See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/361227281

Sokath! His Eyes Uncovered: A Semantic Analysis of the Tamarian Language

Preprint · June 2022

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.27767.29600

CITATIONS READS
0 396

1 author:

Victor Reeser
Incheon National University
3 PUBLICATIONS 1 CITATION

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

English Education Special Talk Series View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Victor Reeser on 11 June 2022.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 1

Sokath! His Eyes Uncovered: A Semantic Analysis of the Tamarian Language

Victor John Reeser

Department of English Language and Literature, Incheon National University
Topics in Semantics (021812001)
Dr. Soyeon Yoon
June 8, 2022
 2

Star Trek: The Next Generation (ST:TNG) is a popular science fiction television program

in the Star Trek franchise that originally aired from September 28th, 1987 to May 23rd, 1993 with

a total of 178 episodes and seven seasons (IMDb, n.d.). The stories of ST:TNG follow the crew

of the starship USS Enterprise as it explores the galaxy on a research mission of discovery as

goodwill ambassadors of the United Federation of Planets, a fictional interstellar government

based on Earth. There are many critically-acclaimed episodes of ST:TNG that feature discussions

on complicated issues such as granting rights to artificial intelligence. ST:TNG is technically the

third installment in the Star Trek franchise, and has garnered numerous accolades include 19

Primetime Emmy Awards. In addition to its popularity at the time of release, four major films

were produced with the same cast, and there have been two direct spin-off series, Star Trek:

Deep Space Nine (1993-1999) and Star Trek: Picard (2020-ongoing). Its lasting impact can also

be seen in countless pop culture references in other media ranging from Hollywood movies to

children’s cartoons.

The focus of this paper is the second episode of the fifth season titled “Darmok.” This

episode is currently the 14th highest rated episode of ST: TNG (IMDb, n.d.). In this episode,

Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise are attempting to establish

communications with the Children of Tamar (also known as the Tamarians). The United

Federation of Planets had previously attempted to establish contact with the Tamarians twice

beforehand, but each attempt had failed due to the incomprehensible way Tamarians speak. This

paper analyzes Tamarian speech samples presented in the episode and attempts to explain the

metaphorical and metonymical nature of the language.

 3

Literature Review

In 2013, Jordan Hoffman published a post on the official Star Trek homepage offering a

simple translation of the Tamarian phrases (Hoffman, 2013). While the post is very basic (it does

not offer any details or explanation of the process behind the translation), it can serve as a primer

for anyone interested in watching the episode “Darmok” for the first time. Similarly, in 2021,

Peter Jansen compiled a simple model for English-to-Tamarian translation based on this episode

(Jansen, 2021). While the methodology is based on previous efforts to analyze Tamarian, it is

limited by the lack of Tamarian language samples and the lack of available information on

Tamarian culture. Science fiction author Christopher L. Bennett, responsible for writing novels

and comics in the Star Trek and Marvel Comics universes, wrote a detailed analysis of Tamarian

grammar and covers each piece of Tamarian dialogue presented in the episode (Bennett, 2015).

Brian E. Levitt wrote a paper psychoanalyzing the decisions made and actions taken by the

characters in the episode (Levitt, 2009). He focuses on empathy as a vehicle for communication

and the necessity of giving up control in order to understand and relate to someone else. Another

essay by writer Isaac Yuen discusses the cultural importance of myths and their central role in

this episode (Yuen, 2013). Perhaps the most unique application of the concept of communication

discussed in this episode is the case report by Kim, et al. (2021) comparing the Tamarians’

inability to communicate with a 19-year-old psych ward patient with autism spectrum disorder.

The report emphasizes the importance of finding common ground with patients to improve

patient care. Ian Bogost’s article “Shaka, When the Walls Fell” in The Atlantic is one of the

lengthiest pieces of literature written on this episode (Bogost, 2014). Bogost theorizes the simple

language being interpreted by the universal translator is not indicative of a society able to

achieve interplanetary travel. He supposes that, in fact, what the viewer is given is merely a
 4

glimpse of a complex, logic-based communication system impossible for translation with current

(24th century) technology. It is a grandiose theory, and it is very easy to defend as there is little

evidence to the opposition.

Tamarian Language Structure

In the Star Trek universe, there is a device simply dubbed a “universal translator” that is

standard-issue technology for members of Starfleet. It allows real-time translation and

communication to occur between two species capable of speech. This is, of course, a convention

used to “remove the problem of translating between alien languages when it is not vital to the

plot” (Universal Translator, n.d.). However, given the continued development of translation

technology, it is not farfetched to imagine humanity succeeding in the development of an Earth-

based universal translator by the 24th century, the setting for ST:TNG. Given what we know

about the technology available to Starfleet and the crew of the Enterprise, how could they

possibly have an issue communicating with a new alien species? Dialogue 1 reveals how

Tamarian speech is first revealed to the viewer. The Tamarian captain, Dathon, is attempting to

introduce themselves to the Enterprise.

Dialogue 1

DATHON: Rai and Jiri at Lungha. Rai of Lowani. Lowani under two moons. Jiri of Umbaya.

Umbaya of crossed roads. At Lungha. Lungha, her sky gray.

(Chrissie's Transcripts Site, n.d.)

This exchange confuses the crew of the Enterprise and the viewer. From the global

perspective of all Tamarian speech samples in the episode, it is possible to infer that the

Tamarian language primarily consists of statements of images, events, people, and general
 5

description of state as opposed to processes (Bennett, 2015). The following diagram analyzes the

basic structure of Tamarian speech used in dialogue 1.

Diagram 1

(Bennett, 2015)

The first sentence establishes a topic while the remaining descriptors are modifiers of

previously stated nouns. These are spoken in their own standalone sentences. Then, the modifiers

are themselves modified recursively (Bennett, 2015). This process is repeated in order for each

noun in the first sentence. It can be further inferred the first nouns, proper nouns, are people. The

following modifier is then a location, and finally, a poetic description is added. When the

Tamarians speak with each other, they simply use the initial sentence of the full, poetic

statement. For example, look at the following dialogue between the Dathon and the first officer.

Dialogue 2

DATHON: Shaka, when the walls fell. (to his officer) Darmok.

FIRST OFFICER: (aghast) Darmok? Rai and Jiri at Lungha!

DATHON: Shaka. When the walls fell.

FIRST OFFICER: Zima at Anzo. Zima and Bakor.

DATHON: Darmok at Tanagra.

FIRST OFFICER: Shaka! Mirab, his sails unfurled.

DATHON: Darmok.

FIRST OFFICER: Mirab.

 6

DATHON: Temarc! The river Temarc.

(Chrissie's Transcripts Site, n.d.)

It could be supposed the numbers of modifying statements attached to the initial

statement are representative of a degree of formality with more modifiers being used in polite

language. This is, of course, impossible to determine without more samples of Tamarian

language in context, but it is an interesting point. Unfortunately, additional elements of Tamarian

grammar are completely left to speculation as the writers of the episode have not contributed

additional information about the language since it first aired in 1991.

Tamarian Semantics

There is exposition in the episode that reveals how Tamarians communicate with each

other. Ship Counselor Troi describes Tamarian as a language based on narrative imagery

referencing individuals and scenery from their own “mytho-historical accounts” (Chrissie's

Transcripts Site, n.d.). In other words, it is a language where communication is based on a

mutual understanding of Tamarian culture, and the lack of Tamarian cultural knowledge is the

culprit behind their inability to communicate with non-Tamarians. This coincides with our

understanding of metaphors as dependent on conceptual knowledge ubiquitous in ordinary

language (Lakoff & Johnson, 2003).

For Tamarians, all speech is based on metaphor and generalizations based on prototypical

examples of events, people, and places that serve as the conveyance of meaning in a given

context; for example, the statement “Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.” Counselor Troi goes on to

offer a quasi-example of Tamarian-style speech if it were used by native English-speakers,

“Juliet, on her balcony,” as a metaphor for romance. In this example, the concept of Juliet, a

youthful girl who has fallen in love, is used theoretically as a substitute for a more direct love-
 7

related statement such as “I am/It is/We are/They are in love.” A typical Tamarian statement

refers to a proper noun which creates the cultural barrier preventing communication with non-

Tamarians. However, the remaining modifiers could still offer insight into the meaning of the

statement when a concept referenced has high enough prototypicality in the other’s language. An

analysis of the Tamarian statements in the episode serve to support this supposition.

Dialogue 3

DATHON: Temarc! The river Temarc. In winter.

(Chrissie's Transcripts Site, n.d.)

Dathon says this to his flustered first officer. In response to this statement, the first officer

ceases to argue and becomes silent. While the specific river in question, Temarc, is a concept

that bears no meaning to non-Tamarians, the concept of river and winter are clues that can be

used to translate the meaning of the metaphor.

First, there is the concept of a river, a body of constantly-flowing water. The

metaphorical connection between water and emotional uncertainty is already prevalent.

WATER IS UNCERTAINTY

• Raging rapids

• Go with the flow

• In troubled/deep/hot water

• To change mid-stream

Similarly, a river in winter is frozen, and freezing is a metonymy for halting all

movement.

FREEZING IS LACK OF MOTION

• Freeze where you are!

 8

• She froze with fear.

• The computer froze when I clicked the link.

Winter is also directly correlated with the concept of coldness for most of the English-

speaking world. Cold is related to being emotionally rational.

COLD IS RATIONAL

• His heart is ice.

• She always keeps her cool.

These concepts give us an understanding of the Tamarian statement in dialogue 3. We

can infer that Dathon is telling his first officer to stop and maintain their composure. This is

confirmed by the onscreen depiction of the first officer seemingly calming down after hearing it.

Dialogue 4

FIRST OFFICER: Kiteo. His eyes closed.

(Chrissie's Transcripts Site, n.d.)

Dialogue 5

DATHON: Sokath. His eyes uncovered.

(Chrissie's Transcripts Site, n.d.)

Dialogue 4 is delivered by the Tamarian first officer in response to an angry outburst

from Starfleet Officer Riker. Dialogue 5 is spoken later on in the episode after Picard is able to

establish basic grounds for communication with Dathon.

VISION IS KNOWLEDGE

• I was blind to the truth.

• I can see him for what he truly is.

 9

• The Eye of Providence is a symbol prevalent in western and Christian society. It

represents divine providence, or the ability to see and intervene in all affairs of humanity.

Image 1

If we consider the concept of vision as knowledge, then a lack of vision can subsequently

be considered ignorance. In the scene where dialogue 4 is spoken, the first officer and the

Tamarians ignore the outburst of Officer Riker. Later, dialogue 5 is an expression of Dathon’s

acknowledgement of Picard’s understanding or “knowing” how Tamarians communicate.

Dialogue 6

FIRST OFFICER: Mirab. With (His) sails unfurled.

(Chrissie's Transcripts Site, n.d.)

This line is spoken multiple times throughout the episode. There are an impressive number

of sailing metaphors in the English language, many of which have now become dead metaphors

(e.g. “I like the cut of your jib” and “taken aback”).

UNFURLING SAILS IS DEPARTURE

This particular example is very conventional. A ship’s sails are unfurled when they are

about to be put to use i.e. unfurling the sails is akin to departure. The first officer uses this statement

to suggest leaving early in the episode and again to tell Picard the Tamarians are leaving near the

end of the episode.

Dialogue 7

DATHON: Shaka. When the walls fell.

 10

(Chrissie's Transcripts Site, n.d.)

This line is also delivered multiple times throughout the episode. Although the meaning

is difficult to grasp at first, it quickly becomes apparent that it is a declaration of negative

emotion related to the current situation.

FALLING IS FAILURE

• He is falling behind.

• Fall apart

• Fall short

• She rose to the top of the class.

In English, falling is a concept related to failure and rising is associated with success.

One interesting thing to note is this is the only line of Tamarian speech with a verb in it. It could

have easily been delivered as “Shaka, his/her/its walls fallen,” or “Shaka, at the fallen walls,” but

perhaps the universal translator made a mistake.

Dialogue 8

DATHON: Temba, his arms open/wide.

(Chrissie's Transcripts Site, n.d.)

Dialogue 9

FIRST OFFICER: Temba, at rest.

(Chrissie's Transcripts Site, n.d.)

These Tamarian statements lack a prototypical correlation with English and can only be

translated using expositional information provided in the episode.

OPEN ARMS ARE GENEROUS

 11

Welcoming something with open arms is typically associated with enthusiastically greeting

a new person or circumstance. In Tamarian, it is associated with generosity. In the episode, it is

unclear what Dathon’s intentions are before Picard deciphers this statement. Eventually, Picard

recognizes it and its meaning of “to give something,” or more specifically “I’m giving this thing

to you.” There is one instance of refusal in the episode where the Tamarian first officer says

“Temba, at rest.” It is unclear whether this indicates the possibility of negative modifying

statements as universal in Tamarian as “Temba, at rest” could simply be referencing another

historical instance of cultural significance. It is impossible to tell with the limited information

available. Again, the proper noun “Temba” is a deeply entrenched cultural term and means nothing

to non-Tamarians.

Dialogue 10

DATHON: Zinda. His face black. His eyes red.

(Chrissie's Transcripts Site, n.d.)

This line of speech is used twice in the episode. It is spoken once by Dathon after he lies

suffering in pain after being attacked by a monster and failing to team up with Picard. It is used

again by the Tamarian first officer after they see Dathon’s dagger in Picard’s possession, a sign

of Dathon’s death.

BLACKEND FACE AND RED EYES IS ANGER

While it is not directly stated, it could be inferred that Tamarians’ skin darkens and their

eyes redden when their blood pressure increases from anger. This is similar to Lakoff’s analysis

of the metonymical association of redness in the face and neck with anger (Lakoff & Kovesces,

1987).

Connecting English and Tamarian

 12

The Tamarians are eventually able to communicate with Picard after a cultural exchange

of storytelling occurs. Dathon’s attempt to connect with Picard is based on the Tamarian

mythology that is the root of the Tamarian language. The meaning of the work “Darmok” is

finally understood towards the end of the episode when Picard struggles through the story being

explained by a wounded and dying Dathon.

Dialogue 11

DATHON: Darmok. On the ocean.

PICARD: Darmok on the ocean. A metaphor, for being alone, isolated. Darmok, on the ocean.

Temba, his arms open. Give me more about Darmok on the ocean.

DATHON: Tanagra, on the ocean. Darmok at Tanagra.

PICARD: At Tanagra. A country? Tanagra on the ocean, an island! Temba, his arms wide.

DATHON: Jalad on the ocean. Jalad at Tanagra.

PICARD: Jalad at Tanagra. He went to the same island as Darmok. Darmok and Jalad, at

Tanagra.

DATHON: The beast at Tanagra.

PICARD: The beast? There was a creature at Tanagra? Darmok and Jalad, the beast at

Tanagra. They arrive separately, they struggled together against a common foe, the beast at

Tanagra, Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.

DATHON: Darmok and Jalad on the ocean.

PICARD: They left together. Darmok and Jalad on the ocean.

DATHON: The ocean.

(Chrissie's Transcripts Site, n.d.)

 13

Picard connects to Danoth by listening to the story of Darmok and Jalad. He reciprocates

by sharing one of humanities myths, the epic of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. This myth is especially

appropriate as Gilgamesh and Enkidu were foes who developed a mutual respect and friendship

for each other through battle. It ultimately ends in the death of Enkidu which saddens Gilgamesh.

Similarly, Dathon succumbs to his wounds after hearing the story, but not before developing a

mutual understanding with Picard based on their shared connection through storytelling. The

success of Dathon’s plan to connect with Picard through mutual struggle is immediately apparent

after Picard returns to the Enterprise and speaks with the Tamarian first officer.

Dialogue 12

FIRST OFFICER: Zinda! His face black. His eyes red!

PICARD: Temarc! The river Temarc. In winter.

FIRST OFFICER: Darmok?

PICARD: And Jalad. At Tanagra. Darmok and Jalad on the ocean.

FIRST OFFICER: Sokath! His eyes open!

PICARD: The beast of Tanagra. Uzani. His army. (shaking his head) Shaka, when the walls fell.

FIRST OFFICER: Picard and Dathon at El-Adrel. Mirab. With sails unfurled.

PICARD: Temba. His arms open. (Picard extends his hand holding Dathon’s dagger out)

FIRST OFFICER: (Raises his hand) Temba at rest.

Conclusion

The concepts of culture and communication are central to the ST:TNG episode

“Darmok.” After an analysis of Tamarian language, a language revolving around storytelling and

honoring the history of their people, it is clear the episode “Darmok” is ultimately the heroic tale

of a captain who made the ultimate sacrifice for their people. Dathon loses his life, but his
 14

gambit is successful as he is finally able to connect with Picard. We see this connection firsthand

in dialogue 12 when the first officer establishes a new Tamarian historical metaphor, “Picard

and Dathon at El-Adrel.” While the concept of a universal translator is attractive, this episode

illustrates that understanding what a person is saying does not necessarily mean understanding

the intent behind their statement. While the Tamarian language is a hyperbole of cultural

miscommunication, the concepts of cultural intelligence and cultural competence are the zeitgeist

of international communication (Windon & Lamo, 2022). Understanding the cultural practices of

others is necessary for effective communication and to build strong relationships between people

with different cultural backgrounds. This is evidenced by Starfleet’s inability to communicate

with Tamarians until an exchange of cultural concepts takes place. Hopefully, when the time

comes for humanity to interact with species from other planets, we will be able to embrace them

with open arms and open minds.

References

Allen, S. (1993). The world according to Gene Rodenberry.

Bennett, C. L. (2015). Tamarian grammar. Christopher L. Bennett: Written Worlds. Retrieved

from https://christopherlbennett.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/tamarian-grammar.pdf

Bogost, I. (2014). Shaka, when the walls fell. The Atlantic. Retrieved May 25, 2022, from
https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/06/star-trek-tng-and-the-limits-of-
language-shaka-when-the-walls-fell/372107/

Chadwick, I. (2021). Darmak and Jalad at Tanagra. Scripturient. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from
http://ianchadwick.com/blog/darmok-and-jalad-at-tanagra/

Chrissie's Transcripts Site. (n.d.). Darmok. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from
http://www.chakoteya.net/NextGen/202.htm

Hoffman, J. (2013). One trek mind: Deciphering "Darmok". Star Trek. Retrieved May 24, 2022,
from https://intl.startrek.com/article/one-trek-mind-deciphering-darmok

IMDb. (n.d.). Star Trek: The Next Generation. Retrieved June 2, 2022 from
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092455/
 15

Jansen, P. (2021). Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra: A dataset and model for English-to-Tamarian
translation. Arxiv, doi:10.48550/ARXIV.2107.08146

Kim, E. K., Martin, K., Karper, L., Maru, S., & Driscoll, M. (2021). Darmok and Jalad at the
psych ward: A case demonstration of how to creatively communicate with a 19-year-old
patient with autism spectrum disorder. Case Reports in Psychiatry,
doi:10.1155/2021/6690564

Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (2003). Metaphors we live by: With a new afterword (1st ed.).
University of Chicago Press.

Lakoff, G., & Kovesces, Z. (1987). The cognitive model of anger inherent in American English.
In D. Holland, & N. Quinn (Eds.), Cultural models in language and thought (pp. 195-221).
Cambridge: Cambridge University.

Levitt, B. E. (2009). Darmok and Jalad on the ocean: A pop-culture exploration of empathic
understanding. The Person-Centered Journal, 16(1-2).
Universal Translator. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved June 5, 2022, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_translator

Windon, S., & Lamo, T. (2022). What is cultural competence and how to develop it? Penn State
Extension. Retrieved June 7, 2022, from https://extension.psu.edu/what-is-cultural-
competence-and-how-to-develop-it

Yuen, I. (2013). Of myths and metaphors: Star Trek TNG’s Darmok. Ekostories: Essays and
Stories by Isaac Yuen. Retrieved from https://ekostories.com/2013/11/14/star-trek-darmok-
myths-metaphors/

View publication stats