Bukk

Bukk /bʊk/ is a family of languages, also known as Bukkean languages, which are spoken in northern Tarnaria, specifically in Laeooy Coast, former Heran and the Overpol Expanse, later Overpol Region in Homestead.

Main languages include Asdoh, Hureed and the Eastern Torv. Asdoh is a ded language and is named after the state of Asdoh where the language was spoken, but it is the parent Bukk language, with Hureed and Eastern Torv evolving from it. Asdoh's influence on Bukk is enormous and is reflected in many words that are used to this day but clearly don't obey the spelling and pronunciation rules of a local dialect. In a way, Asdoh is the most consistent part of Bukkean languages.

Bukkean languages are known for their fluid pronunciation rules which make it hard to navigate the various dialects, versions and offshoots. Written Bukk is more consistent and can usually be understood by people who might have difficulty understanding each other's dialects.

Bukkean languages have a characteristic intonation of finishing a phrase or a sentence with the tone going up, which to a foreigner might sound like the speaker is counting or listing items off. This monotonous quality is widely regarded as aesthetically pleasing and also a sign of nobility when utilized in formal situations, such as weddings, funerals and legal proceedings. Mandae is frequently read with a similar monotonous intonation, albeit with a different tonal pattern.

Written Bukk

Bukkean languages are known for their circular letters.

Written Bukk generally does not utilize double vowels, unless the intent is to make the vowel long, which is rare. Rather, it employs a special "modifier letter", which is usually transcribed as "a". It is in combination with "a" that written Bukk produces the more interesting sounds. This explains why it's difficult to immediately figure out the pronunciation of Bukk words. A good example would be a name such as Noana Kaogee /'nwɑnə kjuːgiː/ where the relevant combinations of "oa" and "ao" produce very particular sounds.

While this is uncommon for everyday words, geographic names and personal names in Tarnaria frequently employ Jabi, the language of the Xaewoon religion, and are then spelled using Jabi spelling in Bukkean script, which might confuse an outsider. For instance, the city Goolkoon, a word in Jabi that is pronounced as /guːl'kuːn,/ and which would otherwise be orthographically transcribed in Bukk as Gulkun, is actually spelled as Goolkoon. This tradition then leads to Bukk speakers using elements of Jabi spelling in names, where some part of it must be viewed as coming from Jabi and some coming from Bukk. An example can be Porteek /pɑr'tiː/, the historian, whose name in Jabi should be transcribed as Partee and in bukk as Portyk. But he spelles "y" as "ee", in a nod to Jabi. During the time of Porteek this was done as a sign of nobility. But by the middle of the second revolution it lost its social and religious meaning and simply became a way to embellish one's name with unique spelling.

Another way to hint at society classes, though, are silent postfixes. The already discussed Porteek has a "k" added, which is a letter used to signify nobility in the state of Asdoh. This was less followed in Toor, but eventually became standard practice. Another common silent postfix is "d", used for geographic names, usually in cases when the name can be otherwise confused with something else. Example: Koalderood, which was a mining site, but was also the name of its copper product, Koalderoo or Koalderu. Another example are the Oaleed people, where the "d" describes not only the people, but also their geographical location, specifying the people that are of the Oalee culture that live in the Mantar region.

Underbukk

It was customary for noble families to design their own version of the Bukk language that only family members were taught and allowed to speak. One of the requirements of marrying into such a family would be the mastering of the family's Underbukk. The ritual is known as "morotōsha". Going through the ritual signifies the good will of the family, since learning it would require several members of the family to teach it to the newcomer. The whole family then tests the newcomer's knowledge, by requiring them to tell a story and answer questions.