Havata
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Havata is a profane phrase in the T'vaqi language used to convey anger, frustration, or intensity. The precise etymology and translation of the phrase are unknown, though it generally refers to the act of screaming when used literally.
Etymology
Havata could potentially have formed from a number of root words. The Qoa Lihi word HA:VA (meaning to cry out) and the more distant AVITA (sourced from a record-keeping faction, meaning roughly command) are the most likely, though some propose that havata simply formed as the corruption of an onomatopoeia.
Use
Use of havata in casual conversation is exceedingly common among youth in T'vaqi. The word constitutes a second-tier invective; it is taboo to utter the word in formal or familial settings. Havota, a word meaning ink, is often used as a substitute for havata due to their similar sounds.
In conversation, havata often encloses infixed nouns when the speaker wishes to especially emphasize the noun. This is often considered lightly humorous. Examples include:
- Hava-roqo-ta: [screaming] animal
- Ha-vasa-vata: [screaming] woman
- So inirio pin to ha-viso-vata: I'm angry with the [screaming] man
The T'vaqi Bureau of Language considers havata to be profane and rude but ultimately harmless, and has approved its use in printed material nationwide.