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 to help them conjure up their electrical attacks.
Overview
The language seems to consist of many words that start with the letter "G" (e.g. the All-Knowing Vortigaunt's phrase "Gallum Galla Gilla Ma"). As of now none of the word's translations are known, and considering how the Vortigaunts describe the language and its connection with the Vortessence, humans may never even be able to understand it fully. Most Vortigaunts are fine with talking in English but according to one in Half-Life 2, when they are just by themselves or they wish to say "unflattering" things about humans they go back to talking in Vortigese.
The language differs greatly from Half-Life to Half-Life 2. While in Half-Life 2 and its episodes it is soft and deep, it is rather hoarse in Half-Life. No canonical reason has been given so far.
Conversations in Vortigese occur simultaneously; in other words, Vortigaunts talking to each other will talk at the same time, creating even more confusion for translation.
The Vortigese is very different and more aggressive in Half-Life and its expansions, which was changed into a more gentle tone for Half-Life 2.
List of appearances
- Half-Life: Day One (First appearance) Template:Slash (Retcon)
- Half-Life (Retcon)
- Half-Life: Uplink (Non-canonical appearance) Template:Slash (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
Notes and references
- ↑ As seen in the Half-Life 2 subtitles