Uczu

Uczu is a constructed language (conlang) developed for worldbuilding and speculative fiction. It emphasizes agglutinative morphology, non-configurational syntax, and a distinct evidential system. The language is designed to be learnable by speakers of a range of natural languages while providing a unique grammatical framework for storytelling and linguistic experimentation.

Phonology and writing: Uczu has a modest consonant inventory and five vowels, with syllables typically CV or CVC. Stress is placed on the root. It uses a Latin-based alphabet with diacritics to mark vowel quality and phonemic length. A separate Uczu script exists in fan communities, composed of geometric characters used primarily in art and calligraphy; it is nonstandard and not widely used in practical writing.

Grammar and syntax: The base word order is subject–object–verb (SOV) with markers indicating tense, aspect, mood, and evidentiality via suffixal affixes on verbal stems. Nouns lack gender and articles; plural is expressed by a suffix or, in some dialects, by context. Postpositions are used instead of prepositions. Pronouns distinguish person and number, and a system of clitics marks case and focus within noun phrases.

Usage and status: Uczu has a small but active community of learners and writers who publish grammar sketches, phrasebooks, and short stories on language exchanges and forums. It is primarily studied for hobbyist linguistics and worldbuilding rather than practical communication. Documentation is ongoing, including pronunciation guides and example corpora.