Lebhan language

Lebhan
Lebhan
Native to	Burgundie, Urcea
Region	Levantia
Language family	Romance Gallo-Romance Levantine Romance Gael High Vulgar Áccepair Vulgar Lebhan
Official status
Official language in	Urcea Burgundie
Language codes
ISO 639-3	–

Lebhan, sometimes also known simply as "Urcean" outside of Levantia, is a Romance-Goidelic language spoken predominantly in the southwastern Holy Levantine Empire and particularly in Urcea, where it has official status alongside English and Latin.

Lebhan is a descendant of the spoken Latin language of Great Levantia, which by the 5th century AD had partially replaced the Celtic languages previously spoken in the area, though later political and demographic dominance by Gaels reintroduced many parts of those language, many of which had already been retained in the spoken version of Latin. The earliest writing identified as early Lebhan dates from the mid 6th century, although major works do not appear until the 8th century when the language began to receive official sanction. The 19th century saw a shrinkage of the language area but also a literary revival and the start of a language movement dedicated to halting the decline of the language. While the language is a minority language retaining use in liturgical and cultural functions, it gives many loan words to Julian Ænglish. Many of the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea retain their original Lebhan names.

The language is not considered mutually intelligible by speakers of other Latin derived languages.

Phonology

Lebhan phonology includes the following features:

Vowels

Lebhan vowels are pronounced similarly to Ecclesiastical Latin:

• **a** as in *father*
• **e** as in *bet*
• **i** as in *machine*
• **o** as in *note*
• **u** as in *rude*

Consonants

Lebhan consonants include both Latin and Gaelic influences:

• **b**, **d**, **f**, **g**, **k**, **l**, **m**, **n**, **p**, **r**, **s**, **t**, **v**, **w**, **z**
• **c** is pronounced as /k/ before **a**, **o**, **u** and as /s/ before **e** and **i**.
• **t** is pronounced as /t/ or /tʲ/ (palatalized) before **i** and **e**.
• **s** can be pronounced as /s/ or /ʃ/ (palatalized) before **i** and **e**.

Stress

Lebhan stress patterns are similar to those in later Ecclesiastical Latin. Typically, stress falls on the penultimate syllable of a word.

Grammar

Nouns

Lebhan nouns are declined based on a simplified system influenced by Latin and Gaelic:

• **Nominative:** Subject of the sentence (e.g., *caementarí* – Mason)
• **Genitive:** Possessive case (e.g., *caementarí*’s)
• **Dative:** Indirect object (e.g., *caementarí*’s)
• **Accusative:** Direct object (e.g., *caementarí*)
• **Ablative:** Means or manner (e.g., *caementarí* with)
• **Vocative:** Addressing (e.g., *O caementarí*)

Declension patterns often involve changes in suffixes similar to Latin, but simplified:

• **-us** and **-icus** → **-í**
• **-um** → **-a**
• **-um/on plural** → **-aí**
• **-an** → **-en**
• **-alis** → **-eles**
• **-arius** → **-erí**
• **-atus** → **-etí**

Verbs

Lebhan verbs are conjugated similarly to the languages of Rhotia and Lapody, with more pronounced ancient Gaelic influences:

• **Present Tense:** Root + **-a**, **-í**, **-e**
• **Past Tense:** Root + **-é**, **-í**
• **Future Tense:** Root + **-á**, **-irá**
• **Imperative:** Root + **-e** (singular), **-etí** (plural)

Verbs do not have gender.

Adjectives

Adjectives in Lebhan are non-gendered and have unique comparison and superlative forms:

• **Positive:** Root + **-án** (e.g., *granda* – big)
• **Comparative:** Root + **-íer** (e.g., *grandiér* – bigger)
• **Superlative:** Root + **-íest** (e.g., *grandíest* – biggest)

Prepositions

Prepositions in Lebhan are a blend of Latin and ancient Gaelic origins:

• **in** (Latin: *in*, Irish: *i*) → **in**
• **on** (Latin: *super*, Irish: *ar*) → **ar**
• **with** (Latin: *cum*, Irish: *le*) → **le**

Vocabulary

Lebhan vocabulary draws from Latin roots with influences from Gothic and Gaelic sources, with a particular Gaelic influence for nature, family, and daily life terms. Some key translations include:

• **Mason:** **Caemení** or **Caement** (from *caementarius*)
• **Smith:** **Fabó** (from *faber*)
• **Archer:** **Sagitarí** (from *sagittarius*)
• **Brewer:** **Braciator** (modern Latin)
• **Carpenter:** **Linar** (from *lignarius*)
• **Barber:** **Tonso** (from *tonsor*)
• **Carver:** **Carpto** (from *carptor*)
• **Farmer:** **Agricola** (same) or **Coloní** (from *colonus*)
• **Fowler:** **Oceps** (from *auceps*)
• **Gardner:** **Hortolan** (from *hortulanus*)
• **Hunter:** **Fenate** (from *venator*)
• **Miller:** **Bisto** (from *pistor*)
• **Piper:** **Tibis** (from *tibicen*)
• **Potter:** **Figulí** (from *figulus*)
• **Shoemaker:** **Sudar** (from *sutor*)
• **Tanner:** **Coriar** (from *coriarius*)
• **Weaver:** **Tedar** (from *textor*)