Tithri language

Vhauk (vhauk źiź, pronunciation: [vˠauk ʒʲɪʒˠ]) is an Ukilenic language spoken in the country of Çifi. It is one of two official languages, and has around 41.6 million native speakers.

Being part of the Ukilen language family, it is related to the Baphian languages, Kzmr, Jkawi, Hallusian, and Yamahati. Vhauk has diverged significantly from the other Ukilen languages.

Most vocabulary in Vhauk is derived directly from Proto-Ukilen, but a large portion of words are from a substrate language known as Pre-Vhauk. A very small part of Vhauk vocabulary is borrowed from Loremese.

Name of the language and etymology

The name Vhauk is from the Proto-Ukilen word for water, *mubawa.

History

Like other Ukilen languages, the Vhauk language is a descendent of Proto-Ukilen. The language was brought to the territory of modern-day Çifi by migration via boats. Due to this isolation from other Ukilen languages, the language developed without any Ukilen influences.

Based upon historic and lexical evidence, it is assumed that there was a language spoken before the Old Vhauk speakers became predominant in the area of modern-day Çifi. Historical linguists have given this unattested language the name of Pre-Vhauk.

Comparison with other Ukilen languages has made it easier to see if words are from Proto-Ukilen or Pre-Vhauk.

Table of compared cognates

Proto-Ukilen	Vhauk	Kzmr	Jkawi	Turku Baphian	Translation
*tuðɹhe		[tɵ̞ðr̩]	[tu.ˈɾe]	[di´.jɛ̝]	'language'
*dogɑʃ		[dɵ̞ɢoȿ]	[do.ˈgas]	[to̞.tso̞´]	'bird'
*mubawa		[mɵ̞bu]	[mu.ˈbau̯]	[mu.pɛ̝´.wɛ̝]	'water'

Geographical distribution

Vhauk is the native language of Çifi, being one of two official languages. The other official language is Hallusian.

The largest concentration of Vhauk speakers is in the capital city of Çifi, Thui.