Yvian Language

Yvian is derived from the abbreviation for the people of the Yellowstone Valley. The language of the Yvian People is also called Yvian for a group of closely-related | Algonquian languages spoken by approximately 5,000 speakers across Cyber Nations, from the Yellowstone Valley to outlying regions about north-central North America.

Grammatical features
The Yvian language, like other dilects of the Algonquin family, is renowned for its complex polysynthetic morphology and sophisticated system. Statements that take many words to say in English can be expressed with a single "word".

For example, gh'o'htiwhikæish' means "I am using a hook to go fishing." or h'dhænakhun'iæsh'yash means "She dances in the traditional way with him".

Other times, Yvian words can be very long, and express something that takes a series of words in English. Usually, English nouns tend to fit into this longer type.

For example, chi'khah:n'n'io'h'-n'io'h'n'a in:n'acha (pronounced PAW-chay-NîEE-ash_nîee-yWISH-nə-hay_Chee-ə-KAW_nə-NîEE-oh_NîEE-oh-nya_EEN-naw-chə') means "iron" (literally: "(they/it)-(being lightning)-(them)-"stands alongside"-(wood & earth)")

Languages in the Algonquin family typically mark at least two distinct third persons, so that speakers can keep track of central characters in narrative.

The Yvian language has been studied almost exclusively in the structuralist tradition by Marie Ann Traub, who also invented the romanized version of the Yvian language -- the most common script. The language is extremely endangered today.

For information on the peoples speaking the Yvian language, see Yellowstone Valley.

Verbs
Verbs are the most important element to the Yvian language. The verb is placed first, and may even be the only word in a complete Yvian sentence.

The verb 'suffixes' then denote subject and object. Thus, to say "I am seeing you." is constructed as "See-I-you."

Aspect/Tense
There are only two 'aspects' or 'tenses' in Yvian, denoting time and its flow. The Mysterious aspect denotes something that has happened at a different time (either past or present) while the Known aspect denotes something that is happening in the relative present.

Mood
There are three moods used for the subject/object of the language. The Incarnate mood is akin to the Indicitive mood, often a statement of fact, suggesting a one-time action currently happening. ("I am walking to the store.") The Mysterious or Dubitative mood Dubitative mood usually states possibility or uncertainty, and can suggest a repeating action or state as well as a single action devoid of tense.

Gender
In the Yvian language, gender is not very important. One can address a person as male or female. The speaker will most often use the masculine word for the specific male being addressed. However, by using the feminine word toward a man, it is a sign of respect.

Yvian Phrases

 * pæhio'hish'æsh' -- "I welcome you, honored one." or "I welcome you, woman."
 * pæhio'hish'ash' -- "I welcome you." or "I welcome you, man."
 * y'shtiæsh' n'hæ talan'iy'sh' -- "Goodbye." (literally: "she walking by way of peace.")
 * chæwhawh'shush' -- "We talk good talk."
 * dhulhæaish'ish' han'cha -- "Where is the restroom?"