Aurebesh/Legends

"These symbols are in our own language&mdash;Aurebesh&hellip;"

- Je'daii Temple Master Quan-Jang

Aurebesh was a writing system commonly used to represent the Basic language. The name came from a combination of the first two letters, Aurek and Besh.

History
"These symbols are a designation&mdash;marked on our skin by our Rakatan masters."

- The Force Hound Xesh

Aurebesh was thought to have come from the writing system of the Rakatan Infinite Empire, introduced to the galaxy at large during that Empire's reign. It spread during the Alsakan Conflicts approximately 17,000 years before the Battle of Yavin. However, already by 25,793 BBY, Aurebesh was used by the inhabitants of the Settled Worlds, prior to their first contact with the Rakata. When contact was made, the Rakatan Aurebesh was apparently identical to that used in the Settled Worlds.

Generally, Aurebesh was considered to be for the common folk, whereas the High Galactic alphabet was associated with snobbery.

Luke Skywalker learned to read Aurebesh by the time he was four years old, from a set of old educational datatapes given to him by his aunt Beru.

Features
Aurebesh implemented consonants, vowels, digraphs, and punctuation marks. Words were separated by spaces. Aurebesh could be written mainly left-to-right or up-to-down. All letters are the same relative size, although occasionally symbols were mirror-inverted to denote capital letters. The symbol for the Republic Credit was a Resh (R for Republic) with two vertical lines through the upper half of the symbol. Letters of the alphabet were also used to denote musical keys, such as the key of Cresh.

While the Aurebesh had several glyphs that corresponded to digraphs in the High Galactic alphabet, they were frequently disregarded. For example, the sound "oo," that was properly noted using Orenth, was frequently spelled with a double Osk. Similarly, the letter Thesh was often replaced by a combination of Trill and Herf. Such was also the case for Cherek and Shen, often written respectively with combinations of Cresh and Herf and Senth and Herf.

Evolution


The Aurebesh-like writing that appears in the original trilogy is totally random and it is believed that the filmmakers did not intend to write any meaningful text with it. The letters were first assigned Roman equivalents by Stephen Crane at West End Games in the Star Wars Miniatures Battles Companion (1994), for use with the Star Wars Miniatures Battles game and Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game. The Aurebesh was later expanded to include punctuation marks in the Star Wars Miniatures Battles supplement, Imperial Entanglements (1996).

This original Aurebesh is occasionally used in electronic and board games such as Star Wars Monopoly. Since the letters in the movies are random, the assignment of the West End Games values to the inscriptions of the movies produces nonsensical results&mdash;most words seen in the movies appear to consist solely of consonants, and some letters appear on screen that are absent from the West End Games Aurebesh.

In the 2004 DVD release of A New Hope, and the Blu-ray version, the words displaying information as Obi-Wan Kenobi deactivates the tractor beam on the Death Star, which were written using the Roman alphabet in previous releases, are now in the Aurebesh. Aurebesh can also be seen in the prequel trilogy. (For more information, see list of use of Aurebesh.)

Origin
The word "Aurebesh" was developed in a manner similar to the word alphabet, which is derived from the first two letters of the Phoenician/Greek alphabet (alpha and beta).

In-universe sources show Arabic numbers; however, one of the fan-made fonts (discussed below) presents a numerical system based on dots and lines.

In many instances, the sounds "ch," "sh," and "th" are written using Aurebesh exactly as they would be in English (cresh-herf, senth-herf, and trill-herf, respectively), despite separate letters existing in Aurebesh for those sounds (cherek, shen, and thesh, respectively). (To see an example of this, examine the text in the picture in the Games section in the List of use of Aurebesh.) While it is possible that these instances represent legitimate in-universe variations of the sound-values for the letters in question, it is more likely that they represent errors on the part of the real-world transliterators (who are understandably more used to employing digraphs than employing single letters to write these sounds).

Fonts

 * Aurabesh (TrueType) Created by Mike E. Webb on February 10, 1996. As only the alphabet had been described, Webb based his punctuation on work by Eric Kristiansen (aka Jackill), and invented glyphs for other common symbols.  He made the lowercase letters small versions of the capitals.
 * Aurebesh (Mac TrueType/PostScript and PC TrueType) Created by David Occhino on September 8, 1997. Occhino updated the punctuation to match West End Games, removed the non-canon symbols (except for the Arabic numerals), and made the lowercase letters the same size as the capitals. He also changed the assignments of the digraphs, so it is not backwards compatible with Webb's font.
 * newAurabesh (TrueType) Created by Peter Schuster on June 21, 1998. Schuster also updated the punctuation to match West End Games, removed the non-canon symbols, and made the lowercase letters the same size as the capitals.  He changed the numbers to match Technical Readouts, and changed the assignments of the digraphs, so it is not backwards compatible with either Webb's or Occhino's fonts.
 * Aurek-Besh (TrueType, standard, narrow, and hand-written) Created by Davide Canavero (aka Boba Fonts) on March 7, 1999. Canavero made small improvements to the rendering of many of the symbols, enlarged the numbers for clarity, and added more logical assignments for the digraphs while also keeping Schuster's assignments.  As a result, Aurek-Besh is backwards compatible with newAurabesh.
 * Aurebesh (OpenType) Created by Tycho Ordo in 2012. This font covers the whole ASCII code, which means it will display most English text correctly without missing symbols. It also uses ligatures to display the double letters correctly, meaning "th" for example will be displayed as Thesh. It comes in four versions, which differ in the way they display numerals (tech/Arabic) and capital letters (normal/inverted).

Appearances
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 * Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi: Force Storm
 * Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi: The Prisoner of Bogan
 * Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi: Force War
 * Knights of the Old Republic 2: Commencement, Part 2
 * Knights of the Old Republic 10: Flashpoint, Part 3
 * Knights of the Old Republic 13: Days of Fear, Part 1
 * Knights of the Old Republic 15: Days of Fear, Part 3
 * Knights of the Old Republic 16: Nights of Anger, Part 1
 * Knights of the Old Republic 17: Nights of Anger, Part 2
 * Knights of the Old Republic 19: Daze of Hate, Part 1
 * Knights of the Old Republic 20: Daze of Hate, Part 2
 * Knights of the Old Republic 22: Knights of Suffering, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic: Prophet Motive
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Return
 * Timeline 12: The Great Hyperspace War {{Hologram}}
 * Star Wars: The Old Republic
 * The Old Republic—The Lost Suns 1
 * The Old Republic—The Lost Suns 3
 * The Old Republic—The Lost Suns 4
 * {{TOR|Rise of the Hutt Cartel}}
 * {{TOR|Galactic Strongholds}}
 * {{TOR|Shadow of Revan}}
 * {{TOR|Knights of the Eternal Throne}}
 * Knight Errant
 * Star Wars: Republic: Prelude to Rebellion
 * Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
 * Star Wars: Republic Commando
 * The Eyes of Revolution
 * {{Hnn|45||A Closer Look|https://web.archive.org/web/20130107024028/http://www.holonetnews.com:80/45/}}
 * {{Hnn|45|life/13228_1.html|Priole Danna Festival Still a Go|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728121252/http://www.holonetnews.com/45/life/13228_1.html}}
 * {{Hnn|47|sports/13314_1.html|Coruscant Eliminated in Galactic Cup Opening Round|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728112123/http://www.holonetnews.com/47/sports/13314_1.html}}
 * {{Hnn|52|regional/13418_3.html|Circus Horrificus Turns Horrific|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728121810/http://www.holonetnews.com/52/regional/13418_3.html}}
 * {{Hnn|52|life/13418_1.html|Chatrunis Crowned Miss Coruscant|https://web.archive.org/web/20040826104940/http://www.holonetnews.com:80/52/life/13418_1.html}}
 * Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
 * Republic 49: Sacrifice
 * Republic 50: The Defense of Kamino
 * The Clone Wars: The Gauntlet of Death
 * {{TCW|Cat and Mouse}}
 * The Clone Wars: Shadowed
 * {{TCW|The Hidden Enemy}}
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars film
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Jedi Alliance
 * {{TCW|Supply Lines}}
 * The Clone Wars: Prelude
 * {{TCW|Ambush}}
 * The Clone Wars: Shakedown
 * {{TCW|Rising Malevolence|Rising Malevolence}}
 * {{TCW|Shadow of Malevolence|Shadow of Malevolence}}
 * The Clone Wars: Agenda
 * {{TCW|Destroy Malevolence|Destroy Malevolence}}
 * {{TCW|Clone Cadets}}
 * {{TCW|Rookies}}
 * {{TCW|ARC Troopers}}
 * {{TCW|Downfall of a Droid}}
 * {{TCW|Duel of the Droids}}
 * The Clone Wars: Transfer
 * {{TCW|Lair of Grievous}}
 * {{TCW|The Gungan General}}
 * The Clone Wars: Headgames
 * {{TCW|Jedi Crash}}
 * The Clone Wars: Neighbors
 * {{TCW|Defenders of Peace}}
 * The Clone Wars: Cold Snap
 * {{TCW|Trespass}}
 * {{TCW|Sphere of Influence}}
 * {{TCW|Mystery of a Thousand Moons}}
 * {{TCW|Storm Over Ryloth}}
 * {{TCW|Innocents of Ryloth}}
 * The Clone Wars: The Ballad of Cham Syndulla
 * {{TCW|Liberty on Ryloth}}
 * {{TCW|R2 Come Home}}
 * {{TCW|Lethal Trackdown}}
 * {{TCW|Assassin (episode)|Assassin}}
 * {{TCW|Evil Plans}}
 * The Clone Wars: Invitation Only
 * {{TCW|Hostage Crisis}}
 * {{TCW|Hunt for Ziro}}
 * The Clone Wars: Hunting the Hunters (Part I)
 * The Clone Wars: Act on Instinct
 * {{TCW|Holocron Heist}}
 * {{TCW|Cargo of Doom}}
 * {{TCW|Children of the Force}}
 * {{TCW|Senate Spy}}
 * {{TCW|Landing at Point Rain}}
 * {{TCW|Weapons Factory}}
 * {{TCW|Legacy of Terror}}
 * {{TCW|Brain Invaders}}
 * {{TCW|Grievous Intrigue}}
 * {{TCW|The Deserter}}
 * {{TCW|Lightsaber Lost}}
 * {{TCW|Voyage of Temptation}}
 * {{TCW|Duchess of Mandalore}}
 * {{TCW|Heroes on Both Sides}}
 * {{TCW|Pursuit of Peace|Pursuit of Peace}}
 * {{TCW|Senate Murders}}
 * {{TCW|Bounty Hunters (episode)|Bounty Hunters}}
 * {{TCW|The Zillo Beast}}
 * {{TCW|The Zillo Beast Strikes Back}}
 * Republic 54: Double Blind
 * Jedi: Aayla Secura
 * Jedi: Count Dooku
 * The Clone Wars: The Valsedian Operation
 * {{TCW|Corruption}}
 * {{TCW|The Academy}}
 * {{TCW|Nightsisters (episode)|Nightsisters}}
 * The Clone Wars: Strange Allies
 * {{TCW|The Citadel}}
 * {{TCW|Counterattack}}
 * {{TCW|Citadel Rescue}}
 * {{TCW|Padawan Lost}}
 * {{TCW|Wookiee Hunt}}
 * {{TCW|Water War}}
 * {{TCW|Prisoners}}
 * {{TCW|Mercy Mission}}
 * {{TCW|Darkness on Umbara}}
 * {{TCW|The General}}
 * {{TCW|Carnage of Krell}}
 * {{TCW|Kidnapped}}
 * {{TCW|Slaves of the Republic}}
 * {{TCW|Escape from Kadavo}}
 * {{TCW|Deception}}
 * {{TCW|Friends and Enemies}}
 * {{TCW|The Box}}
 * {{TCW|Crisis on Naboo}}
 * {{TCWUKCite|6.41|Mandalorian Memories}}
 * {{TCW|Bounty (episode)|Bounty}}
 * {{TCW|Brothers}}
 * {{TCW|Revenge (episode)|Revenge}}
 * {{InsiderCite|70|Republic HoloNet News Core Edition 14:9:04}}
 * {{InsiderCite|72|CIS Shadowfeed Year's Start Fete Day Edition}}
 * {{InsiderCite|73|CIS Shadowfeed Dispatch 15:01:15 Edition}}
 * {{InsiderCite|74|CIS Shadowfeed Dispatch 15:2:29 Edition}}
 * Republic 63: Striking from the Shadows
 * Republic 65: Show of Force, Part 1
 * {{TCW|A War on Two Fronts}}
 * {{TCW|Front Runners}}
 * {{TCW|The Soft War}}
 * {{TCW|Tipping Points}}
 * {{TCW|A Test of Strength}}
 * {{TCW|Bound for Rescue}}
 * {{TCW|A Necessary Bond}}
 * {{TCW|Secret Weapons}}
 * {{TCW|A Sunny Day in the Void}}
 * {{TCW|Missing in Action}}
 * {{TCW|Point of No Return}}
 * {{TCW|Revival (episode)|Revival}}
 * {{TCW|Eminence (episode)|Eminence}}
 * {{TCW|Shades of Reason}}
 * {{TCW|The Lawless}}
 * {{TCW|Sabotage (episode)|Sabotage}}
 * {{TCW|The Jedi Who Knew Too Much}}
 * {{TCW|To Catch a Jedi}}
 * {{TCW|The Wrong Jedi}}
 * {{TCW|The Unknown}}
 * {{TCW|Conspiracy}}
 * {{TCW|Fugitive}}
 * {{TCW|Orders}}
 * {{TCW|An Old Friend}}
 * {{TCW|The Rise of Clovis}}
 * {{TCW|Crisis at the Heart}}
 * {{TCW|The Disappeared, Part I}} {{C|Numbers only}}
 * {{TCW|The Disappeared, Part II}}
 * {{TCW|The Lost One}}
 * {{TCW|Voices}}
 * Republic 71: Dreadnaughts of Rendili, Part 3
 * Star Wars: Republic: Trackdown
 * Republic 74: Siege of Saleucami, Part 1
 * Sithisis {{C|Title page only}}
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * {{InsiderCite|84|Republic HoloNet News Special Inaugural Edition 16:5:241}}
 * Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows 2
 * Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows 3
 * Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows 4
 * Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows 5
 * Dark Times 14: Blue Harvest, Part 2
 * Dark Times—A Spark Remains 1
 * Dark Times—A Spark Remains 2
 * Dark Times—A Spark Remains 4
 * Dark Times—A Spark Remains 5
 * The Last of the Jedi: The Desperate Mission
 * Agent of the Empire—Iron Eclipse, Part 3 {{C|Cover only}}
 * Agent of the Empire—Iron Eclipse, Part 5
 * Agent of the Empire—Hard Targets, Part 1
 * Agent of the Empire—Hard Targets, Part 3
 * Agent of the Empire—Hard Targets, Part 4
 * Agent of the Empire—Hard Targets, Part 5
 * Blood Ties: A Tale of Jango and Boba Fett 2
 * Blood Ties: Boba Fett is Dead 1
 * Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II comic
 * Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
 * Star Wars: DroidWorks
 * Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope {{C|Post-2004 releases only}}
 * {{Journal|11|Spare Parts (short story)|Spare Parts}}
 * The Long Arm of the Hutt {{Po}}
 * Under a Black Sun {{Po}}
 * Operation: Shadowpoint {{Po}}
 * Scoundrels
 * Star Wars 4: In the Shadow of Yavin, Part 4
 * Star Wars 5: In the Shadow of Yavin, Part 5
 * Star Wars 6: In the Shadow of Yavin, Part 6
 * Star Wars 10
 * Star Wars 11
 * Star Wars 14: Five Days of Sith, Part Two
 * Star Wars 19
 * Star Wars 20
 * {{InsiderCite|148|Silver and Scarlet}} {{Po}}
 * {{SWG|An Empire Divided}}
 * Star Wars: Empire: The Wrong Side of the War
 * Rebel Heist 2
 * Rebel Heist 3
 * {{Tales|3|Lady Luck (comic)|Lady Luck}}
 * Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance
 * Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi {{1st}} {{C|Not used for writing Basic}}
 * Mara Jade: By the Emperor's Hand
 * A New Hope: The Life of Luke Skywalker
 * Shadows of the Empire: Evolution
 * {{Hyperspace|url=hyperspace/fiction/feature20081031.html|text=Fists of Ion|int=Fists of Ion|newurl=http://star-wars.suvudu.com/2012/10/star-wars-shorts-fists-of-ion.html|newhost=Suvudu}} {{Mo}}
 * X-Wing: Isard's Revenge
 * {{InsiderCite|133|Hunting the Gorach}} {{Po}}
 * Specter of the Past
 * Star Wars: Union
 * Invasion 0: Refugees, Prologue
 * Invasion: Refugees 5
 * Invasion: Rescues 6
 * Fate of the Jedi: Backlash
 * Legacy 3: Broken, Part 3
 * Legacy 14: Claws of the Dragon, Part 1
 * Legacy 16: Claws of the Dragon, Part 3
 * Legacy 20: Indomitable, Part 1
 * Legacy 21: Indomitable, Part 2 {{C|Cover only}}
 * Star Wars: Legacy: Loyalties
 * Legacy 27: Into the Core
 * Legacy 35: Storms, Part 2
 * Legacy—War 1
 * Legacy 11

Non-canonical appearances
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 * Tag & Bink: Revenge of the Clone Menace
 * "Dear Anakin"—Star Wars Manga: Black
 * The Phantom Clone
 * Old Wounds
 * The Star Wars 1
 * The Star Wars 2
 * The Star Wars 3
 * The Star Wars 4
 * "Perfect Evil, Part 2"—Star Wars Manga: Silver
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out
 * Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out
 * Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars