kalamaran
The Kalamaran language can be separated into Ancient and
Modern Kalamaran. Ancient Kalamaran is the language of the past:
Rulakan, Fulakar and Lelana all spoke this language. Now, only a
handful of sages who study the ancient tomes and historical works
written in Ancient Kalamaran speak or read it. Modern Kalamaran is
really two distinct, but similar languages: High and Low Kalamaran.
Only the Kalamaran nobility use High Kalamaran; the rest of the
populace speaks Low Kalamaran.
After centuries of foreign conquest and domination, Kalamaran has
been influenced greatly by Dejy, Brandobian, Fhokki and non-human
languages. Thus, there are countless dialects of Low Kalamaran
spoken throughout the Empire and the Young Kingdoms. It is
unlikely that an artisan in southern Kalamar would be able to understand
an O’Paran laborer. The exact dialect spoken depends directly
upon who settled the area before the Kalamaran conquest. For
example, in Paru’Bor, O’Par and Dodera the people speak dialects of
Kalamaran that have Dejy and Fhokki influence, but in Korak and
Ek’Kasel there is a distinct Brandobian and even Hobgoblin influence.
Noble Kalamarans always use two names. Freemen have picked up
the custom as well, with two names being more prevalent in thickly
populated areas. Serfs and rural Kalamarans need only one name, and
they are unlikely to adopt surnames in the near future.
The nobles surnames identify their family, which name, in turn,
identifies their fief (the house of Eramis rules the Duchy of Eramis,
for example), their castle, and the founder of the family. When a fief
bears a different name than the ruler, it is sure evidence that the fief
has changed hands since its original grant by the Emperor. Freefolk
will most often take a name related to their occupation, but they
might alternatively take a name related to their home village or a
noble under whom they work. Repetition of names is not
uncommon, and similar names are very common. The Kalamarans
favor naming children after famous heroes and the same name often
reappears in large families several times.
Phonology
Kalamaran uses the letters A, B, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, Ka-, L, M, N, O, P,
R, S, T, TH, U, V and W. B, G, K, L, P, R, S and T are the consonants used
most frequently. Actual vowels or consonants are never found in pairs
but are separated by apostrophes, which indicates a syllable delay
when spoken, e.g., P’Bapar (puh-bah-par), Ka’Asa (kah-ah-suh). This
also indicates to the reader (or listener) that the name or word
probably originated in another region, e.g., a half-Kalamaran/half-
Fhokki might be named Rosharek in the Wild Lands, but would be
Ros’Harek if raised in the Empire.
Syntax
In Kalamaran, the emphasis is on action. For this reason, verbs
precede nouns, and adjectives and adverbs always follow the words
they are describing. Verbs are short, typically one or two syllables,
and nouns and adjectives are longer. Articles are usually only one or
two letters long. Possessiveness is indicated by the prefix ka-; gender
is defined by the suffix -i, -e or -u for male, female and neutral, respectively.
Plurality is indicated by the suffix -l or -al. Mixed groups of
males and females are always given feminine gender.
Vocabulary
The naming convention for towns and cities is as follows: villages and towns end
with the suffixes -idu and -ido; cities end with the suffix -eta, and
capital cities are preceded by the word Bet.
Spoken by
Common Female Names
Asa, Benali, Dela, Dorata, Famaril, Fanam, Felana,
Fitolima, Gimane, Goranu, Helena, Hu’Ura, Ilubek, Inala, Kaperele,
Ki’Isa, Kibika, Korasela, Lamasaru, Lisanara, Mepate, Nelata, Pakara,
Takane,Tomare
Common Male Names
Balamir, Balan, Fanam, Feledar, Feranis, Folikar, Fonamar,
Haraman, Hovaran, Hul’Mar, Lakaran, Malaran, Minon, Morisato,
Nelata, P’Sor, Parama, Pilamel, Pitar, Pulan, Puramal, Resemer,
Saterus, Satira, Selemar, Sulat,Vanamir
Common Family Names
Ar’Tur, Balemo, Darisek, Dilomas, Esamil, Falama,
Fapeki, Gomanas, Hap’nam, Heran, Ku’Ato, Kuwaki, Lesepar, Mokira,
P’Ledin, P’Mare, Pateris, Ragarela, Ragosip, Remel, Remosa, Saketi,
Sepiter, Setiran,Vitisar