View source for Phyrean language

{{Infobox language
| name             = Phyrean
| nativename       = Ffwyrdunwyrh
| familycolor      = Namuno-Ethian
| fam2             = Avannic
| ancestor         = [[Elder Phyrean]]
| pronunciation    = [ˈfuɨ̯rdɨnuɨ̯r̥]
| region           = Most of [[Phyrea]]
| era              = 1260 ANB - Present
| script           = [[Phyrean script]]
| altname          = High Phyrean
| fam3             = Continental Avannic
| ancestor2        = [[Old High Phyrean]]
| ancestor3        = [[Middle Phyrean]]
| ethnicity        = [[Continental Avannians]]
| nation           = '''Official language'''
{{unbulleted list
|{{flag|Amrhyl}}
|{{flag|Nemmark}}
|{{flag|Blackstrath}}
}}
'''Working language'''
{{unbulleted list
|{{flag|Hower}}
|{{flag|Hearn}}
}}
}}

'''Phyrean''' (''Ffwyrdunwyrh'' [ˈfuɨ̯rdɨnuɨ̯r̥]) is an [[Avannic languages|Avannic language]] spoken throughout southern upper [[Phyrea]] and parts of lower Phyrea, as well as ex-colonies of the [[Amrhyl|Kingdom of Amrhyl]]. It is the main language of commerce in the northern hemisphere, and compounded with the ex-colonial territories it has been introduced to, it has arguably become a global lingua franca.

== History ==
Phyrean and its dialects are [[Continental Avannic languages]], of the broader [[Namuno-Ethian languages|Namuno-Ethian]] family. The earliest evidence found of Early Old Phyrean, the first true form of the language, is a eulogistical inscription on a gravestone dated to around 80 BNB. The text is presented below, with a translation into Literary Standard Phyrean. <blockquote>EWLAWN:AVANŌR:ROWFŌR:L[E]N:MOXW:L[E]N:N[E]XW:L[E]N:PĀRW

''Ewlawn Afanór ar rwff, len mochw, len nechw, len mhárw.''

"To Afan the Night you go, my soul, my blood, my girl."</blockquote>The colons (:) are added to ease parsing, separating words–they were not present in the original, as early inscriptions made no use of spaces or punctuation. Unwritten <e> is added in the transliteration, as it is customary of phyrean orthography to skip this letter within words.
== Phonology ==

=== Consonants ===
There are a total of 24 consonants in Phyrean, counting the ones only appearing in initial mutations.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+Consonants
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |Labial / Labiodental
! colspan="2" |Alveolar / Dental / Linguodental
! rowspan="2" |Lateral
! rowspan="2" |Palatal
! colspan="2" |Velar
! rowspan="2" |Glottal
|-
!<small>Unvoiced</small>
!<small>Voiced</small>
!<small>Unvoiced</small>
!<small>Voiced</small>
!<small>Unvoiced</small>
!<small>Voiced</small>
|-
! colspan="2" |Nasal
|'''mh''' /m̥/<ref>Only occurs as a narrow mutation of /p/.</ref>
|'''m''' /m/
|'''nh''' /n̥/<ref>Only occurs as a narrow mutation of /t/.</ref>
|'''n''' /n/
|
|
|'''ngh''' /ŋ̊/<ref>Only occurs as a narrow mutation of /k/.</ref>
|'''ng''' /ŋ/
|
|-
! colspan="2" |Plosive
|'''p''' /p/
|'''b''' /b/
|'''t''' /t/
|'''d''' /d/
|
|
|'''c''' /k/
|'''g''' /g/
|
|-
! rowspan="2" |Fricative
!<small>Plain</small>
|'''ff (ph'''<ref>Only when as a whispered mutation of /p/.</ref>''')''' /f/
|'''f''' /v/
|'''th''' /θ/
|'''dd''' /ð/
|'''ll''' /ɬ/
|
|'''ch''' /x/
|
|'''h''' /h/
|-
!<small>Sibilant</small>
| colspan="2" |
|'''s''' /s/
|
|
|
| colspan="2" |
|
|-
! colspan="2" |Trill
| colspan="2" |
|'''rh''' /r̥/
|'''r''' /r/
|
|
| colspan="2" |
|
|-
! colspan="2" |Approximant
|
|'''w''' /w/
|
|
|'''l''' /l~ɫ/
|'''i~j''' /j/
|
|('''w''' /w/)
|
|}
There are traditional naming conventions for the sounds found in the language, often documented in older grammars:

* The ''hard struck'' sounds: ''p, t, c''
* The ''soft struck'' sounds: ''b, d, g''
* The ''hard whispered'' sounds: ''ff, th, s, ch, h''
* The ''soft whispered'' sounds: ''f, dd''
* The ''rough rolling'' sounds: ''ll, rh''
* The ''soft rolling'' sounds: ''l, r''
* The ''narrow'' sounds: ''m, n'' (sometimes ''mh, nh, ng, ngh'' are included, though not always, as they either occur rarely or due to initial mutations)

=== Vowels ===
The Phyrean language has seven written vowels: a, e, i, o, u, w and y, with lengthened counterparts marked with a diacritic (á, é, í, etc.).
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+Vowels
!
!Front
!Central
!Back
|-
!Close
|'''i''' /i/ • '''í''' /i:/
|'''y~u''' /ɨ/ • '''ý~ú''' /ɨ:/
|'''w''' /ʊ/ • '''ẃ''' /u:/
|-
!Mid
|'''e''' /e/ • '''é''' /e:/
|
|'''o''' /o/ • '''ó''' /o:/
|-
!Open
|
|'''a''' /a/ • '''á''' /a:/
|
|}
Audibly, the vowels u and y are identical, but never interchangeable in writing, exemplified by the word “blue” below.

* ''llulud'' incorrect
* ''llylyd'' incorrect
* ''llylud'' incorrect
* ''llulyd'' correct form

==== Diphthongs ====
It’s important to note that most diphthongs have their stress on the first vowel. Below is a table of possible diphthongs. Any combinations not listed in the table may still occur, but will not be considered diphthongs. Although not listed, lengthened counterparts are valid first vowel components.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Diphthongs
!
! colspan="6" |Second vowel
|-
!First vowel
!a
!e
!i
!o
!u/y
!w
|-
!a
| -
|'''ae''' /aɨ̯/
|'''ai''' /ai̯/
| -
|'''au''' /aɨ̯/
|'''aw''' /au̯/
|-
!e
| -
| -
|'''ei''' /ei̯/
| -
|'''eu''' /eɨ̯/
|'''ew''' /eu̯/
|-
!i
|'''ia''' /i̯a/
|'''ie''' /i̯e/
| -
|'''io''' /i̯o/
|'''iu''' /iɨ̯/
|'''iw''' /iu̯/
|-
!o
| -
|'''oe''' /oɨ̯/
|'''oi''' /oi̯/
| -
|'''ou''' /oɨ̯/
|'''ow''' /ou̯/
|-
!u/y
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
|'''yw~uw''' /ɨu̯/
|-
!w
|'''wa''' /u̯a/
|'''we''' /u̯e/
|'''wi''' /u̯i/
|'''wo''' /u̯o/
|'''wy~wu''' /uɨ̯~u̯ɨ/
| -
|}

=== Stress ===
Stress in phyrean is almost always present in the penultimate (in bisyllables) or antepenultimate (in polysyllables) syllable, except in words beginning with hy- or y-, which have their accent after the first syllable.

* ''<u>A</u>niddun'' /ˈaniðɨn/ "Anidon"
* ''<u>má</u>harth'' /ˈma:harθ/ "watcher"
* ''hy<u>fer</u>'' /hɨˈver/ "all, every"
* ''hy<u>for</u>yd'' /hɨˈvorɨt/ "other, another"

=== Initial mutations ===
As with other of its close Avannic relatives, Phyrean has a system of initial mutations, similar to those of Hogharryan, its closest relative. However, they developed differently and in different circumstances to the initial mutations found in other relatives like Stockardian, insomuch as the phonological processes leading to them were not the same. The consonants able to assume initial mutations are the struck sounds (''p, t, c, b, d, g''), the narrow sounds (''m, n'') and the rough rolling sounds (''ll, rh''). Vowels (and thus also diphthongs) may also assume two kinds of initial mutation, and ''h'' has a unique mutation that only occurs in specific compounds.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Initial mutations
! rowspan="1" |Base form
! rowspan="1" |Smooth
! rowspan="1" |Narrow
! rowspan="1" |Whispered
! rowspan="1" |Compounding
|-
|'''b''' /b/
|'''f''' /v/
|'''m''' /m/
| -
| -
|-
|'''d''' /d/ 
|'''dd''' /ð/
|'''n''' /n/
| -
| -
|-
|'''g''' /g/
| rowspan="1" |''Elided''
|'''ng''' /ŋ/
| -
| -
|-
|'''p''' /p/
|'''b''' /b/
|'''mh''' /m̥/
|'''ph''' /f/
| -
|-
|'''t''' /t/
|'''d''' /d/
|'''nh''' /n̥/
|'''th''' /θ/
| -
|-
|'''c''' /k/
|'''g''' /g/
|'''ngh''' /ŋ̊/
|'''ch''' /x/
| -
|-
|'''m''' /m/
|'''f''' /v/
| -
| -
| -
|-
|'''n''' /n/
|'''dd''' /ð/
| -
| -
| -
|-
|'''ll''' /ɬ/
|'''l''' /l/
| -
| -
| -
|-
|'''rh''' /r̥/
|'''r''' /r/
| -
| -
| -
|-
|'''vowels'''
|'''f-V''' /vV/
|'''n-V''' /nV/
| -
| -
|-
|'''h''' /h/
| -
| -
| -
|'''g''' /g/
|}

== Grammar ==
Morphologically, Phyrean is fusional, as is common of [[Namuno-Ethian languages]]. [WIP]

== Dialects ==
[[File:Phyrea-dialects.png|thumb|Map displaying the dialect continuum of the native Phyrean-speaking area.]]

=== Vowel realisations ===
The chart below shows the differing vowel realisations found in various major Phyrean dialects or "accents."
{| class="wikitable"
|+Vowel realisations
! colspan="2" |Standard
|'''[a]'''
|'''[a:]'''
|'''[e]'''
|'''[e:]'''
|'''[i]'''
|'''[i:]'''
|'''[o]'''
|'''[o:]'''
|'''[ʊ]'''
|'''[u:]'''
|'''[ɨ]'''
|'''[ɨ:]'''
|-
! rowspan="2" |Capital
!Levon
| rowspan="3" |[a]
|[a:]
| rowspan="2" |[e]
|[e:]
| rowspan="3" |[i]
| rowspan="6" |[i:]
| rowspan="2" |[o]
|[o:]
| rowspan="4" |[ʊ]
| rowspan="6" |[u:]
| rowspan="2" |[ɨ]
| rowspan="4" |[ɨ:]
|-
!Llyd-an-Járth
| rowspan="3" |[ɑ:]
| rowspan="5" |[ɛ:]
| rowspan="5" |[ɔ:]
|-
! rowspan="2" |Amrhylian
!East
|[ɛ]
|[ɔ]
|[ə]
|-
!West
|[ɑ]
| rowspan="2" |[e]
|[ɪ]
| rowspan="2" |[o]
|[ɨ]
|-
! rowspan="4" |Hogharrhyan
!Coastal
| rowspan="4" |[a]
| rowspan="2" |[a:]
| rowspan="2" |[i]
| rowspan="3" |[u]
| rowspan="2" |[i]
| rowspan="2" |[i:]
|-
!Lowland
|[ɛ]
|[ɔ]
|-
!Midland
| rowspan="2" |[aʊ̯]
| rowspan="2" |[e]
|[eɪ̯]
| rowspan="6" |[ɪ]
|[ɪi̯]
| rowspan="2" |[o]
|[oʊ̯]
| rowspan="2" |[əʊ̯]
| rowspan="2" |[ɪ]
|[ɪi̯]
|-
!Highland
|[ɛa̯]
|[eɪ̯]
|[ɔa̯]
| rowspan="4" |[ʊ]
|[eɪ̯]
|-
! rowspan="5" |Nemmark-Blackstradian
!East Nemmish
|[ɐ]
|[a:]
|[ɛ]
|[ɛ:]
|[i:]
|[ɔ]
| rowspan="5" |[ɔ:]
| rowspan="2" |[u:]
|[ɨ]
|[ɨ:]
|-
!Central Nemmish
| rowspan="2" |[a]
| rowspan="2" |[ɔ:]
| rowspan="3" |[e]
|[æ:]
| rowspan="2" |[ɛ:]
| rowspan="3" |[o]
| rowspan="2" |[ɪ]
| rowspan="2" |[ɛ:]
|-
!West Nemmish
| rowspan="3" |[ɛ:]
| rowspan="2" |[ɤ:]
|-
!North Blackstradian
|[ɐ]
|[a:]
| rowspan="2" |[i:]
|[ɤ]
|[ɨ]
|[ɨ:]
|-
!South Blackstradian
|[æ]
|[æ:]
|[ɛ]
|[i]
|[ɔ]
|[ə]
|[u:]
|[ɪ]
|[ɪ:]
|}

=== Variant vocabulary ===
The chart below shows variations in vocabulary in various Phyrean dialects.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Variations in vocabulary
! rowspan="2" |Meaning
! colspan="2" |Capital
! colspan="2" |Amrhylian
! colspan="4" |Hogharrhyan
! colspan="5" |Nemmark-Blackstradian
|-
!Levon
!Llyd-an-Járth
!East
!West
!Coastal
!Lowland
!Midland
!Highland
!East N.
!Central N.
!West N.
!North B.
!South B.
|-
!Fox
| colspan="11" |''Ceddyn''
|''Mabyn''
|''Jab''
|-
!Stative be, ind. perf.
| colspan="4" |''Ena''
|''Naf''
|''Enaf''
| colspan="2" |''Naf''
| colspan="5" |''Na''
|-
!Eventive be, ind. perf.
| colspan="4" |''Yra''
|''Raf''
|''Yraf''
| colspan="2" |''Raf''
| colspan="5" |''Ra''
|-
!Become, ind. perf.
| colspan="4" |''Ryma''
|''Ymaf''
|''Rymaf''
| colspan="2" |''Ymaf''
| colspan="4" |''Yma''
|''Ma''
|-
!Stative be, opt. past
|''Fawn''
|''Fon''
| colspan="2" |''Fawn''
| colspan="2" |''Fon''
| colspan="2" |''Fawn''
| colspan="3" |''Fon''
| colspan="2" |''Fan''
|-
!Eventive be, opt. past
|''Yrfawn''
|''Yrfon''
| colspan="2" |''Yrfawn''
| colspan="2" |''Yrfon''
| colspan="2" |''Yrfawn''
| colspan="3" |''Yrfon''
| colspan="2" |''Yrfan''
|-
!Become, opt. past
|''Ymawn''
|''Ymon''
| colspan="2" |''Ymawn''
| colspan="2" |''Ymon''
| colspan="2" |''Ymawn''
| colspan="3" |''Ymon''
| colspan="2" |''Yman''
|-
!King
| colspan="2" |''Járth''
| colspan="2" |''Hiaharth''
|''Járth''
| colspan="3" |''Hiaharth''
| colspan="4" |''Hiaharth''
|''Hiárth''
|-
!Hello
| colspan="5" |''Leo''
| colspan="8" |''Gwyl''
|-
!Wolf
| colspan="4" |''Marth''
| colspan="2" |''Thyr''
| colspan="2" |''Marth''
| colspan="5" |''Thyr''
|-
!Now
|''Anrw''
| colspan="3" |''Anw''
| colspan="3" |''Nw''
| colspan="2" |''Rw''
| colspan="2" |''Arwn''
|''Arw''
|''Rw''
|}

=== Levon dialect ===
The [[Levon]] dialect of Phyrean is the basis for the standardised language, and it differs little in phonology and grammar. The colloquial vocabulary, however, presents terms not found in other varieties, or meanings that deviate from Standard Phyrean.
{{columns-list|* ''wosh, wossh'' "cool"
* ''ffyth'' "arse" (from ''ffythain'' "peach")
* ''llyrddan'' "to give" (normally "to share")|colwidth=16em}}

=== Llyd-an-Járth dialect ===
The dialect spoken in and around the city of [[Lydd-an-Járth|Llyd-an-Járth]] used to be the prestige dialect for most of early Phyrean history up until the declaration of [[Levon]] as the capital in 1204. It is peculiar in that it, like the West Amrhylian dialects, makes use of the honorific second person pronoun ''on'' in informal speech.

=== West Amrhylian dialects ===
West Amrhylian dialects are known for making use of the honorific second person pronoun ''on'' as an informal pronoun. It also makes further distinctions between long and short vowels, employing a pattern of prosodic lengthening unique to the area, seen below.
{| class="wikitable"
|+West Amrhylian prosodic lengthening
! rowspan="3" |Historical vowel length
! colspan="5" |Closed syllable
! rowspan="3" |Open syllable
|-
! rowspan="2" |Plosive coda
! colspan="2" |Dental or alveolar coda
! rowspan="2" |Nasal or [NC] coda
! rowspan="2" |Liquid or [LC] coda
|-
!Unvoiced
!Voiced
|-
!Historically short
|'''Short'''
''nwg'' /nʊk/ "knee"
|'''Coda lengthened'''
rhath /r̥ɑθ:/ "bone"
|'''Semi-long'''
''maf'' /mɑˑv/ "it is short"
|'''Coda lengthened'''
''hin'' /hɪn:/ "without"
|'''Coda lengthened'''
''hwl'' /hʊɫ:/ "leaf"
|'''Semi-long'''
''be'' /bɛˑ/ "for"
|-
!Historically long
|'''Short'''
''thág'' /θɑk/ "tile"
|'''Short, coda lengthened'''
géff /gef:/ "oxbow lake"
|'''Long'''
''lédd'' /lɛ:ð/ "hall"
|'''Overlong'''
''pán'' /pɑ::n/ "autumn"
|'''Long'''
''pár'' /pɑ:r/ "girl"
|'''Overlong'''
''mé'' /mɛ::/ "self"
|}

=== East Amrhylian dialects ===
East Amrhylian dialects present some influence from [[Asconian language|Ascon]] in their vocabulary and phonology, most notably in their vowel realisations. 

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Phyrean language]] [[Category:Avannic languages]] [[Category:Languages]] [[Category:Lingua francas]]