The name of the Chess Pieces in Uropi and reasons for this choice.
Raj: the king
Edit
U raj.
In all languages undoubtedly.
Dama, raja: the queen Edit
U dama.
Apart from vizier, they are the most frequent words. Why not keep them both as in Catalan, Spanish, French, Rumanian, Esperanto, Polish, Slovenian, Bulgarian ? The vizier or minister seems out of the question because in many countries ministers don't play an important part on the battlefields.
Tor: the rook Edit
U tor.
This is the most common term, especially if you add words with a similar meaning like castle or fortress (Indonesian benteng).
Kwal: the knight Edit
U kwal.
We can keep both terms as in Afrikaans (perd, ruiter).
Renor: the bishop Edit
U renor.
Although it is used in many languages, the word elephant is out of the question because it is limited geographically to certain countries. This is also the case for the word bishop which is limited to one religion. So what remains ? Madman (or jester) is crazy and it is an error: there only remains runner or courier (a person who runs and a messenger) as in Germ. (Laüfer), Dutch (loper), Da. (løber), Nor. (løper), Romansh (currider), Esperanto (kuriero), Pol. (goniec). Another interesting possibility would be shooter (person who shoots) as in Czech střelec, Slova. strelec) or hunter (Serb., Cro. lovac, Sloven. lovec), but the use of those words is too limited.
Podin: the pawn Edit
U podin
A word which is used in other games. As in the great majority of languages, this word comes from foot (Lat. pes, pedis): pion, pedone, peón, peó, pedes, peoi, peão, pe∂, pezh-gwerin, pėstininkas… and also Slavic words like peška, pešiak, pišak, pešak, pěšec meaning pedestrian (CF Russian идтн пешком "idti peckom" = to go on foot). This is also the case for words like piyada, pijoda, pyjada that are derived from Farsi pyāda or Hindi pyādā. The meaning is of course infantryman, foot soldier as in Lithuanian pėstininkas.
Cak id cak-mat: check and check-mate Edit
De nar raj vid cak-maten.
These expressions are derived from the Farsi words shah mat = the king is defeated.
