Linguistics of Erinnal

Mütvian

A subtle language with some doublespeak spoken in dialects in the Land of 1,000 Princes.

Sounds

Vowels

• a: [a] as in Spanish casa (“ah”)
• ă: [ə] as in about (“uh”)
• e: [eɪ] as in day (“ay”)
• i: [i] as in see (“ee”)
• o: [oʊ] as in oh
• u: [ʌ] as in cup
• ü: [u] as in moo
• ö: [ɔɪ] as in boy (“oy”)
• ó: [ɔ] as in thought (“aw”)

Consonants

• b: [b] as in bat
•  
• c: [t͡ʃ] before e or i, as in church; [k] elsewhere, as in cat
• d: [d] as in dog
• f: [f] as in fish
• g: [ɡ] as in go
• ğ: [ɣ] voiced velar fricative, a soft rasping sound made in the back of the mouth, as in Spanish agua (between vowels)
• h: [h] as in hat (always pronounced)
• j: [ʒ] as in measure
• k: [k] as in kite
• l: [l] as in love
• m: [m] as in moon
• n: [n] as in net
• p: [p] as in pat
• r: [r] alveolar trill (rolled r), as in Spanish perro
• s: [s] as in sit
• ș: [ʃ] as in she
• st: [ʃt] as in “sht” (the sound at the start of shtick), treated as a single consonant cluster
• t: [t] as in top, but without the puff of air (unaspirated)
• ț: [t͡s] as in the “ts” sound in cats
• v: [v] as in van
• y: [j] as in yes, the consonantal “y” sound, as in English yes
• z: [z] as in zebra

Southern Mütvian accents favor back-articulated vowels and a slower, weightier delivery, contributing to a deeper overall sound.

Northern accents shift vowels forward in the mouth and maintain a faster speaking pace, resulting in a lighter, sharper cadence.

Sentence Construction

Mütvian sentence structure reflects a culture focused on action, consequence, and state rather than identity. Speech is functional, declarative, and often omits elements that can be inferred from context.

Word Order

Mütvian most commonly follows a Verb–Subject–Object order, especially in commands, ritual speech, and direct statements.

Jana soit io tanü
Protect my soul

Here, the action (to protect) anchors the sentence, with the subject and possession following it. This reflects a worldview where what is done matters more than who acts.

In formal declarations, chants, or poetic language, the subject may appear first for emphasis.

Possession

Possession follows the noun rather than preceding it.

soit io – soul of mine
jer io – heart of mine

This structure treats possession as a relationship, not an inherent quality. A possessive suffix (-iy) exists but is typically reserved for legal, formal, or precise contexts.

Modifiers

Adjectives and descriptors generally follow the word they modify.

jera jüs – hearts of the Mütvian people

Meaning is built additively, with the core noun established before it is qualified.

Negation and Time

Negation and time are expressed with separate words rather than verb conjugation.

ne – no, not
uth – now
i·vak – soon
i·vak·ne – not yet

These words typically appear near the verb but are flexible in placement when clarity is maintained.

States and Conditions

Abstract concepts are often expressed as states or outcomes rather than actions. This is reflected in vocabulary that distinguishes between events and their lasting effects.

vru·so – death as an event or passage
to·dren – death as a state or what remains

Similarly, suffixes such as -vak (immediate condition) and -dra (lingering result) are commonly used to describe lived experience rather than moral judgment.

The Copula

The verb e·ru (“to be”) exists but is often omitted when the meaning is clear. It is typically used only when clarifying identity, role, or formal status.

In everyday speech, Mütvian favors brevity and certainty over grammatical completeness.

Overall Tone

Mütvian sentences tend to be short, direct, and final. The language prioritizes what is happening, what has happened, and what condition something is in, rather than speculation or abstraction.

Phrases

In some stories you may come across entire phrases written in a foreign language. (Mütvian is an actual language being developed!) We’ll replicate those sentences here.

Jana soit io tanü – [Mother Nor’dagha] Protect my soul; lit. “Jana, soul of mine to protect”

Jana – Name for protective aspect of Nor’dagha
soit – soul
io – my
tanü – to protect

Jera jüs lüsasöi / Mütvia Rejestöi – Only in our hearts / Does Mütvia live

Greetings, Partings, and Customs

Jera! (inf. greeting) My heart!
Sa er sülve (inf. parting) Be safe
Bruso sóro (for. greeting) Good day
Bruso devro (for. parting) Good night
Vruso sóro (exp. greeting) Leave and die
Vruso devro (exp. parting) Your ass in ashes
Gorsi, sülve, ia paksilo. Strength, safety, and peace.

Common Expressions

These phrases are used in daily Mütvian speech. Many assume shared hardship and mutual awareness of danger, and are often spoken plainly rather than warmly.

Uth stă. – It stands now. / It is so, for now.
Ne uth. – Not now.
Sa uth? – You now? / Are you ready?
Uth i·vak. – Now, soon. / Give it a moment.
Sa sül·ve? – Are you safe?
Sa ne sül·ve. – You are not safe.
Vru·so uth. – Death is here now. / Someone is dying.
To·dren stă. – Death remains. / The aftermath is here.
Ne prus·ku.  – Do not speak.
Prus·ku. – Speak.
Sa hu·len io. –  Follow me.
Sa na·rek.  – Run. / Flee.
Gi stă. – We remain. / We are still here.
Müt stă.  – The people endure.
Lan·dru stă. – The land endures.
Ströi stă. – Things are bad. / The situation holds.
Ne eg.  – Not one. / None left.
Eg stă. – One remains.
Sa ju·rak. – You stand with me. / You are my ally.
Ne o·thir. – Not an outsider. / One of us.
Uth töi. – Life is now. / We live today.

Numbers

Mütvian numbers are direct and utilitarian. They are used primarily for counting, obligation, and order rather than abstraction. Numbers do not inflect for gender or case.

Cardinal Numbers

Cardinal numbers express quantity.

eg – one
kua – two
trár – three
fara – four
veren – five
saruk – six
kethra – seven
oren – eight
nethra – nine
daren – ten

Compound Numbers

Numbers above ten are formed additively. Mütvian treats tens as counted units rather than compressed numerals. There is no single root for “hundred” in common speech; larger quantities are expressed through repeated groupings of ten.

42
fara daren kua
lit. four ten two
forty-two

93
nethra daren trár
lit. nine ten three; nine-tens and three
ninety-three

100
daren daren
lit. ten ten
one hundred

112
daren daren daren kua
lit. ten ten ten two
one hundred twelve

500
veren daren daren
lit. five ten ten
five hundred

In everyday speech, numbers above thirty are used sparingly and most often appear in contexts of tribute, debt, grain stores, casualties, or formal record-keeping. Larger numbers are spoken deliberately, emphasizing accumulation rather than abstraction.

Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers indicate sequence or position and are formed by adding the suffix -dra, marking an established or resulting order.

egdra – first
kuadra – second
trárdra – third
faradra – fourth
verendra – fifth
sarukdra – sixth
kethradra – seventh
orendra – eighth
nethradra – ninth
darendra – tenth

The use of -dra aligns ordinal numbers with the concept of outcome or established state, emphasizing position after action rather than abstract rank.

Usage Notes

Numbers typically follow the noun they modify.

müt trár – three people
reje egdra – the first reign

In ritual or formal speech, ordinal numbers may be emphasized to indicate precedence, inheritance, or obligation.

Lexicon

A

a·dru (adj) near, within reach
a·dru·tu (v) to approach
an (n) year
a·vak (adj) hungry
a·vak·tu (v) to hunger
a·zor (n) ash
av (adj) new

B

ba·rek (n) bones, skeletal remains
ba·ru (v) to burn
ba·ru·so (n) fire
ba·ru·vak (n) firewood
blud (n) blood as a physical substance
bu·lóm (n) clay; wet earth that takes shape and holds
bo·rak (n) shelter, crude cover
bö·vi (v) to end, conclude
bru·so (adj) good

C

čă (part) that; which (linking particle)
cha·len (v) to circle, move around cautiously
cha·ru (v) to chase, pursue
cu·ren (v) to cut deliberately

D

da (adv) yes
da·mel (adj) tired, fatigued
da·mel·tu (v) to grow exhausted
dan·ju (n) festival; recurring communal rite tied to season, obligation, or survival cycle
da·ruk (v) to strike
de (prep) of, by, for, from, to, with
de·i·a (phrase) here is / this is
de·ras·töv·ya (n) congratulations
dev·ro 1. (n) night, pl. devra; 2. (n) ashes
dev·zu (v) to awaken, lit. to survive the night
do·mi (n) command given by force
do·vak (n) pain (felt, not wounded)
-dra (suf) resultant or lingering state after an action; what remains
drav (n) wound, physical injury caused by force
du·ran (adj) cold

E

e·dra (adj) far, distant, out of reach
e·dra·tu (v) to move away
eg (number) one
en (prep) in; inside; within
e·o (pro) his
e·o·no (pro) him
e·ru (v) to be
es- (suffix, adj) eternal, from esso
es·so (adj) eternal
es·trö·i·ji·a (n) portal to elsewhere (eh-STROY-zhya)
e·thra (n) breath (physical)
e·thru (v) to breathe
eu·so (n) door (ay-OO-soh)

F

fa·len (v) to fall, fail, collapse
fa·ruk (v) to stalk quietly
fi·dra (n) noise, uncontrolled sound
fi·ren (n) fear
fi·ren·tu (v) to fear

G

ga·ma·lad (n) family
ga·rel (v) to guard
ga·rel·ri (n) guard, watcher
ga·thra (n) tool
ga·thru (v) to use a tool
ge·ra (n) mouth (body part), pl. geraa
gi (pro) us
glas (n) voice; spoken sound of a person
go (pro) we
gor·si (n) strength
gra·ven (n) grave, burial pit

H

ha·ru (v) to hide
ha·ruk (n) hiding place
ha·vak (n) heat, oppressive warmth
hu·len (v) to follow

I

i (prep) in
i·a (conj) and
i·je (n) something internalized, within one’s self
i·mor (n) memory
i·mor·tu (v) to remember
io (pro) my, of mine
i·thra (adv) where to; toward which place
i·thri (adv) where; in which place
i·vak (adv) soon
i·vak·ne (adv) not yet
-iy (suf) possessive akin to ’s in English

J

ja·do (n) gift
jad·tö (n) mercy
jer (n) a dear one close to the heart, pl. jera
jüs (adj) of the Mütvian people by laws of nature; concept of the same
ju·rak (n) ally, one who stands with you

K

ka·dur (n) weapon (general)
ka·dur·tu (v) to arm oneself
kam·man (n) work
ka·mu (v) to work
ka·thra (n) knife
ka·thru (v) to stab
kärt (n) horn
kär·tim (n) steel, blade, weapon material
ke·nal (adj) known, familiar
ker·se (n) west
ke·țar (v) to remain; to stay in place
klis·tar (v) to shout; to call loudly
ko·ren (n) root; deep holding (ritual usage)
kor·vo (n) raven, pl. korva
kou·ro (n) heart, pl. koura
kra·țüm (v) to claim; to take as property of the Land
ku·a (number) two

L

la·thra (n) corpse
la·vi·tu (v) to love
la·vo (n) famililal love
le·vak (v) to leave behind
lo (pro) I
lü·bev (n) romantic love; attachment that persists (beyond the grave)
lu·vak (v) to lie (intentional falsehood)
lu·vak·ta (n) lie, false statement
lü·sa·söi (adv) only

M

ma·jo (n) house
ma·ren (adj) alive but wounded
mit·sa (adj) weak
mi·zhak (n) a brute
mo·dra (n) mud
mo·ruk (n) soil, worked earth
mu·chal (n) a whisper
mur·dir(v) to murder; to kill with intent
mu·rek (adj) wet, soaked
mu·rö·na (adj) dark; lightless; without sky-light
müt (n) people, residents of an area; typically refers only to humans
müt·a·nu·ri (n) protector of the people
mü·tóș (n) the Land; the ground as an active claiming force; that aspect of Nor’dagha which holds the dead in the ground
Mütvi (pr) Mütvians; collective proper noun for natural born citizens of Mütvia
Mütvia (n) the official language of Mütvia; the name of the country

N

na·dra (n) rain
na·rek (v) to flee
na·thra (n) storm
na·vi·u (v) to eat
ne (adv) no
ne·lik (adj) happy
ne·lik·ta (interj) Wonderful! (expression of joy)
ne·mi (n) name; spoken identifier
nes (pro) he/she/they; gender neutral
nis (pro) him/her/them; gender neutral
no·sir (v) to carry; to bear continuously
no·val (adj) silent
nu·vak (n) food

O

oj (interj) a vocal call or lament used in song or speech to draw attention, express grief, or mark an emotional turn; carries no semantic content beyond emphasis or feeling
o·thir (n) outsider, non-Mütvian
o·vak (n) water (drinkable)
o·vak·tu (v) to drink

P

pa·dren (n) endurance
pa·dru (v) to endure
pa·len (prep) through; by way of
pa·thra (n) path, traveled ground
pak·si·lo (n) peace, or the concept of
pi·vak (n) warning sign
pi·vak·tu (v) to warn
prus·ko (v) said; past and past participle of prus·ku
prus·ku (v) to say
pus·tir (v) to let pass; to allow through

R

ra·duk (n) rot, decay
-rak (suf) place defined by use or function
ra·vak (v) to return
ră·vösk (n) taken thing; seized and kept object or being
re·ju (v) to reign
re·je (n) reign
re·je·stöi (n, adj) one’s eternal reign and life
-rek (suf) relational or directional tension; imbalance, pursuit, or obligation between forces
re·küm (v) to return; to come back from absence
re·ša (conj) but; however
re·thra (n) order imposed by force
re·vak (adj) forbidden
re·vak·tu (v) to forbid
-ri (suf) one who performs the action of the modified verb
rish (n) sleep
ri·shu (v) to sleep

S

sa (pro) you
šă (part) emphatic particle; marks focus or insistence; ex. 1) sa kețar, “You remain.” With šă: sa šă kețar, “You—specifically—remain.” 2) reša lübev kețar. “But enduring attachment remains.”, with šă: reša lübev šă kețar, “But it is enduring attachment that remains.” (The attachment itself is in focus, not another quality or outcome.)
sa·dra (n) silence (intentional or magical)
sa·dra·tu (v) to remain silent by choice
sa·lok (v) to listen closely
san·ji (n) land spirits
sant (n) a story
san·tu (v) to tell, to relate
să·vö·ren (n) buried-state; a person held by the Land
se·dru (n) shadowed place
se·ra (n) shadow
se·ra·gi·a (n) gate, as in a garden gate
se·vak (v) to watch
si·rak (adj) broken, no longer whole
si·vak (n) enemy
sint (n) a song
sin·tu (v) to sing
so·it (n) a soul
só·ro (n) day
stă (n) plan, of premeditated design
ströi (adj) a terrible state of affairs, significant strife
stü·rir (v) to sleep; coma; to rest without waking
su·thra (n) smoke
su·vak (n) frost
sül·ve (adj) safe
sü·ma·jo (n) guild, i.e. commoner guild
șu·nar (v) to listen; to attend to sound or presence

T

ta·brin (n) footprint; track left by a living body
ta·mur (adj) sworn, bound by oath
ta·mur·vak (n) oath-bond
ta·nu (v) to protect
ta·rek (n) debt, owed harm
ta·rek·tu (v) to owe
ța·rül (n) bond; continuing tie after separation
tesh·vir (n) cousin
tha (adv) there; in that place
ti·co (n) quiet; no voices; no movement
ți·nir (v) to hold; to keep in possession or state
to·dren (n) death as a state; the condition of being dead; the aftermath that remains
to·vak (n) remains (after death)
tor (n) rule, authority
trár (number) three
tu·ma (n) dark; absence of sight
töi (n) life
-ty (suf) -ing
-tu (suf) verbalizer; to enter or enact the root

U

u·dra (n) wind
ul·kren (v) to enclose; to seal in; to prevent exit
u·vak (n) hunger pain
u·vak·dra (n) thirst
u·vak·tu (v) to starve
ü·dvyzd (n) welcome
u·o (pro) hers
u·o·no (pro) her
uth (adv) now, in the present moment

V

va·dra (n) vigilance, watchfulness
va·dra·tu (v) to keep watch
vă·esk (n) final boundary; last edge; ending place; the Veiled Gate (informally)
-vak (suf) immediate condition or lived state; a situation affecting the body, mind, or moment
va·len (adj) present on all sides, surrounding
va·thra (n) bloodshed
ve·rak (adj) loyal
vi (n) land
Vi·a (n) the Land
vi·dra (n) echo
vizh (adj) all, every
vla·dir (v) to rule; to command by force or nature
vo·is·ti (n) any of the Mütvian land spirits
völ (n) valley; low land between rises
vs·tre·tir (v) to meet; to encounter face-to-face
vrüm (v) to give back; to return what was taken
vru·so (n) death as an event or passage; dying, killing, or being sent away; also a journey, especially one out of or into Mütvia
vzar (v) to seize; to take by force or right

Y

yo (pro) I

Z

za·ğür (v) to sink into; to be drawn down and absorbed
za·mur (n) traitor
za·mur·tu (v) to betray
ză·năr (v) to know with certainty; to be sure
za·ren (v) to kill
za·rok (n) killer
zed·nya (n) danger
zhe·len (adj) living, breathing, actively alive
zhak·dov (n) an oath or promise
zhir·du (v) to go
zu (v) to survive
zu·dra (adj) just (as imposed, enforced)
zu·thra (n) survival through hardship

Example:
“Danju”, a Mütvian Song

“De danju, sonir io,
čă kenal sa.
Falen mizhak,
tarektu sa tarek.

Adrutu havak vi,
ne bövi ivakne suvaken devro.
Stă devzudra,
galen korenrak.

Levak avnur,
stă domi sanji:
Nosir uo,
zhirdu,
stă raduk vi.”

— Spring verses of Danju, a Mütvian folk song

English (literal)

Of festival, son mine,
that known you.
Fall foolishness,
owe you debt.

Approach warmth land,
not end not-yet frost night.
Stand awakening-state,
glow woods.

Leave-behind newborn,
stand command land-spirits:
carry her,
go,
stand rot land.

Idiomatic English Translation

Of the festivals, my son,
these are the ones you have known.
To fall into foolishness
is to owe a debt.

The warmth draws near the land,
and the last frost of night does not yet end.
The Awakening stands,
and the woods begin to glow.

Leave the newborn behind—
the command of the land spirits stands:
they carry her away,
they go,
or the land rots.