Creature:Kicath/Kicathian Language

Kicathian (Kicathian - Kisíat' samnatakin) is the primary language used by the Kicath.

Content
The Kicathian language, to date has been the only uniform language in the Kicathian culture that has survived since recorded history. It was constructed some 1.3 million years ago, and through the ages has survived - although at a cost of the extinction of regional languages in parts of Paclernos. The Kicathian language's main roots are not only from itself, but from the language of the Vi'Navitum and Xi'Arazulha of which there are particular roots. Very few archaic Kicathian words and names are still used today as a result.

The language primarily consists of two reading systems - Khareyanínit (Light reading) - reading script by sounds, and Khorayanínit (Large reading) - reading script symbols which contain one or more sounds. Khareyanínit is often used for light messaging and large notations, whilst Khorayanínit is often used for large levels of text.

The language has formed over some 1.3 million years - the writing systems developing separately of one another - Large Reading script used for educated Kicath whilst Light Reading for children and less educated Kicath. Eventually, Large Reading became more prevalent on script whilst light reading became less and less widespread and then only used for early stages of writing education.

Use
Generally speaking, only the Kicath speak the language with fluency. The language is notoriously difficult among those who try to learn it - especially vocabulary. Protectorate species are often taught small phrases in Kicathian as well as the ability to understand commands given by Kicathian police. General pronunciation of words in Kicathian are fairly easy, but the speed of which Kicathian speak, combined with a very diverse vocabulary make it nigh impossible to communicate with every Kicath.

On average, every Kicath shares around 2,000 words in the same vocabulary. Attempts have been made to increase general shared vocabulary, in which most attempts have succeeded. In some sections of galaxies, Kicath share between 18,000 - 25,000 words; however, it is easier for Kicath to learn protectorate languages in order to communicate. Fewer than 1,000 non-Kicath individuals are able to converse in Kicathian sufficiently, and less than 10 able to speak a fluent dialect.

Dialects
In the Kicathian language, the vocabulary number reaches close to 2,100,000 words. As such, the Kicath do not use all words in the language. Dialects in the Kicath Empire estimate unique words at around 240,000. Nine dialects in the Kicathian language are officially recognized, however these nine can be broken down to an eventual estimate of 3,000. Most or all of the words come from the five central dialects.

Central Dialects

 * Central Dialect

The central dialect of the Kicathian language composes for nearly 40% of the Kicathian speakers. This dialect is understood by more or less every Kicath who has had formal education and is used for official writing systems used by the governmental systems.


 * Eastern-Central Dialect

Somewhat similar to the Central Dialect but a very rare variant, the Eastern-Central Dialect makes for 0.09% of all Kicathian speakers. It is recognized as an official dialect as it has distinct differences to the Central Dialect such as sentence structure. It is heavily mingled with the Central Dialect and often those who speak with a Central Dialect can understand an Eastern-Central Dialect and vice-versa.


 * Western-Central Dialect

Originating from the western coasts of the central islands of Paclernos, the Kicathian Western-Central Dialect makes for 14% of the speakers of the language. It is well known for an exclusive range of vocabulary, making it harder to converse with Kicath of this type.


 * Northern Dialect

One of the two extreme dialects, the Northern Dialect borrows numerous words from the Vi'Navitum language. The dialect is very significant in Kicathian religious culture. It bears incredible similarities to the language it was borrowed from. Cultures who speak this language become isolated from the rest of the Kicathian population, making it mandatory for them to learn other dialects.


 * Southern Dialect

The other of the two extreme dialects, the Southern Dialect borrows words from the Xi'Arazulha language. It is also very important in Kicathian historical culture and is very difficult to find out of those from the southern parts of Paclernos. Therefore, those who come from the south find themselves in an exclusive community due to how isolated their dialect is. Debates have rose from the Southern Dialect, suggesting that it should become a different language entirely.

External Dialects

 * Andromedan Dialect

Words used by those who speak the Andromedan dialect have become slight mutations of those who speak the Central dialect - mainly from external language influences from other races in the Andromeda Galaxy. This dialect is very diverse as it also mutates other Paclernos-borne forms of language.


 * Borealis Dialect

Similar to the Andromedan dialect's formation, the Borealis dialect has had mutations from languages from the Borealis galaxy. The Kicathian Remnant has the largest concentration of this dialect, due to its location.


 * Extragalactic Dialect

Formed from the Protectorate species influences, the Extragalactic Dialect can be found in the far reaches of Kicathian space. The form of language makes it somewhat easier to converse with protectorate races and has a more limited vocabulary in effect.


 * Refined Dialect

Found in very isolated regions of Kicathian territories, Refined Dialect is known for its most equally isolated form of communication. This dialect was formed from attempts to minimize Kicathian vocabulary, and this form of language was a result.

Reading Form
The main Kicathian alphabet comprises over 344 sounds which make up all words in the language.

Main Alphabet
In the common alphabet, there are 250 sounds.

Uncommon Alphabet
Still part of the language, the uncommon alphabet has 76 additional sounds.

Vi'Navitum and Xi'Arazulha Loan Sounds
As the language stemmed from the language of the Vi'Navitum and Xi'Arazulha, Kicathian borrows loan sounds from the language and are in somewhat uncommon use. Words that use these sounds are often considered the most archaic words in the language that are still in use. There is an apparent pattern structure like there is in the rest of the language and in effect is taught with a strict approach.

There are mainly 18 sounds. Others exist, but not as common in use.

Phonetics
Kicathian has a very wide number of phonetics in its language.

Structure
In Kicathian, there are different forms of reading dependent of dialect and sometimes the language can have cases depending on the formality of the speaker. Formal speaking is far more likely to have cases than informal due to the form of speech naming the object first.

For example, in informal speech:

Kitragáina at man sinizhásha Kilichésiyá.

[Subject 1] [gender] [tense] [verb] [Subject 2].

- Kitragaina greets Kilichesiya.

In formal speech however -

Kilichésiyá Kitragáina sinizháshátman.

[Subject 2] [Subject 1] [verb] [gender] [tense].

The same, but in a formal context. Often formal speech is used among royalty and used quite sparingly due to the Kicathian's somewhat antisocial culture.

Verbs, such as 'to greet' - sinizhásha - differs also in formality. at man - at noting the person doing the action is male, and man noting the tense. When turned formally, the notation of gender and tense is added on the end of the verb.

For example -

Kitragáina at masí'n tánazhata ma'samna Kilichésiyá.

[Subject 1] [gender] [tense] [verb] [noun] [Subject 2].

- Kitragaina gave a fruit to Kilichesiya.

Formalised -

Kilichésiyá Kitragáina ma'samna tánazhatátmasí'n.

[Subject 2] [Subject 1] [noun] [verb] [gender] [tense].

As shown, the noting of time also changes.

Kitragáina at masí'naktázcha tánazhata ma'samna Kilichésiyá.

- Kitragaina has given a fruit to Kilichesiya.

Formalised -

Kilichésiyá Kitragáina ma'samna tánazhatátmasí'naktázcha.

Tenses
The verb endings follow as -

Sentences can become very complex as such and often the informal is used to maintain simplicity in the sentence.

Kitragáina at masí'njánakta tánazhata ma'samna Kilichésiyá ará man'a Kilichésiyá al man tánazhata ma'samna Kitragáina.

- Kitragaina used to give Kilichesiya fruit, but now Kilichesiya gives Kitragaina fruit.

Or when formalised -

Kilichésiyá Kitragáina ma'samna tánazhatátmasí'njánakta ma'samna ará man'a Kitragáina Kilichésiyá ma'samna tánazhatálman.

Kicath will only remain formal when talking when talking to an extremely high authority, otherwise it is a norm to verge between both forms of speaking normally.

Imperatives
Imperatives often take the form of a verb with the gender and the present notation. For example -

Tánazhataman - Give it!

W'á'zhatámat/W'á'zhatámal - Kill him/Kill her!

Imperatives are neither formal or informal and therefore remain as such.

When noting other objects -

At tánazhataman - Give it to him!

Other kinds of imperatives when noting plurals:

Tánazhatamátara - Give them!

W'á'zhatámát/W'á'zhatámál - Kill him/Kill her!

Pronouns
Pronouns are commonly used in Kicathian and as a result are almost used in every sentence.

Examples:

Kitragáina át man ekolnyúratazhazát.

Át Kitragáina ekolnyúratazhazátman.

- Kitragáina dies.

Prepositions
Prepositions are also commonly used in Kicathian to create full sentences.

Others
Examples:

Ítara man'naktázcha asha ómatkatøin.

Ómatkatøin ítara ashaman'naktázcha.

- We are making weapons.

Kitragáina át masí'njánaktanaktázcha tánazhata hiráyakatøin akarnama nāchøran  Kitunáromnarocho'ón ará át man'naktázcha ekolnyáta.

Kitragáina Kitunáromnarocho'ón hiráyakatøin akarnama nāchøran tánazhatátmasí'njánaktanaktázcha ará ekolnyátátman'naktázcha.

- Kitragáina was going to give Kitunáromnarocho'ón the firearm on the table, but he is sleeping.

Other cases of language
Kicathian language can change slightly depending on the character. Most Kicathian figures often use a kind of speech which is often found in the centre of Paclernos and is strangely different from universal Kicathian. Kitzintauchon is an example of a Kicath who uses centralized Kicathian - Kithworto and Kitoruka have a similar kind of centralized Kicathian but have what could be considered Eastern-Central accents which morphs their dialect slightly.

Central dialect is more literal than that of the universal Kicathian language. For example, Kitzintauchon would say -

Itnákat ' Kitzíntáuchón - I am Kitzintauchon.

Kithworto/Kitoruka would say -

Kit'wortó/Kitórúka ' itnákat - I am Kithworto/Kitoruka.

The Kicathian universal form is -

Kitragáina itnákat itknazá - I am (call myself) Kitragaina.

Universal Kicathian formalizes itself when the verb itkanazá - to call oneself - is used. In dialects such as Central/Central Eastern, they do not formalize it and often change the formation of sentence.

Insults
Though still considered a vulgarity in the Kicathian language, Kicath often use profanity in their language. Such examples are below.

Most Kicathian insults stem from the infinitive Sinásátazha which means 'to make things worse' which often translates to a similar word to 'Fuck' in the English language, and therefore is not used at all in the Kicathian language aside from swearing.

Insults stemming from this infinitive:


 * Siná'in - Generally meaning 'Fuck'.
 * Siná'inatman - Literal meaning is 'It is making it worse', although translates to 'Fuck this'. Can also mean 'it's fucked'.
 * Sinásátinmatzká - An idiom, meaning 'Go fuck yourself'.

Numerical System
In Kicathian, numbers follow an unorthodox system of numbers. They follow primarily a base 10 system, but becomes more complicated with larger numbers.

Examples follow here below:

ānnúnyø - Twenty eight.

chékū-nónúnkhǎ - Five hundred and ninety six.

rúnún-chékūnónúnkhǎ - Four thousand five hundred and ninety six.

gønyanúnkū-ānkūgīnúnché - Eleven thousand three hundred and seventy five.

rúkūānnúnāngø-khǎkūnó - Four hundred and twenty two thousand six hundred and nine.

ānchánøn-yøkūgīnúnǎzgø-ǎzkūchénúnrú Two million eight hundred and seventy three thousand three hundred and fifty four.

khǎkū-gīnúnǎzchánøn-chékūchénúnyøgø-chékūnónúnkhǎ Six hundred and seventy three million five hundred and fifty eight thousand five hundred and ninety six.

gøchánøn-nyanúnkhǎkū-gīnúnǎzchánøn-chékūchénúnyøgø-chékūnónúnkhǎ Eleven billion six hundred and seventy three million five hundred and fifty eight thousand five hundred and ninety six.

Trivia

 * The Kicathian language is considered to be amongst the most (if not the most) diverse languages in the universe, with a total of 2.1 million words.