Language of the Echani

[Braze]

Language Rules

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Syllable Structure

Words are composed of simple syllables, often following CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) or CV patterns. Apostrophes indicate separations between distinct parts of a compound word or relationships between components.

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Cultural Alignment: Sun and Moon Dichotomy

The language reflects the cultural identities of the Echani and Thyrsians:

• Echani: Aligned with the moon, emphasizing reflection, connection, tranquility, and feminine energy.
• Thyrsians: Aligned with the sun, emphasizing aggression, strength, directness, and masculine energy.

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Word Order

The language follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure, ensuring clarity and accessibility for roleplay while maintaining cultural nuance.

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Apostrophe Usage

Apostrophes separate concepts or denote relationships within compound words, reflecting cultural and linguistic complexity.

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Prefixes and Suffixes

Prefixes modify the root word to indicate action, relationship, or cultural identity, reflecting alignment with the moon (Echani) or sun (Thyrsians).
Suffixes add contextual information, such as gender, intensity, possession, or formality.

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Gendered and Non-Gendered Terms

Gendered suffixes include masculine, feminine, and non-gendered forms. The system allows for expressions that transcend traditional gender roles, enabling inclusive and flexible language use.

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Leadership and Power Roles

Feminine suffixes are prominent in Echani culture, reflecting its matriarchal structure. Masculine or neutral suffixes dominate Thyrsian titles, emphasizing directness and strength.

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Flexibility and Storytelling

The language system emphasizes cultural identity and fluidity, providing options for nuanced storytelling while reinforcing the sun/moon dichotomy.

 

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Root Words Table

Root Word	Meaning	Examples
Kai	Fire	Kai'vek (flame blade), Kai'sha (ignite)
Thala	Earth/ground	Thala'ka (mountain), Thala'lin (pebble)
Thal	Stone/rock	Thal'kar (boulder), Thal'sha (petrify)
Thal'ar	Crystal stone	Thal'ar'lin (gem), Thal'ar'vek (blade)
Or	Hard/strong	Or'ka (fortress), Or'sha (to harden)
Ar	Pretty/shiny	Ar'lin (glitter), Ar'sha (to beautify)
Sol	Light/energy	Sol'ari (sunlight), Sol'tu (daytime)
Vol	Sun/heat	Vol'sol (Sun Guard), Vol'kai (ritual)
Voc	Cold	Voc'sha (freeze), Voc'lin (breeze)
Noc	Night/dark	Noc'tu (nighttime), Noc'ra (darkness)
Zak	Electricity	Zak'thra (thunderstrike), Zak'sha (shock)
Zho	Sky/atmosphere	Zho'ka (sky barrier), Zho'sha (to soar)
Qua	Water/flow	Qua'tai (waterfall throw), Qua'ri (flow)
Ryu	Flow/balance	Ryu'na (harmony), Ryu'rin (balanced flow)
Hin	Grace/flow	Hinyo (elegant motion)
Tai	Drop/fall	Qua'tai (waterfall throw), Thar'tai (aggressive thrust)
Ryn	Ripple/undulating motion	Kai'ryn (rippling fire), Qua'ryn (flowing ripple)
Seida	Rhythmic motion	Seida'sal (rhythmic step), Seida'san (sparring rhythm)
Kae	Absence/emptiness	Kae'sal (yearning), Kae'shin (strike from absence)

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Affix Table

Affix	Meaning
-ek	Mild/moderate
-hai	Subtle/small effect
-in	Neutral/non-gendered
-ka	Indicates an object/thing
-lin	Small degree/partial form
-lo	Indicates possession
-ra	High intensity/extreme state
-ri	Plural form
-ryn	Ripple/undulating motion
-ryu	Equilibrium/stable harmony
-salo	Feminine
-san	Respected elder
-sha	Verb/action based on a noun
-tae	Refers to something prior
-tai	Drop/fall
-thro	Masculine
-tu	Time or time of day
Da-	Down/below
Fa-	Paternal origin/fatherhood
Hin-	Graceful/flowing motion
Iri-	Early/first
Kha-	Action/state of doing
Lira-	West/setting direction
Ma-	Maternal origin/motherhood
Niko-	North/forward
Nilo-	Inverted/upside down
Qua-	Water/flow
Rho-	Around/encircling
Ryn-	Ripple-like movement
Saro-	South/downward
Shira-	East/rising direction
Tai-	Falling/descending action
Thar-	Thrusting/aggressive motion
Thira-	Diagonal direction
Ura-	Up/above
Ve-	Possession/belonging
Xani-	Sideways

Grammar Words Table

Word	Meaning
	Will
	Will not
	Can
	Cannot
	Must
	To be
	To have
	And
	But
	Or
	In/within
	On/upon
	With/by
	The

Question Words

Word	Meaning
	Who
	What
	Where
	Why
	When
	How
	Which
	Whose

Numbers Table

Term	Number	Explanation
	0	Base word for "zero."
	1	Base word for "one."
	2	Base word for "two."
	3	Base word for "three."
	4	Base word for "four."
	5	Base word for "five."
	6	Base word for "six."
	7	Base word for "seven."
	8	Base word for "eight."
	9
	10	Base word for "ten."
	11	"Ten" + "one."
	12	"Ten" + "two."
	13	"Ten" + "three."
	14	"Ten" + "four."
	15	"Ten" + "five."
	20	"Two tens."
	21	"Two tens" + "one."
	22	"Two tens" + "two."
	23	"Two tens" + "three."
	24	"Two tens" + "four."
	25	"Two tens" + "five."
	30	"Three tens."
	100	Base word for "hundred."
	1,000	Base word for "thousand."

Combat & Weaponry Terms Table

Term	Meaning	Literal Translation
Ryo	Stance	Stance or posture
Ryko	Action-oriented stance	Active posture
Lyno	Foundational posture	Stable stance
Thoro	Strength-based stance	Grounded posture
Taro	Martial readiness	Prepared stance
Ka	Conflict	Conflict
Ka'sha	To fight (verb)	Conflict action
Sha'vek	Blade	Action blade
Thar'taan	Spear (Thyrsian motion)	Thrust weapon
Kiro'san	Combat master	Combat elder
Kai'ta	Honor duel (ritual)	Fire ritual
Kai'ta'ka	Ritual combat/weapon	Fire ritual object
Vol'sol	Sun Guard/Warrior	Sun light
Telc	Warrior	Warrior
Ta	Rite (ceremonial)	Ritual
Qua'tai	Waterfall throw	Waterfall drop
Thar'tai	Aggressive downward thrust	Thrust fall
Hinryu	Flowing step	Graceful flow
Kai'ryn	Rippling fire motion	Fire ripple
Selu	Moon	The celestial moon
Selu'Telc	Moon Warrior	Moon warrior
Selu'ta	Moon Ritual	Moon ceremony
Selu'ryn	Moon Ripple	Ripple of the moon
Selu'kai	Moon Flame	Moon's fire

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Emotions & States of Being Table

Term	Meaning	Literal Breakdown
	Anger
	Great joy
	Fear
	To calm
	Listlessness
	Resilience
	Melancholy
	Inspiration (from strength)
	Anguish
	Nostalgia
	Compassion
	Hesitation
	Determination
	Restlessness
	Awe
	Yearning
	Discontent
	Ambivalence

Time & Temporal Concepts Table

Term	Meaning	Literal Breakdown
Sol'tu	Daytime	Sol (light) + tu (time).
Noc'tu	Nighttime	Noc (night) + tu (time).
Iri'sta	Early morning	Iri (early) + sta (start).
Iri'sol	Dawn	Iri (early) + sol (light).
Veska	Dusk	Veska (fading light).
Sulen	Midday	Derived term for midday peak.
Naiko	Late	Describes time delayed or late.
No'tae	Before	No (negative) + tae (prior).
Kai'lin	Fleeting moment	Kai (fire) + lin (small degree).

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Adverbs and Intensifiers Table

Term	Meaning	Explanation/Root Breakdown
	Slowly
	Intensely
	Very
	Never
	Brightly
	Gently
	Fiercely
	Briefly
	Calmly

Colors Table

Word	Meaning	Literal Breakdown/Explanation
Solin	White	Sol (light) + -in (neutral).
Nocra	Black	Noc (darkness) + -ra (intensity).
Jaid	Green	Inspired by the lush, vibrant hue of jade.
Kai'lin	Red	Kai (fire) + -lin (small/intense).
Arvel	Blue	Ar (shiny) + Vel (soft energy).
Thal'in	Gray	Thal (stone) + -in (neutral).
Selar	Silver	Sel (moon) + Ar (shiny).
Zakar	Yellow	Zak (electricity) + -ar (shiny).
Vokra	Gold	Voc (cold) + -ra (intensity).

Shapes and Forms

New Word	Meaning
	Circle
	Crescent
	Ellipse
	Oval
	Diamond
	Heart
	Spiral
	Star-shaped polygons
	Arch
	Dome
	1-sided shape (theoretical)
	2-sided shape (digon, theoretical)
	3-sided shape (triangle)
	4-sided shape (quadrilateral)
	5-sided shape (pentagon)
	6-sided shape (hexagon)
	7-sided shape (heptagon)
	8-sided shape (octagon)
	9-sided shape (nonagon)
	10-sided shape (decagon)
	11-sided shape (hendecagon)
	12-sided shape (dodecagon)
	Parabola
	Hyperbola
	Annulus (ring-shaped)
	Sphere
	Ellipsoid
	Cylinder
	Cone
	Solid with 4 triangular faces (tetrahedron)
	Solid with 6 square faces (cube)
	Solid with 8 triangular faces (octahedron)
	Solid with 12 pentagonal faces (dodecahedron)
	Solid with 20 triangular faces (icosahedron)
	Prexym with triangular bases
	Prexym with square bases
	Prexym with pentagonal bases
	Prexym with hexagonal bases
	Zorathar with triangular base
	Zorathar with square base
	Zorathar with pentagonal base
	Zorathar with hexagonal base

 

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Echani Combat Language Chart

Movement/Action	Meaning/Intent	Contextual Notes
Deliberate, slow strike	Testing, questioning, probing for truth	Used to "ask" about another's emotions or intent
Fast, relentless strikes	Frustration, anger, desperation	A heated "argument" or emotional outburst
Open-handed blows	Teaching, guiding, correcting	Often used between mentors and students
Dodging without countering	Refusal to engage, disagreement	Could mean avoidance or rejection of the "conversation"
A single sharp strike, then stopping	A statement, finality	A decisive point being made, often the equivalent of "enough"
Mirror opponent's movements	Agreement, understanding, harmony	A sign of deep connection and mutual respect
Breaking rhythm deliberately	Disrupting, challenging, rejecting	Can be used to break someone's train of thought or shift a conversation
Deflecting rather than blocking	Evasion, cautious engagement	Like treading lightly in a verbal discussion
Allowing oneself to be struck	Submission, apology, trust	Sometimes a way of showing remorse or deference
Sudden withdrawal from combat	Disengagement, emotional retreat	The equivalent of walking away from an argument
Exchanging rapid, fluid blows	Intimate, deeply personal communication	Used between close companions, almost like an intense "heart-to-heart"
Feigning weakness, then countering	Deception, sarcasm, testing the other	Can be playful or mocking, depending on context
Circling without striking	Observing, assessing, waiting	The equivalent of "I'm listening, go on."
Grappling or close-quarters maneuvers	Deep emotional intensity	Can indicate anger, closeness, or even love, depending on execution
Intentional near-misses	Warning, restraint	The equivalent of "Watch yourself" or "I could have hit you, but I didn't"
Sweeping a leg but not following up	Challenge without intent to harm	A playful or respectful "Do better"
A strike that is immediately caught by the opponent	Mutual respect, shared understanding	Often used to end a sparring "conversation" on equal footing

 

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Context Matters: Formal vs. Informal Combat Language

Not every Echani duel means the same thing—tone and context alter how movements are interpreted. We could categorize the chart into:

• Formal Duels – Traditional, structured exchanges meant for serious discussions, challenges, or testing one's worth.
• Casual Sparring – Playful, social interactions between friends or family.
• Personal Conflicts – Emotion-driven fights, where meaning is layered with deeper personal history.

For example:

• A formal duel might have rigid structure and controlled strikes to signal respect.
• A heated personal fight could include unrestrained aggression or attempts to force submission.

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Echani "Accents" – Personal Styles as Dialects

Different warriors might "speak" differently through their combat style:

• Precise & Calculated → Thoughtful, reserved, careful with their words.
• Aggressive & Unrelenting → Loud, forceful, emotional, dominating the conversation.
• Evasive & Defensive → Passive, skeptical, testing others before engaging.
• Unpredictable & Fluid → Chaotic, teasing, playful, or challenging norms.

Example:

• A warrior who prefers feints and counters might be sarcastic or challenging in conversation.
• Someone who never strikes first may be cautious or diplomatic in their "spoken" combat.

This could allow two fighters with different "accents" to misunderstand each other—a defensive, patient warrior might frustrate an aggressive, direct fighter, just like two people from different cultures struggling with language barriers.

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Hidden Meanings & Layered Conversations

Much like subtext in spoken language, Echani combat could have deeper layers of meaning:

• Deliberate openings – Leaving an intentional gap in defense can signal vulnerability, trust, or even a provocation.
• Using an opponent's signature move – A form of acknowledgment, challenge, or even mockery.
• Switching styles mid-fight – Like changing tone mid-conversation; could indicate frustration, realization, or emotional shifts.

Example scenario:

• If two fighters are close friends, one might let the other "win" to show understanding or forgiveness.
• If an Echani mentor repeats an earlier move they used in training, it's a way of saying, "Have you learned?"

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Rituals & Etiquette – When & How Echani "Speak"

Just like how different languages have rules of politeness, Echani combat could have cultural guidelines:

• A duel should begin with an offered stance → An invitation to "speak."
• Certain moves may be reserved for life-and-death conflicts → Using them casually could be offensive.
• Pausing mid-fight and resuming later → Like breaking a conversation, allowing time to think.
• Sparring between lovers or close allies → Incredibly intimate, an exchange of trust.

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Non-Combat Echani "Body Language"

Even outside of battle, small movements might carry meaning:

• Tilting head slightly while standing → A challenge or invitation to spar.
• Crossing arms over the chest → Guarded, unwilling to "speak."
• Rolling shoulders before speaking → Frustration, like stretching before a fight.
• Purposefully relaxing stance when near someone → A silent show of trust.

This would mean even non-fighters would have a version of Echani "language" in their body movements, giving their culture more depth.