Kyontawa

Kyontawa is a fictional language and tribe of humans appearing the short science fiction film Food for the Gods. Though their technology falls somewhere between post-Neolithic to Pre-Columbian, the Kyontawa are an extremely sophisticated royal and feudalistic society. [as observed in the film.] The Royal Family, consisting of Shogoto (the Chief or King), his wife, a matriarchal queen called Shogami, and their daughter, Her Royal Highness, Xionko, Princess Heir of Kyontawa (the crown princess). The three sit together on a three teired throne (Shogoto's being the highest, Shogami's only slightly lower to his left, and Princess Xionko on his lower right). They are advised by a Chief Council made of up the tribe's nobility and military leaders, including the Kyontawa General, Shogoto's chief military officer. It is unclear if the film's lead character, Sheenyana, is a member of the Council. However, it is clear that she is a key military and political advisor to Shogoto.

The Kyontawa are the descendents of a highly advanced Asian civilization from Earth's forgotten history, which established a deep-space settlement on what is now the Kyontawa planet, somewhere in the Alpha Centauri star system. Clearly, that high-tech civilization is no more and the Kyontawa's knowledge of it is limited to their religious mythology of "Bird Gods" who seeded their people from the sky. Their language (subtitled in the film) has similarities to Asian languages of Earth, particularly Japanese. The language was created by screenwriter H. Scott Hughes. The actors are not speaking jibberish, but a carefully crafted language with consistent terms and grammer. [Internet Movie Database] [H. Scott Hughes interview, Food for the Gods Official Site.]

In addition to dialog, their language is heard sung throughout the film's original soundtrack. A translation of the film's Love Theme, "Jo ko'ota 'moi yori juku", serves as a sample. [from Food for the Gods Official Site.]
[Food for the Gods: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (ASCAP)]

Music & Lyrics by Yvette Lu & H. Scott Hughes
Additional Lyrics by Phillip Matte
Performed by Yvette Lu, Beverly Wu, & Xu Qian

Jo ko'ota 'moi yori juku,
(Give me your heart from the sky,)

Tou joko tyee yoshi kyodan,
(I'll give you mine for the stars,)

Gi tau chidan vom ichi miesh Tenoo.
(And our souls will be one in the Heavens.)

Literary Origin

The Kyontawa first appeared in the Patricia C. Hughes short story "Food for the Gods", upon which the film is based. However, the name of the tribe is never given, and not until the film is it firmly established that they are human. In the short story, they are given names somewhat similar to the way many Native American tribes have traditionally named a child--based on personality. The protagonist was named "Sees Far." In the film, her name is pronounced "Sheenyana." Although in dialog, it is revealed that the English translation of Sheenyana is "Sees Far." Another main character in the short story is "Girl Follows." In the film, she is Princess Xionko. ["Food for the Gods" by Patricia C. Hughes] [Internet Movie Database] [as observed in the film.]

References