eilatinankielisten

Eilatinankielisten (occasionally spelled Eilatinnkielisten) refers to an ethnolinguistic group native to the highland valleys of the fictional province of Eilatin. The group’s name derives from the self‑designation *Eilatinankiel*, meaning “speech of the highlands” in their language. They are estimated to number around 45 000 individuals, most of whom reside along the northern ridge network and in the surrounding river valleys.

Historically, the Eilatinankielisten have been semi‑nomadic, combining transhumant pastoralism with small‑scale agriculture. Written records of the group appear in neighboring culture chronicles from the late 16th century, though the earliest self‑authored sources are oral traditions preserved in medieval manuscripts. In the late 19th century, missionary linguists began documenting their language, noting its Uralic base and a complex system of vowel harmony. The language also incorporates a rare inventory of breathy‑voiced consonants, a feature unique among neighbouring tongues.

The Eilatinankielisten possess a rich oral literature tradition; epic poems were traditionally transmitted by *kiellers* (storytellers) during community gatherings. Recent sociolinguistic studies indicate that the language is under increasing pressure from the dominant lingua franca of the surrounding nation, leading to a slight decline in fluent speakers among younger generations. Nevertheless, revitalization initiatives have been launched nationwide, including bilingual education programs and the compilation of a comprehensive Eilatinankiel dictionary.