Drabatese

This article is about the Drabatans' primary language.
You may be looking for their secondary language.

"Sa'Kalla!"

―Drabatese war cry used by Drabatans who fought the Galactic Empire — 20?cb=20250116042720

Drabatese was the language spoken by the amphibious Drabatans of the Outer Rim planet Pipada. The language combined small words and syllables to form large words with detailed meanings with multiple layers. Sonic volume determined much subtext and grammar; as a result, the language was difficult to write out. When situations required it, Drabatans could switch to a softer secondary language by passing air through their vocal pouches. Drabatans used their loud voices to create Drabatese music; their songs were part of their everyday lives, ranging from education to entertainment.

During the Imperial Era, the Drabatan singer Sa'Kalla was executed by the Galactic Empire for encouraging Drabatan resistance against Imperial rule. Her name was then used by Drabatans who fought the Empire as a Drabatese war cry. During the Battle of Scarif in 1 BBY, the rebel Drabatan Paodok'Draba'Takat Sap'De'Rekti Nik'Linke'Ti' Ki'Vef'Nik'NeSevef'Li'Kek used the war cry.

Description

Characteristics

"Paodok'Draba'Takat Sap'De'Rekti Nik'Linke'Ti' Ki'Vef'Nik'NeSevef'Li'Kek"

―The Drabatan Paodok'Draba'Takat, speaking his full name in Drabatese^[2]

The Drabatans of Pipada (pictured) spoke Drabatese

Drabatese was a loud language used by the native amphibious Drabatans of^[1] the Outer Rim^[3] planet Pipada. The language combined small words and syllables to form large words with multilayered ideas and very specific meanings. Drabatese was difficult to write out, as sonic volume determined much of the subtext and grammar.^[1] When necessary, Drabatans switched to a secondary language by passing air through their vocal pouches to emit croaks of varied pitch.^[2]

Drabatans often used their language to create music. Critics described Drabatese songs as hauntingly beautiful and insisted that the songs required no translation to appreciate the ethereal, melancholy tones. Drabatese music was used extensively in Drabatans' day-to-day lives, spanning from entertainment to education. Drabatan families each had unique songs that detailed their lineage and were performed at family gatherings by the family's best vocalist. School curriculums taught everything through Drabatese song, and students used jingles as mnemonic devices to help with memorization.^[1]

Vocabulary

Sa'Kalla — War cry honoring Sa'Kalla^[1]
Karabast — Exclamation^[4]
AT-AT^[4] — Name for the All Terrain Armored Transport^[5]

History

"Karabast! AT-AT!"

―Paodok'Draba'Takat Sap'De'Rekti Nik'Linke'Ti' Ki'Vef'Nik'NeSevef'Li'Kek alerts his comrades of the threat in Drabatese — 20?cb=20250116042720

▶️ (file info)^[5]

Drabatans (pictured) used the Drabatese war cry of "Sa'Kalla."

By 1 BBY,^[6] the Drabatans protested the Galactic Empire's rule of the galaxy. One of the most vocal protesters was the singer Sa'Kalla, who wrote protest songs speaking out against Imperial tyranny. The Empire heard of these songs and enacted a crackdown on Pipada and captured Sa'Kalla, which sparked a movement in her name that spread across the planet. The singer was brought to the Pipada Auditorium by an Imperial governor in an effort to force the movement to submit. Sa'Kalla called out to her people to continue their resistance and was killed on stage. The enraged crowd tore apart the Imperial security forces and briefly took back their world. Drabatans who fought the Empire adapted the young singer's name as a Drabatese war cry.^[1]

The Drabatan rebel Paodok'Draba'Takat Sap'De'Rekti Nik'Linke'Ti' Ki'Vef'Nik'NeSevef'Li'Kek spoke Drabatese while serving the Rebellion, often uttering oaths and curses in the language. His fellow soldiers did not mind him speaking Drabatese as relaying instructions was not one of his responsibilities.^[2] During the Battle of Scarif^[5] in 1 BBY,^[6] the rebel forces were faced against an All Terrain Armored Cargo Transport.^[5] Pao exclaimed the Drabatese words "Karabast! AT-AT"^[4] to alert the other rebel soldiers of the threat.^[5] Pao also used the Drabatese war cry "Sa'Kalla" during the battle.^[2]

Drabatese was mentioned in an artist's journal written^[7] no earlier than 34 ABY.^[8] The language was mentioned in an entry on the Drabatan species. The journal eventually came into the possession of the Graf Archive—a vast depository owned by the Graf family that contained documents that held historical importance.^[7]