Ke jorhaa'ir Mando'a!

Yes, it's true. There's now a Mandalorian language, Mando'a. I developed it for Lucasfilm and now it's a functioning language that you can learn and speak.

LEGAL NOTICE - and if you've not read the copyright notice on this site, now's a good time to do it.

Mando'a is Lucasfilm's property like all the Star Wars stuff I create, not mine, and so I can't give anyone permission to reproduce it - it's not mine to give. It's protected by copyright. Please don't reproduce it in any way that will break copyright law - which means don't just copy the lot onto your website or fanzine.  (Or your wiki - because wikis are not a special case in any way. They're just another web site.) It's for private invidual use. If you don't know what the copyright laws say, read the terms and conditions here on the Star Wars official site - see under Ownership.

And like the no-fanfic rule - please don't send me suggestions or words for Mando'a, because I'll only have to delete it.

The language started life as the lyrics for the superb choral music in the Republic Commando game, written by Lucasarts composer and all-round lovely bloke Jesse Harlin; it didn't have a name. He came up with words that sounded right with his brilliant music, someone at LucasArts asked me if I had any use for the soundtrack lyrics in the book, and it all went from there. From that springboard I was able to create a whole language. It features in the Republic and Imperial Commando and Legacy of the Force novels, as well as John Jackson Miller's Old Republic comics. Folks have tattooed it in interesting places, had it inscribed on wedding rings, got married using it, and used it in adoption ceremonies. It's even been used by armed forces personnel when training others, to lighten things up a bit. I hear there are even Iraqi troops who are familiar with the odd word. Mando'a, like Mandos, gets around a bit. It's supposed to be fun. Let's all help ensure it stays that way.

Here's an interview with Jesse about his score and choral music for RepCom, with a reference to Mando'a.

I'm not an academic linguist, nor do I play one on television, but Mando'a has been beta tested by a few people from fans to LucasArts staff and it seems to work pretty well. It's flexible, and you don't need to get hung up about complex grammar. Well, would you correct the syntax of a guy in armour with a blaster held to your head? Didn't think so...

By the way, for the true enthusiast - Mando ne'tra gal, or black ale, is not Guinness. It's a milk stout like Mackeson - sweeter, more fragrant, and 3% ABV. As the Mandos would say, ne'tra gal mesh'la, jat'isyc, bal - wayii - jahaal'got; black ale looks good, tastes good, and - by golly - it does you good!

This file is the full dictionary/ lexicon of words published so far. © Lucasfilm 2009. (Before you ask, I'm afraid there's no print version planned. It'd be out of date by the time the ink dried anyway. That's inevitable with works in progress.)

This is the grammar file - © Lucasfilm 2006

Alphabet - © Lucasfilm 2006

It's in Excel spreadsheet format, so you can sort by Mando'a or by English, depending on which way you're translating, so this file does double duty. If you don't have spreadsheet software, download a free Microsoft Office-type suite from OpenOffice. There are others, like Ability office software, but that's not free. All you have to do to switch between Mando'a - English and English - Mando'a is click on the DATA drop-down menu in the speadsheet app you're using, then open the SORT dialogue.

I plan to expand the database to at least 2,000 words - which is more or less the critical mass for a spoken language - and I'll aim to update it here and on the Lucasfilm Hyperspace pages a couple of times a year. Please use the grammar guide with these lexicons.

And as much as I would love to deal with individual queries, my workload is simply too heavy to deal with requests. Here are the tools - now you're on your own.

If you want to hear how it sounds, try these MP3 files recorded by yours truly in the sleazier section of Keldabe.

At the Keldabe bistro.

The title crawler from Revenge of the Sith.

Useful phrases to try when you're nicked for speeding in downtown Keldabe.

The resol'nare - the six tenets of Mandalorian culture* - as taught to little Mandos in a rhyme at their buir's knee.

And here's Mr. Klingon, aka alien languages enthusiast Joel Anderson, interviewing me about Mando'a.

Verd ori'shya beskar'gam!

(* Translates very roughly as - Education and armour/ Self-defence, our tribe/Our language, our leader -/All help us survive.)