Lapine

Hoi, hoi, u embleer Hrair; M'saion ulé hraka vair. What's that foreign nonsense on the home page, then?

It's a phrase written in an invented language called Lapine. The more cultured among you should recognise that as being from a book called Watership Down by Richard Adams.

In English, it means "Hoi, hoi, the stinking Thousand; We meet them even when we stop to pass our droppings". In the context of Watership Down, it is a ditty spoken by rabbits, a bitter observation of their constant vulnerability to predators.

Watership Down provides only fragments of the Lapine language - mostly just words, and barely any grammar. However, a fine chap named David Buttery (or Loganberry, as he is also known, or Brekytennion as he is known in Lapine ;) ) has made his own extension to the language to make it speakable. If you want to learn it, simply go to his site where he has a Guide to Colloquial Lapine. However, if you just want to get by in the rabbit world, here are some simple phrases, with English pronunciation guides.

Greetings!Frithaes! [FRITH-ICE] (Can be used for Hello or Goodbye)
Thanks!Vaoril! [VOW-RIL] (Use sparingly)
How are you?Lung lay mi? [LOONG LIE MEE]
Do you want to eat?I lay tring flay? [EE LIE TRING FLY]
Where are we going?Yao on lay zayn? [YOW ON LIE ZYNE]
I don't know, I only work hereA lay nahl lan, a lay mul etheth thli [AH LIE NAHL LAN, AH LIE MOOL ETH-ETH THLEE]

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