Amganad (ʔam.ɡaˈnad)

"There is no language more satisfying to swear in than Amganad. The variety of options is staggering, but it's the feel of it when your curses roll out that really makes it perfect." - Izar Ibarzabal

Amganad is the language spoken by the Ipugao people who live in the mountains of Pulo. Its use is technically outlawed by the Tagápulo Empire, but unless there is an Imperial official with armed soldiers present, the Ipugao ignore this prohibition. And even then, the temptation to insult the Empire in the language best suited for it may prove overwhelming. Amganad is inspired by Ibaloi.

Dialects

The Ipugao live in a collection of mountain villages, connected by paths and passes that can be trecherous or impassible depending on the weather. This has allowed for the development of many local dialects, as each village is isolated for at least part of the year. The differences between the dialects are usually hard for outsiders to decipher, but it is not uncommon for an innocuous phrase in one village to be a deadly insult in another. At least, that's what the Ipugao will say when someone investigating the death of an Imperial tax collector comes calling.

Interesting Features

Amganad is famous for its profanity. Sailors claim that all proper curses in the Common Tongue originated in the mountains of Pulo, and that other cultures can only produce a shadow of their splendor. An angry Ipugao can spend an hour or longer cursing without ever repeating themselves, while the subject of their anger stands aghast.

The curses of the Ipugao have even developed their own superstitions and Folk Magic about them. When in the mountains of Pulo, curses spoken in Amganad carry metaphysical weight due to the power of these beliefs and the Egregoric Force. While the curses do not come true, the actual act of cursing seems to create a liminal state around the area, where everything pauses. Those being cursed cannot walk away, or take any actions until the person cursing pauses. Nobody else who is witnessing it can intervene either, as all are briefly trapped in the moment. Once the curser pauses, stumbles, or stops the spell is broken, but with the most skilled at this art can maintain an unbroken flow for an hour or more.

Related Languages

Amganad is related to the other languages of Pulo, including Pananalita and Tagaduyan. It is more distantly related to some of the other languages of the Southwestern Region, including Bahasa, and Dilauti. In most cases, Amganad is not mutually intelligible with these other languages.

Naming Traditions

Family names in Amganad are passed patrilinearly, and children are named a few days after birth. Their personal name is chosen by the mother and father, although they may receive advise from anyone in their community. It is unusual to name a child for a living relative, although it is not unheard of. Family names remain constant throughout a person's life, not changing during marriage or other major life events. Nicknames are extremely common, and an individual may have a wide variety of nicknames they have acquired, and that are used only in particular contexts.

Writing System

Amganad does not have a writing system of its own, although the Ipugao do use a series of trail marks and signs that can sometimes be arranged to convey a more complicated message. When they need to write something, they typically use the Tagabayin script which they have borrowed from Pananalita.

Geographical Distribution

Amganad is spoken fluently only in the mountains of Pulo. However, scraps of the language have traveled from those mountains and can be heard throughout the Great Ring, mostly on ships that have made regular trips to the ports of Pulo.

Spoken by

• Ipugao

Common Phrases

• Nyáp it pagalan - Which way?
• Palkad ak kéíyé - I'm too tired for this
• Nyáp nan bahél nan ngiwat yo! - Stop being a jerk! (literally: What's the price for your smile?)
• Amúng nan apó? - Who is in charge?
• Naánan ka! - Hello (literally: You are still alive!)
• Ma-áyo ka - Goodbye
• Iton mo ay wagis! - Help me out here (literally: Give me a rope!)
• Adík bayadan nan mahal - Untranslatable Insult, typically used to object to a high price
• Ala kayet! - Be careful!
• Adíyo ipíd nan aligá! - Don't be an idiot! (literally: Don't touch the bees!)

Common Female Names

• Amihan
• Malaya
• Dalisay
• Sinta
• Liwayway
• Mahalina
• Lakambini
• Tala
• Dalisay
• Ligaya

Common Male Names

• Gatmaitan
• Sarmiento
• Matanguihan
• Serrano
• Dalisay
• Dimaculangan
• Mercado
• Galang
• Dimapilis
• Salamat

Common Unisex Names

• Bayani
• Tagumpay
• Lakas
• Banal
• Bantay
• Ganda
• Kagitingan
• Maganda
• Banlaw
• Gunita

Common Family Names

• Labitag
• Dayag
• Baradi
• Lingat
• Kiyan
• Dulnag
• Tayag
• Pascua
• Carandang
• Gacutan