Language

Barsoomian comprises a Greco-Egyptian creole language whose singular oral form is shared by all humanoid races on Barsoom and which is augmented by common telepathy. Although each nation possesses its own variant writing system, most are mutually intelligible and derive from a common hieroglyphic form used by the ancient Orovar people.
Most Red Martian peoples are able to read the hieroglyphs of the Heliumetic Empire Barsoomian is phonetically and, in its ancient Orovar form, hieroglyphically similar to Middle Egyptian. Although Barsoomian contains many terms, names, and religious elements of clearly Greco-Egyptian origin (Helium, Hekator, Sorapus, Issus, Thuria, etc) the etymological connection to their parent languages is confused by the semantic shifts that occurred through long periods of isolation and loss of contact between Jasoom and Barsoom.

Writing System

Unique hieroglyphic, script, and seal-script variants of the language have been adopted by each kingdom.

Geographical Distribution

spoken across all of Barsoom

Morphology

Barsoomian contains many prefixes and suffixes which like vowels are not indicated in any of its written forms.

Prefixes

• jed+ = lord†
• pan+ = independent/free†
• gor+ = independent/selfish†
• pad+ = subordinating prefix†
• od+ = superior to†
• ka+ of or related to†

Phonetics

All written forms of the language omit any indication of vocalization. Common telepathy which augments most communication ensures continuity in vowel-forms across millennia.

Spoken by

• Red-Martian Ethnicity

Common Phrases

Kaor

hello

Sak [sk]

jump