Lusotannan Units

[Jolt]

I was wondering, having recently downloaded EB and started playing the game as Lusotannan, I noticed Lusotannan units are named with a foreign language I can't recognize. Would anyone mind telling me which language is it?

[Foot]

It is a reconstructed Iberian language partly based on celtic that was devised by our Iberian team in conjunction with EB member Anthony, who is quite proficient in ancient languages.

Foot

[Sarcasm]

Just to add something to Foot's reply; The surviving fragments of the language exist only from 3 votive inscriptions, and toponyms so we really had to rely on Anthony's ability to construct something based on Proto-Celtic examples (Celtic with still a lot of early Indo-European in it), while keeping the same feel (overall 'style' if you will) of the language.

[russia almighty]

You mean with a few fragment's you can reconstruct the entire language .



.....


That's pretty bad ass . Pure curiosity but could it be pulled of mathematically ?

[gamegeek2]

FYI, Iberian was a language isolate. The closest surviving relation is Basque (the language of the Vasci, who have the best infantry in the game); even that is somewhat debatable. Basque (and probably Iberian, too) are not Indo-European.

The most similar examples are the Northwestern Caucasus language, as link with Kartvelian has been long since disproved. The EB Lusotanaan language is, yes, greatly composed of Proto-Celtic words, making it probably most similar to Celtiberian language.

Is Basque, the surviving language of the Vasci, used for the name of the Dosidataskeli (Vasci Armoured Shock Infantry aka best inf. in game)? It would be pretty much fully accurate to name them using Basque, even though it has been influenced by Vulgar Latin.

[runes]

i'm pretty sure the lusotann are unbeatable.

[Sarcasm]

You mean with a few fragment's you can reconstruct the entire language .



.....


That's pretty bad ass . Pure curiosity but could it be pulled of mathematically ?

You wouldn't believe just the amount of pages that has been devoted on this subject alone in the Iberian Groups thread. It was a difficult decision considering just the small number of elements we had to work with. So rather than a full blown reconstruction, you have a proto-celtic construct that has been modified to fit the style of the language (which is one thing you can take out of the few things we that have survived).

Taking into account the difficulty in producing anything that's remotely acceptable, we're pretty happy with the result, and in hindsight, I'm glad Kull pushed me into slaving Anthony over this.

So, much like gamegeeek2 has said, it's essentially a Celtiberian language (in the practical sense; not to confuse with the actual Celtiberian language).

FYI, Iberian was a language isolate. The closest surviving relation is Basque (the language of the Vasci, who have the best infantry in the game); even that is somewhat debatable. Basque (and probably Iberian, too) are not Indo-European.

The most similar examples are the Northwestern Caucasus language, as link with Kartvelian has been long since disproved. The EB Lusotanaan language is, yes, greatly composed of Proto-Celtic words, making it probably most similar to Celtiberian language.

Is Basque, the surviving language of the Vasci, used for the name of the Dosidataskeli (Vasci Armoured Shock Infantry aka best inf. in game)? It would be pretty much fully accurate to name them using Basque, even though it has been influenced by Vulgar Latin.

Hmmm....no. The Iberian-Basque link has never been actually seriously proven as well. There's a certain amount of overlap between the two cultures and languages on the Ebro valley to prompt some rather nationalistic elements to quickly form a direct connection, but that's about it.

You are correct, Iberian and Basque are not Indo-European languages. They're something else entirely. I'd gamble for a pre-migratory connection for the Basques and a Italic/Mediterranean connection for the Iberians.

As for modern Basque, it's just that; a modern construct from the various dialects, much like modern Greek.

[Sarcasm]

Heh...writing posts on obscure ancient languages, while absolutely wasted is fun. Thank the gods for the spelling-checker.

[Disciple of Tacitus]

Last Lusotannan game I played (0.8a1), I could not recruit any Vasci units. I assume that has been fixed? If the Vasci units are as great as you all are saying, then Lusotanna can field some impressive armies. In my book, the Iberian med. spearmen are the best value in the game.

[cmacq]

I was under the impression the Luso were neither Bas-que, Iberi, or Kelti? Didn't this polity form the basal ethnos for what is now Portugal?

[vonhaupold]

I was under the impression the Luso were neither Bas-que, Iberi, or Kelti? Didn't this polity form the basal ethnos for what is now Portugal?

From what I've read, it's hotly debated. There are some who think they were native to Iberia while others who believe they were Celtic in origin, splitting off from one of the Celtic tribes (Lusones) that settled in the eastern part of Iberia. What is known, is that the Lusitanians inhabited the western part of Iberia which comprises much of Portugal today, so it is only logical that the Portugese identify most closely to them. To this day, the Portugese are known as "Lusos" (at least in Spain anyway).

[antisocialmunky]

From what I've read, it's hotly debated. There are some who think they were native to Iberia while others who believe they were Celtic in origin, splitting off from one of the Celtic tribes (Lusones) that settled in the eastern part of Iberia. What is known, is that the Lusitanians inhabited the western part of Iberia which comprises much of Portugal today, so it is only logical that the Portugese identify most closely to them. To this day, the Portugese are known as "Lusos" (at least in Spain anyway).

Nationalism + History = Ugly.

[cmacq]

Nationalism + History = Ugly.

By your math a simple summation as those without guilt always cast the first stone? Polities, by their very nature are nationalistic, or is citizenship not venerated as it was long ago?