Kalnelian

Kalnelian is a fictional language created by linguist and polyglot David J. Peterson for use in the television series *The 100*. The language serves as the primary spoken tongue of the Kalyztos, a fictional species native to the planet Sanity, which is part of the *The 100* universe. Kalnelian is designed to reflect the cultural and technological differences of its speakers, blending elements of natural human languages with constructed phonetics and grammar.

Peterson, known for his work on languages like Dothraki from *Game of Thrones*, crafted Kalnelian to sound alien yet intelligible to English speakers. The language incorporates unique sounds, such as clicks and guttural consonants, to distinguish it from Earth languages. Its grammar follows a subject-object-verb structure, differing from English, and includes irregular verb conjugations and noun cases that shift based on context. Kalnelian also features a rich vocabulary, with words derived from both natural linguistic patterns and invented roots to convey the Kalyztos' advanced but decaying civilization.

The language was introduced in *The 100* through dialogue, subtitles, and occasional translations, allowing viewers to grasp its function within the story. While not fully developed for everyday use, Kalnelian plays a key role in establishing the show’s worldbuilding, particularly in depicting the Kalyztos’ history, their conflict with humans, and their cultural identity. Peterson’s creation of Kalnelian demonstrates how constructed languages can enhance immersion in speculative fiction by providing depth to fictional societies and their inhabitants.