Colors in Nolwynn: view article

Nolwynn lacks a distinct category for adjectives and adverbs. So words like colors are actually verbs meaning "to have [a color]."

All color words are based on the verb leey, which means "to have a color."

Nolwynn	Translation	Notes
Koraleey	red or purple	derived from the word for fire
Imeraleey	green	derived from the word for algae
Intxealeey	blue to purple	derived from the word for ocean
Zwoleey	yellow	“eye colored,” from an idiomatic expression that means sunlight
Iigaleey	black	“no color”
Iigabuleey	grey	"not white"
Abuleey	white	"foam colored"
Ukweleey	purple
Otše’eeya	brown	More commonly used among the Tulwyn, this word means "mud-colored"
Ilakoleey	orange to brown
Kxalileey	pink to orange	"coral colored"
Lezuzeey	colorful, multicolored	"rainbow colored"

Traditionally, Nolwynn had a lot fewer words for colors: karaleey and iikaraleey for natural and unnatural colors respectively, and abuleey and iigabuleey for light and dark colors. Karaleey described any color found in nature, while iikaraleey described neon colors, things that were transparent, or other unnatural colors.

In the dialect Tulwyn, colors are similar, but the word for green is leeyrika, derived from the word for tree. Ukweleey is a Tulwyn word; in Nolwynn, intxealeey covers both blue and shades of purple.

[edit] [top]Color symbolism

The Nolwynn have their own associations for each of the colors. These associations come from mythology, history, and contact with other cultures. Colors are also associated with the Corporeal Values [and, by extension, the Avoidance Language] and timekeeping. The traditional way of keeping time involved the cultivation of a coral called kxalinéla, whose coloration varied across short time intervals.

Color	Symbolism	Value	Notes	Kxalinéla
Koraleey	the cycles of chaos and rebirth	Goro [strength]	The connection here comes from a mythological tale about a man who ripped his hair out.	This color is associated with late evening and sunset
Imeraleey	life energy	Atšuo [resilience]	Algae is resilient and strong. Eating it is said to impart those qualities to children: parents convince picky eaters to eat their algae by referring to algae's life energy.	The color green is associated with early afternoon
Intxealeey	mystery	Kwey [transformation]	The ocean is said to represent a womb, which in Nolwynn culture is connected with the idea of transformation.	This color is associated with nighttime
Zwoleey	truth	Zwoleey [truth]	The connection here is obvious: since zwoleey comes from an idiomatic expression referring to the sun's all-seeing eye.	This color is associated with afternoon
Iigaleey	protection; growth	Syeerit [Justice]	Justice and protection go hand and hand in Nolwynn belief	Black isn't associated with time
Iigabuleey	being in-between	Bwolo [dignity]		Grey isn't associated with time; when the kxalinéla turns grey, it has reached the end of its lifespan.
Abuleey	death	None	abuleey is not associated with a Corporeal Value	White isn't associated with time; when the kxalinéla turns white, it has died.
Ukweleey	anything foreign; danger	Atsxoru [insight]	The ability to "sniff out" danger	This color is associated with late night
Otše’eeya	selfhood	Ootsea [divinity]		This color is associated with late night and early morning
Ilakoleey	faith and hope	Aleyma [faith]		This color is associated with dawn and early morning
Kxalileey	birth and imagination	Gweyna [creation]		This color is associated with late afternoon
Lezuzeyleey	unity	Tšyim [lovingkindness]	Rainbows, especially after a storm, are said to be emblematic of the goddess's love of creation; thus, they have come to represent Nolwynn culture more generally and Nolwynn unity specifically.	Rainbows are associated with the cycle of time in general

The final value Uakwuo [family, soul] is not usually associated with color. Instead, it is represented by invisibility since families are connected by invisible ties.

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