Languages of the World
1. Terrestrial Wolves
1.1. na-M)lnon Dialects
2. Oceanic Wolves
3. A Note on Mutual Intelligibility
1. Terrestrial Wolves
1.1 na-M)lnon Dialects
Phonemes
I'm not gonna go into exhausting detail about this because frankly I would perish. But here's a few notes:
- "r" is rolled in the front of the mouth
- "n" and "m" are pronounced with a bit of a throat growl. This gives them a somewhat harsh association and leads to them being featured often in fictional names that are supposed to sound evil or threatening
- ")" is a whine vowel, typically with a closed or barely open mouth
- "ü" is pronounced the same way it is in Hungarian (or the way "u" is in Flemish), I'm not even gonna try to IPA this for you because it demonstrably sucks at it. Distinct from "u"
Body Language Prefixes
Body language is an important component of na-M)lnon dialects. Certain words are expanded in their meaning by being combined with certain cues, some even having a different meaning based on body language or the absence of it. As many of these bits of body language are used to convey respect, neglecting to use them is commonly seen as an insult to the subject.
Since body language cannot easily be conveyed in fluent, written text, written forms of na-M)lnon dialects use prefixes (always lowercase) to indicate the relevant body language for a word. These prefixes were never meant to be pronounced when reading, instead being silent indicators to mime, but the nature of speech-paced reading or the diminished visibility when speaking to a larger gathering mean that in certain contexts, the prefixes are, in fact, spoken out loud. (This tends to be branded as destructive and disrespectful for the language or making it "grow in the wrong direction" by certain language purists.)
Examples:
- na: applied to concepts so grand you cannot take in all at once, most commonly place names (rarely settlements, typically regions or larger) but also magical concepts or deities in certain contexts. Denotes an upright posture with ears forward and relaxed facial features
- il: applied to individuals deeply respected by the speaker (though the personal opinion is not often taken into account - neglecting the il- prefix for an individual everyone else uses it for just because you personally think they are a twat is seen as an overt insult in most na-M)lnon villages). Examples include village elders and those who have done great deeds. In some villages it is also temporarily applied to those who have recently given birth. Denotes a lowered head with the nose tilted up and the ears swept back
- in: applied to concepts of legend, including individuals, creatures, items, and possibly places (which may also get na- instead depending on the context and whether the mystical or grand nature of said place is more important at the moment). May be applied to individuals who are away on long spiritual journeys or those who have recently been lost doing great/selfless deeds - most na-M)lnon cultures maintain a waiting period for individuals away from home for an unexpected amount of time, holding out hope for their return. Denotes averted eyes and relaxed ears
- ür: applied to subjects of great affection by the speaker. Very situational, only used when the context itself is affectionate. E.g. "My child is playing with the other youngsters." may not include the affectionate prefix, while "My child is the sweetest, look at this really cool rock they brought me as a gift." is very likely to. There are no rules on who can use it for who, though if it's known to be obviously one-sided, you will probably get some weird looks for using it repeatedly. Denotes most commonly a wagging tail and either forward-facing or relaxed ears, but can be difficult to separate out considering the rest of the sentence may very well be subject to the same body language on account of the speaker feeling affectionate and gushing
- om: applied to subjects of contempt, animate or inanimate. Denotes a rigidly held out tail and tense "aeroplane ears". Very purposefully distinct from signs of open aggression and is instead that of frustration or discomfort
2. Oceanic Wolves
3. A Note on Mutual Intelligibility
...of which there is very little.
Terrestrial and oceanic wolves are fundamentally unable to learn to speak each other's auditory languages. Between the hums and calls of the land and the whistles and clicks of the water, there is hardly any overlap, and what of that can be formed into meaning is even smaller. Some oceanic wolves may learn to make sounds recognisable as terrestrial words, but this is both rare and difficult, and does not make for actual fluent conversation. Terrestrial wolves may attempt clicks and whistles, but cannot match the nuance of their oceanic kin. Though understanding a few words or phrases, with dedication, can be learned from either side, none can truly be returned.
Communication between the two sibling-species instead has always relied on two things: a rudamentary shared language of exaggerated sounds and gestures, and the translating services of the shorekin. Where not even shorekin can speak both ways at once (the limitations of anatomy, after all, apply to them too no matter which form they take), they have since time immemorial served as messengers, go-betweens, and mediators between terrestrial and oceanic wolves.