Paloic

Paloic is an ethnolinguistic group and its language native to a coastal archipelago in the northern reaches of the continent of Erya. The Paloic population is roughly 9,000 to 12,000. They are organized into clans with a council of elders; the largest settlement is Lomar.

Etymology: The name derives from the ancient Palo word palu meaning sea, reflecting their maritime orientation.

Geography and economy: The archipelago comprises nine inhabited islands and a small mainland valley. The economy centers on small-scale fishing, seaweed farming, and boatbuilding. Education is publicly funded; bilingualism with neighboring groups is common.

Language: Paloic is an agglutinative language with SVO order, noun classifiers, and verbal morphology indicating aspect and mood. It is considered threatened; revitalization programs are in place and intergenerational transmission has improved.

History: Settlement dates to the early centuries CE. Contact with larger polities began in the colonial era, with modern reforms integrating Paloic into a federation. Cultural institutions preserve traditional narratives and ceremonies.

Culture and writing: Festivals honor the sea, featuring processions and boat races. Music uses bamboo flutes; crafts include carved wood and woven textiles. Paloic employs a standardized Latin-based script with diacritics for education and administration; literary output includes folk songs, ritual texts, and contemporary prose.