Litalià

Litalià is a constructed language (conlang) designed to evoke Italian while illustrating systematic linguistic design. Originating in conlang and speculative-fiction circles, it presents a Romance-inspired lexicon together with regular, simplified grammar to demonstrate how a language rooted in Italian could be transformed by regularization and light phonological changes. The name blends elements from Italian linguistic history, signaling its cultural borrowing and experimental character.

Classification and origin: Litalià is not a natural language; it is a deliberate creation within the Romance language family used for study and storytelling. It borrows strongly from Italian in basic syntax and vocabulary while adopting regularities and small phonetic adjustments to showcase design choices.

Phonology and writing: Litalià uses a five-vowel system and a consonant inventory common to many Romance languages. It features a relatively simple syllable structure and stress on the penultimate syllable in most words. The standard orthography is the Latin alphabet, augmented with diacritics to mark vowel quality or stress when needed.

Grammar: Nouns have gender and number; articles mark both and adjectives agree with the noun in gender and number. Verbs are organized into regular conjugation classes with present-tense endings for person and number. Adjectives typically follow nouns and agree in gender and number. Word order remains predominantly subject–verb–object, though it can be flexible in focus constructions.

Usage and status: Litalià is used primarily in conlang communities and in speculative-fiction contexts. It serves as a case study in regularization of a familiar Romance base and as a sandbox for experimenting with phonology, morphology, and syntax.