Varka

Introduction to Varka

Varka—meaning “Words” or “The Language of Speech”—is a rich, agglutinative tongue spoken by the ancient tribes and clans of a harsh and resilient world. The language serves not only as a tool for communication but also as a cultural anchor, embodying their values, beliefs, and survivalist ethos. Varka is deeply influenced by its speakers' connection to the natural world, spirituality, and their need for unity in the face of adversity.

Origins of Varka

The roots of Varka lie in the ancient language spoken by the Vorlathen, the ancestors of the Nar. The Vorlathen were a unified people who lived in the shadow of the great mountains and forests, bound by a single tongue that enabled their survival and cohesion. This early language, often referred to as Vorlan, was simple and direct, built around essential concepts of survival, reverence for nature, and collective action.

As the Vorlathen began to migrate due to shifting climates, resource scarcity, and external pressures, their unity fractured, and they split into tribes that would later become the Arnar, Tashnar, Sülnar, and other Nar subgroups. Each tribe carried the foundation of Vorlan with them, adapting it to suit their new environments and evolving ways of life. Over time, these adaptations gave rise to regional variants of the language, collectively known as Varka.

Despite their linguistic divergence, the tribes maintained mutual intelligibility, especially during periods of unity such as the Durvakhan (Unity in Crisis). Varka became more than a language—it was the shared cultural and spiritual link between the Nar tribes, a testament to their common ancestry.

The proto-writing system of Vakrun emerged during this era of migration and adaptation. However, the ability to write in Vakrun was reserved exclusively for the Zülmar—poets, scholars, and spiritual leaders of the Nar. These wise individuals safeguarded the sacred task of recording the teachings of the ancestors, the laws of the Durzakh, and the Bulatharak (Teachings of the Patriarch). As keepers of the written word, the Zülmar became central to the preservation of Varka, ensuring that even as the spoken language evolved, its sacred and historical essence remained intact.

Phonology of Varka

The phonology of Varka reflects the language's origins in the Vorlathen tongue, its adaptation by the Nar tribes, and its connection to the natural and spiritual world. Its sound system is designed for fluidity in speech, harmony between vowels and consonants, and an ease of articulation that supports its agglutinative structure.

Vowels

Varka employs vowel harmony, a feature that governs how suffixes and root words interact. Vowels are categorised into front vowels (e, i, ö, ü) and back vowels (a, o, u), with neutral vowels (e) capable of appearing in both contexts. Words are built to maintain harmony, ensuring a smooth and melodic flow.

1. Front Vowels: Used in softer, lighter words, often spiritual or relational in meaning.

   • Example: Zül ("mist") or Ül ("water").

2. Back Vowels: Found in heavier, grounded words, typically related to strength or the physical world.

   • Example: Thar ("dry") or Nar ("folk").

Vowels are pronounced clearly and consistently, avoiding diphthongs in favor of pure, open sounds.

Consonants

Consonants in Varka are sharp yet rhythmic, balancing hard stops with softer fricatives to create a robust yet flowing cadence. Consonant clusters are rare, and syllables often alternate consonants and vowels for smooth pronunciation.

1. Stops: The backbone of the language, including k, t, p, and g, which give words a clear and grounded quality.

   • Example: Tark ("find") or Koz ("see").

2. Fricatives: Softer consonants like s, z, and th are used to create subtle contrasts.

   • Example: Zül ("mist") or Thar ("dry").

3. Nasals: Consonants like m and n appear frequently, particularly in suffixes, to soften the ends of words and provide continuity.

   • Example: Nar ("folk") or Min ("I").

4. Gutturals: Sounds like kh and gh are used sparingly, often in words tied to spiritual or ancestral concepts.

   • Example: Ülkhan ("river chief") or Durzakh ("code of survival").

Syllable Structure

The typical syllable structure in Varka is CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) or CV (consonant-vowel). This structure allows for rhythmic, flowing speech while maintaining clarity.

• Example of CVC: Koz ("see").

• Example of CV: Ül ("water").

Stress and Intonation

Stress in Varka typically falls on the first syllable of a word, emphasizing the root meaning and maintaining a consistent rhythm in speech.

• Example: "TÁR-khan" (dry chief).

Intonation in Varka is deliberate, with rising tones used for questions and falling tones for declarative statements. Ritual speech or chanting often employs a balanced, steady intonation to convey reverence and gravity.

Sound Symbolism

Varka’s phonology is deeply tied to its cultural context. Certain sounds carry symbolic weight:

1. Soft vowels and fricatives are associated with the spiritual realm, wisdom, and water.

   • Example: "Ülthar" ("sacred spirit").

2. Hard stops and back vowels evoke strength, earth, and physical power.

   • Example: "Tarkoz" ("volcano").

Grammar of Varka

The grammar of Varka reflects its agglutinative structure, where meaning is built by attaching suffixes to root words. This allows for flexibility, clarity, and nuance in expression. Influenced by the language’s origins in Vorlathen and adapted by the Nar tribes, Varka’s grammar emphasizes harmony, hierarchy, and fluid communication.

Word Order

Varka follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) structure, with verbs placed at the end of sentences to emphasize the action or conclusion.

• Example:

  • "Nar ül tark." = "The people guard the river."

  • Subject: Nar (the people).

  • Object: Ül (river).

  • Verb: Tark (guard).

Noun Cases

Varka uses a case system to show the relationships between nouns and other parts of the sentence. Cases are indicated by suffixes added to the noun.

1. Nominative (Base Form): Used for the subject of a sentence.

   • Example: Nar = "People."

2. Genitive (-na, -ne): Indicates possession or origin.

   • Example: Narne ül. = "The people's water."

3. Dative (-da, -de): Indicates direction or purpose (to, for).

   • Example: Ülda nar. = "To the river, the people."

4. Ablative (-as, -es): Indicates movement away from something (from).

   • Example: Ülas nar zar. = "The people go from the river."

5. Locative (-ta, -te): Indicates location or position (in, on, at).

   • Example: Ülta nar tark. = "The people guard at the river."

Pluralisation

Plurality is marked by the suffix -ar or -er, added to the root noun.

• Example:

  1. Nar = "Person" → Narar = "People."

Pronouns

Pronouns in Varka are optional, as verbs often encode the subject. When used, pronouns emphasize the subject.

• I: Mi

• You: Ti

• He/She/It: Ta

• We: Mar

• They: Tar

Verb Conjugation

Varka verbs are conjugated based on tense, mood, and person.

1. Tenses:

   1. Present (-am, -an, -ar):

      1. Kozam = "I see."

      2. Kozan = "You see."

      3. Kozar = "They see."

   2. Past (-da, -din, -dar):

      1. Kozda = "I saw."

      2. Kozdin = "You saw."

      3. Kozdar = "They saw."

   3. Future (-gar, -garin, -garar):

      1. Kozgaram = "I will see."

      2. Kozgarin = "You will see."

      3. Kozgarar = "They will see."

• Mood Markers:

  • Ability (-el): Indicates ability or potential.

    • Kozelem = "I can see."

  • Conditional (-th): Indicates possibility or condition.

    • Koztham = "I could see."

Adjectives and Adverbs

Adjectives in Varka precede the noun and are not inflected for case or number. Adverbs are formed by adding -la to an adjective or root word.

• Example:

  1. Tark nar. = "Strong people."

  2. Tarkla zar. = "Go strongly."

Possession

Possession is indicated by attaching a suffix to the possessed noun. The possessor is in the genitive case.

• Example:

  1. Narne ülüm. = "The people's water is mine."

Questions

Questions are formed by adding the interrogative particle -ka to the end of the sentence.

• Example:

  1. "Ülta nar tarkka?" = "Do the people guard the river?"

Negation

Negation is marked by the particle "ne" placed before the verb.

• Example:

  1. "Nar ül ne tark." = "The people do not guard the river."

Compound Words

Varka frequently forms compound words by combining roots. The second root determines the overall meaning.

• Example:

  1. Ülvara = "Flowing waters" (Ül + Vara).

  2. Narzar = "Honoured tribe" (Nar + Zar).

Varka Vocabulary

Below is a categorized vocabulary list for Varka, reflecting its practical, spiritual, and survivalist roots, while maintaining its agglutinative and rhythmic qualities.

Nature and the Environment

• Ül: Water

• Ülvara: Flowing waters

• Ültar: River

• Thar: Land, dry

• Tharkoz: Volcano (fire peak)

• Qum: Sand, desert

• Qumar: The sands

• Sár: Soil, earth, crops

• Bul: Oasis

• Bulkar: Oasis home (stronghold near an oasis)

• Zül: Mist, veil

• Zülmar: Bearer of wisdom (teacher)

People and Society

• Nar: Folk, people

• Narak: Horde

• Narakzül: Hordeless (those who leave or are exiled from a horde)

• Narzar: Honoured tribe

• Ülkhan: River chief (leader chosen to lead raids and govern)

• Tharkhan: Dry chief (leader in the absence of the river chief)

• Arbakhan: Merchant chief

• Kharvak: Councilman (advisor chosen by the Arbakhan)

• Bulathar: Patriarch (founder of an oasis home)

• Bulatharak: Teachings of the patriarch

• Vaknar: Those who elect (electors of a uniter)

• Narvakar: He who unites the horde

• Varkhan: He who challenges the uniter

Survival and Conflict

• Durzakh: Code of survival

• Durvakhan: Unity in crisis

• Gorthal: The gathering (representatives of clans convene to deliberate)

• Vorzhan: Trials and proving (challenges to demonstrate leadership or worth)

• Kulgor: Slave fighter

• Kulmar: Slave laborers

• Kulven: Slave maid

• Karnath: Half-born (offspring of a slave and a warrior, in thrall to the clan head)

Actions and States

• Zar: Go, move

• Kel: Come, approach

• Tark: Find, discover

• Koz: See, observe

• Dag: Say, speak

• Bol: Give, offer

• Al: Get, take

• San: Think, believe

• Vak: Use, employ

• Gar: Will, intend

Spirituality and Philosophy

• Ülthar: Sacred spirit

• Ürnathar: The before, now, and after (cyclical existence)

• Tharzakh: Sacred grounds

• Zülnath: The silence (mourning without ceremony, honoring water’s sanctity)

Travel and Trade

• Ark: Path, road

• Arkazül: Trade routes

• Arkaval: Caravan

• Arban: Merchant, trader

Structures and Settlements

• Vakrun: Word-marks (proto-writing system of Varka)

• Ulzakar: Tribal stronghold

• Ülvarakhan: Bridge over flowing waters (floating settlements connecting riverbanks)

• Tarkhaz: Tashnar city-state stronghold monarchy

Everyday Concepts

• Mi: I

• Ti: You

• Ta: It

• Ul: The (definite article)

• Va: A (indefinite article)

• Ar: And

• Na: Of

Example Sentences

• "Nar ül tark." = "The people guard the river."

• "Ülvarakhan zar." = "Go to the bridge over flowing waters."

• "Narvakar vaknar koz." = "The uniter watches the electors.

Varka Orthography

The orthography of Varka is designed to reflect the language’s practical roots, agglutinative structure, and spiritual essence. Its writing system, known as Vakrun ("word-marks"), is a proto-writing system that bridges oral tradition and symbolic representation. The system is predominantly logophonetic, combining symbols for sounds, meanings, and ideas.

Writing System: Vakrun

Vakrun serves as the written form of Varka, used sparingly by the Zülmar (the literate scholars and spiritual leaders). It consists of angular and flowing glyphs, carved into stone, wood, or other durable materials. These symbols are sacred, used for recording laws, spiritual teachings, and significant historical events.

Key Features of Vakrun

Directionality

• Vertical Writing: Text is typically arranged top-to-bottom in columns, reflecting the connection between the heavens and the earth.

Left-to-Right: In informal uses, such as markings on tools or small items, horizontal writing is allowed.

1. Symbol Construction:

   1. Root Glyphs: Core symbols represent root words.

      • Example: Ül (water) is depicted as a wavy line, symbolizing flowing water.

   2. Modifiers: Additional strokes or marks are attached to root glyphs to indicate tense, plurality, or case.

      • Example: Ülna ("of the water") adds a curved tail to the base glyph.

Phonetic Elements

Vakrun uses symbols to represent consonants and vowels, but not as individual letters. Instead, they form syllables or whole concepts. Example: Koz ("see") is a single glyph with a central eye motif.

1. Ideograms and Phonograms:

   1. Ideograms: Symbols represent entire ideas or meanings.

      1. Example: Nar (people) is depicted as interlocking lines, symbolizing unity.

   2. Phonograms: Some glyphs represent specific sounds or syllables, allowing flexibility in writing names or new concepts.

Alphabet and Pronunciation

The written symbols correspond to the phonetic structure of Varka, ensuring consistency between spoken and written forms.

1. Consonants:

   1. Stops: k, g, t, d, p, b

   2. Fricatives: s, z, th, v, h

   3. Nasals: m, n

   4. Gutturals: kh, gh

2. Vowels:

   1. Front: e, i, ö, ü

   2. Back: a, o, u

   3. Neutral: e

Examples of Vakrun in Use

"Nar ül tark."

Vakrun Representation: Interlocking lines for Nar (people), a wavy line for Ül (water), and a protective glyph for Tark (guard).

"Durzakh" (Code of Survival)

Vakrun Representation: A sturdy line (endurance) encircling angular strokes (laws or principles).

"Ülvarakhan" (Bridge over flowing waters)

Vakrun Representation: Flowing waves (Ülvara) connected by parallel lines (Khan for bridge).

Cultural Context

1. Sacred Use:

   • Vakrun is treated as sacred, used only by the Zülmar for significant purposes. The general populace relies on oral tradition for everyday communication.

2. Ritualistic Purpose:

   • Vakrun is prominently featured in sacred shrines, carved into the stones of Ulzakar (tribal strongholds) and Bulkar (oasis homes). These inscriptions immortalize ancestral wisdom and the teachings of the Durzakh.