The Grruk’tu Tongue: Deep Speech of the Alfay

I had developed a complete CONLANG for the Quem. As often happens, players wanted more. They wanted to know what the Alfay (amoung the oldest inhabitants of Trexlin) spoke. Given their heritage, I knew what sort of language I wanted - but I also knew that I wouldn't be capable of creating a comprehensive CONLANG for the Alfay. So, I did the next best thing - I described the language - and why, most non-Alfay can't make heads or tails out of it.

Among the reclusive and ancient Alfay, words are not merely spoken, they are performed. Their language, Grruk’tu (“the deep speech”), is a complex blend of guttural resonance, sharp clicks, chest rumbles, and non-verbal cues that carry as much weight as the syllables themselves.

A Language Few Outsiders Master

Grruk’tu is notoriously difficult for non-native speakers to learn or convincingly emulate. Its highly tonal nature means that a shift in pitch, rhythm, or intensity can completely alter a word’s meaning. What’s more, many of its “words” require precise timing with chest beats, stomps, or breath patterns; elements that do not translate well to written form.

Native speakers grow up immersed in these patterns, making mastery instinctive. The lanuage, however, is so complex that it can takes decades for an Alfay to master. Outsiders, however, often find themselves lost in a maze of grunts, clicks, and unspoken signals, their attempts met with polite confusion—or open laughter.

Sound System Overview

While Grruk’tu contains only a handful of vowel sounds, it boasts an impressive array of consonants: bilabial pops, uvular rumbles, glottal stops, and three distinct click types. Paired with rhythm-driven grammar, even a short phrase can be a miniature performance.

Example Vocabulary:

• grruk – strength, power

• ǃamba – danger, threat

• go’mu – friend, ally

• mo’ɴa – home, den

• ǀoku – forest

• kã’u – war, battle

Why Non-Natives Fail (Hilariously)

Scholars have documented the many ways foreign merchants, diplomats, and travelers have mangled Grruk’tu, sometimes with disastrous results.

1. The Missing Click

Native: ǃamba kã’u grruk! – Danger! Battle power!

Foreigner: Amba kã’u grruk. – Missing the click at the start.

Result: “The fruit is strong.” (Unhelpful mid-battle.)

2. The Wrong Pitch

Native: Go’mu ǀoku tu’u. – Friend speaks of the forest.

Foreigner: Go’mu ǀoku tu’u – Tone falls on the last syllable.

Result: “Friend insults the forest.” (Expect hostile glares.)

3. Breath Control Blunders

In Grruk’tu, a breathy grunt after a word can soften it. Forget it, and “Please” becomes “Do it, now.” Forget twice, and it becomes “Do it, or fight me.”

4. Misplaced Chest Beats

A chest beat at the wrong moment can accidentally propose marriage, declare war, or—famously—invite someone’s grandmother to wrestle.

5. Over-Enunciation

Trying to “speak clearly” in Grruk’tu sounds like deliberate mockery to native ears.

Traveler’s Warning

(A common handout at trade ports in Alfay territories)

WARNING:

Grruk’tu is a tonal language using grunts, clicks, and non-verbal strikes. Incorrect pitch or missing clicks may:

• Cause offense

• Issue unintended challenges

• Miscommunicate important safety warnings

Do NOT attempt formal greetings unless trained. A respectful silence is preferable to calling a chieftain “Hairless Tree-Baby.”

Final Thought

Grruk’tu is not just a method of communication—it’s a living performance of identity, history, and strength. For outsiders, learning it is not merely about memorizing words, but about embodying the rhythm and physicality of a people whose language is as powerful as their presence.

So - I sort of bypassed the need to develop a full CONLANG (at least up till now). Who knows what the future holds.