Vortigese
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- "Our finest poet describes it thus: Gallum galla gilla ma."
- ― Vortigaunt[src]
Vortigese[1] is the native language of the Vortigaunts. It is used by them for communication purposes and sometimes prefacing the conjuration of their electrical attacks.
Overview[edit]
The language seems to consist of many words that start with the letter "G" (e.g. the Singing Vortigaunt's phrase "Gallum Galla Gilla Ma"). None of the words' translations are known, and considering how the Vortigaunts describe the language as "flux shifting" and its connection with the Vortessence, humans may never be able to fully understand it as they are said to have "impaired" vortal inputs.[2] Most Vortigaunts speak English as a matter of courtesy,[3] but according to one in Half-Life 2, when they are by themselves or wish to say "unflattering" things about humans, they revert to talking in Vortigese.[4]
The language differs greatly between Half-Life and Half-Life 2. In Half-Life, it is rather hoarse and aggressive. In comparison, it is soft and deep in Half-Life 2 and its Episodes. No explanation has been given, but series writer Marc Laidlaw has stated that the Half-Life version of the language was merely an exercise in creature design, and the voice actor for Half-Life 2 didn't know what they sounded like in the original game.[5]
Conversations in Vortigese occur simultaneously; in other words, Vortigaunts speaking with another will talk at the same time, creating even more confusion for translation.
List of appearances[edit]
Main games[edit]
- Half-Life (Retcon)
- Half-Life: Opposing Force (Retcon)
- Half-Life: Blue Shift (Retcon)
- Half-Life: Decay (Retcon)
- Half-Life 2 (First identified as Vortigese)
- Half-Life 2: Episode One
- Half-Life 2: Episode Two
- Half-Life: Alyx
Other[edit]
- Half-Life: Day One (First appearance) (Retcon)
- Half-Life: Uplink (Non-canonical appearance) (Retcon)
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Half-Life 2 subtitles
- ↑ Vortigaunt: "The Freeman must excuse us. It is rude of us to commune by flux shifting in front of those whose vortal inputs are impaired. " Half-Life 2 (Vortigaunt Quotes)
- ↑ Vortigaunt: "Yes, we will vocalize in your auditory language as a matter of courtesy." Half-Life 2 (Vortigaunt Quotes)
- ↑ Vortigaunt: "Unless we wish to say unflattering things about you." Half-Life 2 (Vortigaunt Quotes)
- ↑ Correspondence with Marc Laidlaw on Vortigese (August 25, 2011) (unverified)
