Nglykanen

Nglykanen is a fictional ethnolinguistic term used in worldbuilding to describe both a people and their language within a defined highland region. In the imagined setting, Nglykanen society centers on kin-based communities, traditional crafts, and oral storytelling. The term is sometimes used to distinguish regional subgroups, but the language and culture share a common identity.

Geography and people. The core homeland lies in the Verdun Mountains’ highland basin, with settlements scattered along the Liri River valley. In the fictional population, Nglykanen speakers number around 18,000 in the core area, with smaller diaspora communities in neighboring valleys. Social organization is described as clan-based, with customary practices governing marriage, inheritance, and communal labor in farming, weaving, and metalwork.

Language. The Nglykanen language is typically treated as a language isolate in the imagined world, with no demonstrated genetic relation to neighboring language families, though some scholars speculate distant links to a broader hypothetical macro-family. It features two main dialects: Northern Nglykanen and Southern Nglykanen. The language is described as agglutinative with SOV (subject–object–verb) syntax, a rich nominal case system, and a phonology that includes a glottal stop and a modest set of consonants and vowels.

Writing and status. Historically, Nglykanen used an indigenous syllabary, later increasingly romanized under standardized orthography. In the fiction, efforts to revitalize literacy and cultural transmission are noted, including school programs and cultural festivals. The language is depicted as endangered in contemporary contexts, with revitalization efforts emphasized in community narratives.