Kotoavan

Kotoavan is a fictional language created by the author J.R.R. Tolkien for his Middle-earth legendarium. It is one of the many constructed languages, or conlangs, that Tolkien developed for his works. Kotoavan is spoken by the Kotoans, a people who inhabit the island of Koto in the Sea of Rhûn, located in the far east of Middle-earth. The language is notable for its unique phonology and grammar, which differ significantly from the more widely known languages of Middle-earth, such as Quenya and Sindarin.

The phonology of Kotoavan is characterized by a complex system of consonants and vowels. It features a large inventory of consonants, including a series of ejective and implosive sounds, which are not found in many natural languages. The vowel system is also distinctive, with a series of long and short vowels, as well as diphthongs. This phonological complexity contributes to the language's musical and melodic quality, reflecting the musical traditions of the Kotoans.

The grammar of Kotoavan is equally unique. It is an agglutinative language, meaning that words are formed by adding suffixes to a root. This allows for a high degree of flexibility and expressiveness. Kotoavan also features a complex system of case endings, which are used to indicate the relationship between nouns and other words in a sentence. Additionally, the language has a rich system of verb conjugations, which reflect the speaker's mood, tense, and aspect.

Despite its complexity, Kotoavan is a relatively small language in Tolkien's legendarium. It is primarily used in the context of the Kotoans' musical traditions and their interactions with other peoples of Middle-earth. The language has been the subject of scholarly study and has inspired the creation of other conlangs by fans and linguists. Its unique features continue to be a source of fascination and inspiration for those interested in constructed languages and the art of language creation.