Languages of Tagmatium
| Laimaic | |
|---|---|
| Native to |  Tagmatium |
| Region | Occident |
Amutio-Occidental
| |
| Aroman script | |
| Official status | |
Official language in | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
The two official languages of Tagmatium are Fragran and Laimiaic. Laimiaic is the administrative language of the Greater Holy Empire and is the most widely spoken, with 63% of Tagmatines speaking it as a first language and almost all the rest speaking it as their second. Fragran is the ancient language of the Aroman Empire, and tends to be the first language of those on the southern coast of the Central Sea, especially around Arome and the Nidoric Peninsula. Fragran is taught in all schools, however, and there is an expectation for citizens to have at the very least a basic grasp of it, with lessons in it compulsory up to school-leaving age. All official and commercial signage south of the Central Sea is legally required to be written in Fragran and Laimiaic, as well as all government documentation is published in Transmerian Laimiaic and Nidoric Fragran.
Laimaic dialects
There are numerous dialects of Laimiaic spoken across northern Tagmatium. Some of these are recognised as regional dialects by the Tagmatine government, but others are just in informal use. The most widely spoken dialects of Laimiaic are that of the Transmireia region of Tagmatium, in which the capital of Europatorion is located, Tzankhian Laimiaic in the north and Peninsular Laimiaic in the east. The Tzankhian dialect has aspects from Buranic languages, especially from Akwisia, and Peninsular Laimiaic is viewed as somewhat archaic. The Transmerian dialect of Laimiaic is considered to be the "standard" version of the language. It is promoted by the Holy Imperial Government, as by law all national television and radio stations and national newspapers have to be broadcast or published in this dialect. This includes the state-owned network, the Arhomaiki Radiotileoptiki Hetaireia, and the main nationally-broadcasting privately-owned network, Arhomaiki Alfa Tileoptikoú Diktyou. When speaking in public, officials are required to use the Transmerian dialect.
Fragran dialects
Fragran has far fewer dialects than Laimiaic, which is due to the disruption and conflict the Nidoric Peninsula has suffered over the history of Tagmatium. The main three dialects are based in the regions of Nidoreia, Aeireskollai and Tegouneia. The latter two preserve older forms of Fragran, as the hilly nature of the landscape meant that they suffered less from depredations of invaders whilst the former shows more influence from Laimiaic. The Nidoric Fragran dialect is the officially-used dialect. The Sporsian variant of Fragran is spoken in the south-east of the Megale Agrotikon region on the coast opposite Sporsia, although only a very small percentage speak it as a first language. It is reflected in the use of certain words and spellings, and there is some debate whether it is to be considered a separate language that evolved from or as a dialect of Fragran
Other dialicts
The Flektemon region has its own minority language, known as "Specto" by the speakers, after the ancient people of the area, the Specti. Due to the area's very rural nature away from its cities and the Iaehos River, it has remained in everyday use, especially in remote villages. Some 37% of the population have a basic knowledge of the language, and a further 19% are fluent in it. There are several radio stations that broadcast in it and numerous local newspapers are published in it exclusively, and church services are given in it even in the major cities of Easteia and Onanion.
Vrygeia also has its own minority language, called "Vrigik" by the speakers, although its use has become much reduced in recent years. It is related to Laimiaic and thought to descend from a shared root. A minority language research programme undertaken by University of Heiropolis found that less than 12% of the population in that area have a basic understanding of the language, whilst less than 5% can speak it and most of those are over 50 years of age. Several local organisations work for its survival, with a middling level of success. Currently, there is a petition for the Enlightened Aroman Church to give services in the language, in the hope that will encourage its use further.
Foreign influences
Other Europan and wurld languages are spoken in Tagmatium, although these are mainly in the larger cities and ports, and tend to be limited to expatriate populations or those citizens who are connected to foreign trade or activities that need those languages to be spoken. In the west of Tagmatium, Adapton Aromance is spoken by a minority. It is a version of Fragran that has been heavily influenced by Buranic migration and Lysian elements. This is mainly in the western areas of Flektemon and Aeireskollai, along the border between Adaptus and Tagmatium. Through the Treaty of Causicrus and the formation of the Aroman Customs Union, the border crossing between Adaptus and Tagmatium is smooth and this has promoted the unofficial use of signage in Adapton Aromance on the Tagmatine side and Laimiaic and Fragran on the Adapton side. Suverinian is spoken, mainly as a second or third language, along the southern border of Tagmatium. It also informs a dialect variant of Fragan found in the same border region, with words and terms being rendered as the Suverinian versions instead of the accepted Fragan ones.
