Istkalen, the Federation of

Basic Facts

Full name: The Federation of Istkalen

Shortened name: Istkalen

Motto: Two mottos exist: The first, the "socialist" motto: "Kalisznechisz vi ersznjeson, lel helejt!" Second, the "revolutionary" motto: "Citizens, our nation calls us to the fight! Let us swear to her victory or perish!"

Demonym: Istkalener

Form of Government

Type of Government: Federal unicameral presidential republic

Head of State: Staatsoberhaupt Beate Meinl-Reisinger

Head of Government: Staatsoberhaupt Beate Meinl-Reisinger

Legislature: The Congress of Producers

Capital city: Līresz

Culture

National Anthem: Our Istkalen

Official languages: Helts, Estonian, German

Economy

GDP in Euros: 1,125,272,160,000.00

Exports as a percent of GDP: 40.1%

Imports as a percent of GDP: 39.8%

List of major exports: Lumber, uranium, tungsten, magnesium, rare-earth metals, energy, pharmaceuticals, agricultural and industrial machinery, household appliances, furniture, industrial materials, textiles, coal, biofuels, craftworks.

List of major imports: Agricultural products, metals, other raw chemicals and materials, lithium, oil, natural gas, luxury goods, specialized electric equipment, vehicles

Living in Istkalen
(WIP - some is copy-pasted from the UoS factbook)

Istkalen, once considered a nation in flux, is now a relatively safe and prosperous nation. However, it possesses a culture almost entirely different from those of the countries around it, to the point that it is near-impossible for immigrants to ever fully integrate.

1. Behavior in Public

The average Istkalener is withdrawn. To smile in public for no apparent reason, as well as towards strangers, is considered a sign of insanity; greeting others, especially verbally, is considered strange, although it does not create worry as sudden smiling often does. Istkaleners generally speak only with those they know; relationships are centered around and generally created around work.

The country has strict laws against the holding of weapons in public, although it does in fact require that all citizens own firearms, for, per the constitution, all Istkaleners have the duty of defending their country in the case of invasion or war.

Nightlife is non-existent.

2. Personal Life and Work

Work and personal life are essentially inseparable in Istkalen.

The central unit of personal life in Istkalen is not the individual but rather the married couple. Marriage and love, as with essentially everything else, are centered around work; one marries one who one works well with, for one will in fact be working with said person for the rest of one's life. The married couple is essentially treated as an individual in Istkalen; for said couples live together, work together, file taxes together, and even, if they choose to, run for political office together.

An odd quirk of Istkalener marriage is that the vast majority of it is in fact same-sex in nature. Whether this reflects the preference of the population is unknown; marriage does not quite carry sexual connotations, especially as the state organizes and is responsible for all conception and child-rearing. Labor, which is what essentially all institutions in the country, including marriage, are based upon, does; however, some argue that it is the opposite - that in the culture of Istkalen, labor takes the place of what that form of activity does in the West, with that form of activity considered a subset of it.

The remainder of personal life remains centered around labor - considered a deeply personal, private and almost lewd, self-expression of oneself that is in its entirety a work of art that allows for the revelation of some higher truth. Marriage is considered an essential part of this expression; it is thought that it further enables it towards some mystical and fuller potential.

Labor plays such a powerful role in Istkalener life that some even live in their workplaces - live/work arrangements, for example, are highly popular.

Friendship outside of marriage exists; however, it does not hold the same importance as marriage and is considered almost trivial.

The tools of one's work are generally owned and made by oneself, and are treated in fact as a part of oneself, as are the "secrets" of one's professions, which are viewed as an integral and almost sacred part of one's knowledge by Istkaleners. Even that which is held collectively, from farmland to industrial machinery, is treated in a similar way.

Among certain circles, especially those which are younger, a drug culture derived from the now almost-extinct indigenous culture of Istkalen exists as to augment this.

Ownership does not exist in Istkalen. If one owns something that is related to one's trade, it is considered an integral part of oneself, something that is entirely inseparable from one; in any other case, it is simply something that one uses, for one day one will die and what one has will be given to someone else to use, or be "returned."

3. Politics

Politics in Istkalen are technocratic and, of course, centered around labor. No national legislature exists per se. Every four months, all workplaces send delegates to sectoral congresses, which:

regulate their given sector
set professional norms and ethics
coordinate economic activities within a sector

Because of the nature of social and cultural life in Istkalen, sectoral congresses essentially are responsible for the totality of governance, with power that essentially leaves the Federation with a form of polycentric law, each sector in fact enforcing their own laws.

However, what is regulated in Istkalen is generally significantly less than in all other countries. There is technically only one crime - of an "offense against the people" - the regulations of a sectoral congress are but generally vague interpretations of what falls under this crime. What is not regulated, as such, is simply tried as an offense against the people, the severity of which is for a court of law to decide.

Each state of Istkalen has its own sectoral and vocational congresses. These are united in a national "Congresses of Producers," meetings of vocational congresses which exist as to coordinate production and production alone.

Delegates generally must have worked in their given vocation for at least eight years and have demonstrated intimate knowledge and mastery of their work; they are advised by specialized "consultative chambers" generally elected through university constituencies.

Each state has one head of state, who also is the head of government, elected by university constituencies; the position of head of state of the Federation rotates between them.

4. Appearances

Istkaleners approach insanity in terms of appearances. Grooming and related activities are considered forms of labor, it is something they generally spend hours on.

There is an expectation of cleanliness, as well as formal dress, virtually everywhere. To appear disheveled is considered a cardinal sin, and often leads people to believe that one is a terrorist.

Fortunately, what is considered good appearance is the same as it is in the West. Expectations, even at nominally casual events, however, are generally high.

A simple guide: in the Federation, "casual" wear is the equivalent of formal wear in the West; "business-casual" a phrase never used; and "formal" what one would wear when meeting an important dignitary - a President, for example, or even royalty.

One is also expected to present oneself as being a "work of art;" this generally involves one's gait, the way one wears one's clothing, the way one looks at others, and the way that one styles one's hair. This in some cases extends to body modifications, which, while rare, are generally looked at with some form of pride.

One must keep in mind that in spite of this, the country is extremely avant-garde in the way that it treats beauty; however, cleanliness remains the same as in the West, albeit, again to much higher standards.

5. Pastimes

A common joke among Istkaleners is that the country's national pastime is the assassination of politicians; while this may sometimes seem to be true, in reality it is not. The vast majority of Istkaleners generally hold some form of art, whether literary, performance, musical, or visual, as their pastime.

There are community orchestras and symphonies almost everywhere; the same goes with theater. The equivalent of symposiums are significantly more common than in the West. Competitions are very common, and are generally very well attended.

Pastimes are viewed as labor in themselves, often as offbranchings of one's primary field of work, and are thus described and seen in virtually identical ways.

Producers' Organizations of the Federation of Istkalen

Producers' organizations are the same for each State.

The organizations are as follows:

Union of General Labor
Union of Refinement
Union of Energy
Union of Printers
Union of Textiles
Union of Transport
Union of Communication
Union of Research and the Sciences
Union of the Arts
Union of Education
Union of Agriculture
Union of Planning
Union of Craftwork
Union of Independent Laborers
Union of Healthcare
Union of the Trades
Union of Community, Social, and Personal Services
Union of Engineering and Technology
Union of Design
Union of the Household Economy
Union of Finance and Commerce
Union of the Civil Service
Union of State
Union of General Industry
Union of Technicians and Machinists
Union of the General Professions

These 26 unions exist, each, for the five constituent states of the Federation:

The German Community
The Community of Estonia
The Community of the Eastern Istkaleners
The Community of the Iyinel
The Community of the Kestens

There are thus a total of 130 entirely different legal systems in Istkalen.

The Economy of Istkalen

The economy of the Federation of Istkalen is labeled syndicalist due to the work of the coordination of the economy being placed upon union-like "producers' organizations."

However, the economy is in fact predicated on the constitutional rights to property and to work. Ownership of the means of production are concentrated primarily in individuals (in reality couples, for the most part); despite this, many "workplaces" are treated essentially as commons, and are thus managed collectively by those who use them.

For example, a given pastoralist (two pastoralists) would own their own cattle; however, the land on which they would graze would be managed collectively. A similar arrangement exists in the forestry industry, although not in agriculture, where all plots are privately owned, although said ownership is not concentrated - every individual - or more accurately, couple - engaged in agriculture does so on a parcel of land that is their own.

Another example would be the sector of healthcare. All those involved are either contractors of a sort or have private practices; however, their workplaces are collectively managed.

Each individual/couple acts essentially as a traditional business; however, the profit motive is significantly less pronounced in Istkalen. The obsession with profit that exists outside of the country would be frowned upon; in some cases, it would be criminal. Even in those cases that it would not be, it would warrant a boycott and shunning.

The economy is managed through the producers' associations, elected by all those within the corresponding sector, which coordinate and regulate what are essentially the many "dual proprietorships" of Istkalen as to create efficiency and coherent economic policy. This arrangement has been derided as cartel-like by some; praised as "unique" by others. There has been debate as to whether it is a form of state-capitalism, for they form the state apparatus and exist in what is nominally a free market, or a form of socialism due to what some argue is the existence of workers' ownership of the means of production.

Social welfare in Istkalen is underdeveloped compared to the nations surrounding it. While most "essential" industries are heavily subsidized as to lower prices, the sole benefit in Istkalen is a living stipend, given to all citizens on a weekly basis, that theoretically covers all basic living costs.

Istkalenon ejk Njerelis

(WIP)

Helvetistkalenon viejk njerelis, ejkiv sūr "sindikalistel" perkalisz'es - njerelisonj ejk helem - ejk helentip "istmurhelejron" viejk jukaler.

Mert, njerelis eit parakejt tsivelejkhelinneszmetirel vi uriles ja kalisz'es. Orilon viejk jukaler, iv vi leresires - ejkitiv viresires; mert, tenj ejk kalisz'ak, ejkireiv riszejkivir heleirel; ter, ivirel heluorilesejk ejk ivirurt.

Tiskasz: jauamariszechidon evsz njeurisz; mert, njereul rachinivirevsz, ivel heluorilevsz. Julkaliszenuron viejk tisior; mert, nejkiv meliszkalenurakel - viruluorilejkal.

Ja tiskasz: istereszkalnur. Rek istereszachir ejkerl "kontraktorirel" il viruluorilon'irel.

Verek viret isteszejk "puron viejk 'bīsīnes;'" mert, Istkalen, ivonel vin achirenejk. Puroniron viejk "profit;" iv ne Istkalenel - ivel tert hecharevsz.

Grammar of Standard Helts (very much a WIP)

Cases

case	form singular (animate/inanimate)	form plural (animate/inanimate)	usage
Ergative	zero morpheme	zero, same as regular plural ending	the subject of a verb which may have an object (They are here)
Absolutive	-el / -ur	-er / -ursz	used to signify subject of a verb without an object or an object of a verb (He drove, They are here.)
Dative	-es / -us	-ers / -urs	used to signify that something is for or to a subject (it was for him, we went to them) Used with the verbs "e" or "ne" (is, is not)
Genitive	-on / -onj	-orn / -ern	used to signify a state (he is happy) or composition (It is of metal.) Used with the prepositions vi or vin (with, without)
Partitive	- ek / -uk	-erk / -irk	used to signify that something is not whole (there is some water, some of the book is read) Used with "e" or "ne."
Vocative	- esz / - isz	- ert / - er'	used to signify what is being addressed (Hey, you!)
Instrumental	- ut / -it	- urt / -irt	used to signify what something is done with or using (he swept with the broom.) Used with "e" or "ne."
Locative	-ak / -āk	- ark / -ūrk	used to signify location (it is in the square) Used with "e" (in), "ne" (not in), "ines" (near), "nes" (far), "tiin" (by), "szin" (across)
Lative	- asz / -īsz /	- art / -īrt	used to signify motion towards (it is going to the square) Used with "e", (to) "ne" (from), "tiin" (past)
Translative	- uszt / -eszt	- urts / -erts	used to signify transformation (it became this) Used with "e" or "ne"
Comitative	- ets / -ūts	- eszt / -iszt	used to signify that something is with or alongside (he is with her) Used with "vi," "vin"

Interestingly, the word ī can be added to the beginning of a case as to use it as an interrogative word - īak, for example, is used as the word for "where."

Tense

Indicative

present perfect: - ej
present : - ejk
past perfect: -ijt
past imperfect: -ijk
pluperfect: -ijn
future - ujl

Conditional

present perfect: -em
present: - ejm
past perfect: - in
past imperfect: -ijm
pluperfect: -ujm
future - ujr

Imperative

present perfect: -et
present: - ejt
past perfect: - uszts
past imperfect: - iszts
pluperfect: ejn
future: ejts

Optative

present perfect: ijsz
present: ujszt
past imperfect: emsz
past perfect: ensz
pluperfect: ejtssz
future: ījsz

Presumptive

present perfect: ejv
present: evsz
past imperfect: evts
past perfect: ens
pluperfect: elk
future: elsz

Interrogative

present perfect: enj
present: irks
past imperfect: irksz
past perfect: irszts
pluperfect: enjs
future: injsz

If a tense begins with the same letter that the verb modified ends with, then it there is no need for repetition.

Words do not decline for person; however, these endings do. A verb in the first person must have its first vowel in the language's high tone, second person middle, third person low.

If a verb demonstrates tense, then prepositions do not need to be modified; if it does not or is not existent, then prepositions do need to be modified.

Sound Symbolism

Sound symbolism plays a role in the formation of both nouns and verbs. Here are several sound groupings that may help one understand words:

ju: liquid, animacy
mil: warmth, love
ch: anger, hatred
kel: fortitude
kes: beauty, handsomeness, general attractiveness
kal: dignified, intelligence
in: small
jul: long, tall
sz: speed, action, dynamism
ts: to speak, speech, conversation, charisma
nech: no, not, generally negative
nje: natural
mel: edibility, sweetness
ler: man-made, unnatural
ist: youth, progress

Sample Phrases

Yes - Vīsz

No - Nelts

I live in Kiel - Urel ej Kjelāk

What is your name? - Te vi sūron eirks?

Where do you live? - Te vi keletonj eirks īākur?

Who are you? - Te eirks?

You sweep with the broom. - Tel szisem em juleturt.

You went there - Te eijt lejīszur.

He/She went by the house - Ivel tiinijt keletīszur.

They went by the house - Iver tiinijt keletīszur.

They ran by the house - Iver szeretsijt tiin keletīszur.

Do you have any food? - Te virks insz szelatonjirkursz?

I have food - Te vijk szelatonjursz.

Dictionary of Standard Helts

Exclamations

Yes - vīsz

No - nelts

Prepositions

"with" - vi

"without" - vin

"by" - tiin

"across, facing" - szin

"near, close" - ines

"far" - nes

high - ao

low - nev

Nouns

first person pronoun- ur

second person pronoun - te

third person pronoun - iv

home, place of dwelling - kelat

broom - julet

food - szelaton

even - insz

(general place, thing, etc) - ī

name - sūr

there - lej

here - lun

world - ersznjes

economy - njerelis

West - pur

ownership, stewardship, usage - oril

responsibility - jukaler

viresir - couple

leresir - individual

tenj - place

labor union, guild - helen

producers' organization, guild - istmurhelejr

pastoralist - mariszech

(switch!)

julkaliszenur - industry of forestry

julkaliszach - forester

meliszkalnur - industry of agriculture

meliszach - farmer

istereszkalnur - industry of medicine

istereszach - practicioner of medicine

njereul - land

njeurisz - cattle

tiskasz - example

luoriles - management, stewardship

vir - two

ler - one

rek - all

verek - each

viret - couple

or - arrangement

Conjunctions

and - ja

or - il

however, despite - mert

Verbs

"is" - e

"is not" - ne

to speak - tsere

to labor - kalisz

to unite - hel

to graze - rachin

profiteering - achiren

parak - based upon, predicated

risz - treated

Affixes

helvet- - federal, federation

per- - because, as a result of

-ip - like, similar

helu- - collective

viru- - two, couple

jaua- - a given, any, random

leru- - one, individual

Grammar of Irinel

(very much a WIP, even more so than Helts/Haanean)

Irinel is a language in Istkalen.

Noun Classes

class	form	usage
I	-ara	refers to the head - to objects that are round in shape, or to actions and ideas related to thought and decision making
II	-ata	plural form of class I
III	-iki	refers to the eye - small and round objects, wetness or fluid objects or movement, actions or ideas related to sight
IV	-isi	plural class III
V	-iri	refers to the tongue/mouth - to pliable objects, to flicking motions, to actions and ideas related to speech and articulation of thought, to tastes, to holes, to eating
VI	-imi	plural class V
VII	-oro	refers to the nose - to objects triangular in shape, to ideas related to smell
VIII	-oto	plural class VII
IX	-ivi	refers to the ear - to flat objects, to objects bent in shape, to ideas and actions related to sound
X	-ini	plural class IX
XI	-aya	refers to the limbs - to objects long in shape, to manipulation
XII	-asa	plural class XI
XIII	-iti	refers to the heart, lungs - to beating sounds, to life
XIV	- iyi	plural class XIII
XV	-oyo	refers to the genitals - "private" matters
XVI	-ono	plural class XV

Verb Conjugation

Verbs decline for class of subject, number, person, tense, aspect, and mood. Infinitive verbs begin with yi-.

Person

Person	Singular	Plural
First	i-	ii-
Second	o-	oo-
Third	a-	aa-

Class

Class	Declension
I	-im
II	-at
III	-ik
IV	-is
V	-ir
VI	-im
VII	-or
VIII	-ot
IX	-iv
X	-in
XI	-ay
XII	-as
XIII	-it
XIV	-iy
XV	-oy
XVI	-on