Qal Module — Sacred Lexicons
Liturgical language and esoteric terminology
Domain module. Vocabulary for documenting sacred lexicons, liturgical languages, and esoteric terminology across Afro-Atlantic and related African sacred traditions. Qal (ቃል) — Ge'ez for 'word.' Covers liturgical Yorùbá (Lucumí), Kikongo (Palo), Haitian Kreyòl sacred register, Fon/Ewe, and Ge'ez. Integrates with the OntoLex-Lemon Ontology for Lexicography for multilingual lexical data. Access control distinguishes public knowledge (language names, general vocabulary) from restricted esoteric terminology and secret names. Use with iroko-epistemic to model secret name and esoteric term disclosure constraints; iroko-narrative for liturgical phrase transmission chains and praise poetry provenance.
A word, term, or morpheme in a sacred language with its liturgical or ritual meaning documented. Subclass of ontolex:LexicalEntry for integration with multilingual lexicographic infrastructure. A single lexical entry may have multiple senses (iroko:LexicalSense), including restricted senses whose esoteric meaning is not disclosed publicly. The existence of a term is community-restricted; its esoteric sense is initiated-only.
A specific meaning of a lexical entry, which may carry different access levels than the entry itself. An Orisha's name (entry) may be public, while a path-specific epithet (restricted sense) is community-restricted, and a secret name (esoteric sense) is no-access. Multiple senses of the same term are documented as separate LexicalSense instances with appropriate access levels.
A multi-word expression, formula, invocation, or greeting used in Afro-Atlantic sacred contexts. Examples: Yorùbá greeting formulas specific to Orisha (mojuba formulas); Palo Kikongo invocations; Vodou salutation phrases for specific lwa. Phrases are documented with their tradition, ceremony context, and speaker authority requirements. General greetings are community-restricted; ceremonial invocations are initiated-only.
A language, language register, or language variety used as a liturgical or ritual medium in Afro-Atlantic or related African sacred practice. Includes fully distinct languages (Yorùbá in Lucumí/Candomblé; Kikongo in Palo Monte; Fon in Haitian Vodou), sacred registers of creole languages (Haitian Kreyòl ceremonial register), specialized vocabularies (Lucumí as diaspora-adapted liturgical Yorùbá), and graphic-lexical systems (Nsibidi as both script and vocabulary system). Also includes African Christian liturgical languages: Ge'ez (Ethiopian/Eritrean Orthodox), Coptic (Egyptian Coptic Church).
A formally defined speech act type within a tradition's ceremonial protocol: oath-taking, naming, cursing, blessing, consecration, authorization. Distinct from a specific utterance: a SacredSpeechAct is the category (e.g., 'Ifá greeting formula') while a LiturgicalPhrase is a specific instance. The existence of a speech act type is community-restricted; its specific form and context are initiated-only to elder-only.
An esoteric or restricted name for a spiritual entity, practitioner, or sacred object known only to initiated members at a specific grade or above. Examples: the secret name of an Orisha camino revealed in itá; a Palo Tata's nkisi name; an Abakuá ecobio name. The existence of secret name conventions within a tradition is public; the names themselves are no-access.
| Property | Type | Domain → Range | Access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| languageISO ISO 639 code |
Datatype | Sacred Language → language | Public | The ISO 639-3 code for the base language, where applicable (e.g., 'yor' for Yorùbá, 'kng' for Kikongo, 'hat' for Haitian Kreyòl, 'gez' for Ge'ez). |
| authorityRequired authority required |
Object | Liturgical Phrase → Concept | Community Only | The initiation level or title required to speak this phrase in ceremony. Range: iroko:AccessLevelScheme concept. |
| cognateTerms cognate terms |
Object | Lexical Entry → Lexical Entry | Community Only | Terms in related languages that are etymologically cognate or semantically parallel. Used to document cross-tradition vocabulary relationships (e.g., Yorùbá 'Egúngún' → Lucumí 'Eggun'; Fon 'Legba' → Haitian 'Legba'). |
| communityDefinition community definition |
Datatype | Lexical Sense → langString | Community Only | A definition appropriate for community members and practitioners, including cultural context not meant for general publication. Language-tagged. |
| entityReference entity reference |
Object | Lexical Sense → SpiritualEntity | Community Only | The spiritual entity denoted by this sense, where applicable. Range: iroko:SpiritualEntity. |
| esotericDefinition esoteric definition |
Datatype | Lexical Sense → langString | Initiated Only | The initiated or esoteric meaning of this sense, disclosed only to qualified practitioners. Initiated-only. |
| geographicBase geographic base |
Datatype | Sacred Language → langString | Public | The geographic region(s) where this language is primarily used. Free-text. |
| inLanguage in language |
Object | Lexical Entry → Sacred Language | Public | The sacred language to which this lexical entry belongs. Range: iroko:SacredLanguage. |
| languageName language name |
Datatype | Sacred Language → langString | Public | The name of the sacred language or register. Language-tagged. |
| languageType language type |
Object | Sacred Language → Concept | Public | Classification of this sacred language. Range: iroko:SacredLanguageTypeScheme. |
| nameConvention name convention |
Object | Secret Name → Concept | Community Only | The type of secret name convention this follows. Range: iroko:SecretNameConventionScheme. Community-restricted. |
| secretNameHolder name holder |
Object | Secret Name → SacredEntity | No Access | The entity (spiritual or human) who holds this secret name. Range: iroko:SpiritualEntity or foaf:Person. No-access. |
| orthographicVariants orthographic variants |
Datatype | Lexical Entry → langString | Community Only | Alternative spellings in use across lineages or transcription traditions. Language-tagged. |
| partOfSpeech part of speech |
Object | Lexical Entry → Concept | Community Only | Grammatical category of this term. Range: iroko:PartOfSpeechScheme. |
| phraseFunction phrase function |
Object | Liturgical Phrase → Concept | Community Only | The ceremonial function of this phrase. Range: iroko:SpeechActTypeScheme. |
| phraseLanguage phrase language |
Object | Liturgical Phrase → Sacred Language | Community Only | The sacred language in which this phrase is spoken. Range: iroko:SacredLanguage. |
| phraseText phrase text |
Datatype | Liturgical Phrase → langString | Initiated Only | The text of the liturgical phrase in its original language. Language-tagged. Initiated-only. |
| phraseTranslation phrase translation |
Datatype | Liturgical Phrase → langString | Initiated Only | Translation of the phrase into a non-liturgical language. Initiated-only. |
| publicDefinition public definition |
Datatype | Lexical Sense → langString | Public | A general, publicly accessible definition of this sense: what a general reader can know. Language-tagged. |
| scriptSystem script system |
Object | Sacred Language → Concept | Public | The writing system used for this language, where applicable. Range: iroko:ScriptSystemScheme. |
| secretNameText secret name |
Datatype | Secret Name → langString | No Access | The secret name itself. No-access: never exported to RDF, stored internally for provenance only. |
| writtenForm written form |
Datatype | Lexical Entry → langString | Community Only | The conventional written form of this term in the liturgical language. Language-tagged. Community-restricted. |
PartOfSpeechScheme
A modifier (epithets, descriptive terms for entities).
An adverbial modifier.
A multi-word fixed expression that functions as a unit in ceremonial contexts.
A standalone ceremonial exclamation or ritual call-and-response marker.
A noun or noun phrase (entity names, place names, object names).
Part of speech not covered by existing concepts.
A verb or verb phrase (ceremonial actions, states).
SacredLanguageTypeScheme
Languages of African origin used in pre-colonial or early-colonial African Christian traditions. Ge'ez (Ethiopian Orthodox, Eritrean Orthodox), Coptic (Egyptian Coptic Church). Included here because of their continuity with African sacred language traditions and their presence in diaspora communities.
A source language preserved in diaspora in a fossilized or adapted form, used for liturgical purposes but no longer a community vernacular. Examples: Lucumí (diaspora Yorùbá in Cuba); Kikongo as used in Cuban Palo Monte; liturgical Fon in Haitian Vodou.
A language used in its complete grammatical form as the primary medium of sacred communication. Examples: Yorùbá in continental Yorùbá religion; Fon in Beninese Vodun; Ge'ez in Ethiopian Orthodox liturgy.
A system in which graphic signs function as lexical or semiotic units, functioning analogously to writing. Examples: Nsibidi (Ejagham) as a graphic communication system; Anaforuana signs with lexical referents. Linked to iroko-veve for the graphic dimension.
Sacred language type not covered by existing concepts.
A specialized ceremonial register of a vernacular language, with vocabulary and formulas specific to sacred contexts. Examples: the Vodou ceremonial register of Haitian Kreyòl; the ceremonial Jamaican Patois of Kumina.
ScriptSystemScheme
Akan visual symbols functioning as a lexical and semiotic system. Cross-listed with iroko-veve; included here for semantic documentation of individual symbol meanings.
The Abakuá graphic script with lexical and communicative functions. Cross-listed with iroko-veve; included here for documentation of the semiotic/communicative dimension.
Arabic script used to write African languages in religious contexts, particularly in Ajami traditions (Fulfulde, Hausa, Wolof in Arabic script). Relevant in West African Islamic contexts that intersect with Afro-Atlantic traditions.
The Ethiopic abugida used to write Ge'ez, Amharic, Tigrinya, and other Ethiopian and Eritrean languages. The sacred script of Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox liturgy.
Latin alphabet as used to transcribe liturgical Yorùbá, Lucumí, Kikongo, Haitian Kreyòl, and most documented Afro-Atlantic liturgical languages.
The Ejagham ideographic writing system, functioning as both script and graphic sign system. Cross-listed with iroko-veve for its graphic dimension; listed here for its lexical and communicative dimension.
Language transmitted exclusively orally without a writing system. The majority of Afro-Atlantic liturgical languages fall here historically; Latin transcription is secondary.
Script system not covered by existing concepts.
SecretNameConventionScheme
The initiatory name given to an Abakuá member at their juramento. No-access.
A name or identifier given to an initiate in their itá (life reading). Typically held as private to the initiate and their elders.
A restricted name of a specific lwa, known only to initiates at a specific grade.
The secret name of a specific Nganga/nkisi in Palo Monte, given at preparation. Known to the Tata and their lineage.
The secret name of a specific camino (path) of an Orisha, revealed in divination. Community-restricted in general; the specific name is initiated-elder only.
Secret name convention not covered by existing concepts.
SpeechActTypeScheme
A formally authorized speech act conferring spiritual benefit, protection, or grace. Requires recognized authority to perform.
Speech that transforms an object, person, or space from secular to sacred status. Among the most restricted speech acts.
Formal speech acts that close a ceremony or take leave of a spiritual entity.
Speech that calls or invites a spiritual entity. Typically more restricted than salutation in terms of who may perform it.
The formal conferral of a sacred or initiatory name on a person, object, or entity.
A sworn commitment made in the presence of spiritual witnesses, binding on the speaker. Examples: Abakuá juramento; Palo Monte pact formulas. Initiated-only.
Speech act type not covered by existing concepts.
Formal praise speech honoring an entity, ancestor, or lineage. Oriki in Yorùbá-derived traditions; analogous forms in other traditions.
Speech acts that declare or reinforce a taboo, restriction, or prohibition.
Formal greetings addressed to an entity, elder, or ceremonial space. Examples: Orisha salutation formulas (Mojuba); Vodou bonjou to specific lwa.