Atraelish language

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Atraelish
Atraelish Tongue
Pronunciation: /ˈeɪ.træ.lɪʃ/?
Language family: Upcymlu-Amleian
  • Amartolan
    • Western Amartolan
Early forms: Old Atraelish
  • Middle Atraelish
Major dialects: Upper Atraelish, Central Atralish, Jovaran Atraelish, Nicimian Atraelish, Xhequan Atraelish
Writing System
Writing system(s): Atraelic alphabet
Sister system(s): Etruarac, Virassic, Amulndian, Ewigic
Read: Left-to-right
Official Status
Regulated by: Atraeth Language Authority (Atraeth only)
MapLanguages Atraelish Dialects.pngThe Atraelish speaking world
[Source]

Atraelish (Upper Atraelish: Atraelish Tongue; Xhequan Atraelish: Atraelish Language; Central Atraelish: Ætraliſh Linᵹuaᵹue tr. Aytralish Linguage) is a widespread world language, and is the official language of the nations of Atraeth, Ditira, Estoil, Pegard, Welbenth, and Xhequa, as well as the colonies of Atraelish Neira and Atraelish Urcinne. The language is the focal point-of-view language within the Industria Pacificum universe, being based on the real-world language of English to allow for an ease of bridging between the understood language of many readers, and the languages spoken, written and thought in by the characters of the universe.

Grammar[edit | edit source]

Within the setting[edit | edit source]

Atraelish's grammar is a collapsed form of the once highly regular and synthetic older Upcymlu-Amleian languages, having evolved to become a largely analytic language with little inflection, a fairly fixed SVO word order, and a complicated and irregular syntax. Many modern linguists cite a high degree of influence from Hobrian languages for Upper and Central Atraelish or Wunal for Xhequan after the collapse of the Amulndian Empire as being responsible for the language's drastic change over the centuries, however this is viewed highly controversial and is frequently discredited by many scholars, many of whom are funded by the Atraelish state and/or identify with the nation of Atraeth in a patriotic/nationalist sense.

Though its regular, synthetic capabilities have disappeared, several vestigial sound changes persist, such as the vowel change for the words "foot/feet" or "speak/spoke". Past vowel changes which established concepts such as plural or tense have been superseded in many cases by suffixes, e.g. for the words walked or languages. Vestiges of the gender system are found in the pronoun system (he/him, who/whom) and in the inflection of the copula verb to be. Atraelish also has a rich set of auxiliary verbs, such as "have" and "do", expressing the categories of mood and aspect once expressed by vowel shifts.

Outside the setting[edit | edit source]

Though its grammar and vocabulary roughly mimics that of a devolved Upcymlu-Amleian language, the actual language used in-setting is identical to modern English, which in reality is a Germanic language heavily influenced by Romance languages that has evolved from languages quite different from Upcymlu-Amleian. The language described and the language shown are different, with the shown Atraelish serving not a linguistically correct purpose, but rather allowing readers to easily read and understand the words spoken and written in-setting, as well as Atraelish translations of other languages whenever they appear.

Though the English used to represent Atraelish is modern in a grammatical sense, its vocabulary is divided into two parallels, with exclusive usage of words from an either Germanic or Romance roots denoting a specific dialect of the language, them being Upper and Xhequan Atraelish respectively, with Central Atraelish being a fusion between the two (coupled with unique spellings). This divide is primarily employed to illustrate a difference in dialects in a manner that is easily legible to readers.

Vocabulary[edit | edit source]

The Upper Ataelish vocabulary is inclined towards the roots of Old English (i.e. Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, etc) rather than those of Norman, Latin or Greek, which is seen in Xhequan Atraelish. In the vast majority of cases (with the exception of some very specific words that have no Germanic equivalent, e.g. "Imperial", which is caserlic in western Atraelish) the Old English-influenced words used are words that still remain in the modern English vocabulary, and therefore can still be understood by a general audience.

Atraelish modifies words and accepts prefixes and suffixes more readily than modern English, a feature more common in Old English. For example, prefixes like mis- or after- or suffixes like -ness find their way into words like "misthink" (instead of "mistakenly think"), "afterfollower" (successor) or "upness" (elevation). Some political words are replaced, e.g. perjury with "oathbreak", and some scientific words are also replaced, e.g. fetus with "birther"[1].

Below are lists of examples adapted from "List of English words with dual French and Anglo-Saxon variations"[2] and "List of Germanic and Latinate equivalents in English"[3] on Wikipedia. Words in the left columns would be typical Atraelish expressions, whereas the words in the centre would be completely foreign and typical of Xhequan. Also supplied are words typical of Central Atraelish, on the right.

Foods

Anglo-Saxon (Upper Atraelish) words Old French (Xhequan) words Central Atraelish words
Cow (Old English ) Beef (Anglo-Norman Beof; Old French Boef) Cau
Calf (Old English Cealf) Veal (Anglo-Norman Vel; Old French Veel, Veal) Cælf
Swine (Old English Swīn), or
Pig (Old English Picga)
Pork (Old French Porc) Swain / Pic
Sheep (Old English Scēap) / Lamb (Old English Lamb) Mutton (Old French Moton) Seap / Lam
Hen (Old English Hen, Henn) / Chicken (Old English Cicen) Poultry (Old French Pouletrie) Hen / Shicen
Deer (Old English Dēor) Venison (Old Norman Venesoun) Deer
Snail (Old English Snægl) Escargot (Old Norman Escargot) Snæl
Dove (Old English Dūfe) Pigeon (Old French Pijon) Dov

Other words

Anglo-Saxon (Upper Atraelish) words Old French (Xhequan) words Central Atraelish words
Thinking, Mindful Pensive Ðinking, Meindful
Kingly Royal Cinᵹly
Brotherly Fraternal Bruðerly
Ask, Beseech Enquire Arsk, Beseſh
Lord Liege Lord
Bring, Bear Carry Brinᵹ, Bear
Amaze, Stun Astound Amaſe, Stun
Fair, Fair-haired Blond/Blonde Faer
Ghost Phantom Gost
Uphold, Undergird, upstay Support Upold, Undergird
Smell, Stench Odor Smel, Stenſh
Hue, Blee Colour Hu, Blie
Blossom Flower Bloſom
Help, Bestand, Bestead Aid, Abet, Assist Help, Beſtand, Beſted
Buy Purchase Bay
Eld Age Eld
Belief Faith Belif
Wonder Ponder Ƿunder
Selfhood Identity Selfhud
Sake Reason, Cause Sayk
Weep, Sob Cry Wip, Sob
Knowledge Science Noleᵹe
Lawyer Attorney Loier
Shirt Blouse Shirt
Deem Consider, Judge Dim
Harbour Port Harbor
Hosen, Britches Pants Hosen, Brites
Sunder Sever Sundar
Answer Reply, Response Anser
Follow Ensue Folow
Athel Noble Aþel
Atheling Prince Aþelinᵹ
Fall, Harvest Autumn Fal, Harveſt
Stound Hour Stound
Burn Broil Burn
Leave Permission Leaf
Note Use, Utility Noat
Seethe Boil Siþ
Hunt Chase Hunt
Bookstaf, Bookstave Letter Bukstaf, Bukstayf
Wisdom Prudence / Sagacity Ƿisdom
Weird, Fremd Strange Ƿeird, Fremd
Behaviour Manner Behafior
Uncouth Rude Uncuth
Owndom, Belongings Property Oundom, Belonᵹinᵹs
Steven, Reard Voice Stefen, Rerd
Folk, Lede (Leod) People Folc, Led
Forgive Pardon Forᵹif
Darling Favourite Darlinᵹ
Worthy Valuable Ƿorðy
Drought, Dearth Famine Draut, Derð
Wish, Will, Yearning, Longing Desire Ƿiſh, Ƿil, Yerninᵹ, Loninᵹ
Span Distance Span
Tumble Somersault Tumbl
Drink (noun + verb) Beverage, Imbibe Drinc
Deal Amount Deal
Freedom Liberty Freidom
Arm Poor Arm
Haven Port Haven
Germanic (Upper Atraelish) words Latinate (Xhequan) words Central Atraelish words
abandon, leave, leave off, forsake, forlet, give up, blin relinquish, abdicate, desert, renounce
ache, hurt, smart (noun), woe, sore, throe, wark pain, agony
allegiance, troth fidelity, loyalty
alive, quick (living) animate
anger, wrath rage, ire
array, row, range, rank, line, lineup, set, lot, list series, order, sequence
ask, frain, beseech, beg, seek inquire, request
aware, abreast, up to speed cognizant
beacon, buoy, flag, herald, harbinger, guide signal, indicator
before, beforehand, ahead of, ere prior
behaviour, bearing, etiquette, guise, way action, attitude, manner, conduct
behest, bidding command, order
behoof, gain, foredeal, boon, blessing, welfare advantage, benefit
begin, start commence
belief, mindset, gospel, truth, leaning creed
belive (be + live), belave, abide, tarry, stay remain
belly, midriff, womb abdomen
big, great, stour, mickle, huge large, grand
birthday, yeartide anniversary
blee, hue, dye, shade, lit color
bloom, blossom, bud, burgeon flower
body, embodiment, frame, makeup, lich corpus, corpse, carcass, cadaver
brotherly fraternal
bug, beetle insect
build, rear, raise construct
business, undertaking, note affair, enterprise
buy purchase

Alphabet[edit | edit source]

Atraelish and its dialects are written in the Atraelic alphabet, which currently exists in two forms, respectively named the old and new alphabets. The only dialect that still uses the old alphabet is Central Atraelish, i.e. the dialects spoken in and around Estoil and Welbenth, whereas all other dialects have shifted to use the new alphabet.

Consonants
Old alphabet A a Æ æ B b C c D d Ð ð E e F f G ᵹ H h
New alphabet A a ae / ay B b C c D d th E e F f G g H h
 
Old alphabet I i J j c L l M m N n O o P p cu R r
New alphabet I i J j K k L l M m N n O o P p Q q R r
 
Old alphabet S ſ T t Þ þ U u f Ƿ ƿ X x Y y ſ
New alphabet S s T t th U u V v W w X x Y y Z z

Further Reading[edit | edit source]

Notes and references[edit | edit source]

Languages
Families
Language families Central Cymluni · Ewigic · Lowcymlu-urcinnan · Neiran · Upcymlu-amleian · Yumeran
Languages
Major languages Abata · Amulni · Atraelish · Barva · Cesmelan · Etruarac · Flaigalish · Gakknir · Gashaorhieli · Jovaran · Mahleka · Mainathan · Mordrasi · Mukegani · Pelannician · Ruuvatthan · Seonmi · Tzolkese · Umura · Varlish · Virassian · Wunal · Yashurhieli
Minor languages Šamolai
Misc.
Grammar Amulni · Seonmi · Virassian · Wunal
Word lists List of Seonmi words and phrases · List of Wunal words and phrases