Gnommish

From Artemis Fowl

Gnommish is the language of the fairies. it is originally compared by Artemis to the Egyptian Hieroglyphs, and similarly to the language, a second way of translating was developed for ease of use. The direct English-Gnommish symbol to letter translation was not actually used in the books, only in the translatable lines on the bottom of the books.

It was thus assumed by Artemis that the early Egyptians might have adopted an already existing writing style instead of coming up with a new one. It is also mentioned that Gnommish is a mix of symbolic and alphabetic letters. It was originally written in spirals, starting from the edge of the page and ending at the centre, but since reading in spirals gives most fairies migraines, most modern fairy script is arranged in horizontal lines.

[edit] In The Books

Lines of translatable Gnommish run along the bottoms of Artemis Fowl, The Eternity Code, The Opal Deception, The Lost Colony, and The Time Paradox. In The Arctic Incident gnommish script is typed at the end. There is also a book called the Artemis Fowl Files where there is a translation excercise.

[edit] Sample Translation

Carry me always, carry me well.

I am thy teacher of herb and spell.

I am thy link to power arcane.

Forget me and thy magic shall wane.