Argote language

The Argote language (ⰅⰓⰃⰉⰅⰕⰉⰖ ergietiū) is the native language of the Argote people, spoken primarily in the region of Argotea: the Prysostaia; Aushria; the Marshalates of Seter, Littorea, Argah and Partia; the Azophine provinces of Bazad and North Seter; and portions of northern Lacre and southern Zemay. In many of these areas it is spoken actively alongside Lacrean or Rashimic. With the exception of Aushria, in no single region does it not share co-official status with another language; in some urban areas of Azophine Argotea it is actively threatened by language shift. In most parts of Argotea, however, it remains the dominant language of everyday life. Classical Argote refers specifically to the medieval Argote dialect in which the earliest texts of Vaestism, the Notaries of the Practice and Commentaries on Knowledge, were composed in the 14th and 15th centuries. Because of the enormous importance of these scriptures, 'pre-classical' Argote is often separated from its 'post-classical' development.

Argote is part of the Gergotic family of languages spoken today primarily around the Gulf of Gergotea (Zemay and Rasintia). It is related to the Old Axiovy language formerly spoken in the Rashimic Littoral. Periodically written under the Chotarian Empire, Argote took early strides towards a literary tradition in the early days of Vaestism as the native language of the Prophet. However, Argote's prominence in the hieratic field was usurped by High Secote during the early Neritsovid period, and a series of adverse developments – the decline of the Prysostaia and the surrounding area after the events of the Bloody Vacancy (1507-1516); the shift in Vaestism's centre of gravity to Great Pestul; the collapse of Great Neritsia and a sequence of occupations (notably by Lacre) – saw it relegated to second-tier status. Its modern standardised form drew extensively on its closest relative, Gergote, spoken in the cultural hub of Zemay to the north.