langsame

Langsame is a fictional constructed language created for the speculative fiction setting of a multi‑world project. It was developed by linguist Mara Vell and first described in 2014 as part of the worldbuilding materials for the series “Orbits of Aether.” The language is intended as a tool for exploring how a comparatively analytic system can carry a rich lexical and cultural texture within fiction.

Phonology and writing. Langsame has five vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and a consonant inventory of about 23 phonemes. Stress falls on the penultimate syllable in most words, with marked vowels as a secondary cue. The writing system is Latin-based and uses diacritics to distinguish vowel quality and occasional tone within longer texts. Orthography generally favors a straightforward, one-to-one correspondence between phonemes and graphemes.

Grammar and syntax. Langsame is analytic and predominantly SVO in basic declaratives. It has no grammatical gender and no noun inflection for number or case. The definite article la marks definiteness. Adjectives follow nouns and do not agree in number or gender. Verbs do not conjugate for person or number. Tense is indicated by particles before the verb: pa- for present, ka- for past, fu- for future. Negation is formed with ne preceding the verb. Plurality is typically conveyed with numerals or context rather than a plural suffix.

Lexicon and sample. The core lexicon emphasizes stable roots with heavy use of compound words for new concepts. Core sentences include Mi pa parla Langsame, meaning “I speak Langsame,” and La suno brila, meaning “The sun shines.” The language draws on Romance and Germanic influences while maintaining distinctive word formation and syntax that support worldbuilding.

In use. Langsame appears in fiction as a language with a distinctive cadence and culture, and it is sometimes studied by fans and scholars of constructed languages for its clear, context-driven grammar and evocative vocabulary.