Waldhe

Overview
Waldhe (pronounced /walðə/) is a language spoken in Southeastern Alteniquia, almost entirely by the people of Wyldvarn. It serves as the liturgical language of the Salt Faith and as the legal language of Wyldvarn. It is unknown to what degree, if any, Waldhe shares relation with other languages of Rathnir. The Waldhendoig (/walðəndɔg/), an ecclesiastical organization of scholars, heads research into Waldhe's history.

Phonology
/a/ /o/ /ɔ/ and /u/ are considered "dark" vowels. /e/ /i/ and /ɪ/ are considered "bright" vowels. The distinction determines whether consonants are palatalized preceding certain sounds and combinations of sounds, as well as determining inflectional morphology. * These are independent spellings of these sounds. More often they will occur as the result of palatilization. All consonants except w, sh, and zh are subject to palatilization when they are followed by a bright vowel (i, e, or y). If u or o is followed by another vowel (except i, as in the digraph oi) then the u or o is deleted and the preceding sound labializes.

Syntax
Waldhe is by default a VSO language. The standard order of a sentence in Waldhe is as follows:

Verbal Particle

Verb

Subject

Object

Indirect Object

Gender
Nouns in Waldhe are divided into masculine and feminine nouns. The gender of a noun should be learned, but a couple of guidelines will serve well. Nouns ending in dark vowels, as well as m or n tend to be masculine. Nouns ending in bright vowels, as well as l and r tend to be feminine.

Number
Nouns are either single or plural.