Znagrúkic
Znagrúkic1 refers to all the languages that originated among the Znagrúks in southern Dragonía, of which there are 13 language families and isolates, and dozens of different languages. The most widespread ones are jargic, language of the court and official language of the Znagrúk Empire; znúmic, mostly spoken in the city of Pyn and surrounding regions to the west; kagrálic to the east and northeast; and pejápic in the central regions.
Jargic and znúmic have long alternated as the official languages of the Znagrúks for centuries, and thus share a number of words and other features despite belonging to different language families, effectively making them a sprachbund.
A number of pidgins and creole languages are used to some degree within the Znagrúk Empire to ease communication with non-Znagrúk subjects (Gláðs, Hyrríans, Jeihókans and Úamtnans) as well as the Traks inhabiting Dakrúzú Peninsula to the southeast.
Traditionally, Znagrúk rulers are expected to know certain prayers and hymns in all these different languages (and several extinct ones), so that they can communicate with whatever deity believed to inhabit any shrine or temple throughout the empire.
Jargic and znúmic have long alternated as the official languages of the Znagrúks for centuries, and thus share a number of words and other features despite belonging to different language families, effectively making them a sprachbund.
A number of pidgins and creole languages are used to some degree within the Znagrúk Empire to ease communication with non-Znagrúk subjects (Gláðs, Hyrríans, Jeihókans and Úamtnans) as well as the Traks inhabiting Dakrúzú Peninsula to the southeast.
Traditionally, Znagrúk rulers are expected to know certain prayers and hymns in all these different languages (and several extinct ones), so that they can communicate with whatever deity believed to inhabit any shrine or temple throughout the empire.
Writing System
Like their Gobíl rivals to the north, the Znagrúks write using alphabets, which differ from the former in having generally simpler characters and each representing only a single sound. Most of these writing systems are used in the western, central and northern parts of the empire, while the znúmo-jargic one is used for administration, laws and inscriptions on monuments and is widely used to the south and east.
Vocabulary
Loanwords from the languages spoken by non-Znagrúk subjects of the empire are found in many Znagrúk languages or dialects.
Some words in jargic
Tamlá: Melon.
Úmu: No.
Yznók: Sheep.
Zyz: Fig.
Úmu: No.
Yznók: Sheep.
Zyz: Fig.
Phonetics
The sounds in jargic tongue are as follows:
A /a/ Á /au/ E /ɛ/ G /k/ H /h/ I /ɪ/ J /j/ K /kh/ L /l/ M /m/ N /n/ O /ɔ/ Ó /o/ P /ph/ R /r/ T /th/ U /ʏ/ Ú /u/ V /v/ Y /ɪ/ Z /z/
In jargic and most dialects of znúmic, Y is pronounced much the same way or identical to I, but the letter is still used to differentiate similarly sounding words, while in many other znagrúkic languages it's pronounced more closer to /y/ instead.
Znagrúks living by the Ga River between the city of Pyn and the traditional territory of the Gláðs often pronounce Z more like /θ/, a Gláðic influence, while those living near the southeastern border pronounce it as /ʒ/ due to frequent contact with Trak traders.
A /a/ Á /au/ E /ɛ/ G /k/ H /h/ I /ɪ/ J /j/ K /kh/ L /l/ M /m/ N /n/ O /ɔ/ Ó /o/ P /ph/ R /r/ T /th/ U /ʏ/ Ú /u/ V /v/ Y /ɪ/ Z /z/
In jargic and most dialects of znúmic, Y is pronounced much the same way or identical to I, but the letter is still used to differentiate similarly sounding words, while in many other znagrúkic languages it's pronounced more closer to /y/ instead.
Znagrúks living by the Ga River between the city of Pyn and the traditional territory of the Gláðs often pronounce Z more like /θ/, a Gláðic influence, while those living near the southeastern border pronounce it as /ʒ/ due to frequent contact with Trak traders.
1Original icelandic: znagrúska.
Spoken by
Znagrúks
Znagrúks
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