Hverland Indigenous Languages

Hverlandic Indigenous Languages
Native to	Hverland
Ethnicity	Hverfolk
Native speakers	About 3,000
Language family	Uralic Finno-Permic Hverlandic Indigenous Languages
Early form	Proto-Samic language
Language codes
ISO 639-3	–

Hverlandic Indigenous Languages (HILs) are a group of languages spoken by the Hverfolk people in Hverland. These languages, while sharing some common features, exhibit significant regional variation, reflecting the geographical distribution and historical interactions of different Hverfolk communities.

Characteristics

The Hverlandic Indigenous Languages are agglutinative in nature, a feature common to many Uralic languages, whereby words are formed by the combination of morphemes that maintain their original structure and meaning. These languages also exhibit complex systems of consonant gradation, a phonological characteristic in which consonants change according to grammatical context.

In addition, the HILs incorporate a rich array of nonverbal communication elements, including specific hand gestures and facial expressions, into their linguistic systems. This multimodal communication is particularly prominent in storytelling, a key aspect of Hverfolk cultural tradition.

Classification

The Hverfolk communities, scattered across the diverse landscapes of Hverland, developed distinct variations of the Hverlandic Indigenous Languages. These variations differ in terms of phonology, vocabulary, and grammatical structures, and can be mutually unintelligible. HILs are divided into northern or eastern origins.

Northern

Gealdor

Gealdor, the most widely spoken Hverlandic Indigenous Language (HIL), is of northern origin and is primarily spoken in the northern parts of Hverland. It retains approximately 1,200-1,500 active speakers as of 2023.

The name "Gealdor" is a reflection of the language's heritage; it signifies 'charm' or 'spell', symbolizing the magic and mystique associated with the northern lands of Hverland. The term for Hverland in Gealdor is "Heiturjávrrigi," which translates to 'Hot Spring Land', emphasizing the deep-seated connection between the Hverfolk people and their geothermal homeland.

Efforts to sustain and promote Gealdor include the incorporation of the language in local schools, the creation of digital language resources, and the hosting of cultural festivals that celebrate and encourage the use of Gealdor.

Vanakeldu

Vanakeldu is one of the Hverlandic Indigenous Languages (HILs), specifically of the northern origin, primarily influenced by the Icelandic language with elements of Sámi languages. The name "Vanakeldu" is believed to come from the Icelandic term for "Old Spring". This language was once spoken across the western regions of Hverland by the local Hverfolk communities. However, today, it is primarily spoken in a handful of western municipalities such as Kaldrbær and Sólborg, which have become cultural centers for Vanakeldu speakers.As of 2023, Vanakeldu is estimated to have approximately 350 speakers, making it an endangered language. Despite the language's endangered status, a small number of younger Hverfolk individuals are still learning and using Vanakeldu, in an effort to preserve the language and their cultural heritage.

The linguistic structure of Vanakeldu shares many similarities with Icelandic and Sámi languages, featuring complex declension and rich consonant gradation. It uses the Latin script, influenced by the Icelandic alphabet.

Efforts to preserve and promote Vanakeldu have increased in recent years, with language courses available in the capital, Hverhöfn, and online. These initiatives are primarily funded by the Hverland government and local municipalities, in addition to grants from international organizations dedicated to the preservation of indigenous languages.

Brenna

Brenna is a HIL originating in northern Hverland. With approximately 300 speakers, Brenna is today centered around the southern region of Hverland.

Tundralandic

This Hverlandic Indigenous Language was spoken primarily in the northernmost districts of Hverland, known for its harsh and tundra-like conditions. Tundralandic, with its rich phonetic variation and unique syntactical structures, ceased to have living speakers in the mid-20th century.

Eastern

Ægisjallr

The language of the Eastern Hverfolk communities, Ægisjallr, shares many similarities with Faroese. As of 2022, there are believed to be between 200 and 400 speakers.

Skogmál

Literally translating to 'Forest Language,' Skogmál was spoken by the Hverfolk residing in the densely forested areas of the country. With a unique lexicon rich in terms related to forestry and nature, Skogmál lost its last speaker in the early 21st century.

Bergþáttr

Named after the mountainous ('berg') regions of Hverland, Bergþáttr was a language known for its complex grammatical rules and tonal features. The last recorded speaker of Bergþáttr passed away in the late 1990s.

Fljótamál

Originating from the river ('fljót') valleys of Hverland, Fljótamál was known for its melodic rhythm and fluid sentence structure, mirroring the flowing rivers of its origin. The last known speaker of Fljótamál died in the early 1980s.

Comparison

Language	Word for Hverland	Sentence
English	Hverland	It was a warm, blue summer day at the end of August.
Norse	Hverland	Þat var einn blár, heitr sumardagr í enda Ágústus.
Gealdor	Heiturjávrrigi	Lea buorre, geahča beaivvi mannan borgemánu.
Vanakeldu	Geađgejávri	Lea læmmá, čáhcebeaivvi guovvamánus.
Brenna	Geađgijávrre	Lea leahte, čáhcebeaivvi guovvamánus.
Tundralandic	Guollejávri	Lea buorre, geahča beaivvi mannan borgemánu.
Ægisjallr	Heitijávrri	Lea læmmá, čáhcebeaivvi mannan borgemánu.
Skogmál	Vármejávrre	Lea laemmán, čáhcebeaivi guovamánus.
Bergþáttr	Vármijávrri	Leah leahte, čáhcebeaivvi guovvamánus.
Fljótamál	Vármejávre	Lea lamma, čáhcebeaivvi mannan borgemánu.

Post-occupation and modern status

The Nazi occupation and the subsequent policies of the Department of Racial Policy had a catastrophic impact on the Hverlandic Indigenous Languages. These languages, already under pressure from the spread of the Hverlandic national language (Hverlandic Norse) and the Christianization process, were further suppressed during this period. Many Hverfolk were forbidden from speaking their native languages and forced to use the national language, leading to a rapid decline in the use of HILs.

In the present day, the Hverlandic Indigenous Languages are considered severely endangered. Few fluent speakers remain, and most of these are elderly. However, there has been a recent resurgence of interest in these languages, both within the Hverfolk communities and in wider Hverlandic society. Efforts are underway to document, preserve, and revitalize these languages, including the development of language courses, the creation of written materials, and the recording of oral histories and narratives from remaining fluent speakers. While the future of the Hverlandic Indigenous Languages remains uncertain, these efforts represent a hopeful step towards the preservation of this important aspect of Hverfolk cultural heritage.