Ynyswr (ˈənɨsuːr)
"There is no language better suited to music than Ynyswr."
Ynyswr is one of the most commonly used languages in the Ynys Archipelago. It is spoken by the Ynyswr people who live throughout the south and southwestern parts of the island, especially in the kingdom of Mathrafal. It is inspired by Welsh.
Dialects
There are several dialects of Ynyswr spoken in the archipelago, many of which are highly regional and may encompass only a single village or valley. The most dominant dialect is spoken in the Kingdom of Mathrafal, which houses both the great bardic institution Coleg Cerddorion, and also protects the sacred isle of Ynys Dywyll. The influence of the Mathrafal dialect is carried to all corners of Ynys by the bards and priests who train there, and it is the dialect most often learned by foreigners.
Interesting Features
Ynyswr is best known for its cadence, which makes common speech sound a little like poetry or even song. Many people consider it one of the most pleasant languages to listen to, and those who cannot speak it sometimes imagine that every statement is brimming with meaning and beauty. They are often a little disappointed by the translations, which reveal that the common speech of the Ynyswr is just as prosaic as everyone else.
Students of Ynyswr often struggle with its use of mutations, where the initial sound of a word changes depending on its grammatical role in the sentence. Mastery of these changes is essential for anyone seeking to speak Ynyswr fluently, but it can be difficult for non-natives to pick up.
Related Languages
Ynyswr is related to the languages of the other Dhewen Peoples, and is most closely related to Cymbraġec, so much so that the languages are mutually intelligible. It is more distantly related to Amhrán and Eileanach.
Naming Traditions
Speakers of Ynyswr typically use a personal name followed by a family name, with the family name inherited from their father. A child will be given a cariad enw or "love name" shortly after birth - this is typically a short and affectionate name such as Calon (heart), or Melys (sweet). After a few years, the child will be given a new name that reflects their personality or the hopes their parents have for them. The exact age when they receive their proper name varies from community to community, but is typically between three and five years old. They will use this name throughout the rest of their life, with only those closest to them ever using their love name again.
Family names among the Ynyswr are a mix of patronymics and lineal names. In many families, the children are always given the patronymic, such as "ap Rhys" meaning "the son of Rhys" or "verch Morgan" meaning "the daughter of Morgan". However, in some parts of the island it has become common to adopt a lineal name that remains constant from generation to generation. This is frequently used to honor a particularly notable ancestor, or to mark a distinctive quality of the family. Lineal names are still in the minority among the Ynyswr, but have been growing more common over the last hundred years.
Writing System
The Ynyswr language is written using a script that is unique to their culture. The script is characterized by straight lines and angles, and is written from top to bottom. Ynyswr scripts are often used to decorate buildings, books, and other objects of art.
Geographical Distribution
Ynyswr is primarily spoken in the Kingdom of Mathrafal, where it is the dominant language. However, there are also significant populations of Ynyswr speakers in neighboring kingdoms and territories throughout Ynys, especially in the the southwest of the island.
- "Hwyl fawr" - Goodbye
- "Croeso" - Welcome
- "Diolch" - Thank you
- "Bore da" - Good morning
- "Nos da" - Good night
- "Prynhawn da" - Good afternoon
- "Sut wyt ti?" - How are you?
- "Da iawn, diolch" - I'm good, thanks
- "Hwyl" - Bye
- Anwen
- Branwen
- Cariad
- Eira
- Gwendolen
- Liliwen
- Mairwen
- Nia
- Sian
- Talwen
- Aled
- Bryn
- Caradoc
- Dafydd
- Emrys
- Geraint
- Iorwerth
- Llewelyn
- Owain
- Rhys
- Arwyn
- Celyn
- Dylan
- Gwyn
- Hywel
- Meirion
- Rhian
- Seren
- Tegan
- Wyn
- Ap Rhys
- Bowen
- Ceredig
- Dafyddson
- Emrys
- Gwynedd
- Iorwerth
- Llewellyn
- Morgan
- Powell
This article was originally written for Spooktober 2024. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
This article was originally written for Spooktober 2023. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
I love the Welsh inspiration here. I really like the note that non-speakers are often disappointed by the translations. XD
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Sometimes it's nice to listen to a language and just imagine what they are saying :)