nyydhsh

Nyydhsh is a constructed language (conlang) created for the fictional world of Thalassa. It is spoken by the Nyydh, a riverine people whose settlements lie in the Nyrr valley and along the delta. The term Nyydhsh is formed from a root ny- and the suffix -sh, a common noun-forming pattern in the language’s internal etymology.

Phonology: Nyydhsh has a modest consonant inventory that includes p, t, k, f, s, ʃ, m, n, l, r and h, and vowels a, e, i, o, u. Syllables are typically CV or CVV, with occasional CC onset. The language distinguishes vowel length and uses pitch to realize a small set of lexical contrasts; stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable.

Grammar: Nyydhsh is largely analytic but shows some agglutinative tendencies in verb affixes. The default word order is SVO, though stylistic variation allows VSO in poetry. Nouns have number marking through a plural suffix -in; case is expressed with postpositions rather than noun inflection. Verbs encode aspect and mood with a system of prefixes and suffixes; adjectives generally follow nouns and agree in number. Relative clauses attach to the head noun with a dedicated marker.

Writing: The primary script is the Nyydh script, a syllabary of angular glyphs used in inscriptions and manuscripts. A Latin transliteration is widely used by learners and in inter-cultural texts.

Usage and culture: Nyydhsh functions as the language of ritual speech, trade contracts, and oral storytelling in the Nyydh communities. It features a rich set of honorifics reflecting social relationships and status. Dialects exist between inland and riverine groups, with subtle phonetic and lexical differences.