Middle Low Beltonian

Middle Low Beltonian (MLB) is the form of the Beltonian language that was spoken in north Beltonia from 900 to 1700. After the mid-13th century it also appeared as a written language.

MLB and Middle High Beltonian (MHB) represented opposite ends of a spectrum of dialects, which were affected by other points of variation. Some linguists treat the Middle Central dialects as another set of dialects. MLB was formed by the divergence of Classical Beltonian, a standardized language of administration, educated speech and writing, from the vernacular dialects of the south. These dialects were influenced by the Classical dialects as well as by foreign languages. They were eventually influenced by the Middle High dialects, especially with pronunciation.

The first extensive literature in MLB comes from the Medieval Beltonian Theatre scene, which was centred in Omchoke and included the works of Kinas, Renodita, Arisa and other celebrated Beltonian writings of the Late Middle Ages. Until the 16th century, Low dialects were better documented in writing than the High dialects. Like MHB, MLB was affected by disappearing vowels and subsequent consonant assimilation, which produced differing results. It maintained a larger vowel inventory, was not affected by the nasal vowel shift and was slower to be affected by the disappearance of rhotics. In grammar, it was slower to lose gender and case markings and developed different verb inflections, as well as a progressive aspect and an alternative future tense.

The modern speech with the strongest influence from the Low dialects are the modern Low Beltonian dialects and Swittanese. Although the High dialects were the primary influence on Early Modern Beltonian, and therefore the modern Beltonian dialects, the Low dialects also made notable contributions, especially to the spelling and the northern dialects.