yaylmna

Yaylmna is a constructed language (conlang) created for speculative fiction and linguistic experimentation. The language was developed by a fictional community of linguists and writers in the early 2010s and has since appeared in multiple online projects and role-playing settings. In its fictional context, yaylmna is spoken by inhabitants of a hinterland region of a fictional continent, though most materials are created by fans and authors outside the narrative.

Phonology and grammar: Yaylmna uses a five-vowel system (a, e, i, o, u) with a modest consonant inventory including p, t, k, m, n, s, l, r, and h. The language allows syllables of the form (C)(V)(C), with stress typically on the penultimate syllable. It is primarily analytic but exhibits light agglutination; nouns inflect for case (nominative, accusative, genitive, dative) with suffixes, and verbs mark aspect and mood through affixes and clitics. Basic word order is subject–object–verb, though discourse configurations may alter this with particles. There is also a system of noun classifiers for animacy and shape.

Writing system and usage: Yaylmna uses a Latin-based alphabet with diacritics to indicate vowel quality and stress. An alternate fictional script appears in some sources. In the community, yaylmna is taught through online dictionaries, phrasebooks, and sample texts. Reception ranges from enthusiastic hobbyist use to critical analysis of its structure and its role in worldbuilding.