The Seraphim Factional logo
The Seraphim Language is the languge spoken by all Seraphim characters in the Forged Alliance campaign, and which is used to name Seraphim units. It is a suprisingly well developed linguistic system in the game, and many comprehensible words and word fragments can be seen in the units' names.
It seems likely that all the Seraphim speak a single language, much as all humans in the game speak a common language.
Seraphim language in the campaign[]
In the campaign, Dr. Gustaf Brackman creates a translator for the Seraphim language, using data retrieved from a Seraphim ACU captured at the end of the second mission of the campaign. This becomes available in the fourth mission, allowing you to hear the translation overlaid while the Seraphim character is speaking from then on.
In the sixth mission, when the Seraphim commander Seth-Iavow speaks, he is understood by both the player and by Evaluator Kael, suggesting that she too has a translator device.
Pronunciation[]
When expressed using the standard alphabet (it would be assumed that the Seraphim have their own alphabet of letters or sounds), the language has an unusual proliferation of the letters u and s, and the sounds of th and sh, as well as having a greater vowel:consonant ratio than English does, pronounced with hissing noises known technically as sibilance. Certain letters, many of which are common in English, are entirely absent from the language, which are b, c, d, f, g, j, k, p, q, r, and x. Dipthongs such as ou, ia, uu, aa, ua, and au also seem much more common than in English.
This presumably relates to the different makeup of the Seraphim vocal chords compared to humans, and suggests they find plosive sounds and affricative sounds difficult or impossible to pronounce.
Seraphim words[]
Certain word fragments are common to several Seraphim words. Putting the meanings of such particles together allows a person to understand the names for each unit.
Basic terms[]
Unit names[]
| Type | Name | Translation |
|---|---|---|
Land units[] | ||
| T1 combat scout | selen | scout |
| T1 medium tank | thaam | (unit with a) cannon |
| T1 mobile light artillery | zthuee | little artillery |
| T1 mobile anti-air gun | ia-istle | basic air |
| T2 hover tank | yenzyne | amphibious fighter |
| T2 mobile missile launcher | ythisah | mobile missile launcher |
| T2 mobile AA cannon | iashavoh | air destroyer |
| T2 assault bot | ilshavoh | equivalent unit destroyer |
| T3 mobile heavy artillery | suthanus | ? |
| T3 sniper bot | usha-ah | mobile long-range weapon |
| T3 siege tank | othuum | greatest land unit |
| T3 mobile shield generator | athanah | mobile protector |
Air units[] | ||
| T1 air scout | sele-istle | basic scout |
| T1 attack bomber | sinnve | light bomber |
| T1 light air transport | vish | holder |
| T2 gunship | vulthoo | ? |
| T2 torpedo bomber | uosioz | naval countermeasure |
| T2 air transport | vishala | holder with turrets |
| T2 fighter/bomber | notha | ? + heavy |
| T3 spy plane | iaselen | air scout |
| T3 air superiority fighter | iazyne | air fighter |
| T3 strategic bomber | sinntha | heavy bomber |
[] | ||
| T1 frigate | hau-esel | radar ship |
| T1 attack submarine | sou-istle | basic submarine |
| T2 cruiser | ithalua | ? + heavy |
| T2 destroyer | uashavoh | naval (unit) destroyer |
| T3 battleship | hauthuum | great ship |
| T3 aircraft carrier | iavish | air holder |
| T3 submarine hunter | yathsou | submarine killer |
Engineer units[] | ||
| T1 engineer | iya-istle | basic creator |
| T2 engineer | iya | creator |
| T3 engineer | iyathuum | greatest creator |
Building names[]
| Type | Name | Translation |
|---|---|---|
Defensive structures[] | ||
| T1 point defense | uttaus | stationary weapon |
| T2 point defense | uttaushala | ranged stationary turret weapon |
| T1 torpedo launcher | sou-atha | submarine protector |
| T2 torpedo launcer | uosthu | naval structure |
| T1 anti-air defense | ialla | air turret |
| T2 anti-air flak artillery | sinnatha | bomber protector |
| T3 anti-air defense | iathu-ioz | air countermeasure structure |
| T2 tactical missile defense | ythisatha | missile launcher protector |
| T2 tactical missile launcher | ythis | missile launcher |
| T2 shield generator | atha | protector |
| T3 heavy shield generator | athanuhthe | support protector |
| T2 artillery installation | zthuthaam | artillery cannon |
| T3 heavy artillery installation | hovatham | ? |
| T2 air staging beacon | iathu-uhthe | air support structure |
| T3 strategic missile defense | ythisioz | missile launcher countermeasure |
| T3 strategic missile launcher | hastue | ? |
Construction structures[] | ||
| T1,2,3 Land Factory | hethiya | ground creator |
| T1,2,3 Air Factory | ia-iya | air creator |
| T1,2,3 Naval Factory | uosiya | naval creator |
| T3 Quantum gateway | aezthu-uhthe | support command structure |
Economic structures[] | ||
| T1,2,3 power generator | uya-iya | energy creator |
| T1 hydrocarbon power plant | uya-atoh | energy extractor |
| T1,2,3 mass extractor | hyalatoh | mass extractor |
| T1 mass storage | vishyal | mass holder |
| T1 energy storage | vishuyal | energy holder |
| T2,3 mass fabricator | hyaliya | mass creator |
Intelligence structures[] | ||
| T1 radar system | esel | radar |
| T1 sonar system | shou | sonar |
| T2 radar system | sele-esel | scout radar |
| T2 sonar system | shou-esel | sonar-radar |
| T2 stealth field generator | sele-ioz | scout countermeasure |
| T3 omni sensor suite | aezesel | command radar |
(The names of the experimental units are harder to translate.)
Other notes on Seraphim words[]
Sometimes, putting two words particles together would result in a doubled letter. In such cases, the Seraphim typically eliminate one of the letters. For example:
vish + hyal = vishyal (not vishhyal)
uas + shavoh = uashavoh (not uasshavoh)
Equally, sometimes letters are added, perhaps to help pronunciation:
atha + ah = athanah
ia + la = ialla
Hyphens are also commonly added, occasionally accompanied with changes in one of more particles.
ia + atha = ia-atha
uyal + iya = uya-iya
Finally, some particles seem related to each other, in particular sou (submarine) with uos (surface naval) and sele (scout) with esel (radar).