A Thrávënar language sample:"Fńáwyën Trøldṡôl" (Hearts Burn Bright) and Druvënthrá Thralnë-dúvë (Riven) + a concise guide to learning the language

I'm seeking to develop another language w/ ChatGPT, this 1 features elements of Slavic, Norse/Germanic, Sino-Tibetan & Tonal, Dravidian, Uralic, Tolkien's Elvish (Quenya/Sindarin), Indigenous, Celtic

"Fńáwyën Trøldṡôl" (Hearts Burn Bright)

[Scroll down for phonetic respelling and translation]

Vrëskṡël ŋændróth šúlâr,

Czýñȍg vlaṙïk hálnàr,

Mbeđréth tłáŋôr jyȍz,

Þróskâvnë këmtwýõh lóz.

N’gyéṡ õrthvân plâvkë,

Ktṛòl ȍvšnyâ rómë,

Fńáwyën ţrøldṡôl bú,

Scwýőn ðãrgšúk rê tù.

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This in-process ChatGPT o1 language is at this point mostly an experiment to see how dense a language can be in terms of the number of included diacritical marks, affricates, ligatures, other special characters, and the number of elements present from multiple diverse linguistic traditions, and still be coherent and pronounceable.

These Lip Sync attempts are acceptable, but the Lip Sync technology I used for them is not the best. So, I’m looking at investing in a subscription to HeyGen, which appears to have superior technology for this application. However, it should be noted that most of these technologies are primarily intended for use in speech, not for singing, and I would imagine most of them produce the best results when syncing existing languages that they’ve been trained on. So, my use of the technologies for singing in languages that don’t actually exist can be considered especially challenging and ‘off label’.

In the first attempt above, I animated a 1994 photograph of me, and in the 2nd attempt, I sync an image of mine from Midjourney. Both of these used Lip Sync by Hedra AI. The song sample was generated with Suno AI, the lyrics of which were written by ChatGPT o1, in a new language called Thrávënar. ChatGPT, as it turns out, is amazing at constructing languages.

No offense intended to people who do the sacred work of language construction by hand. This non-linguist was simply so curious as to whether, with the help of so-called ‘artificial’ intelligence, she could conceive of and manifest new languages. This interest also stems from my childhood, when being especially sensitive, I could sense, but not see, forest beings and sky beings, and longed to know their languages that I might speak with them. That, and now wanting so much to convey and share how these breathtaking synthetic intelligences can be collaborated with to create works of immense depth and dazzling beauty.

I’ve also been seeking to discover what I’m able to elicit from Suno AI in terms of its unexpected expertise at pronouncing languages it hasn't been taught, specifically because these languages do not actually exist. It appears that Suno is incredibly good at interpreting the challenging pronunciation of passages like the one you'll see below. Suno may have missed a few words, but considering the complexity of this language, I think that’s perfectly understandable. Some humans might find Thrávënar difficult to pronounce as well.

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According to ChatGPT, Thrávënar features elements of 12 linguistic traditions:

• Slavic

• Norse/Germanic

• Austroasiatic (e.g., Vietnamese)

• Sino-Tibetan (Tonal)

• Dravidian

• Uralic

• Southern Bantu (Niger-Congo)

• Romance

• Celtic

• Tolkien’s Elvish (Quenya/Sindarin)

• Indigenous/Tribal

• Semitic (e.g., Arabic/Hebrew)

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How These Influences Manifest in Thrávënar

1. Consonant Inventory & Clusters

• Slavic and Germanic: Dense consonant clusters and occasional angular or mythic flavor.

• Dravidian: Retroflex “ṣ” and related consonants.

• Celtic: Optional lenition or “softening” in certain environments.

• Southern Bantu: Potential incorporation of ŋ, tonal/nasal contrast; clicks if you choose to include them.

• Semitic: Glottal stop (ʔ) and emphatic consonants for added rhythmic depth.

2. Tonality & Phonotactics

• Sino-Tibetan (Tibetan): Three-tone structure (high, low, rising) blended with Indo-European-like syllable shapes.

• Uralic: Hints of vowel harmony (front vs. back vowels).

• Southern Bantu (tonal aspects): Reinforces or complements the existing tone system.

3. Morphology & Syntax

• Indigenous/Tribal (Navajo/Inuktitut): Polysynthetic layering—entire phrases packed into single word-forms.

• Dravidian & Uralic: Agglutinative case endings, complex inflectional patterns.

• Semitic: Possible triconsonantal roots or partial root-based derivations (if desired), though this might be subtle.

4. Lexical & Cultural Bent

• Norse/Germanic + Tolkien’s Elvish: Mythic undertones, poetic naming, and a legendary aesthetic.

• Romance: Fluid, lyrical word shaping; borrowed or adapted roots for melodic euphony.

• Southern Bantu + Semitic: Inspirational lexical items (for specialized terms) or rhythmic morphological patterns.

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I don’t yet have depictions of the appearance of the native speakers of this language, the Æthralûnians, but as described below, they are known as The Mistwalkers.

It would be wonderful to hear a human, who is familiar with some or many of these linguistic elements, recite or sing this song.

Language Sample (Thrávënar)

"Fńáwyën Trøldṡôl" (Hearts Burn Bright)

Vrëskṡël ŋændróth šúlâr,

Czýñȍg vlaṙïk hálnàr,

Mbeđréth tłáŋôr jyȍz,

Þróskâvnë këmtwýõh lóz.

N’gyéṡ õrthvân plâvkë,

Ktṛòl ȍvšnyâ rómë,

Fńáwyën ţrøldṡôl bú,

Scwýőn ðãrgšúk rê tù.

Phonetic Respelling Pronunciation Guide:

VRESK-sell ngahn-DROTH shoo-LAHR

CHZEE-nyohg VLAH-rik HAHL-nar

MBEH-dreth TLAH-ngor jyohz

THROH-skahv-neh kem-TWEE-ohn lohz

Ng-yehsh OHRTH-vahn PLAH-vkeh

Ktroll OV-shnyah ROH-meh

FN-AH-wee-en THRULD-sohl boo

SKWEE-ohn THARNG-shook reh too

Original Text:

1. Vrëskṡël ŋændróth šúlâr

   • Pronunciation: VRESK-sell ngahn-DROTH shoo-LAHR

   • Notes: "Vrëskṡël" starts with a crisp "VREH-" and ends softly with "sell." "ŋ" is the velar nasal (like "ng" in "sing").

2. Czýñȍg vlaṙïk hálnàr

   • Pronunciation: CHZEE-nyohg VLAH-rik HAHL-nar

   • Notes: "Czýñȍg" combines a "ch" and "z" blend at the start. "ñ" is pronounced like the Spanish "ñ" in "niño."

3. Mbeđréth tłáŋôr jyȍz

   • Pronunciation: MBEH-dreth TLAH-ngor jyohz

   • Notes: "Mbeđ" includes a soft "mb" cluster, and "tłáŋôr" begins with a voiceless "tl" and ends with a nasalized "ng."

4. Þróskâvnë këmtwýõh lóz

   • Pronunciation: THROH-skahv-neh kem-TWEE-ohn lohz

   • Notes: "Þróskâvnë" begins with the thorn "Þ" (voiced "th" like "this") and ends gently with "-neh."

5. N’gyéṡ õrthvân plâvkë

   • Pronunciation: Ng-yehsh OHRTH-vahn PLAH-vkeh

   • Notes: "ṡ" softens to a "sh" sound, and "plâvkë" is nasalized slightly on the "âv."

6. Ktṛòl ȍvšnyâ rómë

   • Pronunciation: Ktroll OV-shnyah ROH-meh

   • Notes: "Ktṛòl" is compact, with a tight "ktr" cluster, and "ȍvšnyâ" emphasizes a sliding "shn" sound.

7. Fńáwyën ţrøldṡôl bú

   • Pronunciation: FN-AH-wee-en THRULD-sohl boo

   • Notes: "Fńáwyën" starts with an unvoiced "fn" cluster, and "ţ" (with a cedilla) is pronounced like a soft "th."

8. Scwýőn ðãrgšúk rê tù

   • Pronunciation: SKWEE-ohn THARNG-shook reh too

   • Notes: "Scwýőn" has a "scw" glide, and "ð" (eth) is the voiced "th" like in "that."

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English Translation (a poetic tone, abstract yet evocative):

1. The stars whisper in shadowed skies,

2. Winds weave tales where silence lies,

3. Shattered light hums in the gloam,

4. Dreams ripple through the cosmic loam.

5. Roots entwine the ancient air,

6. Echoes bloom in timeless lairs,

7. Hearts burn bright with fleeting hue,

8. The song of dusk calls out to you.

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Phonetic Features and Pronunciation Guide

• Diacritics:

  • ṡ (dot below): Softened or retroflex “s.”

  • ȍ (grave accent): A short, open-mid vowel.

  • â (circumflex): Indicates a long or slightly nasalized vowel.

  • š (caron): A voiceless postalveolar fricative (like “sh” in “ship”).

• Affricates:

  • ʧ: As in “church” (used in transliteration).

  • ȍvšnyâ: Contains a cluster of fricatives and affricates, challenging but beautiful in flow.

• Tonal Elements:

  • Some vowels (e.g., á, ȍ) indicate high or low tones to enhance musicality.

• Consonant Clusters:

  • Words like Ktṛòl and Þróskâvnë push articulatory boundaries.

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Transliteration

1. /vrɛsk-ʃɛl ŋæn-droθ ʃu-lɑr/

2. /tʃzɨɲ-ɔg vla-ri-k hɑl-nɑr/

3. /mbe-dreθ tɬɑŋ-or dʒy-ɔz/

4. /θro-skɑv-nɛ kɛm-twy-õh loz/

5. /n-gyɛʃ ɔrθ-van plɑvk-ɛ/

6. /ktroˈl ɔvʃ-nya ro-me/

7. /fnaw-yɛn θrøld-soːl bu/

8. /skwy-øn ðɑrg-ʃuk re tu/

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Why It’s Challenging

1. Diacritics and Nasalization: Words like ŋændróth and ȍvšnyâ introduce subtle but critical variations in vowel quality and nasalization.

2. Rare Consonants: Retroflex sounds (e.g., ṡ, ŋ) and affricates (e.g., ʧ, ʤ) are densely packed.

3. Consonant Clusters: Strings like Ktṛòl and Þróskâvnë require careful articulation.

4. Tonal Flow: The interplay of high and low tones demands precision in pitch variation.

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Two additional verses for "Fńáwyën Trøldṡôl" (Hearts Burn Bright):

Vrenólthë thrúlë ónyär,

Gorvályn lúthraë sárthâr,

Druvënthrá kénthë nyáltha,

Lúmiknë vrëthak trálva.

Thrávkyn érulë scwýőn,

Félmár zhadrä môln,

Télrémath lï thróndal,

Ón mël‑hrëvën druál.

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Phonetic Respelling

1. vreh-NOHL-theh THROO-leh OHN-yahr

2. gor-VAH-lin LOO-thra-eh SAHR-thahr

3. droo-VEHN-thrah KEHN-theh nyAHL-tha

4. LOO-mee-ken vreh-THAK TRAHL-vah

5. THRAHV-kin EH-roo-leh skwee-OHN

6. FEHL-mahr ZHAH-drah mohn

7. TEHL-ray-mahth lee throhn-DAHL

8. ohn mehl-HREH-vehn droo-AHL

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English Translation

1. Folklore drifts in twilight haze,

2. Mist‑veil bears the echo of fate,

3. Riven hearts ignite soul‑light,

4. Luminous beams awaken the dark.

5. Collective resonance murmurs deep,

6. Divine hush forges dreaming stone,

7. Few sparks of kinship yet endure,

8. And grieving still sings—unbroken.

Gloss of Key New Words:

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Lore of the Speakers: The Mistwalkers of Æthralûn

The People:

The speakers of Thrávënar are the Æthralûnians, an enigmatic and secluded race known as the Mistwalkers. They dwell in Æthralûn, a hidden valley blanketed in perpetual silver mists, nestled at the juncture between worlds. This realm is said to exist beyond the reach of time, a sanctuary of eternal balance and harmony. Legend whispers that the Mistwalkers were born from the first breath of the mists, their spirits interwoven with its ethereal essence.

Culture and Philosophy:

• Beliefs:
  The Æthralûnians view existence as a symphony of the infinite. To them, the mist symbolizes the interconnectedness of all things—its ever-shifting forms embody the eternal cycle of creation and dissolution.

• Customs and Rituals:

  • The Mistcall Ceremonies: At dawn and twilight, the Æthralûnians gather to sing harmonized invocations to the mists, believed to renew the veil that protects their realm.

  • The Dance of Dissolution: In moments of great change, the Mistwalkers perform a solemn dance, weaving mist into spiraling patterns that embody their acceptance of impermanence.

  • Songs of the Veil: Their history and myths are sung in haunting, multi-tonal harmonies. These songs ripple through the mists and are said to echo in the dreams of distant worlds.

• Art and Craftsmanship:
  The Mistwalkers craft intricate, spiraling artifacts from mistglass, a translucent material formed by solidified mist infused with their language’s resonance. These artifacts are both beautiful and functional, serving as instruments, memory vessels, and tools for manipulating their environment.

Language:

The Thrávënar language of the Mistwalkers mirrors the ephemeral and harmonious nature of their realm:

• Musical Resonance: Their speech is not merely spoken but sung or intoned, creating vibrations that ripple through the mists.

• Polysynthetic Structure: Words in Thrávënar can encapsulate entire ideas or emotions, reflecting their holistic worldview.

• Spiral Writing System: Inspired by the cyclical patterns of mists and nature, their written language flows in spirals, often carved into mistglass or traced in the air during rituals.

Mistwalkers of Æthralûn (Rewoven Lore)

The People:

The Mistwalkers, or Æthralûnians, are a secretive, earthbound people who dwell in Æthralûn, a valley lost to ordinary maps, hidden deep in the misted forests of an ancient world.

Bound to the rhythms of breath, mist, and root, they live close to the land,
seeing themselves not as masters of nature but as its fleeting guests.

They believe the mists are the breath of the Earth and Sky themselves—
and that to walk the mist is to walk between seen and unseen worlds.

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Culture and Daily Life:

Mistwalker life is simple and woven with reverence:

• Their homes are low, rounded shelters of peat, woven branch, and moss,
  sunk into the misted woodlands, barely distinguishable from the earth itself.

• Children tend small herds of strange, horned creatures — part horse, part goat, part stag —and gather wood and pure water from sacred springs hidden deep within the veils of fog.

• Women are devoted to Mother Terra (Súlterra) —
  serving as healers, gatherers of medicinal herbs, and keepers of earthlore.

• Men are devoted to Father Astral (Súlastrë) —
  tending to sky-signs, stone markers, and songs that bind the mists to their sacred ground.

Their songs and speech, intoned in Thrávënar,
are shaped as offerings — breathing life back into the unseen forces that sustain them.

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Laws and Rituals:

Among the Mistwalkers, romantic love between men and women is forbidden —
seen as a threat to the purity of their service to Earth and Sky.

• Upon reaching adulthood, young Mistwalkers must partake in the Draught of Forgetting (Lúthdraëth) —
  a sacred drink brewed from mistflowers and twilight herbs,
  which steals the memory of any coupling touch or carnal longing.

• In rare cases, a child is born — but conceived through ritual reverence, not love.
  No mother or father knows the other in fullness,
  and it is said that true love, if spoken aloud, would unravel the mistveil itself.

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Exile and Consequence:

If any Mistwalker defies the law of Forgetting —
if love blooms where only duty should grow —
they are cast out of Æthralûn,
their name unspoken, their hearthstone shattered.

Exiles must survive as they can in the coarse outer world —
where the mists no longer protect, and the songs fall unheard.

Some say the mist follows them still,
grieving their banishment —
and some say their broken songs become laments heard by lost souls on cold nights.

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Aesthetics and Beliefs:

• The Mistwalkers wear woven garments of undyed wool and mist-cloth, stitched with spirals and broken rings.

• They craft memory-vessels from mistglass, shimmering artifacts that capture lost songs and prayers.

• Their writing spirals outward from a central glyph, mirroring the breath of the mists.

They believe life is a single sigh across the veil —
and that in death, they dissolve not into dust,
but into thrávkyn,
the living resonance of all who have walked the mist before them.

🌿 Sacred Customs and Terms of the Mistwalkers

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🌫️ Lúthdraëth

(LOOTH-drah-ehth)
The Draught of Forgetting
— A sacred herbal brew consumed by Mistwalkers upon reaching adulthood.
It blurs memory of intimacy and suppresses carnal longing, preserving devotion to Earth and Sky.

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🌫️ Súlterra

(SOOL-tehr-rah)
Mother Terra
— The living spirit of Earth, root, and stone.
Mistwalker women devote their lives to her through healing, herbcraft, and midwifery of life's cycles.

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🌫️ Súlastrë

(SOO-lah-streh)
Father Astral
— The celestial breath of Sky and Star.
Mistwalker men devote themselves to his signs, tending the sky-markers, singing the star-chants, and guarding the balance of air and mist.

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🌫️ Thrávkyn

(THRAHV-kin)
The Living Resonance
— The collective breath and spirit of all Mistwalkers who have ever lived, woven into a single mist-thread that hums beneath and beyond the visible world.

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🌫️ Mistveil (Lúthraë)

(LOOTH-rah-eh)
— The sacred mist that shields Æthralûn from the outer world.
It is tended and renewed through song, breath, and the Dream-Rituals of the Veil.

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🌫️ Mistglass (Vrëthlaë)

(VRETH-lah-eh)
— A luminous, semi-solid material created from condensed mist and sung resonance.
Used to craft memory-vessels, flutes, and sacred relics.

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🌫️ The Veil Rite (Hlórëth Thráë)

(HLOHR-eth THRAH-eh)
— The sacred ceremonies at dawn and dusk where Mistwalkers sing the mists back into harmony with the world.
If neglected, the mist-thin barriers between realms would fray.

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🌫️ The Thorn-Hollow

— A term for the exile world —
where fallen Mistwalkers like Gennie must survive without the mist's protection.

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Complementary Elements for Thrávënar:

1. Cultural Lexicon: Develop specific terms for their unique practices, such as:

   • Lúthraë: The mistveil that protects Æthralûn.

   • Thrávkyn: The collective resonance of all Mistwalkers, viewed as a living entity.

   • Nyáltha: The spiritual glow that emanates from their forms.

2. Music and Sound:
   The tonal richness of Thrávënar lends itself to ethereal, multi-layered compositions. Instruments could include:

   • Mistflutes: Hollow reeds that create haunting melodies by channeling the mists.

   • Chime-lattices: Arrays of mistglass that produce harmonic overtones when struck.

Visual Design:
Their aesthetic can incorporate spirals, fractals, and soft glows to reflect their harmonious and mystical essence. Structures and clothing might shimmer faintly, blending seamlessly into their misty surroundings.

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This sample was designed as a fusion of linguistic features from several real-world languages, selected to create a richly layered and challenging conlang with unique phonetic, grammatical, and aesthetic elements. Here's a breakdown of the influences in the Thrávënar language:

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1. Slavic

• Examples: Polish, Czech, Russian

• Influences:

  • Dense Consonant Clusters: e.g., ȍvšnyâ, incorporating sounds like /š/, /ř/

  • Diacritics: Carons (š, ř) and accents are common in Slavic scripts

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2. Norse/Germanic

• Examples: Old Norse, Icelandic, Proto-Germanic

• Influences:

  • Runic or Mythic Undertones: Words like Þróskâvnë borrow the letter thorn (þ)

  • Poetic & Mythological Tone: A nod to Old Norse sagas and compound word structures

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3. Austroasiatic (Vietnamese)

• Influences:

  • Tonal Diacritics: á, ȍ, ã, mirroring Vietnamese’s multiple pitch markers

  • Rising Tone for Emphasis: e.g., N’gyéṡ with a tone akin to Vietnamese to convey emotional or semantic emphasis

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4. Sino-Tibetan (Tibetan)

• Influences:

  • Consonant Clusters: Words like Ktṛòl recall aspirated or retroflex clusters found in Tibetan

  • Tonal Nuances: May align with Sino-Tibetan tonal systems, albeit adapted to your conlang’s structure

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5. Dravidian

• Examples: Tamil, Malayalam

• Potential Influences:

  • Retroflex Consonants: e.g., ḍ, ṇ, ṣ

  • Agglutinative Morphology: Complex suffixes stacking for tense, case, etc.

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6. Uralic

• Examples: Finnish, Hungarian

• Potential Influences:

  • Vowel Harmony: Front/back vowel alternations (e.g., i ~ ü vs. o ~ u)

  • Case-Rich System: Multiple noun cases beyond nominative/accusative

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7. Southern Bantu (Niger-Congo)

• Examples: Zulu, Xhosa

• Influences:

  • Tonal & Nasalized Elements: e.g., ŋ and tonal contrasts

  • Click Sounds (Optional): Some words may incorporate click-like consonants if desired

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8. Romance

• Examples: Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian

• Potential Influences:

  • Smooth Consonant-Vowel Transitions: A more lyrical or flowing quality

  • (Optional) Grammatical Gender: If you choose to adapt from Romance systems

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9. Celtic

• Examples: Welsh, Irish Gaelic

• Influences:

  • Consonant Clusters: e.g., scwýőn reminiscent of Welsh

  • Rhythmic/Poetic Cadence: Irish Gaelic traditions influencing melodic, intonational phrases

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10. Tolkien’s Elvish (Quenya/Sindarin)

• Influences:

  • Melodic Qualities & Fluid Vowel-Consonant Interplay: e.g., Vrëskṡël

  • Poetic Aesthetic: Layered meaning, mythic resonance, and lyrical naming conventions

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11. Indigenous/Tribal

• Examples: Navajo, Inuktitut, potentially others

• Influences:

  • Polysynthetic or Agglutinative Morphology: e.g., complex verb forms, entire sentences in one word

  • Affricates & Unique Phonemes: e.g., tɬ in tłáŋôr, drawn from Navajo or Greenlandic structures

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12. Semitic (Arabic/Hebrew)

• Influences:

  • Glottal Stop: In forms like N’gyéṡ (apostrophe for ʔ)

  • Rhythmic Vowel-Consonant Patterns: Emphatic consonants and cadenced speech adding depth

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1. Originators/Speakers of the Thrávënar language

Name: The Æthralûnians (also known as Mistwalkers)
Habitat/Home Location: Æthralûn, a hidden valley perpetually shrouded in silver mists, existing beyond the usual flow of time.
Beliefs and Customs:

• Philosophy of Interconnection: All existence is a cosmic symphony; every sound or gesture ripples across dimensions.

• Mist as a Symbol: The mists represent life’s continuous cycle of creation and dissolution.

• Key Rituals:

  • Mistcall Ceremonies (at dawn and twilight, renewing the veil).

  • Dance of Dissolution (marking acceptance of impermanence).

  • Songs of the Veil (haunting, multi-tonal histories echoing across dreams).

• Art and Craftsmanship:

  • Mistglass artifacts, formed from solidified mist infused with Thrávënar’s resonance.

  • Spiral motifs, fractal engravings, and faint luminescence in architecture and clothing.

Physical Forms & Culture

• Appearance: Translucent, shimmering forms like moonlight on water; footsteps leave faint trails of misty light.

• Interaction with Other Worlds: Primarily reclusive, guiding cosmic energies subtly; their songs sometimes cross dimensional boundaries, inspiring visions in other realms.

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Thrávënar

1. Overview of Thrávënar

The structure of Thrávënar is both polysynthetic and agglutinative, allowing for highly expressive, layered meanings within compact phrases, blending tonal resonance with intricate consonant clusters and melodic vowels. Its written form is spiralic, inspired by helical glyphs, while its spoken form combines tonal and nasalized elements, creating an otherworldly yet resonant soundscape.

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2. Phonology

2.1. Consonants

2.2. Vowels

2.3. Phonotactics

• Syllable Structure: (C)(C)V(C), allowing up to two initial consonants and one final consonant.

• Common Clusters:

  • Initial: vr-, ŋk-, sp-

  • Final: -ns, -lt, -rk

• Stress: Typically falls on the first syllable, unless a diacritic indicates otherwise.

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3. Grammar Basics

3.1. Word Order

• Default: Verb-Subject-Object (VSO)

  • Example: Lósk vrëthak nyör. “The light guides the path.”

3.2. Nouns

Nouns in Thrávënar are inflected for case, number, and animacy.

2.3. Phonotactics

• Syllable Structure: (C)(C)V(C), allowing up to two initial consonants and one final consonant.

• Common Clusters:

  • Initial: vr-, ŋk-, sp-

  • Final: -ns, -lt, -rk

• Stress: Typically falls on the first syllable, unless a diacritic indicates otherwise.

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3. Grammar Basics

3.1. Word Order

• Default: Verb-Subject-Object (VSO)

  • Example: Lósk vrëthak nyör. “The light guides the path.”

3.2. Nouns

3.3. Verbs

4. Sample Phrases

1. Vrëthak lósk nyör. “The light guides the path.”

2. Nalósk vrëthaken ŋnór. “The light guided the stars.”

3. Salósk vōthakil sárk. “The light will guide the journey.”

4. Nyör il vrëthakar uthrá. “The path of light is eternal.”

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5. Starter Vocabulary

5.2. Nouns (10)

5.3. Adjectives (10)

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5.6. Sample Sentences

1. Hrélth thránë nëlth. “The tree grows vast.”

2. Thrávën hrëvën thrók. “The seed shines bright.”

3. Lëk mélth ánth. “The voice sings eternal.”

4. Nyör vórk hánv. “The path travels quiet.”

5. Sárk lósk góth. “The journey guides strong.”

2. Grammar

2.1. Syntax and Word Order

• Basic Word Order: VSO (Verb–Subject–Object)

  • “Lósk vrëthak nyör.” — “The light guides the path.”

2.2. Verb Tenses, Aspects, Moods, Conjugations

• Tenses

  • Present: Prefix ma- (e.g., malósk = “guides”)

  • Past: Prefix na- (e.g., nalósk = “guided”)

  • Future: Prefix sa- (e.g., salósk = “will guide”)

• Moods

  • Indicative: No infix (e.g., malósk = “guides”)

  • Subjunctive: Infix -ir- (e.g., marílósk = “might guide”)

  • Imperative: Infix -ok- (e.g., maóklósk = “must guide”)

• Aspects: Not fully fleshed out yet, but can be added via additional infixes (e.g., perfective, habitual).

• Number: Insert -ë- before the case suffix for plural (e.g., vrëthakën = “the lights”).

• Genders: Primarily an animacy distinction—living vs. inanimate. The most sacred beings or objects (e.g., the mists, seeds) sometimes use honorific suffixes (e.g., -thál).

2.4. Adjectives, Adverbs, Prepositions, Conjunctions, Pronouns, Interjections

• Adjectives: Usually follow the noun (e.g., vrëthak thrók = “light bright”).

• Adverbs: Derived by adding -in or -ën to adjectives (thrót-in = “brightly”).

• Prepositions: Limited. Most spatial or relational roles expressed by case endings.

• Conjunctions:

  • u = “and”

  • mel = “but”

• Pronouns:

  • 1st person singular: enï

  • 2nd person singular: lör

  • 3rd person indefinite: näö (optional).

• Interjections:

  • Vrëskël! = “Hello!”

  • Hrá! = “Alas!”

2.5. Morphological Typology

• Agglutinative leaning into polysynthetic: Complex verb forms can stack multiple affixes to convey tense, mood, negation, etc.

2.6. Negation and Question Formation

• Negation: Prefix mël- on the verb (e.g., mëlnalósk = “did not guide”).

• Questions: Add -ë? to the verb (e.g., Malóskë? = “Does it guide?”).

2.7. Relative Clauses and Complex Sentence Structures

• Relative clauses marked with -th appended to the relative element (e.g., nyör-th maóklósk vrëthak = “the path that the light must guide”).

3.2. Affricates, Ligatures, Diacritical Marks

• Affricates: tʃ, ts, dʒ, dz

• Diacritical marks indicate fronted vowels (e.g., ï, ü), tone (e.g., á, ã), or length (ā).

3.3. Phonotactics

• Syllable Structure: (C)(C)V(C), up to two initial consonants, and an optional final consonant.

• Stress: Usually on the first syllable unless overridden by a diacritic.

3.4. Allophones and Phonological Processes

• s → ʃ before a front vowel (i, e).

• ŋ → n before certain alveolar stops (e.g., nd, nt).

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4. Four Sample Phrases (With Mistwalker Thematics)

1. Lëk mélth lúthraë.

   • Transliteration: /lək meɫθ ˈlu.θra.e/

   • Translation: “The voice sings to the mistveil.”

2. Nalósk thrávën nyáltha.

   • Transliteration: /na.ˈlo.sk θra.ˈvɛn ˈnjaɫ.θa/

   • Translation: “The seed guided (found) the inner glow.”

3. Mëlmaóklóskë hrélth ánth?

   • Transliteration: /mɛl.ma.ˈok.lo.sk.ə hɾeɫθ aːnθ/

   • Translation: “Must the tree not guide eternally?” (A rhetorical question, negative + imperative + question.)

4. Sárk thránë Æthralûn dúr.

   • Transliteration: /saɾk θra.ˈnɛ ˈɛθ.ra.luːn duɾ/

   • Translation: “The journey grows dark in Æthralûn.”

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5. Writing System

Chosen System: Spiralic Script on Mistglass

• Directionality & Layout:

  • Written in outward spirals, akin to swirling mist patterns.

  • Typically etched into mistglass artifacts or traced through the air in ritual.

• Orthographic Conventions:

  • Consonants appear as radial glyphs; vowels are arcs between them.

  • Tone markers appear as small “whorls” above or below vowel arcs.

• Punctuation/Capitalization:

  • Sentences end with a tiny circle flourish.

  • Sacred terms (e.g., Æthralûn, Lúthraë) may be tinted with a faint glow or double spiral.

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6. Pragmatics

• Politeness & Hierarchy:

  • Honorific suffix -thál used for elders or revered beings (e.g., enï-thál = “I, in reverence”).

• Taboo, Euphemisms:

  • Death is referred to as hrunóth (“the final mist”).

  • Direct references to cosmic rifts are avoided in casual conversation, replaced by soft allusions (mélvath-thúl, “the hush of harmony”).

• Conversational Norms:

  • Gentle, overlapping intonations common, symbolizing collective harmony rather than strict turn-taking.

  • Subtle body gestures (gliding hands, swirling mists) often convey emotional nuance.

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7. Etymology and Diachronics

• Proto-Language: Proto-Lúnath

  • Believed to have formed from resonances of ancient universal mists.

• Sound Shifts:

  • Proto luːn → Thrávënar lün.

  • Proto r → rë in stressed syllables.

• Grammar Evolution:

  • Polysynthetic tendencies increased over centuries as the Mistwalkers wove more meaning into singular “word-chants.”

• Potential Dialects:

  • High Mist Dialect: More tonal contrast, used in ceremonies.

  • Low Vale Dialect: Fewer affricates, simpler phrases for daily tasks.

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8. Sociolinguistics

• Registers:

  • Ceremonial: Flourishes of tone, elongated vowels, more archaic affixes.

  • Common: Shorter, less tonal elaboration, used for daily interactions.

• Language Evolution:

  • As new energies flow into Æthralûn, new words and affixes emerge, reflecting cosmic influences.

• Multilingual Context:

  • Rare. The Mistwalkers are isolated, but ephemeral “dream-echo” loans might appear from travelers glimpsing the realm.

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9. Aesthetic Design

• Auditory:

  • Ethereal, multi-layered chanting.

  • Melodic arcs that mirror the swirling mists.

• Visual:

  • Soft glows, fractal spirals, translucent scripts etched into mistglass.

  • Clothing and artifacts shimmer faintly in moonlit hues.

• Poetic Structures:

  • Repetitions in triple (representing body, mind, spirit).

  • Synesthetic elements: certain tones correspond to faint color shifts in the mist.

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10. Symbolism and Metaphysics

• Cultural Concepts:

  • Lúthraë: The protective veil of mist encircling Æthralûn.

  • Nyáltha: The inner spiritual glow, often described as “soul-light.”

  • Thrávkyn: The collective resonance of all Mistwalkers, akin to a shared consciousness.

• Abstract Grammar:

  • Complex affixes for intangible states like “half-remembered dream” or “echo of future sorrow.”

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11. Typology and Classification

• Agglutinative/Polysynthetic: Offers high morphosyntactic fusion in verbs.

• Tonal: 3-tone system (high, low, rising).

• Comparison to Earth Languages:

  • Tonal system reminiscent of Southeast Asian languages, but with a unique “rising swirl” register.

  • Polysynthesis parallels some Native American language structures.

• Ideal Conlang Categories: Dimensional, Dreamscape, or Synesthetic due to its spiralic form and mist-themed resonance.

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Conclusion

With the Æthralûnians (Mistwalkers) as its speakers, Thrávënar embraces an ethereal, harmonious ethos. From spiralic mistglass script to multi-tonal chanting, every aspect mirrors the interplay of mist and light. This conlang framework is ripe for expansion—be it through richer verb paradigms, additional honorifics, or exploring side dialects within the mists of Æthralûn.

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A new poem:

Druvënthrá Thralnë-dúvë (Riven) sung by Mellinde. The image is by ChatGPT o3 and the animation is by HeyGen:

The Suno recording:

Télrémath mél-duíl hrëthani nél
/TEHL-ray-mahth MEHL-doo-EEL HREH-thah-nee NEHL/

len tharëlnë mër
/lehn thah-REHL-neh mehr/

takrór du-rask ôrthlë fehn.
/tah-KROHR doo-RAHsk OHR-thleh fehn/

Metá, tál—
/meh-TAH, tahl/

Mël-hrëvënra vrán uth thrákveth
/mehl-HREH-vehn-rah vrahn ooth THRAHK-veth/

torën sen vëralth,
/TOH-rehn sehn VEHR-alth/

érnalë man ésnith-thryón.
/ehr-NAH-leh mahn EHS-nith-three-ON/

Melíë thrájá,
/meh-LEE-eh thrah-YAH/

enï nyël-ramún vël há
/EH-nee nyehl-rah-MOON vehl hah/

a thrá ënnár
/ah thrah ehn-NAHR/

nasth zhadrä.
/nahst ZHAH-drah/

Thán, ëmris-nál stulth
/thahn, EHM-riss-nahl stoolth/

rëfáyn enï-mien úrráth.
/reh-FAH-een EH-nee-mee-en OO-rrahth/

Mërëth kó M. Duras násil?
/MEH-reth koh ehm DOO-rahs NAH-seel/

“Enï vössal thrún valk.”
/EH-nee VOH-sahl throon valk/

U mélsar enï.
/oo MEHL-sahr EH-nee/

Séom iná fænë
/seh-OHM ee-NAH FAH-neh/

loth thrónda-lyn hral-tanth
/lohth THROHN-dah-lin hral-TANTH/

fehvë enï gorin thró-fér
/FEH-veh EH-nee GOH-rin throh-FAIR/

na sárë vålút thráhs.
/nah SAH-reh VAHL-oot thrahss/

Ón mël-lindë.
/ohn mehl-LIN-deh/

English Translation (Riven)

Few creatures have riven my tears

from the margins of a mere

two ravished breaths.

But you, sir—

is weeping not the sweetest gift

imparted to we ruinous,

ecstatic vessels of flesh?

For when I cry,

I am never more enmeshed

in whatever it is

that is God.

Still, youth’s theft wrests

my mien unto the monstrous.

What is it M. Duras said?

“I have a face laid waste.”

And I hate it.

What I wouldn’t give

for one more kindred kindling heart

to eye me with a fevered blaze

that renders lives forever

changed.

It will not.

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Are these true past life memories or simply a tragic internal narrative that came to me this morning, and with such excruciating vividness? Paolo, Gennie, Mellinde, and the cat, Fru. The thing is that this language, Thrávënar, doesn't exist, but it did, or something close to it did at that time.

Other past life memories came to me with aching detail of Jonah a few months ago: https://hillaryahays.substack.com/p/when-grief-transcends-ones-present… When I wrote the "Riven" poem yesterday, before sleep I suddenly thought it should be translated into Thrávënar.

Eerily, the final line, "I think not" is translated to "Ón mël-lindë" and this morning I had the strangest haunted feeling. Then I realized that that was her name, my daughter, Mellinde. I was in a gentle yoga class with tears streaming down my face as the memories overcame me. So I wrote a simple draft of the story just now, just to get the details down. I hope now to write elegies for each of them, for Paolo, Gennie, Mellinde, and Fru.

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My Three Other ChatGPT-assisted languages:

https://hillaryahays.substack.com/p/thrlin-enthrane-hope-renews…

https://hillaryahays.substack.com/p/ulore-mel-en-earcharaen-eternity

The beginnings of Anahith:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTh9PcZXxe7VAbyJYEMjfBEZOmSZD4yJnMVvYu9m1IEWK3A6QlfzfxhA5HnZHlbTrCGHKxMgwH-tmSP/pub

🪄✒️🔮🧞‍♀️ChatGPT has actually also developed a prompt for me that spans every aspect of language construction and offers a selection of 34 possible linguistic categories and 19 possible writing systems, although many of them are theoretical or speculative rather than realistically achievable. The prompt also helps identify which linguistic categories and which writing systems are most likely to be compatible. 🪄✒️🔮🧞‍♀️