Chicken
Chicken | |
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by swamp-spirit
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Type | Animal |
World of Origin | Roshar |
Universe | Cosmere |
Chicken is the name used by many Rosharan languages -- except 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] 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.[3]
Chickens are not native to Roshar, but were brought to the planet during the initial human migration from Ashyn.[4] They live mainly in Shinovar, with very few found further east and no undomesticated ones as far as Alethkar.[5] This being said, wild chickens can be found in the East - for instance, geese live in the Horneater Peaks, and Dalinar saw chickens during his visit to the Valley.[6]
Uses
Chickens are often edible, and are therefore an export of Shinovar.[7] Vstim trades with Thresh and potentially other Shin for chickens which he sells to the other nations of Roshar, particularly in the east according to Rysn.[8] Very expensive arrows may be fletched with chicken feathers.[9] The elder Tanalan wore decorative feathers on his battle helm, which Dalinar found odd.[10] Unkalaki arrows are fletched with geese feathers;[11] geese live in the Horneater Peaks, which is why the Unkalaki language has a word for goose.[6]
Adolin Kholin believes that eating chicken brings good luck and always eats some before his duels.[12]
Notable chickens
- Jeksonofnone, a bright green chicken brought by a Thaylen merchant to the Middlefest Fair which could say its name upon command.[13]
- Mraize owns an Aviar which is referred to as a 'green chicken' by Shallan.[14]
- Lift finds a 'red chicken' who belonged to an old Feruchemist in Urithiru who Mraize murders early into the singer occupation of Urithiru. She is now raising the bird.[15][16]
Trivia
- 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
- ↑ Words of Radiance Portland signing
— Arcanum - 2014-03-07# - ↑ Oathbringer San Diego signing
— Arcanum - 2017-11-14# - ↑ General Reddit 2016
— Arcanum - 2016-11-29# - ↑ Idaho Falls signing
— Arcanum - 2018-12-29# - ↑ Words of Radiance San Diego signing
— Arcanum - 2014-03-04# - ↑ a b General Reddit 2017
— Arcanum - 2017-11-22# - ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 22#
- ↑ The Way of Kings interlude I-4#
- ↑ General Reddit 2012
— Arcanum - 2012-12-30# - ↑ Oathbringer chapter 11#
- ↑ Oathbringer chapter 37#
- ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 14#
- ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 45#
- ↑ Oathbringer Glasgow signing
— Arcanum - 2017-12-02# - ↑ Rhythm of War interlude I-5#
- ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 116#