Analysis[]
It has been suggested the Skiff and Geisterspeak may be the same language or closely related languages.
The word (or word root) "tok" probably means "to fight" in both languages.
Also, the word "ni" has appeared in Skifandrian "Ni tok!" and Geisterspeak "Tokkah ni!" in such a context that it could be either an imperative form, or the word "to do". If so, word order is significant in both languages, as a preceding "ni" seems be a negation, in this case "do not" or "stop", while a following "ni" is the affirmative or imperative form, in this case "do it". (Alternatively, "tokkah" may indicate a failure to fight.). 'Tokk' appear to be the future action of 'tok' in both languages. Tokk: go to fight/ will fight.
While this alone is hardly conclusive evidence that the languages are closely related or even identical, it is probably too unlikely to be simple coincidence - and many apparently insignificant things in Girl Genius have already turned out to be significant for the plot. The plot significance of a relation between Geisterspeak and Skiff, of course, would be that it shows a close relation between the Geisterdamen and Skifander.
The line "Zavadeek klo eeja", which means an unknown variation of "your answer to everything" (order of words unknown), might or might not indicate that the Skiff makes use of declination for genitive case like Latin does in Europe (should the relevant word mean "your answer" rather than "answer"). It also might or might not simply have the posesive pronoum ommited ([your] answer to everything), and said pronoum ellipsis might or might not be normal usage in Skiff.
Translations[]
| Skiff | Lingua europa | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kolee-dok-zumil | Sort of ✣ like "teacher and student". Sort of like "cause and effect". Mostly like "grindstone and knife". | Zeetha, to ✣ Agatha. |
| D'Jorok'ku Skifandias von?! | 1:How did you get here from Skifander?! 2:Are you from Skifander?! 3: A Skifandrian Swordmistress/Princess/Warrior Woman, here? | Klaus, on first seeing ✣ Zeetha. |
| Ah -- Ah -- zur baken Skiff?! | Oh -- Oh -- you speak Skiff?! | Zeetha, on hearing Klaus speak ✣ in her language. |
| 'Kar!' Mor baken Skiff! | 1:Yes! I speak Skiff! 2:Duh! I speak Skiff! 3: Obviously, I speak Skiff! | Klaus to ✣ Zeetha. |
| Braka na Zanta. . . (glurk!) | 1:Were you sent by Zantabraxus . . . 2:Did Zantabraxus come with you . . . 3: Zantabraxus taught me . . . 4:Her Majesty Zanta . . . 5:Husband of Zanta . . . 6: Daughter of Zanta . . . 7: How does/is/fares Zanta... | Klaus to ✣ Zeetha |
| Ni Tok! | Stop fighting! | When the Baron has pretty much defeated Zeetha, and holds a knife to her throat |
| baken | 1: to speak 2: to understand | |
| Kar | yes; of course; obviously; duh! | an affirmative term of some kind |
| mor | I | |
| Skiff | the term for the Skifandrian language | |
| tok | to fight | inferred from "Ni Tok!"; compare to Geisterspeak "tokkah" |
| "tokk" | Future version of tok, to fight/ will fight | Lady Steelgarter "Tokk tha, Zantabraxus!" to ✣ |
| zur | you | not certain; if the translation is correct, the word should have appeared in Klaus´ question to Zeetha, too |
| von | interrogative particle | perhaps 'how'; perhaps stative verb 'to be from' |
| "Zavadeek klo eeja" | Either "Answer to Everything" (or "Your Answer to Everything") or "Everything's Answer" | Zeetha finishes with "Eh, Chump?", which either is in Europan, or the filler interjection "eh" has the same meaning in both languages. |
| tha | ? to ✣ | |
| Hokka pok | "What the-" As an interjection of surprise, and emphatic. And have the same meaning in Geisterspeak. | Lady Stealgarter yells "Hokka pok za!" to ✣ and Tarvek says "Hokka pok?"to ✣ |
| za | ? to ✣ |