East Mirarian languages
| East-Mirarian | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution: | Mahavia |
| Linguistic classification: | One of the world's primary language families |
| Proto-language: | Proto-East-Mirarian |
| Subdivisions: | |
| CWS code | pmy |
The East-Mirarian languages are a widespread language family of at least 50 related languages and dialects predominantly spoken in East Miraria.
History
The East Mirarian languages are a diverse family spoken natively across the continent of Miraria, from the gulf of Nehil in the east to the Sea of Alpa in the far west. Countries with an East Mirarian-speaking majority include Juhashka, Fazulavaz, Koize, Ensia & Suenia and Ngeyvger; furthermore, prominent linguistic minorities can be found in Athsud, Temay and the constituent country of Kaisen in the Terminian Dominion.
The East Mirarian language family was originally proposed in the 18th century by the Terminian scholar Kjauw Vńhri, who had been commissioned to take a survey of the spoken languages of the Terminian Far East. He noted the similarity between the Mahavic, Ughmar and Hedretic language families; and furthermore, their dissimilarity with the neighbouring Milevic family and the many languages of Parshita. Calling his proposal the Hedreto-Mahavic language family, dedicated schools soon emerged in Phamphar, the capital of the Terminian Far East, as well as in Kúri and the Fazul city of Prels. A tentative reconstruction authored by Vńhri, his wife Ivjúúr Gehw and fellow scholar Edjéé Xweijd was first published in 1803 and subsequently revised by Gehw and Xweijd in 1815.
However, the newfound discipline of East Mirarian linguistics encountered a hurdle after the Terminian-Amerhani scholar Céérw Cégjad attacked the hypothesis during a speech at the University of Kúri in 1809. The supposed similarity of the languages, Cégjad claimed, was nothing more than the result of languages existing in close proximity for an extended period, and that Vńhri's attempt to reconstruct an unattested language amounted to little more than pseudoscience. This argument gained traction within Terminian intellectual circles, resulting in the decline of East Mirarian studies within Terminia - though small groups continued, particularly in the Terminian Far East, spearheaded by the now-widowed Gehw and Xweijd. Renewed interest was placed in the family after several expeditions into Northern Miraria during the 19th century provided documentation of many of the minority languages of the Koizan tundra. Particular interest was placed in the Kunorvian languages, which soon began to be grouped with Ughmar due to the presence of several shared features. Other scholars proposed links to the Asechic, Koizic, Ngeyvic, Tebonic and Manninnian languages, though none of these without controversy.
The posthumous publication of A Reconstruction of Hedreto-Mahavic by Achiyitqan linguist Téenolagiwniɥ nauSíyahs is considered by many to have commenced the "modern" phase of East Mirarian studies.
Classification
The East-Mirarian language family comprises of four widely-recognised branches: