Lo'Oi

Lo'Oi is a widespread language found on Stoneworks. It was predominately spoken in Eastern Eldham, originally from the Lo'Oix people of Serrona; however, most speakers are not Lo'Oix today and it can be found in ethnic enclaves across Abexilas today, and even formerly in Rathnir.

It has been in usage by a multitude of nations in the history of Stoneworks, including but not limited to the United Socialist States of Eldham, Sentara, Zilatra, Transaria, Republic of Laria, Korosechev, Garxijos, Cognia, Paloma, the Confederation of Anarchist Communes, Manzland, Robeleduk, Akarechi, Yujava, Atkitsaw, Samora, Sylvania, and more.

It is arguably the most spoken or widespread language used in the history of Eldham, with it being spoken to the modern day. The language was first created shortly before Eldham was released to the public player base; this archaic form of the language is known today as Old Lo'Oi. The language has changed drastically over time, and diverged into numerous dialects.

The language is well known for having influenced the names of numerous locations throughout Eldham, its position in the Serronan language family, and numerous dialects. It has unique features, even for the languages within its family. It is most closely related to the Mari and Kolsson languages and distantly related to the Eldurlac, Batu, and Vula languages.

It is believed to have the most extensive lexicon of any constructed language on Eldham, with its main dialect having over 1,500 cataloged words and its various dialects having unique dictionaries. With its combined dialects, it likely catalogs to over 3,000 words. Other languages have longer lexicons however; namely Asteri spoken on Rathnir.

Syntax and sentence structure
All verbs in their base form are indicative of the present tense, but if they are followed by the word 'láz' it indicates past tense and if followed by the word 'déz' it indicates future tense.

All plurals are implied by connotation and there is no way to indicate plurality with a suffix or prefix other than literally stating the number of something or through other methods. To indicate possession of something, the suffix '-sa' is added onto the subject that owns the object. For example the word people is 'Garxá' in the standard dialect means 'people/person' and 'mogé' means farm; 'Garxása Mogé' would mean a farm belonging to the people. In Old Lo'Oi the way of indicating possession was the suffix '' -un' but is not used today in modern dialects. Some dialects like Vasa Lo'Oi or Ko"oi use the suffix '-s' such as in the name Garxijos Yawos which literally translates to 'People's Republic', with 'Garxijo' being 'person' in Vasa Lo'Oi. Remember that plurality is not indicated by a suffix in any known dialects.

and while this is used in dialects like Vasa Lo'Oi and Ko"oi, it is not used in most dialects including the standard dialect Vasa Lo'Oi.

Dialects
Lo'Oi in the present day is divided into several dialects, with the standard form of the language being Losa Lo'Oi - or Southern Lo'Oi - which is where the language originated on the continent of Serrona and the surrounding area. Losa Lo'Oi diverged from Old Lo'Oi shortly after Eldham's opening and the beginning of its standardization. It is the main dialect of the language spoken for formal communications as well as being its standard form.


 * Old Lo'Oi is a version of the language spoken within the first months of Eldham's existence and in its prehistory, almost exclusively by the Lo'Oix people who would become the languages namesake. It was considered to be incredibly more difficult than the language is today to learn as it was not standardized. Notable features include the presence of various words that have either changed or no longer exists, the inclusion of letters such as 'y' and sounds such as 'sh', which no longer exist in Losa Lo'Oi.
 * Vasa Lo'Oi is a common dialect of the language frequently spoken in a region colloquially called the 'Cog Region' and surrounding areas like Yujava. It is noted for its remarkable similarity to Old Lo'Oi which was spoken early in the servers history. While the original dialect, Losa Lo'Oi, has changed quite drastically; Vasa Lo'Oi has changed little over that period of time. It has unique features such as the presence of the letter 'y' which makes the /j/ sound and various other changes.
 * Ko"oi, or Korosexevoi, is a dialect of Lo'Oi spoken exclusively within Korosechev and the surrounding area. It is almost identical to southern Lo'Oi rather than northern Lo'Oi despite the regional factor due to the fact that it was adopted artificially straight from the USSE as a lingua franca rather than emerging naturally. It has very little use, only being used in official documents and is not taught or spoken in any informal setting.
 * Drikohigá is a dialect or patois of Lo'Oi spoken and the dominate language of Cognia. It is noted for being a mixture between the Rathnirian Matamandinga language and the Vasa Lo'Oi dialect.
 * Palomoix is an extinct dialect of the language that was known to be exclusively spoken in Paloma. It was derivative of Old Lo'Oi.
 * Polarisi or Polarisoi is an extinct dialect of the language that was spoken exclusively on the Southern coast of modern-day Vanshire. It was derivative of Old Lo'Oi.
 * Manz Lo'Oi is an uncommon dialect spoken in the territory of former Kolssonafell, and historically by nations like Manzland and Free Manzig. It is derivative of Losa Lo'Oi, and its status as a dialect separate from Losa Lo'Oi is debatable. Most differences include country names, pronouns, and pronunciation of the letter 'x' as /ʃ/ as opposed to /ɕ/.
 * Mizo'Oi is an uncommon dialect spoken in Hrabia and other locations. It has most notoriously been used for secret communications and the unique features of the dialect remain mostly hidden to the public. It is known to have a unique case system in comparison to Losa Lo'Oi. For this reason, it notably saw usage by communist revolutionaries in organizations such as the Sulotoxédé Mizorgarxá Nizu. It is derivative and diverged from Losa Lo'Oi.
 * Axadi is a common dialect found in Robeleduk and Atoxa. It has few notable differences when written but has numerous sound differences. As opposed to most dialects which come from Old Lo'Oi or Vasa Lo'Oi, Axadi branched off more recently from Losa Lo'Oi.
 * Aurmi Lo'Oi or Standard Xinerian is a complex language that mixes Kurian and Lo'Oi words together. It has two sub-languages: Conversational Aurmian and High Xinerian. Conversational Aurmian is the standard Aurmi Lo'Oi dialect and is used heavily by the common people of the Confederation of Xineria and other nations and peoples of the Oxin Isles. However, High Xineria is almost exclusively used in naming places and is almost exactly like Losa Lo'Oi, except the Kurian "Eria" (meaning "land/city/nation of the" when put after another word), "Xin" (meaning "archipelago"), "Net" (meaning "floating"), "Ri'on" (meaning "large or important city), "Kur" (meaning "ruled by pirates"), and "O" (meaning "island" when put after another word) are used.
 * Kurian, spoken mainly in the Xinerian island of Kuro in the Oxin Isles, is technically a form of Lo'Oi, as it branched off of Old Lo'Oi over three hundred years ago. However, it has since formed into its own unique language, with only a few parts of basic Lo'Oi speech staying in the language.

Vasa Lo'Oi
Perhaps the second most spoken dialect of Lo'Oi, diverging from Old Lo'Oi over 200 years ago during the Second Coalition Ellysian War, is that of Vasa Lo'Oi, sometimes called Northern Lo'Oi. Vasa Lo'Oi on its own has further dialects that have diverged from it like Ko"oi and Drikohigá.

It is remarkably similar to Old Lo'Oi and has changed comparitively little over time, while the standard (Losa) dialect of the language has changed quite drastically over time.

It has some features including the following:


 * The suffix "-'éa" or simply "-'a" can be found after every single adjective to differentiate it from other classes of words. This feature was dropped completely in the Southern dialects of the languages but is still found in the Northern ones like Vasa Lo'Oi.
 * The suffix "-s" is used to indicate a possessive quality. The suffix "-un" is sometimes used, but typically only one the name's of individual people. It is placed on what is owning something else.

These are a list of the orthographic and sound differences that you can find in Vasa Lo'Oi:


 * 'Q/q' produces the /kw/ sound. This was typically replaced with the /k/ sound in the Southern dialects.
 * 'W/w' produces the /w/ sound. This was typically replaced with the /v/ sound in the Southern dialects.
 * Both 'C/c' and 'K/k' produce the /k/ sound, typically only 'K/k' is used if 'C/c' was used earlier in the word. Because they both produce the same sound, this letter was removed from the Southern alphabet.
 * 'Y/y' produces the /j/ sound. This sound was dropped completely in Southern dialects and typically either removed or replaced with a /v/ sound.
 * 'Rr/rr' produces the rolled /r/ sound to differentiate it from the standard sound that 'R/r' produces which is /ɹ/ when at the beginning of a word or /ɾ/ if after the beginning.
 * The letter 'Á/á' does not exist in Vasa Lo'Oi. It was adopted in the more contemporary era of Lo'Oi.

Here is an example of some of the many vocabulary differences between Losa and Vasa Lo'Oi, while many words are the same or are pronounced the same, it is estimated that around half of Vasa Lo'Oi's vocabulary differs from the Losa or Standard Lo'Oi dialect:

Phonology
 

Vocabulary
All vocabulary listed below is in the Standard Lo'Oi, or Losa Lo'Oi dialect! Note that in some dialects, like Vasa Lo'Oi, there may be drastic differences in spelling, phrasing, and pronunciation.

Greetings and common phrases

 * Axe! - Hello! (ah-shyeh)
 * Basarxi! - Welcome! (bass-ar-shyi)
 * Hu zá! - Excuse me lit. 'allow me') (hooz-EYE)
 * Gau - Yes (gow)
 * Gaulé - Correct (gow-lay)
 * Ké - No/Incorrect (kay)
 * Déng éx ké? - How are you? (dayng-aysh-kay)
 * Déng éx kés? - How are y'all/you all? (dayng-aysh-kays)
 * Déng éx dé'i rinso? - How is the weather? (dayng-aysh-day-ee-reen-so)
 * Déboxo noré - Good day (day-bo-shyo-no-ray)
 * Baumo noré - Bad day (bow-mo-no-ray)
 * Xé? - What? (shyay)
 * Maxko zá - Forgive me/sorry (mash-ko-zEYE)
 * Zá mé ké tauma Lo'Oi - I do not speak Lo'Oi (zEYE-may-kay-tow-ma-lo-oi)
 * Zá tauma Lo'Oi - I speak Lo'Oi (zEYE-tow-ma-lo-oi)
 * Zá lávo gézáv - I am from [insert place here] (zEYE-LEYE-vo-gay-zEYEv)
 * Gédé ké! - Love you! (gay-day-kay)
 * Débax - Don't worry/thank you/you're welcome (day-bash)
 * Lada! - Bye! (lah-dah)

Exonyms and transliterations

 * Uvo Sau Otogos io Éldoxo'O - United Socialist States of Eldham
 * Bardono'O - Bardonia
 * Elixia - Ellysia
 * Borgamoi - Burgamere
 * Dankuoto - Drakaesland
 * Silovaunio - Sylvania
 * Vulpinoto - Vulpinia
 * Voavelo - Shirokaneza/Zamotz
 * Vanxir - Vanshire/Nazarin
 * Ozianum - Oceanum
 * Ránuno - Raiyuna/Ashai
 * Sululamo - Simulami
 * Énglaunoto - Anglunia
 * Krologáxo - Anglunia (derogatory)
 * Modoto - Morladron
 * Kadandri - Kaladinia
 * Vodakan - Rattican
 * Haxobagé - Ravenguard
 * Axturokan Guzuvelada - Ashtrokan Wandenreich Empire
 * Voajinoto - Drak Yamar
 * Dujuto - Dejuria/Notos/Eros
 * Alanoto - Eleanor/Iversteiya
 * Iuvaroto - Yuvaria
 * Mesedeto - Skjoldrbrodi
 * Kadakoto - Qadakh
 * Logusoto - Kingdom of ErrorL
 * Kolsoto - Manzland (Manzoto in the Manz Lo'Oi dialect)
 * Légenoto - Uldarash

Buildings, places, and locations

 * Kapá - Store, shop
 * Ato - Home, house
 * Kétorato - Church, cathedral, temple
 * Dáuku - Bazaar, shopping place
 * Káa - Large city, metropolis
 * Ozar - City, town
 * Gaxioza - Village (typically in reference to naturally spawning villages)
 * Jauvato - Library, bookstore
 * Mogé - Farm, factory
 * Zilak - Campfire, camp
 * Gáto - Tower, keep, fort
 * Jo - Abbey, nunnery
 * Haga - Hall, place
 * Vozula - Graveyard, cemetary
 * Adáro - Trail, river
 * Mar - Ocean
 * Donze - Lake
 * Apo - Mountain, peak
 * Vontandé - Ravine
 * Kover - Cave
 * Dautoto - Bay
 * Makete/Mogé - Farm
 * Mogáma - Ranch, grazing land
 * Fálikáto - Maze, labyrinth
 * Zauo - Prison, jail
 * Vobakum - Volcano
 * Jokum - Path
 * Vabov - Landmark
 * Usan - Boat, ship, vessel

Food, basic items, and common objects

 * Xáxé - Potato
 * Dadazi - Vegetable
 * Élonix - Carrot
 * Viloréx - Wheat (antiquated and/or formal)
 * Votaxa - Wheat, grain
 * Ilau - Mushroom
 * Uina - Onion
 * Biuxé - Butter
 * Baté - Beetroot
 * Ixuk - Soup, stew
 * Van - Bread
 * Vádé - Meat, flesh
 * Oisko - Cooking oil
 * Mau - Cocoa
 * Puji - Rice
 * Eniad - Chorus fruit
 * Doroni - Apple
 * Késeluni - Lemon or lime
 * Votovobani - Cherry
 * Kovoik - Alcohol

Animals and mobs

 * Avli'O - Witch
 * Kémi - Duck
 * Tamoto'O - Camel
 * Befodak - Bear (derogatory, refers to someone 'disgustingly' hairy)
 * Badak - Bear
 * Voajin - Dragon
 * Kémido - Swan
 * Do - Cow, cattle
 * Pansan - Pig, swine
 * Vukita - Fox
 * Voaxil - Vulture
 * Xiloré - Chicken
 * Gréxozo - Zombie
 * Lixalo - Skeleton
 * Vési - Silverfish, pests
 * Xi'i - Wither
 * Tauá - Parrot
 * Ná - Pixie, allay
 * Pálo - Strider
 * Bábadak - Panda
 * Ji - Bat
 * Zabaui - Ocelot, lynx, or bobcat
 * Káraná - Vex
 * Pébáji - Ghast
 * Brahibé - Warden
 * Pénéto - Phantom
 * Tonto - Horse
 * Razato - Llama, alpaca
 * Képatonto - Donkey (derogatory)

Verbs and actions

 * Érju - To mine
 * Jéda - To trade
 * Ha - To sit
 * Pin - To stand
 * Ola - To swim
 * Atu - To hate
 * Sase - To read
 * Joté - To dance
 * Ojebu - To sell
 * Juse - To buy
 * Komuse - To commission
 * Hojé - To move
 * Hemo - To think
 * Saus - To drink
 * Orsanga - To manage
 * Uni - To learn
 * Niva - To educate
 * Da - To eat
 * Kusa - To design
 * Épo - To define
 * Tunka - To confront
 * Pésadé - To conquer
 * Armu - To avoid
 * Toku - To act
 * Tálo - To do, to use

Derogatory terms

 * Vukéké - Brat, spoiled person
 * Gréxau - Lazy, slow
 * Kabofito - Refers to someone who e-dates
 * Logusi - Racist
 * Dégéfuto - Terrorist, sometimes used against communists
 * Xoelo - Excrement, fecal matter
 * Dausede - Pagan, blasphemist
 * Kára - Evil, tyrant
 * Jaudéxo - Unintelligent
 * Kemla - Loser, unskilled
 * Éixa - Nihilist, apathetic
 * Ponvo - Ugly (lit. 'toe')
 * Putu - Insane, crazy
 * Jusunsu - Boring or worthless
 * Kébazi - Unfriendly or antisocial
 * Kézusun - Lazy, sluggish
 * Kédando - Egotistical, narcissistic
 * Képapana - Liar, deceitful
 * Ávexodé - Liar, sneaky (lit. 'snake')

Popular Influence
There is a multitude of cities across Eldham that bare names coming from Lo'Oi. These includes cities such as Port Crelov, Garxeto, Temox, Tamoxo, Yoxen, Yolatol, Kazkaya, Nizkaya, Gehenazar, Robeleduk, Krakozar, Kerexin, Aposaxin, Suluzar and numerous others.

The word/suffix '-ozar/-zar' indicates the word 'city'. For this reason various cities like Krakozar, Gehenazar, Suluzar, and others have existed. One other common suffix in city names is '-káa', typically anglicized into '-kaya', translates to 'city' or 'metropolis'. This can be seen in city names like Nizkaya and Kazkaya. Many other cities have have 'anglicized' versions of Lo'Oi in their name, such as Kerexin and Aposaxin which are frequently written as 'Kereshin' and 'Aposashin', in addition to aforementioned '-káa' suffix city names.

Various cities have Lo'Oi exonyms as well which vary in popularity. The city of Horizonte for instance is known as 'Kubozar' in Lo'Oi. Other exonyms include the following:


 * Veladozar (lit. Empire city) - Aroforn
 * Kolikáa (lit. Colonizer city) - Elnarth
 * Bákáa (lit. Bai city) - Baicalite
 * Bázar (lit. Jungle city) - Umakwa
 * Silazar (lit. Fold[ing] city) - Noxwind