The guide

THE GUIDE

Many have asked me if I have a clear idea about the pronunciations of Chikondran words and how I find names for the characters

appearing in The Chikondra Trilogy. My explanation may sound a little strange, and it certainly has some complicated aspects, but

I shall try to answer.

To the first question, I have a very distinct ear for the way various words and names are pronounced. Although it is impossible to

explain “the how,” I have heard these words in my mind, and I instinctively know how to pronounce them. I laughingly say that I

am nearly fluent in the Chikondran language. The good thing is, except for a few oddities, the language is really more phonetic than

English.

Some points to note when pronouncing the Chikondran words:

The letters “ch” together at the end of a word sound very different from what English speakers might expect. Minister Sirinoya’s first

name is a good example. Combining the “ch” creates a soft “K” sound that sounds like it is attached to a soft “H” sound, as in the beginning of the word “ha.”

Many words have double vowels, as in “ci’ittá.” When this occurs, the vowel sound simply lasts a little longer.

Vowels are really quite easy! The good thing is that they are much more consistent than in English. So:

A = ah

E = eh

I = ee

O = oh

U = oo (as in loop)

(That wasn’t too hard, was it?)

Last but not least, don’t worry about it! Set your creative mind free and let it form the sounds for you. For those who want to hear what

I hear, you will find a glossary and pronunciation guide below.

Before we go to the guide, I wish to answer the second question. That answer also applies to the first. How in the world???? The Chikondra Trilogy has come in two ways. One is through the dream process. In dreams, I see, hear, taste, and touch as if I am walking among the characters. Most often, the words and descriptions themselves then come in a different way. I enter what I call mini-trances and begin to write. There are times when I will write as many as 30 pages and be totally surprised when I see what and how much.

So, for those who like tidy lists and more definitive information, below are definitions and a list of names (with pronunciations as necessary) from The Chikondra Trilogy. (Don’t be surprised when some characters change or expand their roles!)

PEOPLE

PRONUNCIATION

DESCRIPTION

Cafti

Armendariz

CAHF-tee

Ahr-men-dah-rees

Professional translator. Teacher, mentor, and friend of Sandra Warner

(Master)

Barishta

Bah-REESH-tah

Master of the governing council of Chikondra also serving as Chikondran delegate to the Master’s Circle in the DTIA

Galin Bizhanda

Gah-LEEN

Bee-ZHAN-dah

CADS Professor

Camudahmni

Lobrihm

CAH-moo-DAHM-nee

Loh-BREEM

One of 7 holy leaders who head Chikondra’s religious life

Eduardo de Castillo

Ed-WAHR-do

day Cahs-TEE-yoh

Secretary & head of Earth’s Division of Dil-Terra Inter-Alliance Relations & Service

Peter Collins

Colleague & close friend of Sandra Warner

Bejil Dagrun

Bay-ZHEEL

Dah-GROON

CADS student from Kurula

Nempten Dalinyah

NEHMP-tehn

Dah-LEEN-yah

CADS student from Chikondra

Drajash

Drah-JAHSH

Warnach Sirinoya’s Junior Aide

Lt. Governor

Drufarza

Dru-FAHR-zah

Lt. Governor of the Pifanamars from the planet Bederand

Farsuk Edsaka

Fahr-SOOK

Ed-SAH-kah

Chancellor leading the DTIA, godfather to Warnach & Badrik Sirinoya

Ifta Edsaka

EEF-tah

Ed-SAH-kah

Farsuk’s lifemate

Lashira Ehmedrad

Lah-SHEE-rah

EH-meh-drahd

Inter-galactic socialite from Chikondra

Medsah Grifedrahn

Mehd-SAH

GREE-feh-drahn

Specially ordained artisan who crafts sacred religious articles

Nemadaz Hachima

NEH-mah-dahz

Hah-CHEE-mah

Professor at CADS

Shafilyah Iftayah

Shah-FEEL-yah

Eef-tah-YAH

Chikondran broadcast celebrity. Araman Sirinoya's best friend.

(Minister) Kabridian

Kah-BREE-dee-ahn

DTIA Field Service Minister

Adridana Kartul

AH-bree-DAH-nah

Kahr-TOOL

Famous Kurulian music composer

Rodan Khalijar

Roh-DAHN

KHAH-lee-jahr

DTIA Senior Field Service Minister, Warnach Sirinoya’s best friend

Nadana Kimasou

Nah-DAH-nah

KEE-mah-soo

Chikondran spirit guide & Warnach Sirinoya’s aunt

Emasha Kordiad

Eh-MAH-shah

KOHR-dee-ahd

CADS student from Chikondra

(Governor) Lodarius

Loh-DAIR-ee-us

Governor of Cosomonds on planet of Bederand

(Governor) Maijarus

May-JAHR-us

Governor of Pifanamars on planet of Bederand

Zara Mavahya

ZAH-rah

Mah-VAH-yah

Warnach Sirinoya’s Administrative Manager

Mehrashahm

MEH-rah-shahm

Historic, spiritual mother to Chikondra’s faithful

Ziaman Meliya

ZEE-ah-mahn

Meh-LEE-yah

CADS student from Chikondra

Mi’yafá Si’imlayaná

Mee-yah-FAH

See-EEM-lah-yah-NAH

Guardian of Light, from ancient Chikondran legend

Hitara Nemizih

Hee-TAH-rah

Neh-mee-ZEE

Governess

Ofjano Partizia

Ohf-JAH-no

Par-TEE-tzee-ah

Pifanamar government official from Bederand

Perazhan

PEHR-ah-zhan

Historic, spiritual father to Chikondra’s faithful

(Headmaster) Pipachna

Pee-PAHCH-nah

Head Administrator of CADS

Alirash Piratizh

Ah-lee-RAHSH

PEER-ah-teezh

Fashion designer & close friend of Araman Sirinoya

Araman Kimasou Sirinoya

AH-rah-mahn

Kee-mah-SOO

Sih-rih-NOH-yah

Mother of Warnach & Badrik Sirinoya

Badrik Sirinoya

Bah-DREEK

Sih-rih-NOH-yah

Brother of Warnach Sirinoya

Farisa Sirinoya

Fah-REE-sah

Sih-rih-NOH-yah

Mate of Badrik

Sih-rih-NOH-yah

Morcai Sirinoya

Mohr-KIE

Sih-rih-NOH-yah

Master to Chikondra’s High Council & DTIA; father of Badrik & Warnach Sirinoya

Warnach Sirinoya

WAR-nakh

Sih-rih-NOH-yah

DTIA Senior Field Service Minister & member of Chikondra’s High Council

Forsij Tibrab

Fohr-SEEZH

tee-BRAHB

Commander of a Chikondran starship

Elintra Tirasam

Eh-LEEN-trah

TEE-rah-sahm

DTIA Minister

Yahvanta

Yah-VAHN-tah

The Great Spirit

Druska Zenitsky

DROOS-kah

Zeh-NIT-skee

CADS student from Mendara (a Terran)

********************************************

GLOSSARY

Term Pronunciation Definition

Baadihm Bah-DEEM Godfather

Badehr Bah-DAIR Father

Brisa’machtai Bree-sah-Mahk-TIE Religious temple

Brisajai Bree-sah-JIE Prayer chapel common

in Chikondran homes

CADS Chikondran Academy of

Diplomatic Sciences

Camudahmni Kah-moo-DAHN-nee Highest level of spiritual

leader on Chikondra who

instruct Luradrani &

Simlani. Camudahmni

dedicate much of their lives

to intense personal

meditation

CCEC Command Center for

Extra-Terrestrial

Communications

Capní Cahp-NEE A long lighter for lighting ritual

candles

drifpatihl Dreef-pah-TEEL Ceremonial seat for

Camudahmni

Cerea-nervos Seh-RAY-ah Narrow, raised rows of nerve

NAIR-vohs bundles on foreheads of

Chikondrans

Cerea-semi’ittá Seh-RAY-ah A type of Chikondran kiss

Seh-mee-TAH using Cerea-nervos

Chu’-tibíl choo-tee-BEEL Rascal

Ci’ittá mi’ittá see-TAH mee-TAh Comparable to “I love you”

Ci’ittá-shivayah see-TAH Royal blue flower with white

shee-vah-YAH crown native to Chikondra

culabanta KOO-lah-BAHN-tah Savory holiday dish made of leafy greens

Curasalah KOO-rah-SAH-lah Chikondran starship &

flagship for

DTIA Chancellor

Cushuska koo-SHOO-skah Large fruit native to Chikondra

Efobé eh-foh-BAY Incense used during religious

rituals

Erashalah Eh-RAH-shah-LAH Amen

Errafishad AIR-rah-fee-SHAD Consecrated site for the

dehu Kitak day-HOO crafting of by specially

kee-TAHK blessed artisans

Eyach’hama eh-TAKH-hah-MAh Great thanks be unto

eu Yahvanta eh-YOO Yahvanta

Yah-VAHN-tah

Ferzhama fair-SHAH-mah A late summer month on Chikondra

Gadrichar GAH-dree-char Berries native to Chikondra

HAU Abbreviation for Healing

Acceleration Unit

I’imasah EE-mah-SAH Governess specially trained

to serve as a bodyguard

jefrashtha jay-FRAHSH-thah Flowering trees native to Chikondra

Kayah’mayah Kah-YAH-mah-YAH Smaller of Chikondra’s two moons

ki’medsah kee-med-SAH Lifemate – refers to man

unified in Nivela

ki’mirsah kee-meer-SAH Lifemate – refers to woman

unified in Nivela

Kitak kee-TAHK Specially blessed band worn

around the heads by couples

unified in Nivela

Kitaska kee-TAHS-kah Elaborate headdress

traditionally worn by

Chikondran brides;

restricted to virgin brides

Kaa’michinah ka-ah-mee-chee-NAH Consecrated rod of gold

used for anointing

during sacred ceremonies

Ku’saá koo-SAAH For couples unified in Nivela, a

unique and mystical state in

which their spirits achieve a

transcendental bonding

Lifra’ash lee-frah-AHSH Novices training to become Simlani

Luradrani loo-rah-DRAH-nee Spirit guides at level between

Simlani and Camudahmni

Mamehr mah-MAIR Mother

Mashana mah-SHAH-nah Ring engraved with a special

message; given only in strict

accordance with tradition

Medsah mehd-SAH Title: Mr.

Meichasa May-CHAH-sah The most significant and

celebrated religious event in

Chikondra’s spiritual history,

when the Great Spirit sent

guardian angel spirits to dwell

on Chikondra

MERR Mission Emergency Rescue

and Recovery

Me’u may-OO My

Mirmaja meer-MAH-jah Fruit native to Chikondra

Mirsah meer-SAH Title: Mrs.

Miryah meer-YAH Title: Miss/Ms

MSR Mission Status Report

Najiniar nah-JEEN-ee-are Fruit native to Chikondra

Nashavri nah-SHAH-vree Very long, loosely fitted tunic

worn over flowing trousers

(female attire)

Nefushatilal neh-foo-SHAH-tee-lahl Knee-length tunic (male

attire)

Neralahm NAY-rah-lahm Larger of Chikondra’s two moons

Nivela NEE-vay-lah Higher, sacred level of

unification (marriage)

Nivela Karmía NEE-vay-lah Observed for one year

Kar-MEE-ah following Nivela unification

Nivena NEE-vay-nah State of unification

(marriage)

comparable to civil union

Ohmtra’ame eu Ohm-trah-ah-MAY Ceremony celebrating life in

Si'im ay-oo See-EEM which an infant is anointed

within one day of birth

Pafla PAHF-lah A sport played on a court,

similar to handball

Quazon QUAY-zone Rare ocean creatures native

to Chikondra held in

mystical regard, similar to

dolphins in appearance

Rafizhaq Rah-fee-ZHAK Unique to Chikondra, a

malleable metal with special

properties to absorb and

record mental patterns

Rahpliknar RAH-pleek-nahr Starship assigned to DTIA diplomatic ministry

SDSS School of Diplomatic Support

Services (at CADS)

SFDS School of Field Service

Diplomacy (at CADS)

Shi’firah SHEE-fee-rah Sacred ceremony and

observation period held one

full moon cycle prior

to Nivela unification

Shi’níyah Shee-NEE-yah Endearment meaning

precious virgin bride

Simlani Seem-LAH-nee Spirit Guide (ordained), male

or female

Telerahmé tay-LAIR-ah-MAY Ceremonial tea with unique

mystical properties

Tzitua tzee-TOO-ah Strong, fragrant tea

Zemrathai ZEHM-rah-tie Traditional, ceremonial tea

room