Erandic

Erandic is a term used in worldbuilding and linguistic reference to a family of related languages spoken by the Erandi people in the central highland region of the fictional continent Vaelor. The name derives from the ethnonym Eran, which appears in early inscriptions and in subsequent comparative studies of the Vaelian language groups.

Classification and varieties: Erandic comprises Northern Erandic, Southern Erandic, and Central Erandic. The varieties share core vocabulary and grammar but show notable phonological and lexical differences. Mutual intelligibility is partial, with speakers typically needing exposure or formal study to understand other branches.

Phonology and writing: Erandic languages usually feature a moderate consonant inventory that includes aspirated and glottalized sounds, along with vowel length contrasts. Stress is typically syllable-timed and predictable. The primary writing system is the Erandic script, a syllabary developed in the late first millennium CE. In modern contexts, Latin-script orthographies are commonly used for education and media.

Grammar and syntax: The languages tend toward fusional morphology and predominately subject–object–verb (SOV) word order, with postpositions rather than prepositions. Case marking and agreement provide cueing for grammatical relations, while topic-focused constructions allow flexible ordering in discourse.

History and status: Early attestations come from monumental inscriptions dating to the early Vaelian kingdoms. The languages spread through trade and literacy efforts, then experienced external influence from neighboring tongues. Today, an estimated 120,000 to 150,000 people speak an Erandic language, with rural communities preserving traditional forms; urban speakers increasingly favor the common lingua franca, prompting maintenance programs and bilingual education.

See also: Erandi people, Vaelor languages, Erandic script.