majycir [MAH-jeesh-eer]
mar'eyce [mah-RAY-shay]
mureyca [MOOR-aysh-ah]
cy is pronounced as /ʃ/
burc'ya [BOOR-sha]
burcyan [BOOR-shahn]
cyare [SHAH-ray]
cyare'se [shar-AY-say]
cyar'ika [shar-EE-kah]
cyar'tomade [SHAR-toe-MAH-day]
mirshmure'cya [meersh-moor-AY-shah]
murcyur [MOOR-shoor]
oyacyir [oy-YAH-sheer]
Ret'urcye mhi [ray-TOOR-shay-MEE]
sheb'urcyin [sheh-BOOR-shin]
sho'cye [SHOW-shay]
tracy'uur [trah-SHOOR]
Exceptions
The above holds true except for some exceptions:
The first is a group of words with a combination of u + yc:
buyca [BOO-shah]
buy'ce [BOO-shay]
buycika [BOO-she-kah]
This might be related to the status of /ʊɪ̯/ as a diphthong in Mando’a & could be a piece of evidence against it. What do I mean? Well, every instance of ⟨uy⟩ in the dictionary, Traviss breaks up in two syllables [oo-ee]. Could it be there is no diphthong /ʊɪ̯/ in Mando’a? It’s possible—languages don’t generally have every possible diphthong. However, I think it’s more likely this happens because Traviss gives her pronunciation guide with an English orthography (i.e. how an English speaking reader would know to pronounce the words). And since there is no diphthong /ʊɪ̯/ in English, in order to represent those sounds in English, they have to be broken up in separate syllables.
I also think the long /uː/ in buy’ce etc. is likely simply an elision: try going slowly from /u/ to /i/ to /ʃ/, and you’ll notice it’s easier to slip directly from /u/ to /ʃ/. I would generalise it as the diphthong /ʊɪ̯/ being realised as /uː/ before palatal consonants (palatal consonants in Mando’a are ⟨sh ch j y⟩ /ʃ tʃ dʒ ʝ/).
and:
buyacir [boo-ya-SHEER] /ˌbʊ.ja.ˈʃiɾ/
Which has no excuse for being irregular except for influence on its spelling from buy’ce, so you could alternatively spell it as buyacyir or pronounce it as /bʊ.ja.ˈsiɾ/; either would be regular. I believe this word likely derives from *buyayc; in this case, buyacyir would be the logical spelling.
The other exception to the rule is:
acyk [AH-seek]
The rule for this could be formulated as “if y is the only vowel in a syllable, it’s pronounced as /i/ and the pronunciation of c follows that.” Except for…
tracyn [trah-SHEEN]
Which itself could be analysed as a combination of the above rules: y as an only vowel gets pronounced as /i/, but the consonant in cy is still pronounced as /ʃ/ (in which case it would be acyk with an s that is irregular instead).
However, it’s the derivations of tracyn that appear irregular:
tracinya [trah-SHEE-nah]
tracyaat [tra-SHEE-at]
tra'cyar [tra-SHEE-ar]
Tracinya is plainly a derivation of tracyn, just spelled with an i instead of y. Interestingly, in Harlin’s Mando’a tracyn is pronounced as /tra.ʃin/ and tracinya as /tra.sin.ja/; I’ve chosen to adopt these as my preferred pronunciations. Perhaps it’s acyk which should either be pronounced as /a.ʃik/ or be spelled as ⟨asik⟩?
I’ve chosen to adjust the pronunciation of the other two to conform to the rule of pronouncing cy as /ʃ/: tracyaat /tɾa.ˈʃaːt/ & tra’cyar /tɾa.ˈʃaɾ/.
And then:
yacur [YAH-soor]
This is the only word where ⟨c⟩ before an ⟨u⟩ is pronounced as /s/. I have do idea where this one comes from; the etymology is also unclear.
And finally:
Coruscanta [KOH-roo-SAHN-ta] /ˌkɔ.ɾʊ.ˈsan.ta/
Which is a loanword and doesn’t count; here Mandalorians have simply adopted the Galactic Basic spelling (with the addition of an -a at the end, likely in order to conform to Mando’a phonotactics). Although I would suspect that “Corusanta” might be a common misspelling among native speakers of Mando’a.
Is irregularity a problem that needs to be fixed?
I have given suggestions for how the exceptions could be tweaked to make them regular. However, natural languages do have exceptions. There’s no reason why every single exception to a rule should have to be erased—as long as the rule covers the majority of the cases, the few exceptions can be learned by heart. I’ve chosen to keep acyk and yacur as is, even though they are irregular.
Explanation
So why is it pronounced like that? The explanation is something called palatalisation, which is the same reason why c in Latinate words is sometimes pronounced as /k/ and sometimes as /s/.
In very simple terms, the high front vowels /i e/ and the semivowel /j/ (which in Mando’a is spelled as ⟨y⟩) are pronounced such that the tongue is at or very nearly the palatal position. So they tend to pull the preceding consonants to the palatal place of articulation (instead of whichever place of articulation they used to be pronounced at).
In Mando’a, the rule can be formulated as follows:
c + high front vowel /i e/ → /s/
c + semivowel /j/ → /ʃ/
otherwise, c → /k/
Not sure if /k/ is the original value of ⟨c⟩ since this rule doesn’t seem to apply to ⟨k⟩. Maybe ⟨c⟩ had originally another value, which has later changed into /k/? Or perhaps the words with a ⟨c⟩ came from a dialect of Mando’a where the sound shift happened?
Some fans have disliked this spelling convention because it resembles Latin (or English words of Latin origin). However, the phenomenon itself is common, and not restricted to Romance languages.