Lughic

Lughic is a constructed language used in fantasy world-building and fictional lore. Named after the Celtic god Lugh, it is described as the ancestral tongue of the western archipelago of Eriu and is positioned as a branch of a fictional Celtic-like language family in in-world classification. In its setting, Lughic is employed in liturgy, poetry, and daily communication.

Phonology and writing: Lughic features a moderate consonant inventory including stops, fricatives, and nasals, with a vowel system that contrasts short and long vowels. Stress typically falls on the penultimate syllable. The language allows initial consonant mutation in certain grammatical environments, a feature reminiscent of historical Celtic languages. The usual writing system is an ogham-inspired script used for inscriptions, while Latin script is used in modern transcription and study materials.

Grammar and vocabulary: Lughic is described as mostly analytic with some affixal elements and a relatively flexible word order, with dialectal variation. It relies on prepositions rather than noun case endings, and pronouns encode person and number. Verbs mark tense and mood, with aspect indicated by auxiliary constructions. A notable feature is the system of initial mutations affecting the initial consonant of affected words.

Varieties and usage: In the fiction, Northern and Southern dialects differ in pronunciation and vocabulary. Lughic is taught in cultural schools, used in traditional ceremonies, and studied by enthusiasts of the setting. In real-world practice, Lughic has inspired fan grammars and dictionaries as part of world-building communities.