Long language

The Long language is the spoken and written language of the Kingdom of Long. In addition to being the national language of Long, the Long language is also the language most commonly used among the Hu high nobility and the lingua franca used by international institutions such as the Merchants League.

The Long language is written using the modern syllabary and ancient glyph writing systems.

History

The Long language first developed in the Long Bay region and spread throughout the territory of present-day Long. The first texts on Long grammar were written during the Basiliscus Dynasty although the language was in use centuries prior to the dynasty's establishment.

Modern Long evolved during the Naja Dynasty with a number of changes occurring since then including the introduction of new words some of which are borrowed from the Hu language. The first Modern Long dictionaries were written during the Naja era.

Language Variants

COMMON LONG, often, and sometimes pejoratively, called SOUTHERN SEA LONG, refers to the form of the Long language widely used throughout the two kingdoms and universally intelligible to all Long speakers. It has undergone simplification as well as dialect levelling. The prevalence of Common Long has increased throughout the modern era.

There is no established standard for Common Long although it is fairly uniform. Common Long is the form of the language used in Hu and by non-native speakers. It is also used across the Kingdom of Long particularly in communications between people from different regions or communications between the educated classes and commoners. It first developed as a spoken language but by the era of Filial Devotion it is frequently used in writing as well: written works classified as Common Long vary from the simplified style and grammar of the spoken vernacular to those employing a higher register and more of the formalistic elements of Varanid Long.

VARANID LONG is the variant of Long used in modern official texts and in many modern literary works. It is the “prestige dialect” spoken by the educated class in the Varanus area and, to a lesser extent, by nobles and scholars elsewhere in the kingdom. Varanid Long is strongly rooted in Naja Long but reflects changes in usage which occurred during the Warring Dukes and early modern period. Outside of official government texts the use of Varanid Long has steadily declined in favour of Common Long.

CLASSICAL LONG is the written language used during the Basiliscus dynasty period. For many Long speakers Classical Long is scarcely intelligible; it must be formally studied. A large portion of literate Long-speakers only know the works of the Basiliscus writers and poets through edited versions produced during the Naja dynasty.

NAJA LONG or “Middle Long” is the written language used during the Naja dynasty period. Thanks to dictionaries and grammar books written by Naja writers the language became standardized. Scholars and formally educated Long speakers can all understand Naja texts (some better than others) and Naja grammar books are still used in the modern era by some instructors when teaching the Long language. Naja Long is perceived as lofty and antiquated.

HIGHLANDS LONG, the dialect of Long spoken in the Pteron Highlands. It is perceived as rough, provincial, and sometimes comical, and other Long speakers have difficulty understanding Highlanders with strong accents.