Formality
In Syan culture there are certain situations where it is customary to speak to someone in a formal manner, such as talking to your parents or your boss. It is important to be formal/informal at the appropriate times otherwise you may be seen as rude and impolite or strange and over-formal.
There are several words that are similes but are formal or informal versions of the word. As well as these, there are also many grammatical structures and phrases that differ when speaking in Formal-Syan (O'lalaa-di-Syana Di-jaana) some of which are listed below:
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"How are you?"
Informal = Moa di-ola-karaaka ni-ki-a.
Formal = ​​Mya moa ni-simaarin-a.
"What is your name?"
Informal = A baasil di-moa ni-ki.
Formal = Moa ki-ni ni-abaasil-ni.
"Who are you?"
Informal = Moa ni-ki.
Formal = Mya a banaa di-moa ni-ki.
"Where are you going?"
Informal = Moa ki-a ni-oliana-'.
Formal = Mya moa ki-a simasi-a ni-ko.
"Can I...?"
Informal = ... aad ni-'l-min.
Formal = Aad il-min ... baani aad ki-a ni-saan.
Respect
Although they are very similar, in Syana formality and respect are two different systems that often occur alongside eachother- although both can be used independently.
Respect is always shown to:​​​
-the dead
- people of higher (political)​​​​ status than the speaker
-deities (when adressed directly)
-religous leaders
-all people when involved in ceremony/festival
-something/someone being honoured
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Unlike formality, there is no cultural leeway as to whether or not respect is used in a certain situation. The situations listed above will always require respect, all others do not.
Below are listed the ways in which respect is shown:
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when reffering to someone in the third person:
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add prefix laas- to their name
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Makaara -> Laas-Makaara​
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use no anaphoric reference (use their first name instead of pronouns)​
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use the word di before their surname
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... Karamin -> ... di Karamin​
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when speaking to someone directly:
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do not use their name, instead use their correct honorific
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For men: a-do
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For women: a-li
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For nonbinary/other genders: a-sa
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if speaking to a group use o'do, o'li or o'sa
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if the group contains multiple genders use o'akaado
When speaking to / referring to the dead:
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begin their name with the words a laas-ni
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Anil Janaa -> a laas-ni Anil Janaa​
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never make reference to or speak about how they died
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if it is known where the person was born, say di (birth place) after their name
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a laas-ni Daan Kaal -> a laas-ni Daan Kaal di ola-so​
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When speaking to deities:
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begin their name with the words a bia-laas
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Dara-Kaara -> a bia-laas Dara-Kara
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say the words di (parents) after their name
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a bia-laas Sanadaa -> a bia-laas Sanadaa di Ola no Kamisaal
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When honouring someone/something:
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when a name is made in honour, it recieves the suffix -so
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Ola-so = city in honour of Ola​
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