"Gruugh agh agh waaagh!"
- —Golgfag's Maneaters' battle-cry (roughly translated: "Feed me - feed me now!")[2a]
Ogres have no true written language; rather they use a series of pictograms to convey different meanings.
Grumbarth, also known as Ogrish by outsiders, is the language of the Ogre Kingdoms.[1a] Grumbarth is a language little understood by other races, and hard going even for Ogres.[2a] It is a snorting, growling language, although many can get by in Norse and a smattering of other Old World languages.[1b] Few non-Ogres know the language, although a few mercenary commanders find its knowledge useful.[4a]
Most Ogrish idioms concern food and eating, and those Ogres who speak Human tongues have a habit of translating these literally, which creates interesting problems with communication. "Slim" is a term applied to most non-Ogres in conversation, and occasionally an Ogre will address another as such by way of an insult.[1b]
Most of their terms for other races translate to "food", "vittles" or similar. One story sums up the typical Ogrish attitudes to eating and fighting: an Ogre mercenary captain is believed to have said to his Human employer "Oi, slim! Shift yer starters an' will make breakfast!" which is roughly translatable as "I say, insignificantly small person, if you would like to move your front rank out of our way, we shall engage the enemy."[1b]
Writing and Scripts[]
Ogres, being completely illiterate, rely on crude cave paintings and a tradition of storytelling (or just plain old boasting) to convey the folktales and legends of their civilisation.[3a]
Foreign Languages[]
It should be noted that the Ogre mercenaries known as Maneaters assimilate much of the culture of those lands they visit. More than likely this includes language as well, especially when dealing in mercenary contracts. In fact, Golfag Maneater has been known to speak Reikspiel due to his services with the Empire's military.[5a]
It is not uncommon for mercenary Ogres to only know a debased version of the Tilean language, often making it difficult for generals of other nations to impart orders to them during a battle.[5a]
Lexicon[]
G[]
- Gruugh agh agh waaagh! - The meaning is obscure. It might mean something like "Feed me - feed me now!"[2b]
S[]
- Slim - The term is generally used to refer to most non-Ogres in conversation, though occasionally an Ogre might use it to insult another Ogre.[1b]
- Sunrisers - Term used to indicate Humans from Grand Cathay.[3b]
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition: Core Rulebook (RPG)
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Dogs of War (5th Edition)
- 3: Warhammer Armies: Ogre Kingdoms (6th Edition)
- 4: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Core Rulebook (RPG)
- 4a: pg. 125
- 5: Warhammer Fantasy Battle: Rulebook - Skirmish (6th Edition)
- 5a: pg. 35