horizon

This page goes into detail about the in-universe language in the Horizon universe.

History

In the Old World

The Old Ones had many languages,[1] including Mandarin, English, Spanish and Arabic.[2]

During the development of Project Zero Dawn, the team working on APOLLO were aiming to preserve 4,500 languages within its database,[1] with language instruction planned to be a big part of their students' course work, where they'd be encouraged to learn many languages.[3] Unfortunately, they fell short of that goal, partially due to the early loss of Papua New Guinea.[1] Additionally, when APOLLO was purged by Ted Faro, all of these languages were lost, with the Zero Dawn system itself reverting to its default language of English.[3]

In the New World

After ELEUTHIA birthed a new generation of human beings, they became fluent only in English before being released into the wilds.[3] As the new generation split into different tribes, while they retain English as their language, they each developed new dialects over time.[4]

A road sign for , with the translation below it.

A road sign for Mother's Heart, with the Focus translation below it.

Written language was reinvented in the New World, known as glyphs,[5][6] by the Carja, Oseram, Banuk and Quen,[7] but not the Tenakth.[8] The Carja glyph language encodes English, but uses a different set of symbols to do so.[4] All the tribes except the Quen have demonstrated simple glyph icons for settlements that they paint on rocks to use as road signs.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Aloy's Focus teaching her how to read Old World American English

Aloy's Focus teaching her how to read Old World American English.[9]

After she discovered a Focus, Aloy became literate in 21st century American English. The Focus is also able to translate the New World glyph languages into English.[10]

Horizon Forbidden West

Hekarro, aware of the glyph language that the Carja have that the Tenakth lack, held hopes that peace between the two trades could lead to exchange, which would allow the Tenakth to learn a glyph language from the Carja.[8]

Upon the Eastern Expedition's arrival in the Forbidden West and first encounter with the Tenakth, Alva was surprised to discover that despite the massive distance between their homelands, the Quen and Tenakth both speak the same language. Knowing how the Old Ones had many languages, she was intrigued to know how it was all reduced to one. Upon meeting GAIA, Alva was able to ask her why, and she was able to provide the answer.[3]

Linguistic Additions in the New World

Universal

TERM MEANING
Hunter-killer Apex machine. However, in The Frozen Wilds, Sylens uses it before Apex machines became known.[11]
Machine The term "machine" appears to refer specifically to those built by Project Zero Dawn, the Chariot robots, and the Specter and Specter Prime. Other technology tend to be referred to as devices.
Metal Devil Horus.
Old Ones People of the Old World.
Outlander Someone who is outside their tribe's homeland.

Banuk

DIALECT MEANING EXAMPLE(S)
"By the Blue Light..." Used at the beginning of a sentence to express exasperation. "By the Blue Light, Urkai, why don't you just write our story in the snow for any passing hunter to read?"[12]

Carja

DIALECT MEANING EXAMPLE(S)
"By the Sun..." Used at the beginning of a sentence to express exasperation. "By the Sun, do as she says!"[13]
"May the Sun light their passing." Used when referring positively to someone who has passed away. "Tarkas, may the Sun light his passing, taught me many things..."[14]
"Sun and Shadow..." Used at the beginning of a sentence to express intense exasperation. "What??? Sun and Shadow, that's not what I meant!"[15]
"Sun watch over you." Used when wishing someone well as they leave. "Sun watch over you, Aloy."[16]

Nora

DIALECT/PROVERB/TERM MEANING EXAMPLE(S)
"By All-Mother..." Used at the beginning of a sentence to express exasperation. "By All-Mother, you survived!"[17]
"All-Mother bless you." Used to wish someone well. "Wait...All-Mother bless that girl. Bless you both."[18]
"May the Goddess protect." Used to wish someone well, usually used when someone leaves. "We will talk later! May the Goddess protect!"[19]
"One does not become hunter in a day." Used to express how it takes time to learn. "We still have much training to do, of course. One does not become hunter in a day."[20]
Children of Metal Another term for the Old Ones. "[Ruins of the Metal World] are blighted places, Aloy - dark and wicked, like the Children of Metal who built them."[21]
Metal Children Another term for the machines.[22]
Metal World Another term for the Old World. "Even to forbidden places, like the Tainted Lands beyond All-Mother's sight, or the ruins of the Metal World."[21]
Sister While retaining its Old World meaning, "sister" is also used by a High Matriarch to address a fellow High Matriarch. Used by Jezza, Lansra and Teersa multiple times to address each other.[23][21][24]
Tainted Lands The world outside the Sacred Lands. "Even to forbidden places, like the Tainted Lands beyond All-Mother's sight, or the ruins of the Metal World."[21]
The Faithless People who aren't Nora. "The faithless abandoned their cities, forced to wander the world without the care of the Machines."[25]

Oseram

DIALECT MEANING EXAMPLE(S)
"By the forge." Used to express exasperation. "Erend! By the forge."[26]

Quen

PROVERB/TERM MEANING EXAMPLE(S)
"Every secret makes its own maze. A Diviner must persevere." Used to inspire Diviners. "I'm not sure I understand. But, every secret makes its own maze. A Diviner must persevere."[27]
"To understand each other is to embrace truth."[28]
Ancestor While it retains its Old World meaning,[3] the term "Ancestor" is also used for Old Ones from who the Quen discovered knowledge that helped them and are celebrated by the tribe because of it. The term can also be used for Assistants.[29] "The Ancestors are the greatest of the Old Ones."[29]
Assistant An Old One who made minor contributions or worked extensively under an Ancestor. "Well... any Old One who has made minor contributions or worked extensively under one of the Ancestors is called an Assistant."[29]
Forbidden knowledge/data Knowledge/Data that Overseers have decided is not allowed to be shared. "And knowing you, I suspect there is much that I would normally be Forbidden held within them."[29]
Living Ancestor Another term for Zeniths and Aloy.
Lost data Data that is unreadable to Quen Focuses. "...I did find something that looks like a map. But it was unreadable - Lost."[27]
The Time of Ashes Another term for the Faro Plague. "Aloy... when we saw the Metal Devil rise from the hills, it was as if the Time of Ashes had come again."[30]

Tenakth

TERM MEANING EXAMPLE(S)
"By the Ten." Used to express exasperation.
Ashblood Another term for cinnabar.[31]
Wings of the Ten Any flying machine.[32] Also the name of a Tenakth Blastsling and meal. "She flies on the Wings of the Ten!"[32]

Utaru

PROVERB MEANING EXAMPLE(S)
"A single seed matters little in the infinite cycle of growth and decay." Used to express how minor details matter little in the greater picture. "And this lone outlander can save us? Nonsense. A single seed matters little in the infinite cycle of growth and decay."[33]
"A tree cannot pick up its root, even as fire approaches." Used to express the Utaru's refusal to leave Plainsong, even during difficult times.[34]
"Each seeds grows at a pace of its own. Doesn't mean it won't bloom." Used to express how it takes time to learn.[35]
"Green grows from the ashes of a forest blaze."[36]

Trivia

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 APOLLO Update
  2. ↑ As mentioned by Samina Ebadji in her holographic introduction to APOLLO in the Zero Dawn Project Facility.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Common Language?
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Page 627 of Horizon Zero Dawn Collector's Edition Guide.
  5. ↑ As mentioned by Erend Vanguardsman in The City of the Sun.
  6. ↑ As mentioned by Erend Vanguardsman during The Kulrut/The Sea of Sands/Seeds of the Past (whichever is completed first).
  7. ↑ As mentioned in the descriptions of various datapoints.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 As mentioned by Hekarro during The Broken Sky.
  9. ↑ Lessons of the Wild
  10. ↑ Page 624 of Horizon Zero Dawn Collector's Edition Guide.
  11. ↑ After completing The Forge of Winter.
  12. ↑ As mentioned by Tatai during The Hunters Three.
  13. ↑ As mentioned by Avad during The Face of Extinction.
  14. ↑ As mentioned by Talanah Khane Padish during Hunters' Blind.
  15. ↑ As mentioned by Avad during The Sun Shall Fall.
  16. ↑ As mentioned by Lawan during The Embassy.
  17. ↑ As mentioned by Teb during The Face of Extinction.
  18. ↑ As mentioned by Teb during Lessons of the Wild.
  19. ↑ As mentioned by Teersa during Mother's Heart.
  20. ↑ As mentioned by Varl during The Kulrut/The Sea of Sands/Seeds of the Past (whichever is completed first).
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 As mentioned by Teersa during The Womb of the Mountain.
  22. ↑ Page 610 of Horizon Zero Dawn Collector's Edition Guide.
  23. ↑ As mentioned by Jezza during Mother's Heart.
  24. ↑ As mentioned by Lansra during The Heart of the Nora.
  25. ↑ As mentioned by a Matriarch telling a story during Mother's Heart.
  26. ↑ As mentioned by Aldur during To The Brink.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 As mentioned by Alva during Seeds of the Past.
  28. ↑ As mentioned by Alva during a conversation at the Base after talking to Beta during Gemini.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 As mentioned by Alva during a conversation at the Base after completing Faro's Tomb.
  30. ↑ As mentioned by Admiral Gerrit during His Final Act.
  31. ↑ The Deluge
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 As mentioned by Urekka during The Wings of the Ten.
  33. ↑ As mentioned by Fane during The Dying Lands.
  34. ↑ The Promontory (quest)
  35. ↑ As mentioned by Zo during The Kulrut/The Sea of Sands/Seeds of the Past (whichever is completed first).
  36. ↑ As mentioned by Mournful Namman during The Looming Shadow.