Azkali language

Azkali (Azkali, Azkali Patua /as.kali/, [æs̻.'kali pa.tu.'a]) is a language spoken throughout much of the continents of Ukilen and Brausia, and across much of the rest of the world. It is the official language of Azkali, also being an official language in Baphia and the Sunterian province of Kalilonde. In addition it is also a minority language throughout much of Sunteria, Jkawi, Loremesia, and Alloti. A majority of the speakers of the Azkali language reside outside of Azkali, primarily due to immigration following the 1980 plague outbreak.

History

The origins of the Azkali language are disputed. The leading theory is that Azkali originated in southwest Baphia, and that speakers of Proto-Azkali migrated south into the Azkali peninsula. The date of this hypothesized migration is unclear - however, most estimates place it as being ca. 6000-7000 years ago.

The oldest example of the Azkali language being written is from around 3000 BCE, in an ancient form of what is believed to be the Azkali alphabet. If true, this would make the Azkali alphabet one of the oldest extant writing systems in the world.

Proto-Azkali (6000-8000 BCE?)

See main article: Proto Azkali language

Modern Azkali (2005 AD)

Standard Azkali (2016 AD)

See main article: Standard Azkali

Orthography

See articles: Azkali alphabet, Azkali orthography

Modes of writing Azkali

Azkali alphabet

The most common way of writing Azkali in the modern age is the Azkali alphabet. Before the plague, Ukilen logographs and the Azkali alphabet were used alongside each other. However, due to the effects of the plague, the Azkali alphabet was used nearly exclusively by the Warlord Generation, with Ukilen logographs largely falling out in standard use.

Ukilen logographs

Ukilen logographs were a common form of writing Azkali, but nowadays are infrequently used among Azkali speakers globally. In areas where Baphians are of high population, especially the north, the logography is much more preferred, but it is not particularly rare to see it used alongside the Azkali alphabet.

Astseredontia

In the past, Oikan Astseredontia was commonly used to write Azkali. Nowadays, it has been mostly superseded by the Azkali alphabet or Ukilen logographs. However, it still remains a common way of writing Azkali in communities along the Sunteria-Azkali border. Notably, Astseredontia is a co-official script in the Azkali city of Otzeipao, alongside the Azkali alphabet.

Grammar

See main article: Azkali grammar

Azkali is most often classified as an agglutinative language, though its verbs show a large amount of fusionality. Azkali nouns contain two definitenesses (Definite, and Indefinite), 6 cases (Ergative, Absolutive, Dative, Instrumental, Possessive, and Privative), and three numbers (Singular, Paucal, and Plural). Azkali verbs conjugate for three or four tenses (the Far Past, Past, and Non Past, with a dialectal future construction) and 3 moods (Indicative, Conditional, and the Imperative). Azkali verbs also contain 2 participle forms (Past and Present), the gerund, and the agentive.

Azkali grammar is notably different from other languages in Ukilen. However, due to extensive contact with languages such as Oikan and Baphian, Azkali's grammar shares some notable features with them. In the past, and continuing on up until around the 1980s, Azkali grammar was far more irregular and was more differentiated from languages in Ukilen.

Dialects

Abroad

Sunterian Azkali

One of the largest international dialects of Azkali is the Sunterian dialect of Azkali.

Vocabulary

Approximately 60% percent of Azkali's vocabulary comes from Proto-Azkali, 21% of that being from an unknown language (thought to be an extant Paleo-Azkali language). In the remaining 19%, some 12% come from Oikan, 4% comes from Loremesian (most likely due to trading and long term contact between the speakers of Loremesian and Azkali), 2.5% are from Paleo-Azkali languages, and the remaining 0.5% are from the G'torrugh register of Azkali.

Azkali's vocabulary is extremely open class; new nouns, verbs, and pronouns are constantly being derived and used by speakers of Azkali. Other types of words, even including grammatical affixes, prepositions, and so on, are also open class, though not as much as nouns.

Common words and phrases

• (Informally) Kaisho/Kaishua: Hello.
• (Formally) Maikoto Ashua: Greetings.
• Lereaztu?: How are you?
• Oke, askiatoal: Fine, thank you.
• Gaiku tu: What is your name/Who are you?
• Go isan __: My name is ___./I am ___.
• Karia: Nice to meet you!
• Para: Please.
• Horaiztitu: Thank you.
• Maréche taikijo: Welcome.
• Zan: Yes.
• Ketz: No.
• Askomoren goen Excuse me. (getting one's attention)
• Goetzukuo: I'm sorry.
• (Formally) Madherra: Farewell.
• (Informally) Not: Bye.

Registers

Main article: Azkali registers

Turruist Azkali

Main article: Turruist Azkali register

G'torrugh

Main article: G'torrugh