Vortesian language

Distribution of Vortesian, areas in dark blue is where it is spoken by a majority, areas in light blue is where it is spoken by a minority.

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**Vortesian**, or **Vorsha**, and as an endonym **jeVorsha** or **jeVorşa**, is a Bluelandic language spoken by the Vortesian people in the Bluelandic Union. It belongs to the Noviakan branch within the Ekelic language family.

Vortesian is an official recognized language in the Bluelandic Union, mostly spoken in Vortesia. It is the most widely spoken home language in Blueland, with about 53% of Blueland's population speaking it at home. It is also the most widely spoken Bluelandic language. It is written in the Latin script. A standardized variety of it known as Bluelandic exists as the national language.

### Geographical distribution

Vortesian is mostly concentrated in the state of Vortesia, with populations also extending into eastern Tochenio and some parts of Yukana. Kana, the main language spoken in Yukana, is considered to be mutually intelligible with Vortesian. The language has five dialects, Lawashiba, Lorawani, Wayonazu, Kazaraki, and Juvulandic. All of these dialects are considered to be mutually intelligible with each other, with the notable exception of Juvulandic.

## Phonology

### Vowels

The vowel system of Vortesian consists of 5 vowels

 Mid
 Open

### Consonants

Additionally, Vortesian also includes a pitch accent, which is not represented in writing unless two similar words have different pitch accent patterns. This is represented by a caron, for example [kaꜜ.la] ("space") is spelled "Kala," and [ka.laꜜ] ("birch tree") is spelled "Kalǎ."

## Orthography

Additionally, a caron may be placed over a vowel to indicate a downstep.

## Grammar

Vortesian is an agglutinative language with subject-object-verb word order. New words can be created by attaching affixes onto a root word (affixation), or repetition of words or portions of words (reduplication).

### Affixation

Root words are either nouns or verbs, which can be affixed to derive new words, e.g., ***wo**mukasu* (to sanctify) yields ***ngi**mukasu* (was sanctified), ***zu**mukasu* (will be sanctified), ***mungi**mukasu* (one who sanctified), ***mungi**mukasu**jor*** (one who was sacred) among others. There are two major types of affixes: prefixes, and suffixes. These affixes are categorised into noun affixes, verb affixes, and adjective affixes.

### Reduplication

Reduplication is a process found in many Vortesic languages. It is used for many reasons, such as forming gerunds, for emphasis, or making plural nouns. It is also done for a process of adjective strengthening. Words are usually completely reduplicated, separated by a dash.

#### Gerunds

Reduplication of verbs is done to form gerunds. An example is with the word *woma* (to stand,) which when reduplicated becomes *ma-ma* (standing.) Only the root word is reduplicated, and the infinitive (*-wo*) is dropped.

#### Plural nouns

In Vortesian, nouns and pronouns are pluralized through reduplication. For instance, the word *mantu* (person) is reduplicated to become *mantu-mantu* (people.) Another example is with pronouns, for example, the first-person singular pronoun *nai* is reduplicated to become the first-person plural pronoun *nai-nai*.

#### Comparison

Reduplication of adjectives can be done to increase their degree of comparison. An example is the word *kadi* (good,) which when reduplicated yields *kadi-kadi* (great.)

## Sample text

Article 1 of the *Universal Declaration of Human Rights* in Vortesian

> Onga kumantu keltumi kumai wayakanyai ngwezuni wayangwengalo-ngalo. Ya-yakelva nga zatu wayambiza wayangikuzagwoza ngwemunye wayamunye ngwemoya yikumatamu.
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> [ˈo̞ŋa kuˈmantu kɛlˈtumi ˈkumai wajaˈkaɲai ŋʷɛˈzuni wajaŋʷɛˈŋalo̞ŋalo̞. jajakɛlˈβa ˈŋa ˈzatu wajamˈbiza wajaŋikuzaˈgʷo̞za ŋʷɛˈmuɲɛ wajaˈmuɲɛ ŋʷɛˈmo̞ja jikumaˈtamu.]
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> All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
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