mênnlîh

Mênnlîh is a term from the constructed language Lirathai used to designate a specific social ritual in which members of a community exchange stories, records, and memories to reaffirm social obligations and communal identity. The practice is typically part of the annual winter festival but may occur on other ceremonial occasions.

Form and pronunciation: The form mênnlîh combines the roots men- "to remember" and nlîh "gathering" in Lirathai's word-formation system, with diacritics indicating vowel length and quality. It is pronounced roughly as men-nlih, with the first syllable stressed.

Practice: During a mênnlîh, participants recount individual and collective memories, read or recite preserved records, and debate interpretations of past events. The proceedings are moderated by an elder or designated scribe, and outcomes can include reaffirmation of duties, redistribution of resources, or community decisions binding on all participants.

Culture and significance: Scholars describe mênnlîh as central to social cohesion in the fictional culture where it originates; regional variants exist, with some communities emphasizing oral storytelling and others prioritizing written records. The ritual is often cited as a foundational institution for mutual aid and governance.