Essospeak

Essospeak (Ascendancy Language, or Nozerod Language) is a language group spoken in Essotori, Suntterland, and overseas in Nozerod Cult communities. It is named after the ruling caste of Essotori, the Esso. Essospeak evolved from Old Corusconian and Trekan over the course of centuries, under the direction of the Ashwood Dynasty. The standardisation of Essospeak began early, several centuries before Trekan was able to do so, due to the authoritarian, controlling manner in which the Cult maintained power. In the modern day, Essospeak has evolved into a family of languages, with many of the languages' traits being spliced into target cultures to facilitate conversion to the Cult, this is known in Essotori as Acolyte Speak, or Low Essospeak. Eventually, all converts are expected to learn High Essospeak, especially if they are moving to Essotori.

Essospeak has spread with Essotori since the seventeenth century, and was used in the Pam Empire informally since the Second Essotori Kemet War. After the conquest of Suntterland, Essospeak was mandated for all officers and political figures in the Duchy, while the general population was neglected. Since 2020, the population of Suntterland are finally being encouraged to utilise Essospeak, or at the very least, Low Essospeak in their native tongue. This was a longstanding criticism of the Suntterlandish Government, by both domestic intellectuals, and Essotori based politicians, as a sign of corruption, incompetence and dereliction of duty.

Linguistically, Essotori shares many traits with Trekan, old Corusconian, and Minachian. The primary difference between Essospeak (all varieties) with it's contemporaries is the lack of first and second person, in both casual speech and literature. This comes in the form of 'Crownslave', which replaces all first person address. It also continues to utilise verbal tics from old Corusconian, Trekan and modern Minachian, due to the swift and strong standardisation of the language. Some Tori words have managed to become recognised by the greater Essospeak.

### Accents

Essospeak has several recognised accents, with Ascended Essospeak being the pinnacle. It is a formed of received pronunciation, though is completely understandable to all Essospeakers, and the type most associated with Essotori. It is named so, due to the fact that the Nozerod speaks in this manner. Ascended Essospeak is mandated for newscasters, and is taught to nobility in school. Below that, is Standard Essospeak, which is spoken by the majority of the population. This is the form that converts, and the general population, is expected to speak. Much of vocabulary is different, and some more modern Trekan is used, rather than Corusconian. Below that, are Regional Accents, which includes Tori Essospeak. This form is used in local counties, and while the majority can be understood by Essospeakers, though some more obscure Tori Dialects are not intelligible.

### Low Essospeak

Low Essospeak is the colloquial term for foreign languages adopting traits of Essospeak to facilitate conversion, without requiring local populations to study an entirely new language. The most common forms of Low Essospeak outside of the Ascendancy are based in Hollejford, Konzask, and Nurasolvsk. In these nations, Essotori backs conversion missions (or in Konzask, humanitarian missions). Nurasolvsk maintains several parasitical Nozerod Cultists, who utilise Low Essospeak, while teaching their community Essospeak over time.

## Crownslave Variations

### **Crownslave:**

The most standard, regular form of self address. It takes the form of ‘I’ and ‘my’ in English. Crownslave is very flexible, and can be used both formally and informally, though it generally conveys neutrality and is used broadly.

Example

“This Crownslave will return home in three hours.”

“I will be back in three hours.”

### **Honourable Crownslave:**

Honourable Crownslave is a standard way to say “You” or “Yours.” It is also a suffix added to other versions of Crownslave to heighten formality.

Example

“The Honourable Crownslave dropped her pendant.”

“You dropped your pendant.”

### **Dishonourable Crownslave:**

Dishonourable Crownslave is both a self insulting, depreciatory manner of address, and an insult aimed at another individual. Depending on the tone and context of the term, it can mean ‘Idiot’. It is synonymous with "lowly Crownslave"

Example

“The Dishonourable Crownslave is late.”

### **Lowly Crownslave:**

Similar to Dishonourable Crownslave, though generally used when in the presence of a superior to make oneself seem lower.

Example

“This Lowly Crownslave lives to serve.”

## Common Phrases

### Greetings and Introductions

#### Casual

"Hello, this Crownslave is John!", or "This Crownslave is John, hello!"

"The morning blesses all"

### Introducing somone else

"Honourable Crownslave James, meet the Honourable Crownslave John."

"Ah, a pleasure! This Crownslave is John."

#### Formal

1) "May great blessings fall upon all, through the meeting of the Crownslaves James and John."

2) "An auspicious meeting for mutual prosperity, indeed. This Crownslave is John, the pleasure is his."

## Key Vocabulary

"May the next day serve as well as this one."/"May the next day serve better than this one."

"This Crownslave bids farewell."

"Goodbye, honourable Crownslave"

"This Crownslave looks forward to reunion at X"