Chicken
| Chicken | |
|---|---|
 by swamp-spirit
| |
| Type | Animal |
| World of Origin | Roshar |
| Universe | Cosmere |
Chicken is the name used by many Rosharan cultures -- excluding the Shin and the Unkalaki -- to refer to all species of birds.[1] Only some are what would be called chickens in any other part of the cosmere,[2] such as Scadrial.[3] The term coming to mean all birds is a result of Vorin languages tending towards generalization, similar to how all alcohols became wines and all small creatures became cremlings.[4]
Chickens are not native to Roshar, but were brought to the planet during the initial human migration from Ashyn.[5] They live mainly in Shinovar and are plentiful there.[6] Very few birds are found in most of eastern Alethkar; wild sightings are essentially unheard of in Alethkar.[7] There are some exceptions, as wild geese live in the Horneater Peaks and Felt notes that other wild birds range as far east as the Valley.[8][9]
Most easterners have a very poor understanding of the anatomy and behavior of chickens.[10] By the time of the True Desolation, more people began to recognize the differences between various species of birds, but the term chicken was still firmly entrenched in the Vorin vernacular.[11][12]
Uses[edit]
Chickens are often edible, and are therefore an export of Shinovar.[13] Vstim trades with Thresh (and likely other Shin) for chickens that he sells to customers in the east at high prices.[6] Chicken as a food is therefore relatively uncommon in the Vorin nations, and is even served at royal feasts.[13] Adolin Kholin believes that eating chicken brings good luck and always eats some before his duels.[14]
Very expensive arrows may be fletched with chicken feathers.[15] The elder Tanalan wore decorative feathers on his battle helm, which Dalinar found odd.[16] Since wild geese live in the Horneater Peaks, Unkalaki arrows are often fletched with geese feathers[17] and the Unkalaki language has a word for goose.[8]
Notable 'Chickens'[edit]
- Jeksonofnone, a bright green chicken brought by a Thaylen merchant to the Middlefest Fair which could say its name upon command.[11]
- Mraize owns an Aviar which is referred to as a 'green chicken' by Shallan.[18]
- Lift finds another Aviar, a red 'chicken' that belonged to an old Feruchemist who was killed by Mraize during the occupation of Urithiru. She is now raising the bird.[12][19]
- Shallan observes a 'chicken' with red, blue, and green feathers when she is at the Shattered Plains menagerie with Adolin and Kaladin.[10]
Trivia[edit]
- The use of the word 'chicken' to refer to all birds is known as a synecdoche, or more specifically in this case, pars pro toto.
Notes[edit]
- ↑ Words of Radiance Portland signing
— Arcanum - 2014-03-07# - ↑ Oathbringer San Diego signing
— Arcanum - 2017-11-14# - ↑ Shadows of Self prologue#
- ↑ General Reddit 2016
— Arcanum - 2016-11-29# - ↑ Idaho Falls signing
— Arcanum - 2018-12-29# - ↑ a b The Way of Kings interlude I-4#
- ↑ Words of Radiance San Diego signing
— Arcanum - 2014-03-04# - ↑ a b General Reddit 2017
— Arcanum - 2017-11-22# - ↑ Oathbringer chapter 114#
- ↑ a b Words of Radiance chapter 55#
- ↑ a b Words of Radiance chapter 45#
- ↑ a b Rhythm of War interlude I-5#
- ↑ a b The Way of Kings chapter 22#
- ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 14#
- ↑ General Reddit 2012
— Arcanum - 2012-12-30# - ↑ Oathbringer chapter 11#
- ↑ Oathbringer chapter 37#
- ↑ Oathbringer Glasgow signing
— Arcanum - 2017-12-02# - ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 116#