Empheri language

Empheri
Empherian
empheri
Pronunciation	/ɛmfeːɹɪ/
Native to	High Kingdoms of Alaxia
Region	East Alaxia
Ethnicity	Empher
Native speakers	TBD Native Speakers (2526) L2 Speakers in the High Kingdoms of Alaxia TBD c. TBD
Language family	Anter-Alaxian Anter-Sisinic Sisinic Para-Empheri Empherian Languages Empheri
Early forms	Old Empheri Middle Empheri Neutral Dialects
Writing system	Anternian Script
Official status
Official language in	2 countries Grensalbourg High Kingdoms of Alaxia 2 regions Empherias (High Kingdoms of Alaxia)
Recognised minority language in	Hveden Federation
Language codes
ISO 639-3	–
File:Map Empheriphone World.png   Official Language   Co-Official Language   Recognized Minority Language

Empheri (empheri; /ɛmfeːɹɪ/) is a Sisinic language, a member of the much broader Anter-Alaxian group. It is an official language of Grensalbourg and High Kingdoms of Alaxia. It has approximately 70 million speakers, with the majority learning it as a second language.

Empheri is a minor East Alaxian language that is often described as declining or dying. Following the introduction of Exteras, it was rarely taught as a first language. It was mandatory to use Empheri in all government bodies, including the Courts, Parliament, and local governments until the Exteras Government Act 2481. It remained the main language of Parliament until the Exteras Parliament Act 2488. With less and less people learning Empheri, it was officially named as a 'foreign language that requires interpretation' in Parliament. Exteras became the official and main language of the Empherias government in the Exteras First Act 2502 with all laws being rewritten in Exteras.

Empheri remained alive due to a mix of Empherias nationalism and it's prevalence as a major language in the arts and media, however even this has been declining in recent decades with many preferring to either translate to Exteras or moving to Exteras directly.

Significant Empheri immigrants exist in Ceironia, Palakkinen, Hvede, Karkuss, other High Kingdoms countries, and smaller groups in Alaxia.

Phonology

Main article: Empheri phonology

The following table describes the phonemic consonants found in Standard Empheri. There are 19 consonants in total, though a great deal of variation is present in the standard language. Other Empheri dialects have more or less than the amount found in Standard Empheri, some (like Utuek) having significantly more so. Standard Empheri contains a large and diverse vowel system, with 17 monophthongs and 11 diphthongs. Between speakers and even within individuals, a significant amount of allophonic variation is present in the vowels.

Consonants

		Labial	Coronal		Post-Alveolar	Velar	Glottal
Nasals		m	n
Stops	Voiceless	p	t			k
	Voiced	b	d		dʒ	g
Fricatives	Voiceless	f	θ	s	ʃ		h
	Voiced	v	z
Liquids			l		ɹ	w

Vowels (Monophthongs)

	Front				Central		Back
	Unrounded		Rounded
	Short	Long	Short	Long	Short	Long	Short	Long
Close	ɪ	iː	ʏ~œ	yː			ʊ	uː
Mid	ɛ	eː		øː	ə	əː	ɔ	oː
Open	æ	aː					ʌ	ɑː

Vowels (Diphthongs)

	Front		Back
			Fronting		Backing
	Short	Long	Short	Long	Short	Long
Close		yɪː		uɪː
Mid	ɛɪ	eɪː	ɔɪ	oɪː	ɔʊ	oʊː
Open	æɪ	aɪː				ɑʊː