Low Beltonian

Low Beltonian is a language variety that is spoken in northern Beltonia. It is spoken primarily in rural areas north of the Great Beltonian Isogloss and its number of speakers has been estimated to be 2-3 million. It consists of multiple dialects, many of which are not mutually intelligible to speakers only familiar with Modern Standard Beltonian.

Whether Low Beltonian should be viewed as a dialect or a separate language to Beltonian is controversial within linguistic study, and has also been the subject of debate elsewhere. A 2013 opinion poll found that 63% of Low Beltonian speakers did not view it as a separate language whereas 28% did, while other Beltonians were more divided. Low Beltonian dialects are secondary official languages in the provinces of Ankia and Bachonia, and the Academy of the Beltonian Language recognizes it as a group of dialects within the Beltonian language. The Academy also recognizes official spelling and Romanization schemes, but the dialect is rarely used in writing.

Low Beltonian is more phonologically and grammatically conservative than other dialects. The southern Ankia dialect is described as being the modern dialect that most closely resembles Classical Beltonian. The Low dialects are more syllable-timed than stress-timed and lack the layered vowel reduction of other Beltonian dialects. However, its consonant change has seen more change, with unstressed syllables often being affected by the Swittanese consonant shift. Grammatical differences include retaining the copulative case, a different future tense and significant differences in the meaning of the perfective aspect and cohortative mood. There are also differences in the core vocabulary, but far less in the rest of the vocabulary.

Regional differences in the Beltonian language were first documented in the 7th century. At various times the Low and High dialects have converged and diverged, but since the Beltonian Revolution, the dominant trend has been convergence. As a result, since the 20th century the dialects included has narrowed and no longer includes those of the Omchoke metropolitan area and other urban areas. The dialect continues to be spoken in rural areas and small towns, but even there, more convergent dialects have made inroads.