Dalkaisk (Language)

Dalkaisk is the majority language spoken in Dalkai, and the Lingua Franca of Tauran communities abroad.
The language is the official language of Dalkai, as well as being spoken by a significant minority in Alphia, as well as in Dalkaisk pockets in Novenae. The Tauran sector in Vasla contains a large amount of Dalkaisk speakers, and is the largest enclave of Dalkaisk language speakers outside of Tauran nations.
== History ==
=== Srojkja ===
Dalkaisk was historically written in the Srojkja script, a consonant based alphabet where vowels were written above or below the consonants. Its connective appearance meant each letter possessed an initial, middle, and end version. Srojkja was eventually phased out in favor of the Ljekja Script used by the Gerbian Language. Srojkja is still used in early Dalkaisk aesthetic and art. 
=== Ljekja ===
In 2501, Dalkai, while under the control of SMG, underwent the 2501 Dalkaisk Language Ljekjization, also called Ljekjinitsije, outlawing the old Srojkja system. The Ljekja script is still commonly used in settings representing Revolutionary and Early-Dalkaisk Periods, as well as those, typically older Dalkaisk, educated before the switch to the Latin/Cyrillic Alphabet.
=== Cyrillic ===
In 3017, Dalkai underwent the Dalkaisk Language Cyrillization, also called Syrilinitsije. During this time, Ljekja was seen as the remnant of an oppressive regime, as well as many other Gerbian cultural symbols. Arriving onto Terra, Dzheri Dumont officially instituted the Cyrillic alphabet as the official script for the Dalkaisk language due to higher letter-sound compatibility by the Primin and his cabinet. Although Cyrillic is the official writing system for Dalkaisk, Latin is much more widely used. Though spelling reforms have been issued in Latin, there is no equivalent reforms in Cyrillic Dalkaisk.
Cyrillic, although much more rare in daily life than Latin, is used in official settings, and on official documents along with Latin, although more and more, documents and government websites are offered only in Latin.
Tuviet (Tuvyetsk) speakers continue to use the previous Cyrillic script, even as Dalkaisk ceased usages of the alphabet. Along with older Dalkaisk speakers, Cyrillic users have been collectively called Syriliens (Syriliesk)
=== Latin ===
During the end of the Great Migration, Latinization of Dalkaisk increased in popularity and usage. Unlike Syrilinitsije, Dalkaisk Language Latinization, or Latjinitsije was a gradual process. Cyrillic, although official, was not as widely used due to the internationality of the Latin Alphabet. In 3020, the Latjinitsije Decitsije (Latinization Act) set the Latin Alphabet as the coofficial writing system of Dalkaisk with Cyrillic.
In 3018, the Language Ministry for Latin Dalkaisk, LMLD (Menetsiva Bajletsi Dalkajsk-naj Latinij, MBDL) issued reforms for Latin written Dalkaisk. Previously, obsolete sounds, and inferred pronunciations in certain words were simplified to more accurately match what is actually spoken. For instance, Dzheri Dumont used to be Dzheri Dumontj in the old spelling, fansja, meaning "force" used to be spelled faansja, and vazhi, meaning "book" used to be voazhe.
== Grammar ==
See a core grammar guide at Dalkaisk Grammar
== Vocabulary ==
See all existing vocabulary at Dalkaisk Dictionary
== Examples ==
==== Example 1 ====
Dalkaisk: Renaj sere avbajnizha an oraj onpruste.
IPA: /ɾeˈnaʲ ˈseɾ(ə) ɑβˈbaʲniˌʒa an̪ ˈoɾaʲ ˌonˈpɾustə/
Literal: They-(3rd person pl.) go-(past) (to)-bank one hour (in)-past
English: They went to the bank one hour ago.
==== Example 2 ====
Dalkaisk: Tej attsinjesejnte jo lajm?
IPA: /teʲ atˈt͡sinʲeˌseʲntə jo laʲm/
Literal: You-(2nd person sing.) open-(fut.)-(cont.) it (ques. particle)?
English: Will you be opening it? / You will be opening it, right?
==== Example 3 ====
Dalkaisk: Nartaj tsi Aphjil jen felotsen ij felotsen itapjatsi
IPA: /naɾˈtaʲ t͡s(ɪ) apˈhʲil jen̪ feˈlot͡sen iɨ feˈlot͡sen ˌitaˈpʲat͡s(ɪ)/
Literal: North of Aphil be-(3rd-person-pl.) forest-(pl.) and forest-(pl.) spruce-(of).
English: North of Aphil are forests and forests of spruce.
== Dialects ==
The Standardized Dialect, also known as Mainstream Dalkaisk, is based off the Nankai dialect of Reicala. Regional Dialects vary widely, with some dialects occasionally being written down.
In the Mainstream/Nankai Dialect, the following sentence would be written and spoken as such:
Pjo reglen kjem tej suseretjo sut ren desoj atkefre.
/pʲo ɾegˈlen̪ kʲem teʲ suˈse.ɾe.tʲə su(t) ɾen̪ deˈsoʲ ˈat.ke.fre/
English: Don't say that you did it if it creates trouble.
However, in the Dauija Dialect of Southeastern Reicala, the same sentence would feature more contractions and vowel dropping: 
Pj'reglen kjem t'suseretj s'ren des'atkefre.
/pʲ.ɾegˈɫn kʲem t͡sʊˈseˌɾetʲ sɾen deˈsaʔ.ke.fɾə/
In the Avenije Dialect, due to it's 3 vowel phonological tendencies originating from the Avenian language, (/a/, /i/, /u/) the sentence would be:
Pia raglin kiam tai susaritiu sut ran dasui atkipru.
/piˈa ragˈlin kiam ˈta.i suˈsa.ri.ti.u sut ran daˈsu.i ˈat.ki.pru/
Category:Language