naí

Naä is a constructed language created for the fictional archipelago of Naea in a contemporary fantasy setting. Presented as the native tongue of the Naëan peoples, naä functions as a vehicle for themes such as memory, navigation, and kinship within the narrative. The name is written with a diaeresis on the second a, a feature explained in the in-world linguistics notes as representing a historical vowel change.

Phonology and script: Naä has five vowel phonemes /a e i o u/, with occasional allophony described in the lore. The orthography uses a Latin-based script, with ä marking a fronted or raised vowel quality. Consonants are limited to p t k m n s l r j w, producing a relatively transparent syllable structure of CV or CVC.

Grammar: Naä is described as analytic with some affixal elements. The basic word order is subject–verb–object, though discourse can trigger topicalization and fronting. Tense, aspect, and mood are indicated primarily by clitic particles attached to the verb or noun phrases. Nouns mark number with a plural suffix or a separate plural particle, and possession is shown by a genitive marker.

Usage and cultural context: Within the fiction, naä appears in ceremonial songs, navigational records, and everyday speech. Scholars in the story publish dictionaries and grammars to support language learning and preservation, reflecting the culture’s emphasis on oral heritage and communal memory.

See also: Constructed language, List of conlangs, Naea (fictional setting).