Introducing: Jananic language!
(Warning: long post! Keep in mind English is not my first language. I apologize for any grammar mistakes)
Jananic or Janaji (pronounced "dyanadyi") is the dominant language spoken in a fictional piece of land in Southeast Asia called the Hook-Eye Territory.
It's the official language in these 5 small countries (which I will address later on another post).
I inspired myself in a abugida writing system, also present in other languages such as Thai and Hindi. Here are the very basics about each sound and symbol.
Explaining it simply, in this kind of systems, vowels come attached to consonants in syllables (with some exceptions), instead of being written by its side, like you would do while using an alphabet.
Basics
Janaji has 6 vowels (15 if counting the pitch variations) and 16 consonants, only 3 of them being terminal consonants. A total of 31 separate sounds.
Syllables are usually formed as (CV), but can be (CVV), (CCV) or even (CCVV) if the consonant and/or vowel in it is duplicated. In JJ, different consonants or vowels can not share the same syllable. The only exceptions are:
• When the base sound is also a vowel and not a consonant (VV type of syllable)
• When the terminal consonants N and G are paired together at the end of a syllable
Let me show a few examples:
Writing directions
The writing direction can vary depending on the level of formality and context. On the present day, people will write horizontally, right to left or left to right. However, traditionally and in formal contexts, it's written vertically. If it's from bottom to top or top to bottom, it depends on the hierarchy between the people writing (if any).
• If you are speaking to your subordinate or someone who's either younger or less experienced than you, you write from top to bottom ↓. This makes you the dominant voice. (ex: a boss giving instructions to a worker)
• If you are speaking to an authority figure or just someone who's older or more experienced than you, you write from bottom to top ↑. This is a way of sounding more humble. (ex: a regular person sending a letter to a priestess)
People usually will not write vertically to talk to people they are very close to. However, vertical writing can also be used in posters, outdoors and ads, and especially art and poetry.
But worry not! For convenience reasons and better understanding, I'll write left to right when explaining stuff in my posts.
I think that's all for today!