Pananalita (ˈpɐnɐnɐˌlɪtɐ)

"Their language is much like their empire - always expanding and acquiring." - Apo Langa-ay

Pananalita is the language of the Tagápulo and the official language of the Tagápulo Empire. It is inspired by Tagalog.

Dialects

There are dozens of dialects of Pananalita found throughout the Empire, and a few more beyond. Individual villages take pride in their unique vocabulary and pronunciation, and will even compete with each other to have the most distinctive version of Pananalita in a particular area. In regions of Pulo where the Tagápulo population is near to a community that speaks another language, they will seek out and incorporate words from their neighbors. As a result, dialects near the mountains will often have loanwards from Amganad, while the settlements near the Bay of Mynilad will use words borrowed from Tagaduyan. The Mynilad dialect is the one most often learned by foreigners, as it is the one spoken in the capital of the empire.

Interesting Features

Pananalita is known for its tendency to absorb the vocabulary and grammar structures of other languages. This can make learning the language a challenge, as many of the rules are dependent on the word's language of origin. Some scholars estimate that there are at least seven ways to create a plural form of a noun in Pananalita, and choosing the wrong form can easily create embarrassment and misunderstandings. With the exception of the Common Tongue, there is no language with as diverse a vocabulary as Pananalita.

Related Languages

Pananalita is closely related to the other languages of Pulo, Amganad and Tagaduyan. It is more distantly related to some of the other languages spoken in the Southern and Southwestern Regions, such as Tāngatāiki and Dilauti. In most cases, these languages are not mutually intelligible with Pananalita, although dialects that have borrowed large pieces of another language may be.

Naming Traditions

Children are named at birth, typically by their fathers or paternal grandfathers. They are given a personal name, and also inherit a family name. When a full name is used, the personal name is spoken first, and then joined to the family name with the conjuction 'ng', such as Pinuno ng Pananalapi. It is very common for those who have a title to use only that and their personal name - this is the case with Emperor Matatag and his children. The need to specify a family name is often seen as a sign that someone is not important enough to be recognized by title and personal name alone. Family names are not changed during marriage, and children inherit the family name from their paternal lineage.

Writing System

Tagápulo is written using the Tagabayin script. This script is an alphasyllabary, where each character represents a consonant, with a vowel notation indicating the corresponding vowel sound. Literacy is fairly common among the Tagápulo, and is encouraged by the government, and virtually every village will have several adults who can read and write.

Geographical Distribution

Pananalita is spoken throughout the Southwestern Region, although it is most concentrated in the territories controlled by the Tagápulo Empire. It is also a major contributor to the Baysayaw dialect of the Common Tongue, and Pananalita speakers can often make themselves understood to those who are familiar with this dialect.

Spoken by

• Tagápulo

Common Phrases

• Mabúhay - Hello
• Maramíng salámat - Thank you very much
• Páano pumunta sa...? - How do I get to...?
• Mayroón ba kayóng tubig? - Do you have water?
• Magkano ito? - How much is this?
• Nasáan ang palenke? - Where is the market?
• Pakisuyò, tulúngan mo ako - Please, help me
• Oó - Yes
• Hindî - No
• Paalám, mag-ingát ka - Goodbye, take care

Common Female Names

• Dayang
• Angharad
• Dalisay
• Mayari
• Sarimanok
• Ani
• Adlaw
• Lintik
• Hanan
• Suyin

Common Male Names

• Lakan
• Makisig
• Matapang
• Dakila
• Aman
• Balagtas
• Diwa
• Dangal
• Bantay
• Sipat

Common Unisex Names

• Lakbay
• Kulay
• Banal
• Kapatid
• Sigaw
• Sagip
• Tagapagligtas
• Lantay
• Kalikasan
• Tagapagtanggol

Common Family Names

• Liwanag
• Tala
• Alab
• Pag-asa
• Bituin
• Kalinaw
• Sikat
• Diwa
• Lakas
• Bantay

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