Kreshnei

Written by and bufiogarugi
Header image by Vertixico
Kreshnei is the language spoken almost exclusively by Kreshmen. They also speak the trading language, so the main place you could ever hear Kreshnei being spoken is in Kreshniva.
Kreshnei's written form is an abjad language, meaning that only the consonants are represented by individual symbols. The vowels are instead represented by markings attached to the consonant symbols.

Writing System

The alphabet is comprised of simplistic symbols, which are entirely made up of lines and angles. This is due to the fact that Kreshniva is entirely within frozen tundra, and due to the frequent snowing and frozen rain. Before the paper-making process was discovered, everything was written down on stone, as any other surface would not hold the message for very long. Even though Kreshniva does use paper records, these symbols largely retain their rigid shapes due to tradition.

Geographical Distribution

Mainly spoken in Kreshniva, may be spoken by Kreshmen in other regions (though it's more likely that they'll use the trading language).

Phonology

Kreshnei has 18 consonants and 4 vowels.

Consonants

b, dʒ, f, g, h, k, l, m, n, p, s, t, v, z, ɹ, ʃ, ʑ, θ

Vowels

ɔ, ɛ, ɪ, ɶ

Consonants are their own symbols. Vowels are smaller, attached to the consonant symbols.
In the case of a word having two vowels between two consonants, the first vowel will attach to the first consonant, and the second vowel will attach to the second consonant.
One consonant can, at maximum, have two vowels attached to it. One vowel on the front, one vowel on the back.

Morphology

Noun Classes

Kreshnei splits up nouns into two different types: Living, and Object. Plants, animals, and the like are grouped into Living, while anything that isn't alive is grouped into Object.

Syntax

Kreshnei is written from top to bottom, right to left. The word order is Subject-Oblique-Object-Verb. For instance

"I handed him the book."

becomes:

"I the book him handed."

Articles

Kreshnei doesn't use any articles. This would in turn make the above sentence into:

"I book him handed."

Pronouns

It's common practice for pronouns to be dropped if the noun referred to by the pronoun is doing something. In the case of the above sentence, the "I" is dropped and instead implied by the conjugation of "handed", while "him" remains because they aren't actively doing something. This turns the sentence into:

"Book him handed."

with an implied "I".
Finally, this is what "I handed him the book" becomes in Kreshnei:

"Bifi ve remirohoza."

(/bɪfɪ vɛ ɹɛmɪɹɔhɔzɶ/)

Vocabulary

tegbaal (tɛgbɶl)

n. a harsh (almost freezing) cold

zho (ʑɔ)

v. hunt, chase prey

sabimut (sɶbɪmɶht)

n. spring (season)

kvomas (kvɔmɶs)

n. sunrise

malje (mɶld͡ʒɛ)

n. barrier

valvek (vɶlvɛk)

n. bone/skeleton

Explanations

^[1]Kreshmen tend to pride themselves on being purely Kreshmen. As such, they see insinuations of impurity as highly offensive. This is also used as either a slur against non-Kreshmen or a word to refer to them. The two main ways to figure out which meaning the speaker is using are context and tone of voice.
^[2]This is a slur used to refer to Actreines who have some Kreshman heritage and some non-Kreshman heritage. Unlike with mizkrezh, this is only ever used as a slur. If the speaker is just referring to someone whose heritage is not purely Kreshman, they will likely just call them bolole (bɔlɔlɛ), which translates as "halflings".
^[3]Unlike with mizkrezh, this word is more often used to just refer to non-Kreshmen, though some do use this word as a slur. Those who do use it as a slur see it as a less-harsh slur than mizkrezh, as it quite literally means "outsider".
^[4]Kreshmen place a large amount of importance on the money they make, as a protectorate made up of primarily traders and merchants. As such, to call another person "thief" is a high accusation. Typically this is reserved for theft of things relating to their trades, such as money, products, or crops. However, it is not uncommon to hear someone called a pigi if they have stolen something else from them.

isho saitomal pepoiremais, babo mizh sejil biherais
(ɪʃɔ sɶɪtɔmɶl pɛpɔɪɹɛmɶɪs, bɶbɔ mɪʑ sɛʤɪl bɪhɛɹɶɪs)
The Krezhman axiom, written in Krezhnei
Roughly translates to "Ice tempers the great, and shatters the unworthy"

Spoken by

• Kreshmen

Common Phrases

General Phrases and Words

maik (mɶɪk)

Hello

seig (sɛɪg)

Goodbye

pej goil pek ko (pɛʤ gɔɪl pɛk kɔ)

My name is

Insults and Profanities

mizkrezh (mɪzkɹɛʑ)

The closest translation is "non-Kreshman"^[1]

bolohipo (bɔlɔhɪpɔ)

halfbreed^[2]

lethizoi (lɛθɪzɔɪ)

outsider^[3]

pigi (pɪgɪ)

thief^[4]

Common Female Names

Sarapheus

Common Male Names

Jakub