Jawaese/Legends

Jawaese was the native language of the Jawa species from Tatooine. It was mainly composed of meaningless syllables, supported by pheromone produced scents, which allowed it to be understood. Jawa communication was based in these scents to such a high degree that the scent a Jawa gave out could tell others about that Jawa's mood.

Jawas could not pronounce Basic language or many other extended languages due to several vocal limitations of the species. They could, however, learn to understand most existing languages.

Because the Jawas were known for bargaining with other species, they created a simplified form of their own language, the Jawa Trade Language, to speak with humans and many other species. The Jawa Trade Language did not require the use of pheromones in order to communicate.

Jawaese, much unlike the rough barking of the Tuskens, could be more easily learned by Humans. The language was spoken very quickly and had been described as jabbering.

Notable non-native speakers of Jawaese

 * Empideera Kkek
 * Obi-Wan Kenobi
 * Pg'lax
 * Rayne
 * Sardu Sallowe
 * Luke Skywalker
 * Revan
 * Telowe
 * Watto
 * Tira Wils
 * C-3PO
 * Anakin Skywalker

Most known words

 * Ashuna      Go
 * Ayafa       Clan.
 * Baba        Days.
 * Bazzok      Cook.
 * Bok         Far.
 * Bom’loo     Bargain.
 * Bopom Kova  Mountain.
 * Chikua      Them.
 * Cirkoza     Encampment.
 * Dikwass     Cliff.
 * Dooka       Junk.
 * Eyeta       Friend.
 * Gomjam      Always.
 * Ha'mfoo     Burn.
 * Hazamuzee   Chant.
 * Hkeek nkulla A particularly disparaging Jawa curse.
 * Hunya       Enemy.
 * Ibana       Yes.
 * Ikee        I.
 * Jar k’osa   Large.
 * Jubinloo    City.
 * Kebee'oto   Long ago.
 * Keeza       Weapon.
 * Kiizci      Cave.
 * Kiluyak     Cloud.
 *  Ko lopo    Broken.
 * Kurruzza    Repair.
 * Lopima      Stars.
 * Lo'wassa    Sail barge.
 * Mambay      Okay.
 * M'nuta      Hole.
 * M'tuske     Steal.
 * M'um m’aloo Greetings, Hello.
 * Nekkel juuvar obwegadada Jawa curse.
 * Neng ooka   Yesterday.
 * Nufuzu      Below.
 * Nyeta       No.
 * Okka        Up.
 * Oko         Cold.
 * Ookwass     Where.
 * Opakwa      Spare parts.
 * Perupa      Pray.
 * Pibboz      Warm.
 * Ratapa      Knife.
 * Rubac       Rust.
 * Sabioto     Stop.
 * Shanay      Sleep.
 * Shootogawa  Shoot, Blast.
 * Sooga       Food.
 * Speeda      Speeder.
 * Taa baa     Thank you, Thanks.
 * Tando       Fix.
 * Theek       Run.
 * Tilba       Above.
 * Toineepa    Credit.
 * Ton ton     Sand.
 * Ubanya      Good day, Good-bye.
 * Ugama       Bantha.
 * Umka        Walk.
 * Umpee       Empire.
 * Upezzo      Market.
 * Utinni      Wow, Battle cry, Alert to other jawas.
 * Vapoosza    Vaporator.
 * Waff’mla    Desert.
 * Wass        Hot.
 * Ysas        Equal.

Counting in Jawaese

 * 1              Po
 * 2              Ko
 * 3              Kyo
 * 4              Yo
 * 5              Dyo
 * 6              Lyo
 * 7            go
 * 8              Ho
 * 9              Toe  
 * 10             Kisewa
 * 11             Gini vi va
 * 100            Gakisewa
 * 1000           Hakisewa
 * 100,000,000    Jo jo muma

Behind the scenes
Jawaese was first heard in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Ben Burtt developed the language for the Star Wars saga. He was drawn to several African languages, in particular Zulu. Recording several individuals who spoke Zulu, Burtt wrote a script patterned on the various sounds he heard and had actors re-voice them for the films. The “recordings were sped up to raise the pitch and accelerate the flow of words” to give us the Jawa language that we are familiar with today.

Appearances

 * Underworld: The Yavin Vassilika
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Fred Jawa
 * Ambush at Corellia