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Kyrdan languages: Difference between revisions
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At their highest peak there were more than 60 million native speakers of Kyrdan languages throughout the continent, mostly in the southern region of '''Pilmu''' and the '''Kappālu''' plains. The ''Cirdamur'' language has always been the most widespread of all varieties, spoken across the whole continent and becoming a lingua franca after the decline of ''Kērsalur''. | At their highest peak there were more than 60 million native speakers of Kyrdan languages throughout the continent, mostly in the southern region of '''Pilmu''' and the '''Kappālu''' plains. The ''Cirdamur'' language has always been the most widespread of all varieties, spoken across the whole continent and becoming a lingua franca after the decline of ''Kērsalur''. | ||
==Name== | ==Name== | ||
The term Ķyrdesalka comes from the name of the Old Ķyrdum language. The word ''ķyrdum'' itself is much older and is likely derived from the word ''ķiur'' "proper (speech)"; this word did not survive in its original meaning anywhere, but can be found in a few compounds, for instance, in the expression ''kirea'', "alright" (and ''kērea'' in Kērsalur), or '' | The term Ķyrdesalka comes from the name of the Old Ķyrdum language. The word ''ķyrdum'' itself is much older and is likely derived from the word ''ķiur'' "proper (speech)"; this word did not survive in its original meaning anywhere, but can be found in a few compounds, for instance, in the expression ''kirea'', "alright" (and ''kērea'' in Kērsalur), or ''nucirēya'' "do it right". This old root probably entered Kērsalur becoming the noun with the meaning "language" before disappearing completely, but surviving as the name of the family. | ||
==Classification== | ==Classification== | ||
The classification of the Kyrdan languages is difficult, because most of the linguistic area is a dialect continuum, and in some cases it is difficult to tell which dialect belongs to which language. They all form a single language family, while their external connections with other Aiwanic branches are weak. The Kyrdan languages show more similarities to ancient Aiwanic languages than to the modern ones, mostly because they retain various features or vocabulary, lost in other more innovative branches. But this fact does not make them close to the ancient languages of the previous Era before the Unknown Event, they are not mutually intelligible. | The classification of the Kyrdan languages is difficult, because most of the linguistic area is a dialect continuum, and in some cases it is difficult to tell which dialect belongs to which language. They all form a single language family, while their external connections with other Aiwanic branches are weak. The Kyrdan languages show more similarities to ancient Aiwanic languages than to the modern ones, mostly because they retain various features or vocabulary, lost in other more innovative branches. But this fact does not make them close to the ancient languages of the previous Era before the Unknown Event, they are not mutually intelligible. | ||