The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mando'ade - FINISH
Posted: 15 Feb 2017 04:56
The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries were written by Howard Tayler, creator of the webcomic Schlock Mercenary. They are a compilation of witticisms and institutionalized bravado masquerading as common sense and general orders. Many do carry a certain degree of profound meaning, but it is often buried under phrasing that has been tuned for quotability at the expense of explicit clarity.
70 Maxims was originally written in a dialect of Basic known as Galstandard West. It has since been translated into Galstandard East, Galstandard Eight, Galstandard Brown, and Galstandard Peroxide, and is now receiving its long-overdue translation into Mando'a.
This seems like a good way to cut my teeth on the language, and given the subject matter, I think the translation has the potential to be even better in Mando'a than in English ("You have not truly experienced Shakespeare until you have read it in its original Klingon"). I'll be updating this as I have time; any and all input is appreciated.
This root post will be updated with the most current translations. The first line is the original English, the second is Mando'a, and the third is a literal translation of the Mando'a back into English (to aid in spotting translation errors and reverse-engineering new words). Words followed by asterisks are either new compound words or entirely new, and have their own list after the maxims.
To aid anyone who feels like cross-checking my work, words, roots, prefixes, and suffixes are now color-coded based on where I found them!
Red text means I got it from the main site dictionary.
Yellow text means I got it from the Words i accumulated or invented so far thread by Tal’jair “te Mir’ad” Rusk.
Green text means I got it from the Total Guide To Mandalorian Language by Tal’jair “te Mir’ad” Rusk.
Blue text means I got it from the Want to learn Mando'a? Hopefully I can help thread by Cuyan Atinii.
Purple text is my own work. I can't guarantee I'm not duplicating or contradicting someone else's work, but it's something I came up with or reverse-engineered on my own.
And I apologize for making my text an eyesore, but it was this or a web of citation notes.
Current Progress
70/70 Maxims Translated
40/70 Translations Edited
1. Pillage, then burn.
Gar ne'lis chak meg gar shi ru'ori'hett.
You can't steal what you just blew up.
2. A Sergeant in motion outranks a Lieutenant who doesn't know what's going on.
Nari'an ruus'alor jaon'kaji shebe'an ver'alor.
[A] moving Sergeant outranks [a] sitting Lieutenant.
3. An ordnance technician at a dead run outranks everybody.
Besbetrayc'naast viini'an par kaysh oyar jaon'kaji anade.
[An] ordnance technician running for his life outranks everybody.
4. Close air support covereth a multitude of sins.
Gebi can'gal hukaan ne'lise gotali di'kut, a lise gotali mayen ashi.
Close starfighter cover can't fix stupid, but [it] can fix anything else.
5. Close air support and friendly fire should be easier to tell apart.
Gebi can'gal hukaan bal burcya'la tracyn vegyce'haa'tayli sol'tanyc'shya.
Close starfighter cover and friendly fire should look more different.
6. If violence wasn't your last resort, you failed to resort to enough of it.
Meh hokaad trattok'o, cuyi jorcu gar ne'ru'cuy hokaad'la luubid.
If violence fails, it's because you weren't violent enough.
7. If the food is good enough, the grunts will stop complaining about incoming fire.
B'akaan'ade taabi ru'ga'epa de epan. Pirim jate skraan.
[The] army's march [is] fed by [its] stomach. Use good food.
8. Mockery and derision have their place. Usually, it's on the far side of the airlock.
Takisite bal mir'shebse gana taap. Nu'haamyc'la cuyi chaaj'yc eso be be'sen or'dayn palon.
Insults and smart-asses have their place. Usually it's [the] far side of [the] ship's door.
9. Never turn your back on an enemy.
Nu draar tengaan gar aru'e gar shebs.
Never show your enemy your back.
10. Sometimes the only way out is through... through the hull.
Jahaal be sen'aliite olaro ru jahaal be sen.
[The] health of [the] crew comes before [the] health of [the] ship.
11. Everything is air-droppable at least once.
An vhebesbe liser abiik'barycir sol'ca'nara.
All ground gear can air deploy once.
12. A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head.
Pel'miite udes a'den. Tion a'den tengaan norac, tracyn kovid.
Soft words calm wrath. When wrath shows its back, shoot its head.
13. Do unto others.
Entay'nar.
Act.
14. "Mad Science" means never stopping to ask "whats the worst thing that could happen?"
Kar'tayl vaii gar tracyn ven'slan ru gar chaa'din bic.
Know where your shot will go before you send it.
15. Only you can prevent friendly fire.
Lenedat'an cuy anade'bora.
Targeting is everyone's job.
16. Your name is in the mouth of others: be sure it has teeth.
Gar gai cuy o'or uram be ash'ade. Jatne meh gan edee.
Your name is in [the] mouth of other people. Best if it has teeth.
17. The longer everything goes according to plan, the bigger the impending disaster.
Munitshya dajun oya, muun'shya bic ash'am.
[The] longer [the] plan stays alive, [the] harder it dies.
18. If the officers are leading from in front, watch out for an attack from the rear.
Meh alore alor jurkad, ja'haili par aru'ese laam gar shebs.
If [the] officers lead [the] assault, watch for enemies at your back.
19. The world is richer when you turn your friends into enemies, but that's not the same as you being richer.
Meg cuyi jatne par oyu ne'cuyi ratiin jatne par gar.
What's best for [the] galaxy isn't always best for you.
20. If you're not willing to shell your own position, you're not willing to win.
Parjai slan at kaysh cuyi runan'ne nars'nibrar.
Victory goes to those [who] are most willing to sacrifice.
21. Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Take his fish away and tell him he's lucky just to be alive, and he'll figure out how to catch another one for you to take tomorrow.
Dinu ad gi, epa par tuur. Hiib kaysh gi bal rejorhaar cuyi jatekara'la cuyir oyayc, mar'eyi yust beviiragir gi par gar nakar'tuur.
Give someone [a] fish, they eat for [a] day. Take their fish and tell [them] they are lucky to be alive, they find [a] way to catch [a] fish for you tomorrow.
22. If you can see the whites of their eyes, somebody's done something wrong.
Meh gar liser haa'tayl gar troan'tay o'r val buyce'se, ashnar ru'shabii.
If you can see your reflection in their helmets, somebody's screwed up.
23. The company mess and friendly fire should be easier to tell apart.
Ol'averde skraan'karyai bal burcya'la tracyn vegyce'haa'tayli sol'tanyc'shya.
[The] company food-house and friendly fire should look more different.
24. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a big gun.
Laamyc'gotala cuyi laamyc'ori'hett.
High-technology is high-explosion (more loosely, high tech is high yield).
25. If a manufacturer's warranty covers the damage you did, you didn't do enough damage.
Meh gotur liser gotali meg gar ru'nyn, gar ne ru'nar nyn luubid'muun.
If [a] mechanic can fix what you struck, you didn't strike hard enough.
26. "Fire and forget" is fine, provided you never actually forget.
Yust'besenaare su liniba yust'ad.
Guided missiles still need [a] guide.
27. Don't be afraid to be the first to resort to violence.
Ne cuy chaab gaanynir sol'yc.
Don't be afraid to punch first.
28. If the price of collateral damage is high enough, you might be able to get paid for bringing ammunition home with you.
Naasade beri majyc par haran val ne'copaani.
Nobody pays extra for destruction they don't want.
29. The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy. No more. No less.
Ash'ad liser copaani gaa'taylir gar bal su copaani kyr'amur gar.
Someone can want to help you and still want to kill you.
30. A little trust goes a long way. The less you use, the further you'll go.
Ruusal'ika slana chaaj'yc. Ruusal'ika'shya slana chaashya.
[A] little trust goes far. Less trust goes farther.
31. Only cheaters prosper.
Shi ne'torla akaan cuyi akaan gar nibrar.
[The] only unfair fight is [the] fight you lose.
32. Anything is amphibious if you can get it back out of the water.
An besbe cuyi pirun'besbe meh bic su borari piryc.
All gear is water-gear if it still works wet.
33. If you're leaving tracks, you're being followed.
Meh dayngaan vhe'sur, ash'ad shekemi.
If [you] drop [a] trail, someone follows [you].
34. If you're leaving scorch marks, you need a bigger gun.
Meh kadalik, linib ori'shya kad.
If [you leave a] scratch, [you] need [a] bigger sword.
35. That which does not kill you has made a tactical error.
Ibac meg ne'nari kyr'amu gar gotal'u kyramla dunar.
That which does not kill you makes [a] fatal error.
36. When the going gets tough, the tough call for close air support.
Cuy draar bid atin'la meg ne'lis jor par gaa'tay.
[You] are never so tough that [you] can't call for help.
37. There is no "overkill." There is only "open fire" and "reload."
Naysol besbe'trayce cuyi draar luubid.
Too many weapons is never enough.
38. What's easy for you can still be hard on your clients.
Cuyi tra acyk "pakod narir" bal "ash'ad liser." Ne'chur'waad garast.
There is a difference between "easy to do" and "anyone can [do it]." Don't under-price yourself.
39. There is a difference between spare parts and extra parts.
Cuyi tra acyk ne'liniba ne'tome ne'pirimmu ne'tome.
There is a difference between unneeded parts and unused parts.
40. Not all good news is enemy action.
Ne'an jate'evaar'miit cuyi aru'e'nari.
Not all good news is enemy action.
41. "Do you have a backup?" means "I can't fix this."
"Tion gan tadyc?" sirbu "Ne'gotal ibic."
"Do have second?" says "Can't fix this."
42. "They'll never expect this" means "I want to try something stupid."
"Val ne'ban'tioni ibic" sirbu "Ni copaan kebuur jare'la dajun."
"They not-guess this" says "I want to try stupid plan."
43. If it's stupid and it works, it's still stupid and you're lucky.
Meh cuyi dikut'la bal borari, cuyi su'dikut'la bal gar cuy jate'kara.
If is stupid and works, is still-stupid and you're lucky.
44. If it will blow a hole in the ground, it will double as an entrenching tool.
Meh lise gotal palon o'r vheh, tebece ven'borari as vheh'gaanur'se.
If can make hole in ground, munitions will-work as shovels.
45. The size of the combat bonus is inversely proportional to the likelihood of surviving to collect it.
Gar ne'lis pirim waade meg waad gar oyar.
You can't use money that cost your life.
46. Don't try to save money by conserving ammunition.
Nu'kebb tegaanalir waade de tegaanal'an tebece.
Not-try to save money by saving ammunition.
47. Don't expect the enemy to cooperate in the creation of your dream engagement.
Ne'par par aru'e narir gar bora par gar. ((Translator's note: I don't think I managed to fit enough A's into this sentence.))
Not-wait for enemy to do your job for you.
48. If it ain't broke, it hasn't been issued to the infantry.
Trat'aab cuyi shukur kebise. Cerat val shal aru'e ru besbalor cu'ami kaden.
Infantry exists to break things. Point them at enemy before quartermaster becomes angry.
49. Every client is one missed payment away from becoming a target and every target is one bribe away from becoming a client.
Nar bora par meg gar as'gaan ber. Ne'cuy gaanadyc beh meg lise beri.
Do job for which you receive payment. Not-be picky about who can pay.
50. If it only works in exactly the way the manufacturer intended, it is defective.
Meh shi borari boru gotur copaani, cuyi di'kutla.
If only works how manufacturer wants, it's useless.
51. Let them see you sharpen the sword before you fall on it.
Tran gar takisit ru gar eparav bic.
Shine your insult before you eat it.
52. The army you've got is never the army you want.
Akaan'ade gar gan cuyi draar akaan'ade gar copaan.
Army you have is never army you want.
53. The intel you've got is never the intel you want.
Narjahail'miit gar gan cuyi draar narjahail'miit gar copaan.
Intel you have is never intel you want.
54. It's only too many troops if you can't pay them.
Shi naysol verde meh ne'lis ber val.
Only too many soldiers if can't pay them.
55. It's only too many weapons if they're pointing in the wrong direction.
Shi naysol kade meh cuyi bat dush videk.
Only too many swords if they're on wrong neck.
56. Infantry exists to paint targets for people with real guns.
Trat'aab cuyi lenedat par dra'kaane.
Infantry exists to target for cannons.
57. Artillery exists to launch large chunks of budget at an enemy it cannot actually see.
Dra'kaane cuyi tracyar waadasla kyrale at meg val vercopaani cuyi aru'e.
Cannons exist to fire expensive bullets towards what they hope is enemy.
58. The pen is mightiest when it writes orders for more swords.
Miit'bev cuyi dral'ne tuu miit'gaana ke'gyce par majyc kade.
Pen is most powerful when writes orders for more swords.
59. Two wrongs is probably not going to be enough.
Nu'kebb gotal'ur jate 'kay ashnar gotal'an dush.
Not-try to make right until done making wrong.
60. Any weapon's rate of fire is inversely proportional to the number of available targets.
Niviin'yc'shya gar besbe'trayce tra'cya, iviin'yc'shya gar aru'e ornau'kemi.
Slower your gun fires, faster your enemies appear.
61. Don't bring big grenades into small rooms.
Ne'jur ori'goorese lo kih'yamikase.
Not-carry big-grenades into small-rooms.
62. Anything labeled "This end toward enemy" is dangerous at both ends.
Gar besbe'trayc gotal aarar kebise. Ne'mird bic ne'lise aara gar.
Your weapon made to hurt things. Not-think it can't hurt you.
63. The brass knows how to do it by knowing who can do it.
Alore kar'tayli boru narir de kar'tayli'an meg lise nari.
Officers know how to do by knowing who can do.
64. An ounce of sniper is worth a pound of suppressing fire.
Sol'kand'ika be ramser cuyi sa jate sa sol'kand be traat'aliit'tracyn.
Gram of sniper is as good as kilogram of squad-fire.
65. After the toss, be the one with the pin, not the one with the grenade.
Ven goor, cuyi verd ti bev, ne'cuyi verd ti goore.
After throw, be soldier with pin, not-be soldier with grenade.
66. Necessity is the mother of deception.
Linib cuyi buir be jehaate.
Necessity is parent of lies.
67. If you can't carry cash, carry a weapon.
Meh gar ne'lis jur waade, jur besbe'trayc.
If you can't carry money, carry weapon.
68. Negotiating from a position of strength does not mean you shouldn't also negotiate from a position near the exits.
Draar mird cuy bid dral ne'ven'linib iviin'yc dayn'yust.
Never think you are so strong you won't need fast exit.
69. Sometimes rank is a function of firepower.
Dul'ca'nara verd'kajii cuyi ru'gyci de tracy'kot.
Sometimes rank is decided by firepower.
70. Failure is not an option - it is mandatory. The option is whether or not to let failure be the last thing you do.
Nibral ne'cuyi gaanada - cuyi mirutre'la. Gaanada cuyi meh nibral ven'cuyi gar kyr'yc nar.
Failure is not choice - it is certain. Choice is if failure will be your final act.
Besbalor: quartermaster. Root words besbe (gear), alor (officer, leader).
Besbetrayc'naast: ordnance technician, EOD. Roots besbe'trayc (weapon), naast (destroyer)
Burcya'la: friendly. The 'la suffix is used to create an adverb out of a noun (evaar -> evaar'la, jare -> jare'la, osik -> osik'la, etc.), so in this case, it's applied to the root word burc'ya (friend). The possibly ironic application is written into the definition of burc'ya in the Mando'a main dictionary, so it's especially fitting for describing 'friendly' fire.
Gaanadyc: selective, picky. Root word gaanader (choose, select).
Jatekara'la: lucky. Root word jate'kara (luck, destiny), adverb suffix 'la.
Jaon'kajir: outrank. Roots jaon (over), verd'kajii (rank)
Jorberir: to cause. Root word jorbe (reason, cause, root).
Ke'gyc'an: ordering. Root words ke'gyce (order, command), an (gerund suffix).
Linib: need, necessity. Derived root from linibar (verb: need), linyc (adjective: necessary, needed)
Mirutre'la: certain. Derived from nemirutre'la (adjective: uncertain).
Narjahail'miit: intel, recon. Root words narja'hail (scout), miit (word)
Nars'nibrar: to sacrifice, to lose for a purpose. Root words narser (purpose), nibrar (lose, fail).
Ne'ru'cuyi: were not. Root words ne (negative prefix), ru (past tense prefix), cuyir (cuyi, they are).
Oyu: galaxy. From roots oyu'baat (universe) and oyula (galactic).
Runan: willing. Roots runar (will, volition), 'an (gerund suffix).
Ru'pirim: used. Root words ru (past tense previx), pirimmur (pirim, you use).
Ru'trattok'or: failed. Root words ru (past tense prefix), trattok'or (fail).
Sol'kand'ika: gram, minute weight measurement. Root words sol'kand (weight measurement, ~1 kilogram), 'ika (diminutive suffix)
Sol'tanyc: different. Root sol'tan (one of a kind, unique).
Torla: fair, just. Root word tor (justice).
Tracy'kot: firepower, strength of arms. Derived from tracyn (noun: fire), kot (noun: strength)
Val: them. Expanded definition of existing word val (they, theirs).
Vhebesbe: equipment meant for use on solid ground (scout bikes, mobile HQs, earthmovers, etc.). Root words vheh (earth, dust, soil), besbe (kit).
Yust'besenaar: guided missile. Root words yust (way), be'senaar (missile).
Prefixes and suffixes:
Ent', entay': prefix denoting imperative, "must."
Ru': prefix denoting past tense.
Ven': prefix denoting "will." Will strike, will follow, etc.
'an: used to create a gerund form of a verb (move -> moving, ask -> asking, etc.). The general English phrase "is ____ing" is rendered as "nari ____'an" (literally: does the ___ing) in Mando'a.
'la: used to create an adverb from a noun, similarly to the way -ly creates an adverb from an adjective in English.
'ne: superlative suffix. Easy -> easiest, deep -> deepest, etc.
'or: applied to verbs to denote military objectives (ram'or: attack, besiege; trattok'or: fail, fall, collapse; tsikador: prepare, get ready).
'shya: comparative suffix. Easy -> easier, deep -> deeper, etc.
70 Maxims was originally written in a dialect of Basic known as Galstandard West. It has since been translated into Galstandard East, Galstandard Eight, Galstandard Brown, and Galstandard Peroxide, and is now receiving its long-overdue translation into Mando'a.
This seems like a good way to cut my teeth on the language, and given the subject matter, I think the translation has the potential to be even better in Mando'a than in English ("You have not truly experienced Shakespeare until you have read it in its original Klingon"). I'll be updating this as I have time; any and all input is appreciated.
This root post will be updated with the most current translations. The first line is the original English, the second is Mando'a, and the third is a literal translation of the Mando'a back into English (to aid in spotting translation errors and reverse-engineering new words). Words followed by asterisks are either new compound words or entirely new, and have their own list after the maxims.
To aid anyone who feels like cross-checking my work, words, roots, prefixes, and suffixes are now color-coded based on where I found them!
Red text means I got it from the main site dictionary.
Yellow text means I got it from the Words i accumulated or invented so far thread by Tal’jair “te Mir’ad” Rusk.
Green text means I got it from the Total Guide To Mandalorian Language by Tal’jair “te Mir’ad” Rusk.
Blue text means I got it from the Want to learn Mando'a? Hopefully I can help thread by Cuyan Atinii.
Purple text is my own work. I can't guarantee I'm not duplicating or contradicting someone else's work, but it's something I came up with or reverse-engineered on my own.
And I apologize for making my text an eyesore, but it was this or a web of citation notes.
Current Progress
70/70 Maxims Translated
40/70 Translations Edited
1. Pillage, then burn.
Gar ne'lis chak meg gar shi ru'ori'hett.
You can't steal what you just blew up.
2. A Sergeant in motion outranks a Lieutenant who doesn't know what's going on.
Nari'an ruus'alor jaon'kaji shebe'an ver'alor.
[A] moving Sergeant outranks [a] sitting Lieutenant.
3. An ordnance technician at a dead run outranks everybody.
Besbetrayc'naast viini'an par kaysh oyar jaon'kaji anade.
[An] ordnance technician running for his life outranks everybody.
4. Close air support covereth a multitude of sins.
Gebi can'gal hukaan ne'lise gotali di'kut, a lise gotali mayen ashi.
Close starfighter cover can't fix stupid, but [it] can fix anything else.
5. Close air support and friendly fire should be easier to tell apart.
Gebi can'gal hukaan bal burcya'la tracyn vegyce'haa'tayli sol'tanyc'shya.
Close starfighter cover and friendly fire should look more different.
6. If violence wasn't your last resort, you failed to resort to enough of it.
Meh hokaad trattok'o, cuyi jorcu gar ne'ru'cuy hokaad'la luubid.
If violence fails, it's because you weren't violent enough.
7. If the food is good enough, the grunts will stop complaining about incoming fire.
B'akaan'ade taabi ru'ga'epa de epan. Pirim jate skraan.
[The] army's march [is] fed by [its] stomach. Use good food.
8. Mockery and derision have their place. Usually, it's on the far side of the airlock.
Takisite bal mir'shebse gana taap. Nu'haamyc'la cuyi chaaj'yc eso be be'sen or'dayn palon.
Insults and smart-asses have their place. Usually it's [the] far side of [the] ship's door.
9. Never turn your back on an enemy.
Nu draar tengaan gar aru'e gar shebs.
Never show your enemy your back.
10. Sometimes the only way out is through... through the hull.
Jahaal be sen'aliite olaro ru jahaal be sen.
[The] health of [the] crew comes before [the] health of [the] ship.
11. Everything is air-droppable at least once.
An vhebesbe liser abiik'barycir sol'ca'nara.
All ground gear can air deploy once.
12. A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head.
Pel'miite udes a'den. Tion a'den tengaan norac, tracyn kovid.
Soft words calm wrath. When wrath shows its back, shoot its head.
13. Do unto others.
Entay'nar.
Act.
14. "Mad Science" means never stopping to ask "whats the worst thing that could happen?"
Kar'tayl vaii gar tracyn ven'slan ru gar chaa'din bic.
Know where your shot will go before you send it.
15. Only you can prevent friendly fire.
Lenedat'an cuy anade'bora.
Targeting is everyone's job.
16. Your name is in the mouth of others: be sure it has teeth.
Gar gai cuy o'or uram be ash'ade. Jatne meh gan edee.
Your name is in [the] mouth of other people. Best if it has teeth.
17. The longer everything goes according to plan, the bigger the impending disaster.
Munitshya dajun oya, muun'shya bic ash'am.
[The] longer [the] plan stays alive, [the] harder it dies.
18. If the officers are leading from in front, watch out for an attack from the rear.
Meh alore alor jurkad, ja'haili par aru'ese laam gar shebs.
If [the] officers lead [the] assault, watch for enemies at your back.
19. The world is richer when you turn your friends into enemies, but that's not the same as you being richer.
Meg cuyi jatne par oyu ne'cuyi ratiin jatne par gar.
What's best for [the] galaxy isn't always best for you.
20. If you're not willing to shell your own position, you're not willing to win.
Parjai slan at kaysh cuyi runan'ne nars'nibrar.
Victory goes to those [who] are most willing to sacrifice.
21. Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Take his fish away and tell him he's lucky just to be alive, and he'll figure out how to catch another one for you to take tomorrow.
Dinu ad gi, epa par tuur. Hiib kaysh gi bal rejorhaar cuyi jatekara'la cuyir oyayc, mar'eyi yust beviiragir gi par gar nakar'tuur.
Give someone [a] fish, they eat for [a] day. Take their fish and tell [them] they are lucky to be alive, they find [a] way to catch [a] fish for you tomorrow.
22. If you can see the whites of their eyes, somebody's done something wrong.
Meh gar liser haa'tayl gar troan'tay o'r val buyce'se, ashnar ru'shabii.
If you can see your reflection in their helmets, somebody's screwed up.
23. The company mess and friendly fire should be easier to tell apart.
Ol'averde skraan'karyai bal burcya'la tracyn vegyce'haa'tayli sol'tanyc'shya.
[The] company food-house and friendly fire should look more different.
24. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a big gun.
Laamyc'gotala cuyi laamyc'ori'hett.
High-technology is high-explosion (more loosely, high tech is high yield).
25. If a manufacturer's warranty covers the damage you did, you didn't do enough damage.
Meh gotur liser gotali meg gar ru'nyn, gar ne ru'nar nyn luubid'muun.
If [a] mechanic can fix what you struck, you didn't strike hard enough.
26. "Fire and forget" is fine, provided you never actually forget.
Yust'besenaare su liniba yust'ad.
Guided missiles still need [a] guide.
27. Don't be afraid to be the first to resort to violence.
Ne cuy chaab gaanynir sol'yc.
Don't be afraid to punch first.
28. If the price of collateral damage is high enough, you might be able to get paid for bringing ammunition home with you.
Naasade beri majyc par haran val ne'copaani.
Nobody pays extra for destruction they don't want.
29. The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy. No more. No less.
Ash'ad liser copaani gaa'taylir gar bal su copaani kyr'amur gar.
Someone can want to help you and still want to kill you.
30. A little trust goes a long way. The less you use, the further you'll go.
Ruusal'ika slana chaaj'yc. Ruusal'ika'shya slana chaashya.
[A] little trust goes far. Less trust goes farther.
31. Only cheaters prosper.
Shi ne'torla akaan cuyi akaan gar nibrar.
[The] only unfair fight is [the] fight you lose.
32. Anything is amphibious if you can get it back out of the water.
An besbe cuyi pirun'besbe meh bic su borari piryc.
All gear is water-gear if it still works wet.
33. If you're leaving tracks, you're being followed.
Meh dayngaan vhe'sur, ash'ad shekemi.
If [you] drop [a] trail, someone follows [you].
34. If you're leaving scorch marks, you need a bigger gun.
Meh kadalik, linib ori'shya kad.
If [you leave a] scratch, [you] need [a] bigger sword.
35. That which does not kill you has made a tactical error.
Ibac meg ne'nari kyr'amu gar gotal'u kyramla dunar.
That which does not kill you makes [a] fatal error.
36. When the going gets tough, the tough call for close air support.
Cuy draar bid atin'la meg ne'lis jor par gaa'tay.
[You] are never so tough that [you] can't call for help.
37. There is no "overkill." There is only "open fire" and "reload."
Naysol besbe'trayce cuyi draar luubid.
Too many weapons is never enough.
38. What's easy for you can still be hard on your clients.
Cuyi tra acyk "pakod narir" bal "ash'ad liser." Ne'chur'waad garast.
There is a difference between "easy to do" and "anyone can [do it]." Don't under-price yourself.
39. There is a difference between spare parts and extra parts.
Cuyi tra acyk ne'liniba ne'tome ne'pirimmu ne'tome.
There is a difference between unneeded parts and unused parts.
40. Not all good news is enemy action.
Ne'an jate'evaar'miit cuyi aru'e'nari.
Not all good news is enemy action.
41. "Do you have a backup?" means "I can't fix this."
"Tion gan tadyc?" sirbu "Ne'gotal ibic."
"Do have second?" says "Can't fix this."
42. "They'll never expect this" means "I want to try something stupid."
"Val ne'ban'tioni ibic" sirbu "Ni copaan kebuur jare'la dajun."
"They not-guess this" says "I want to try stupid plan."
43. If it's stupid and it works, it's still stupid and you're lucky.
Meh cuyi dikut'la bal borari, cuyi su'dikut'la bal gar cuy jate'kara.
If is stupid and works, is still-stupid and you're lucky.
44. If it will blow a hole in the ground, it will double as an entrenching tool.
Meh lise gotal palon o'r vheh, tebece ven'borari as vheh'gaanur'se.
If can make hole in ground, munitions will-work as shovels.
45. The size of the combat bonus is inversely proportional to the likelihood of surviving to collect it.
Gar ne'lis pirim waade meg waad gar oyar.
You can't use money that cost your life.
46. Don't try to save money by conserving ammunition.
Nu'kebb tegaanalir waade de tegaanal'an tebece.
Not-try to save money by saving ammunition.
47. Don't expect the enemy to cooperate in the creation of your dream engagement.
Ne'par par aru'e narir gar bora par gar. ((Translator's note: I don't think I managed to fit enough A's into this sentence.))
Not-wait for enemy to do your job for you.
48. If it ain't broke, it hasn't been issued to the infantry.
Trat'aab cuyi shukur kebise. Cerat val shal aru'e ru besbalor cu'ami kaden.
Infantry exists to break things. Point them at enemy before quartermaster becomes angry.
49. Every client is one missed payment away from becoming a target and every target is one bribe away from becoming a client.
Nar bora par meg gar as'gaan ber. Ne'cuy gaanadyc beh meg lise beri.
Do job for which you receive payment. Not-be picky about who can pay.
50. If it only works in exactly the way the manufacturer intended, it is defective.
Meh shi borari boru gotur copaani, cuyi di'kutla.
If only works how manufacturer wants, it's useless.
51. Let them see you sharpen the sword before you fall on it.
Tran gar takisit ru gar eparav bic.
Shine your insult before you eat it.
52. The army you've got is never the army you want.
Akaan'ade gar gan cuyi draar akaan'ade gar copaan.
Army you have is never army you want.
53. The intel you've got is never the intel you want.
Narjahail'miit gar gan cuyi draar narjahail'miit gar copaan.
Intel you have is never intel you want.
54. It's only too many troops if you can't pay them.
Shi naysol verde meh ne'lis ber val.
Only too many soldiers if can't pay them.
55. It's only too many weapons if they're pointing in the wrong direction.
Shi naysol kade meh cuyi bat dush videk.
Only too many swords if they're on wrong neck.
56. Infantry exists to paint targets for people with real guns.
Trat'aab cuyi lenedat par dra'kaane.
Infantry exists to target for cannons.
57. Artillery exists to launch large chunks of budget at an enemy it cannot actually see.
Dra'kaane cuyi tracyar waadasla kyrale at meg val vercopaani cuyi aru'e.
Cannons exist to fire expensive bullets towards what they hope is enemy.
58. The pen is mightiest when it writes orders for more swords.
Miit'bev cuyi dral'ne tuu miit'gaana ke'gyce par majyc kade.
Pen is most powerful when writes orders for more swords.
59. Two wrongs is probably not going to be enough.
Nu'kebb gotal'ur jate 'kay ashnar gotal'an dush.
Not-try to make right until done making wrong.
60. Any weapon's rate of fire is inversely proportional to the number of available targets.
Niviin'yc'shya gar besbe'trayce tra'cya, iviin'yc'shya gar aru'e ornau'kemi.
Slower your gun fires, faster your enemies appear.
61. Don't bring big grenades into small rooms.
Ne'jur ori'goorese lo kih'yamikase.
Not-carry big-grenades into small-rooms.
62. Anything labeled "This end toward enemy" is dangerous at both ends.
Gar besbe'trayc gotal aarar kebise. Ne'mird bic ne'lise aara gar.
Your weapon made to hurt things. Not-think it can't hurt you.
63. The brass knows how to do it by knowing who can do it.
Alore kar'tayli boru narir de kar'tayli'an meg lise nari.
Officers know how to do by knowing who can do.
64. An ounce of sniper is worth a pound of suppressing fire.
Sol'kand'ika be ramser cuyi sa jate sa sol'kand be traat'aliit'tracyn.
Gram of sniper is as good as kilogram of squad-fire.
65. After the toss, be the one with the pin, not the one with the grenade.
Ven goor, cuyi verd ti bev, ne'cuyi verd ti goore.
After throw, be soldier with pin, not-be soldier with grenade.
66. Necessity is the mother of deception.
Linib cuyi buir be jehaate.
Necessity is parent of lies.
67. If you can't carry cash, carry a weapon.
Meh gar ne'lis jur waade, jur besbe'trayc.
If you can't carry money, carry weapon.
68. Negotiating from a position of strength does not mean you shouldn't also negotiate from a position near the exits.
Draar mird cuy bid dral ne'ven'linib iviin'yc dayn'yust.
Never think you are so strong you won't need fast exit.
69. Sometimes rank is a function of firepower.
Dul'ca'nara verd'kajii cuyi ru'gyci de tracy'kot.
Sometimes rank is decided by firepower.
70. Failure is not an option - it is mandatory. The option is whether or not to let failure be the last thing you do.
Nibral ne'cuyi gaanada - cuyi mirutre'la. Gaanada cuyi meh nibral ven'cuyi gar kyr'yc nar.
Failure is not choice - it is certain. Choice is if failure will be your final act.
Besbalor: quartermaster. Root words besbe (gear), alor (officer, leader).
Besbetrayc'naast: ordnance technician, EOD. Roots besbe'trayc (weapon), naast (destroyer)
Burcya'la: friendly. The 'la suffix is used to create an adverb out of a noun (evaar -> evaar'la, jare -> jare'la, osik -> osik'la, etc.), so in this case, it's applied to the root word burc'ya (friend). The possibly ironic application is written into the definition of burc'ya in the Mando'a main dictionary, so it's especially fitting for describing 'friendly' fire.
Gaanadyc: selective, picky. Root word gaanader (choose, select).
Jatekara'la: lucky. Root word jate'kara (luck, destiny), adverb suffix 'la.
Jaon'kajir: outrank. Roots jaon (over), verd'kajii (rank)
Jorberir: to cause. Root word jorbe (reason, cause, root).
Ke'gyc'an: ordering. Root words ke'gyce (order, command), an (gerund suffix).
Linib: need, necessity. Derived root from linibar (verb: need), linyc (adjective: necessary, needed)
Mirutre'la: certain. Derived from nemirutre'la (adjective: uncertain).
Narjahail'miit: intel, recon. Root words narja'hail (scout), miit (word)
Nars'nibrar: to sacrifice, to lose for a purpose. Root words narser (purpose), nibrar (lose, fail).
Ne'ru'cuyi: were not. Root words ne (negative prefix), ru (past tense prefix), cuyir (cuyi, they are).
Oyu: galaxy. From roots oyu'baat (universe) and oyula (galactic).
Runan: willing. Roots runar (will, volition), 'an (gerund suffix).
Ru'pirim: used. Root words ru (past tense previx), pirimmur (pirim, you use).
Ru'trattok'or: failed. Root words ru (past tense prefix), trattok'or (fail).
Sol'kand'ika: gram, minute weight measurement. Root words sol'kand (weight measurement, ~1 kilogram), 'ika (diminutive suffix)
Sol'tanyc: different. Root sol'tan (one of a kind, unique).
Torla: fair, just. Root word tor (justice).
Tracy'kot: firepower, strength of arms. Derived from tracyn (noun: fire), kot (noun: strength)
Val: them. Expanded definition of existing word val (they, theirs).
Vhebesbe: equipment meant for use on solid ground (scout bikes, mobile HQs, earthmovers, etc.). Root words vheh (earth, dust, soil), besbe (kit).
Yust'besenaar: guided missile. Root words yust (way), be'senaar (missile).
Prefixes and suffixes:
Ent', entay': prefix denoting imperative, "must."
Ru': prefix denoting past tense.
Ven': prefix denoting "will." Will strike, will follow, etc.
'an: used to create a gerund form of a verb (move -> moving, ask -> asking, etc.). The general English phrase "is ____ing" is rendered as "nari ____'an" (literally: does the ___ing) in Mando'a.
'la: used to create an adverb from a noun, similarly to the way -ly creates an adverb from an adjective in English.
'ne: superlative suffix. Easy -> easiest, deep -> deepest, etc.
'or: applied to verbs to denote military objectives (ram'or: attack, besiege; trattok'or: fail, fall, collapse; tsikador: prepare, get ready).
'shya: comparative suffix. Easy -> easier, deep -> deeper, etc.
) or something most Mando'a do, but we seem to miss out prepositions and cuy and the like all over the place. Basically abandon all non-essential words.