Kes language

Kes, specifically Modern Kes, natively known as Ḱé [ce˦] is an Alhic language evolved from Classical Alhi. It is spoken primarily in the center of Alloti and has approximately 7 million native speakers, and 7.2 million when including non-native speakers. It is related to Alhi, another Alhic language. It is unusual for its development of tone, having a plain and high tone distinction. Kes is most widely spoken in the cities of Ujor-Ler and Ulhitu.

Much of Kes' vocabulary, like Alhi, is derived almost completely from Classical Alhi, but due to outside influence, many Alhi and Tova words have entered the language. Kes is written in a variation of Oulaj, the native script of Alhi. It is not clear when the usage of Oulaj for Kes started, but when looking at the glyphs used for the language, it is estimated to have started around four to five centuries ago.

Kes is not mutually intelligable with Alhi, due to how innovative Kes was in its evolution from Classical Alhi. Phonologically, Kes has developed a plain, palatalized, and labialized distinction in its consonants, and has 8 separate vowel qualities (in comparison to Modern Alhi's six). Grammatically, Kes is much more similar to Classical Alhi than Modern Alhi.

Name of the language

The name of the language, Kes, is derived from a Classical Alhi word meaning 'common', as in 'common language of the people'.