Sujdultilwa

Sujdultilwa is a constructed language and cultural framework created for the fictional world of Arivion. It is the traditional tongue of the Sujdul people, centered in the northern highlands and surrounding valleys, and serves as a marker of heritage and communal identity.

Classification and features: Sujdultilwa is classified as part of the Arivian language group, but it functions as a language isolate within the internal mapping of Arivion’s linguistics, with independent development. The language employs a subject–object–verb (SOV) order, agglutinative morphology, and a rich system of evidentiality. Phonology includes a set of glottalized stops, uvulars, and a small vowel inventory with vowel harmony in suffix vowels. Tone is marked by pitch accent.

Writing system: The Sujdultilwan script, known locally as the Kana of Sujdu, is a syllabary of about 70 signs; it records phonemes and prosody. Historically used in inscriptions and religious manuscripts, it is still taught in some rural schools as part of cultural preservation. A Latin transliteration is common in modern texts.

Geography and status: The language spans the highland region of Nivara and adjacent settlements; diaspora communities exist in urban centers. It is considered endangered, with several thousand speakers, most of them over age 30; revitalization efforts include bilingual education, community media, and a national language council.

Cultural significance: Sujdultilwa fosters oral poetry, proverbs, and ritual speech. Traditional ceremonies feature call-and-response forms and ritualized recitation. The language is closely tied to Sujdul identity and to traditional crafts such as weaving and metalwork.