Zaangaowan

Zaangaowan is a constructed language created for fictional worldbuilding and media in contemporary fantasy. It is presented as a fully realized language with its own phonology, grammar, and vocabulary, rather than a code or code-switching practice. The name is formed from imagined roots intended to convey negotiation and social discourse within a community.

Phonology and writing: Zaangaowan has a relatively small consonant inventory and a five-vowel system. Consonants include p, t, k, s, m, n, l, r, and glottal stop, with occasional affricates. Stress is typically on the penultimate syllable. The standard orthography is Latin-based with diacritics to mark vowel quality; an additional in-world script, the Zaangari alphabet, is described in some guides.

Grammar: The language generally follows a subject-verb-object order in neutral clauses. It is agglutinative, attaching suffixes to nouns to indicate number and case, and suffixes and cliticized elements on verbs to mark tense, aspect, mood, and evidentiality. Adjectives generally precede nouns, and demonstratives align with noun phrases.

Lexicon and usage: A core vocabulary covers everyday topics, with specialized terms for trade, kinship, and social relations reflecting the culture imagined for Zaangaowan speakers. The language has a growing grammar reference, learner materials, and a community of enthusiasts who publish dictionaries and example texts.

Status: Zaangaowan is a work of fiction and a hobbyist conlang, not a natural language. It is used in novels, role-playing settings, and fan projects, with resources maintained by volunteers and posted online.