Hatrack River Forum: Salaam

This is topic Salaam in forum Discussions About Orson Scott Card at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Son_of_Priam (Member # 6411) on :

In Ender's Game when they promoted Ender from the launchies and put him into an army,Ender and Alai talked on one of the beds, and at the end of their discussion Alai told Ender "Salaam" and Ender thought it was somehow forbidden and sacred and all that, but later in Shadow Puppets, Petra says it to Alai when she talked to him. I was wondering if Alai just said it as a general goodbye and then was crying because he didn't think he was going to see Ender again, or if it was something sacred and petra might have been "in the loop". [Confused]

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

I read the other day that the English "so long" has its roots in the word salaam. Can anybody confirm or refute this?

Posted by Kabederlin (Member # 6304) on :

Later in Ender's Game, Alai said Salaam meant Peace (which is does). ENder thought it was sacred, but Alai never said it was sacred himself. Though I would say it was something he said only to good friends.

Posted by JaimeBenlevy (Member # 6222) on :

Salaam and Shalom are also related at their roots. Both mean hello or peace.