questionnais

Questionnais is a constructed language designed for speculative fiction and linguistic experimentation. Created as a thought exercise, it foregrounds questioning as a central cognitive and social practice, shaping its grammar, lexicon, and discourse strategies. The name combines a root related to “question” with a demonym-like suffix, echoing a cultural label for speakers as “the questioners.”

Phonology: The sound system comprises about 25 phonemes, including a contrastive glottal stop and a moderate vowel inventory. Consonants emphasize sibilants and plosives; syllable structure allows open and closed syllables. Stress falls on a content-rich syllable near the center of the word, with occasional pitch accents in longer utterances.

Grammar: Word order is flexible; declaratives often use a default SVO pattern, but topicalized elements may appear in other orders to emphasize meaning. A dedicated interrogative suffix -nais attaches to verbs or entire clauses to signal direct questions. A separate particle ka marks yes–no questions. Indirect questions use a distinct evidential mood, inviting hedging and source attribution.

Pronouns and discourse: The language features pronouns that encode epistemic stance, tracking whether the speaker is certain, uncertain, or hearsay-based. It also includes markers for direct versus indirect questions and a system of discourse connectors that chain multiple inquiries within a single dialogue turn.

Usage and reception: In world-building guides, Questionnais is presented as a language taught in scholarly communities where inquiry is a valued social practice. Its dialogue-centric phonology and grammar make it suitable for scenes of debate, investigation, and collaborative problem-solving.