Neo-Black Speech and Neo-Orcish

[Radagast der Musikalische]

Hello all,

lately I've been studying the languages of Middle-earth more often, especially David Salo's Neo-Languages for the movies. I have tried to analyze the film quotes in Orcish and Black Speech from the two film trilogies using the available materials. For Neo-Elvish and Neo-Khuzdul there are already many reliable sources, for the languages of Sauron's servants the situation is unfortunately a bit different. The information available here is very limited and one of the main problems is that neither the English nor the German subtitles use the correct translations for the sentences. For example: The subtitle in the movies says: "They guard the gates! Not all of them!". The spoken Orcish lines translate to: "Now some sleep! Ugly Elves! They guard their territory!". But I tried my best to gather as many translations as possible.

I don't know if there are any other nerds here who are as excited about the languages as I am, but I thought I'd share my findings here just in case anyone is interested.  For all of them I also have a derivation, which I have omitted here because the presentation cannot be reasonably accomplished in the narrow MU window. If someone is interested in the derivation, the individual word and sentence parts or the pronunciation of a quote, just ask and I will help.

English	Gundabad Orcish	Subtitle in the movies
AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY	AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY	AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
You will all die!	Goryagug!	-
Inform our master!	Zidgar durgim!	Send word to the master...
We’ve found the dwarf-maggot.	Khozd-buzbi gimanim.	…we have found the dwarf-scum.
There, wizard!	Kogum, zidgu!	-
Tear him apart!	Ragshid!	-
The Dwarves, they travels towards East! Hurry!	Khozdayin harish huru nar! Gur!	The Dwarf-scum are over there! After them!
The Dwarves, master we lost them!	Khozdayin, dorguz zuranimid!	The Dwarves, Master...we lost them!
Filthy Elves surrounded us!	Shûgi golgai gelnakhanishim!	Ambushed by Elvish filth, we were!
I don’t want excuses!	Sha nargiz obhakhtil!	I don’t want excuses!
I want the head of the Dwarf King!	Nargiz khobdi rani khozdil!	I want the head of the Dwarf King!
They were too many!	Murganish dum!	They were too many!
There was nothing we could do!	Turim hag shad!	There was nothing we could do!
I barely escaped with my life.	Zorzor go-kairaz obguraniz.	I barely escaped with my life.
Better you had paid with it.	Ki go-kairag baganig ombar bunish.	Far better you had paid with it.
The Dwarf-scum will not stay hidden for long.	Khozd-shrakhun gud shâ kilyash-zag.	The Dwarf-scum will show themselves soon enough.
They will try to cross the Mountain passes.	Giryashi taryash kirgayil.	--deleted scene--
Send out word that there is a price on their heads.	Zidgar obod tung nash ru khobdud.	Send out word there is a price on their heads.
The scent is fresh.	Nuzdun gin nash.	The scent is fresh.
The dwarfdogs, they try to cross through the mountain pass.	Khozd-shrakhun ord-kirg gir hir haranish.	They have taken the mountain pass.
Run them down! Tear them to pieces!	Gurid dum! Ragshid shirzlum!	Run them down! Tear them to pieces!
Do you smell it? The scent of fear?	Nuzdigid? Nuzdi gast?	Do you smell it? The scent of fear?
I remember your father reeked of it.	Ganziliz-i unarug obod nauzdanish.	I remember your father reeked of it.
Thorin son of Thrain.	Torin undag Train.	Thorin son of Thrain.
Bring this one to me.	Kod toragid biriz.	This one is mine.
Kill the others!	Gorid argil!	Kill the others!
Drink their blood!	Shog agradol!	Drink their blood!
Bring me the dwarf's head!	Biriz torag khobdidol!	Bring me the dwarf's head!
Kill him completely!	Gorid dum!	Kill him!
THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG	THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG	THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG
Pursue them!	Abgurid!	-
Let us attack now!	Bû hum margyam!	Attack them now!
Kill the dwarvish filth!	Gorim shûgi khozdayil	Kill the Dwarf filth while they sleep!
No, we wait until they leave!	Shâ, shulim nar i arangish!	No. The Beast stands guard.
We cut them down on the road.	Zadgarimid ru mong.	We will kill them on the road.
I bring the news from Dol Guldur. The Master summons you!	Ginai-nu toragin Guldur-ob. Dorgun toragishig.	They are gathering in Dol Guldur. The Master has summoned you!
My Master, aren't we allowed to track them?	Dorguz, turim shâ nuzdid?	Do we call off the hunt?
???	Nuzdanumish. Thrak golbil akar-nu agh nash?	I have a task for you. Do you still thirst for Dwarf blood?
Now some sleep!	Hum glozi ash!	The gates are guarded.
Ugly Elves! They guard their territory	Shûgi golgai! Tud-dâd nu.	Not all of them… follow me!
Kill them quickly to the last man!	Gor! Zib! Goridug!	Slay them all!
Kill her! Kill the elf woman!	Gor-ash! Gor-golginul!	Kill her! Kill the She-Elf!
The dwarves will escape! After them!	Khozdayin obguryash! Abgurid!	After them!
Keep up with the dwarves.	Ban khozdai-go.	After them!
Don’t let them go away!	Shâ-mogi obguryash!	Cut them off!
I do not answer to dogs, She-Elf!	Shâ-hakhtiz khunai-go, Golgi!	I do not answer to dogs, She-Elf!
???	Tum nash. Agra-yi.	Dwarf blood! They were here!
There is another smell. A Man was it.	Nuzdi-arg nash. Hum ân bunish.	There is another scent…Man flesh!
They have hidden, but it is dangerous.	Keranish ô kirzad.	They have found a way to cross the lake.
Wizard!	Zidgu!	The Wizard has come.
He is lifting the spell. He will find us.	Obtoragish gulum-nu. Gimyashim	He is lifting the spell. He will find us.
So it is.	Hurnash.	Yes…he will.
You’ve come too late, old man!	Nakhig lo shulun, Sharrukû!	You have come too late, Wizard!
It is done!	Gorz nash!	It is done!
Do not expect we are few. He is reborn! Come!	Ommig shâ zog. Undagush nakh!	He is everywhere… We are legion!
Run them down!	Gurid dum!	Run them down!
The filthy dwarf scum, I smell them here.	Shugi Khozd-shrakhun, hum nuzdidiz.	-
Oakenshield escaped!	Ekinskeld obguranid!	Oakenshield has gone!
Hurry! We are leaving!	Gur! Arangim!	Fall back! Regroup at the bridge!
Take news to Dol Guldur! Oakenshield reached Erebor!	Zidgar Guldur-nar! Ekinskeld Erebor-nar nakhan!	Send word to Dol Guldur… Oakenshield has reached the Mountain.
Hurry! Follow me!	Gur! Abguriz!	Go! You! Come with me.
THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES	THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES	THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES
Let them come to you!	Mog i nakhyash du ki!	Let them come to you!
Quickly! To the lake!	Gur du lôg!

English	Black Speech	Subtitle in the movies
THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG	THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG	THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG
One Ring to rule them all,	Ash nazg durbatulûk,	-
One Ring to find them,	Ash nazg gimbatul,	-
One Ring to bring them all,	Ash nazg thrakatulûk	-
and in the darkness bind them,	agh burzum-ishi krimpatul	-
???	Zad thraka'ash. Zad thraka'ash gishu.	We grow in number. We grow in strength.
???	Snakun nak.	You will lead my armies.
What of Oakenshield?	Mod Ekinskeldu?	What of Oakenshield?
War is coming!	Kutmu nakhash!	War is coming!
???	Zad nathagash slangm-hu.	You promised me his head.
???	Torum-nu shabala.	Death will come to all.
You know who I am, to me you are known!	Ziduk ya nan, uzu nak zidân!	There is no light, wizard... that can defeat darkness.
THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES	THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES	THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES
One of three which for Elves were made.	Ash ob shre ya golugu buganush khurân.	One of the three Elven Rings.
The Ring of Fire! Where are the others?	Nazg ghâshshu! Makha argu nash?	The Ring of Fire! Where are the others?
Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,	Shre nazg golugranu kilmi-nudu,	Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,	Ombi kuzddurbagu gundum-ishi bagu,	Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
One light in the darkness	Ash zil burzum-ishi	One light alone in the darkness.
Angmar will rise!	Darzbandu ghurizash!	So shall the Kingdom of Angmar rise.
All shall come to dust and be forgotten.	Srag glizdu nakhizish, agh bugash obzidân	-
Where are the other two Elven rings?	Makha nash goi nazg ghar golugshu	-
THE LORD OF THE RINGS	THE LORD OF THE RINGS	THE LORD OF THE RINGS
I smell your blood.	Nubin sherkuk.	-
I shall devour it, eat it all, eat all the world.	Rakhizinash, matizinashûk, matizin umbrûk	-
There is no life in the cold, in the dark.	Gû kîbum kelkum-ishi, burzum-ishi.	-
Here in the void there is only the death.	Akha - gûm-ishi ashi gurum.	-
SHADOW OF MORDOR	SHADOW OF MORDOR	SHADOW OF MORDOR
A sacrifice of blood and bone.	Ghurarmu shirkush' agh azgushu.	-
A bridge for you to follow.	Zant ya apakurizak.	-
You will emerge a shadow.	Gûl-n'anakhizak.	-
I have a gift for you Celebrimbor!	Armunu kiyu garzin Kalparinkar!	-
Your world will end in fire!	Ghâsh-ishi umbruk ongizash!	-
Learn some Black Speech!	Yamburz-nu zaida!	-
You embarass me!	Bushtân karikin!	-

[Fredius]

Just found this beauty, well done Radagast! This is so useful.

[Radagast der Musikalische]

Great to see that I'm not the only one being geeky about this. 
Tolkien's languages have always been one of the most interesting parts of the universe for me. Seeing David Salo or other (amateur) linguists try to develop the languages further just fascinates me. Especially Elvish but also Khuzdul are now really mature languages, while the Black Language and Orcish have always remained somewhat mysterious.

By using Salo's word list and analyzing the familiar lines from the movie, I'm now able to formulate some sentences in Neo-Black Speech and Neo-Orcish, which I think is really dope. While I don't know yet if I'll ever be able to put it to good use, at least I'd know I could if ever needed. 

On that note: Biri borz dorgun! (For the Dark Lord!)

[Fredius]

Hahah trust me they are very useful, especially because I am friends with a voice actor who can nail the Orcish accent used in the movies .

By the by, I noticed many BotFA llines are missing (like Azog commanding Bolg to travel to Gundabad or the orders he gives on top of Raven-hill). Will these be added to your list at some point as well?

[Radagast der Musikalische]

Unfortunately, I have not been able to decipher them yet. As mentioned in the opening post, subtitles and what is actually said don't always match. I have tried several times, but words seem to be used that do not appear in Salo's word list so far. In other places I can decipher words, but the grammar is not correct.

[Fredius]

Gotcha, that's unfortunate. Thanks for the information regardless, it's very valuable .

[Radagast der Musikalische]

Yes that’s very unfortunate.

It bugs me that I’m not even able to decipher the sentence „Ride to Gundabad“
It sounds like „Harsh gar bir Gundabadul“, but this makes no sense. This would translate to „Travel them already to Gundabad“. The imperative form is usually used without pronoun suffixes so it should simply be “Har bir Gundabadul”. So the question is what the middle part could mean. I also know that if Bolg speaks about Legolas according to the subtitles, he only uses “golug-dorg” = Elf-master/King instead of “undag golug-dorg” = son of the elf-master/king. Maybe dorg can also mean prince.
The only other things I’ve identified so far is “Golgai, ânai, khozdai (the mountain will be their grave), but even here it sounds like he uses the word “lôg” instead of “ord” meaning lake. Strange sentences…

[Fredius]

Well here could be a solution to the "Ride to Gundabad":

If you listen closely he says "Harsh ga bir Gundabadul". He doesn't pronouce it as gar, as it lacks the "r" at the end. This gives me the impression that "ga" could be a grammatical variant to "gur", which according to Salo translates to "go quickly", or "hurry" in your translations. Combine this with the fact that "bir" is pronounced as "be-ar" by Azog in this sentence, although it could simply be his pronounciation of it? That seems strange to me because he does pronounce "biriz" properly. So going forward with that logic the translation to the whole sentence would be something like "travel quickly to Gundabad", keeping in mind the spirit that the Orcish language is supposed to be as simplified as possible.

Now as for Golug-dorg, I think Dorg is supposed to just mean master/lord, implying an Elf with a leadership role. In Orcish, whatever the hierarchical status, I assume everyone who is a leader can be called Dorg. Yet another example of everything being simplified .

I could of course be just grasping at straws haha.

[Radagast der Musikalische]

I also wondered if he was just saying "ga" instead of "gar", but I just couldn't find a word in the list that becomes "ga" by inflection. Even if it is an adverb form of the verb "gur", which is rather unlikely because adverbs usually don't end in vowels, the problem remains that "harsh" makes no sense. The imperative form does not need subject pronoun suffixes, only object suffixes, e.g. "Gor" = "Kill!" but "Gorid" = "Kill him!". The suffix -sh(i) stands for he/she/it/they, but why would Azog address Bolg in the third person? And if he means he has to travel with someone it would rather be "Harid". Or should it be Harzga, har-z-g-a = travel-(for)me-you-? This is all very strange and Azog mumbling like this doesn't make it any better.

Regarding "golug-dorg": It really seems that Salo is simply using "dorg" here for any kind of leader or dignitary. Strangely, this again contradicts the fact that there is also an extra word for prince, "tung". So why not "golug-tung"?

[Fredius]

I also wondered if he was just saying "ga" instead of "gar", but I just couldn't find a word in the list that becomes "ga" by inflection. Even if it is an adverb form of the verb "gur", which is rather unlikely because adverbs usually don't end in vowels, the problem remains that "harsh" makes no sense. The imperative form does not need subject pronoun suffixes, only object suffixes, e.g. "Gor" = "Kill!" but "Gorid" = "Kill him!". The suffix -sh(i) stands for he/she/it/they, but why would Azog address Bolg in the third person? And if he means he has to travel with someone it would rather be "Harid". Or should it be Harzga, har-z-g-a = travel-(for)me-you-? This is all very strange and Azog mumbling like this doesn't make it any better.

It's definitely brain racking! I honestly have no explanation to the -sh suffix. However the word "ga" is used by Bolg at Gundabad as well, when he yelled "ga har gar!" before the Orcs came out of the gates. Given the context I think the word being an abverb of "gur" would make the most sense, but of course I could be wrong. I will do some more thinking about this later!

Regarding "golug-dorg": It really seems that Salo is simply using "dorg" here for any kind of leader or dignitary. Strangely, this again contradicts the fact that there is also an extra word for prince, "tung". So why not "golug-tung"?

Tung actually means "price" not "prince" .

[Radagast der Musikalische]

Wow, how an additional letter changes a word completely! 
Funnily enough I have always read Prince

I just can't get used to "ga" as an adverb for quickly. It simply contradicts the previous pattern of adverbs always ending in consonants. There is so far only one exception for "shâ" = not, but as negation this is again special and moreover also means "no". And if we look at the other dialogues, for "Quickly" it would be more logical to translate it with "Gur!"

[Fredius]

You're probably right, I do think that "ga" is it's own word as it seemingly is used on multiple moments, but the list is just incomplete. I will try to decipher it at some point though, we may have missed a clue somewhere .

[Radagast der Musikalische]

I have added three more lines to both lists. I was able to decipher three more lines in the movies and have also found three additional lines in Neo-Black Speech from SoW.

I was also thinking that this one line might have been "Harzga bir Gundabadul! Margra nakh ash", which which could be loosely translated as "I make you travel to Gundabad, attack from the other side"

Travel-I-you-??? to Gungabad
Har-z-g-a bir Gundabadul

Attack-???-?? back some
Marg-r-a nakh ash

I also wondered in if perhaps parts in the last film were gibberish. It sounds from time to time as if they recycled parts from the first two films and cut them together differently.