Chakobsa (Dune)
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Chakobsa is a fictional language spoken by the Fremen in Frank Herbert's novel Dune (1965). The language was further developed by David and Jessie Peterson for the films Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024).[1][2][3]
Development
[edit]David Peterson worked on the Chakobsa language alone for the first film, but for the second film he collaborated with his wife, Jessie (née Sims).[2]
The original Chakobsa language created by Herbert was strongly influenced by Arabic. However, for the films the Petersons created a language that eschewed Arabic influence.[1][2][4][5][6] David Peterson argued that Dune was set so far in the future that Arabic would have changed beyond recognition (as a result of natural language change): "The time depth of the Dune books makes the amount of recognizable Arabic that survived completely (and I mean COMPLETELY) impossible."[2][5] One example is the Chokobsa phrase translated as 'Long live the fighters'. In Herbert's novel, the phrase is Ya hya chouhada, which is derived from an Arabic celebratory chant used during the Algerian war of independence.[2] However, in the film Dune: Part Two, the phrase is Addaam reshii a-zaanta (lit. 'lives long to-the-fighters').[7]: 52
Phonology
[edit]Chokobsa has five short vowels, three long vowels, and twenty-three consonants.[8]
- Short vowels:
- Long vowels:
- Consonants:
The consonants /t/, /tʃ/, and /k/ are unaspirated.[8]
In some environments, such as before /s/, /b/ is devoiced to [p].[8]
Chakobsa has consonant gemination. This is indicated in the romanization by the doubling of the consonant. For the digraphs ⟨ch⟩, ⟨th⟩, ⟨dh⟩, and ⟨sh⟩, only the first letter is doubled.[8]
Samples
[edit]oma
ˈoma
on-us
hiila
ˈhiːla
to-collect
ekker
ekˈker
water
is-thanaha
isˈθanaha
from-body-his
'We must get his body's water.'[9]: 8
References
[edit]- ^ a b Tracy, Marc (23 March 2024). "The Invention of a Desert Tongue for 'Dune'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Singh, Manvir (28 February 2024). ""Dune" and the Delicate Art of Making Fictional Languages". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 19 March 2024.
- ^ Shachat, Sarah (1 March 2024). "Constructed Languages Don't Always Make It Into a Finished Film — but 'Dune: Part Two' Shows Why They Should". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 8 January 2025.
- ^ Drury, Sharareh (26 March 2024). "'Dune 2' Criticized for Lack of Middle Eastern and North African Inclusion and Influences: 'A Missed Opportunity'". Variety. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024.
- ^ a b Durrani, Haris A. (28 October 2021). "The novel 'Dune' had deep Islamic influences. The movie erases them". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023.
- ^ Karjoo-Ravary, Ali (11 October 2020). "In Dune, Paul Atreides led a jihad, not a crusade". Al Jazeera English. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021.
- ^ a b Peterson, David J.; Sams, Jessie (20 November 2022). "Dune 2: Language Translations" (PDF). Dedalvs.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d Peterson, David J. "Chakobsa Pronunciation and Romanization" (PDF). Dedalvs.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 October 2021.
- ^ Peterson, David J. (27 September 2020). "Dune: Language Translations" (PDF). Dedalvs.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 October 2021.
