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Dalkaisk is the majority language spoken in Dalkai, and the Lingua Franca of Tauran communities abroad.
The language is the official language of Dalkai, as well as being spoken by a significant minority in Alphia, as well as in Dalkaisk pockets in Novenae. The Tauran sector in Atlas Valley contains a large amount of Dalkaisk speakers, and is the largest enclave of Dalkaisk language speakers outside of Tauran nations.
History
Strojkja
Dalkaisk was historically written in the Strojkja script, a consonant based alphabet where vowels were written above or below the consonants. Its connective appearance meant each letter possessed an initial, middle, and end version. Strojkja was eventually phased out in favor of the Cyrillic Script used by the Gerbian Language. Strojkja is still used in early Dalkaisk aesthetic and art.
Cyrillic
In 2501, Dalkai, while under the control of SMG, underwent the 2501 Dalkaisk Language Cyrillization, also called Syrilinitsije, outlawing the old Strojkja system. The Cyrillic script is still commonly used in settings representing Revolutionary and Early-Dalkaisk Periods, as well as those, typically older Dalkaisk educated before the switch to the Latin Alphabet.
Tuviet (Tuvyetsk) speakers continue to use the previous Cyrillic script, even as Dalkaisk ceased usages of the alphabet. Along with older Dalkaisk speakers, Cyrillic users have been collectively called Syriliens (Syriliesk)
Latin
During the Anti-SMG political turmoils prior to the Red War, Latinization of Dalkaisk increased in popularity and usage. Unlike Syrilinitsije, Dalkaisk Language Latinization, or Latjinitsije was a gradual process. During this time, Cyrillic was seen as the remnant of an oppressive regime, as well as many other Gerbian cultural symbols. in 2888, the Latjinitsije Decitsije (Latinization Act) set the Latin Alphabet as the official writing system of Dalkaisk. This script is still used to this day, although languages such as Avenian continue to use the Cyrillic script.
Grammar
Dalkaisk is an SVO language, similar to English, and occasionally allows OSV word order. Definite articles (e.g. the, a, etc.) are absent from the language, and are not used. Verbs inflections include morphemes added at the ends of words, and individual words added before the verb.
Example 1
Dalkaisk: Renaj seru avbajnizha an oraj tepruste.
IPA: ɾeˈnaʲ ˈseɾʊ ɑvˈbaʲniˌʒa an̪ ˈoɾaʲ ˌteˈpɾustə.
Literal: They-(3rd person pl.) go-(past) (to)-bank one hour (in)-past
English: They went to the bank one hour ago.
Example 2
Dalkaisk: Tej attsinjesajnte jo lajm?
IPA: teʲ atˈt͡sinʲeˌsaʲntə jo laʲm?
Literal: You-(2nd person sing.) open-(fut.)-(cont.) it (ques. particle)?
English: Will you be opening it? / You will be opening it, right?
Example 3
Dalkaisk: Nartaj tsi Aphjil jen felotsen ij felotsen itapjatsi
IPA: naɾtaʲ t͡sɪ aphʲil jen̪ felot͡sen iɨ felot͡sen itapʲat͡si
Literal: North of Aphil be-(3rd-person-pl.) forest-(pl.) and forest-(pl.) spruce-(of).
English: North of Aphil are forests and forests of spruce.