kiéi

Kiéi is a constructed language developed for the fictional Kiéi Archipelago, a setting used in world-building projects and speculative fiction. It is presented as the everyday speech of the Kiéi people, as well as a language for maritime chants, storytelling, and ceremonial occasions. The language was designed to be self-contained and coherent, with attention to phonology, grammar, and sociolinguistic context. In the fictional timeline, Kiéi arose on the central island and later spread to neighboring isles through trade and intermarriage.

Phonology and script are described as relatively simple and regular. Kiéi uses a five-vowel system (i, e, a, o, u) and a consonant set including p, t, k, m, n, s, l, r, h, w, y. Syllables typically follow a (C)(C)V(C) pattern. Stress most often falls on the penultimate syllable. The language is written primarily with a Latin-based alphabet, with diacritics used in some texts to indicate vowel length or tonal distinctions; historically a local syllabary existed on a few islands but is now uncommon.

Grammar and syntax are described as analytic with a predominantly subject–verb–object (SVO) order. Nouns exhibit minimal inflection, with plurality expressed by a post-nominal particle or by determiners. Verbs mark aspect rather than tense, and mood, evidential nuance, and modality are conveyed through auxiliary words and clitics. Pronouns cover person and number, and there are dialectal variations that reflect island geography, while mutual intelligibility remains high among speakers in the fictional setting.

In the depicted world, Kiéi functions as the archipelago’s official language and a key channel for oral tradition, navigation lore, and poetry. It has inspired a body of learning materials within fan communities, with ongoing discussions about standardization, orthography, and pedagogy.