by pd Rydia » Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:51 pm
The way I understood/understand things is this:
-- the Nekonian language is represented by japanese. (Like AM said, there can be inconsistencies because it's not actually Japanese)
-- the language is beginning to die out in the country. Specifically, the language was established as "High Nekonian," and was taught largely to the upper classes. In some more anachronistic towns, Nekonian was still spoken exclusively.
-- most natives knew a good smattering of words. The official language of the country is still Nekonian, meaning that official documents are written in the language and most signs are, as well. While it has been tradition for official documents to be produced also in Common, and many signs are also produced in Common, natives tend to pick up a Nekonian vocabulary--if not necessarily grammar--from the environment.
Now, given all this, Nekonian was used exclusive at some point in time.
If it was used before the country's founding, then the country's name and founders' names would realistically be different. I don't think that would mess too much up.
On the other hand, if the Nekonian language was created and used exclusively after the country's unification and founding, then the names still work.
I like the idea of a more cat like language--maybe that was the language or one of the languages before the country unified and in the early days of the country?
The question would then be--why the change in language?