Language of the first settlers
Little is known about the first settlers of Steeghan. King Myghchaell the conqueror wanted it that way. In his eyes, the kingdom that he named Steeghan was a vast vacant land that emerged in the modern era by his will and efforts. It is said that the first decree was to educate the vanquished in the modern language, known as the crowns language.
The truth is slightly more complicated. Rumor suggests that the king loved the different sounds of the settlers' language since it was so different from the "rounded" sounds he learned all his life. The settlers' language was more "angular" sounding. Sharper. The only problem was his ineptitude to learn it.
After a particularly frustrating lesson, not only did Myghchaell order his incapable instructor to be quartered in a private ceremony, he also ordered his scholars, who had been hard at work translating all the works into the crowns language, to stop and burn everything. The original works and the translations.
The only works that escaped the purge were maps. Not because king Myghchaell regretted his earlier orders but simply out of practicality. The king was reminded that local merchants, who still wielded some influence, would be more malleable if the iconic geographical locations kept the name they had for possibly centuries.
After hundreds of cycles, depending on the maps, you might find the modern city of Estergan surrounded by originally named landmarks such as the kripligo râu, the Teren-Okeân Divar or the Tǎr-Nati to name a few. These maps are now considered as pieces of art more than accurate representation of the geography of Steeghan.
In recent cycles, there has been a longing for all things ancient. Some scholars have been trying to bring back the language of the first settlers. The lack of original material to study will not deter them. More and more in recent manuals the names of animals, trees, flowers for example will be translated from the crowns language back into what academics believe would be the proper translation of the language of the first settlers.
The truth is slightly more complicated. Rumor suggests that the king loved the different sounds of the settlers' language since it was so different from the "rounded" sounds he learned all his life. The settlers' language was more "angular" sounding. Sharper. The only problem was his ineptitude to learn it.
After a particularly frustrating lesson, not only did Myghchaell order his incapable instructor to be quartered in a private ceremony, he also ordered his scholars, who had been hard at work translating all the works into the crowns language, to stop and burn everything. The original works and the translations.
The only works that escaped the purge were maps. Not because king Myghchaell regretted his earlier orders but simply out of practicality. The king was reminded that local merchants, who still wielded some influence, would be more malleable if the iconic geographical locations kept the name they had for possibly centuries.
After hundreds of cycles, depending on the maps, you might find the modern city of Estergan surrounded by originally named landmarks such as the kripligo râu, the Teren-Okeân Divar or the Tǎr-Nati to name a few. These maps are now considered as pieces of art more than accurate representation of the geography of Steeghan.
In recent cycles, there has been a longing for all things ancient. Some scholars have been trying to bring back the language of the first settlers. The lack of original material to study will not deter them. More and more in recent manuals the names of animals, trees, flowers for example will be translated from the crowns language back into what academics believe would be the proper translation of the language of the first settlers.
Oh! Why did he have everything burnt? This is really cool, and a great way to weave history into a language as well. Great article :)
Thank you for the encouraging words. Especially after I've seen your stunning world.