Lorathi is a language spoken in the Free City of Lorath. Like the languages of all Free Cities, the tongue of Lorath is a form of bastard Valyrian.[1][2][3]
While the cult of Boash that founded Lorath has long gone extinct, certain of their speaking habits are still used in Lorath today. Nobles consider it to be terribly vulgar to speak of one's self directly, and refer to themselves as "a man" or "a woman" rather than saying "I" or "me" or "mine".[4]
Recent Events
A Clash of Kings
Arya Stark, while traveling with Yoren's Night's Watch recruits in the riverlands, encounters a prisoner, the Lorathi Jaqen H'ghar. Jaqen speaks the Common Tongue, but refers to himself only as "a man" or "this man", and never refers to Arya by any direct pronoun such as "you", instead calling her "a boy" (while she is disguised as a boy)[5] or later "a girl" or "this girl".[6] After Jaqen reveals an association with the Faceless Men of Braavos, and shifts his face to another appearance while claiming Jaqen is dead, he no longer uses the Lorathi speaking habits, calling himself "I" and "me" and calling Arya "you".[7]
A Dance with Dragons
Maester Kedry is fluent in the tongues of all of the Free Cities.[8]
Quotes
A man could use another taste of beer. A man has a thirst, wearing these heavy bracelets. A man could use a bath too. A boy could make a friend.[5]
—Jaqen H'ghar, to "Arry"
A man must be ashamed of the company he keeps, Arry. This man has the honor to be Jaqen H'ghar, once of the Free City of Lorath. Would that he were home.[5]
—Jaqen H'ghar, to "Arry"
Jaqen: A boy becomes a girl.
Arya: I was always a girl. I didn't think you saw me.
Jaqen: A man sees. A man knows.[6]
—Jaqen H'ghar and Arya Stark
References
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 11, Daenerys II.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: Valyria's Children.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Lorath.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 5, Arya II.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 30, Arya VII.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 47, Arya IX.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 6, The Merchant's Man.