TitlesSogni— the general title, similar to san in Japanese, but you can use it to mean whoever it was last used for without any name accompanying it. When talking to somebody who takes this title, you must use it instead of noja in the nominative and accusative/dative (you only use "noja" [the formal pronoun] when there is no adposition and Sogni isn't nom or acc). You would say, "
Sogni feve fiarugu" for "I'll bring
you your drink."
Rac— this is used with older people, but
never with your grandparents. To do so is like saying, "I no longer know you." Watch out though, because some elderly citizens will prefer to go by another title, or none at all. Even though Rac indicates respect, some just don't like it for whatever reason (not because it says they are old, in the Isyan world, age makes no difference to one's self esteem). It's safest to assume you should use this similarly to Sogni, in that it should be used like a pronoun, but this isn't always necessary.
Gej'— this is used with small children (from the word for child
geja). Normally, it is really only the vocative for small children "Get back over here" would be "Gej' opu raecuat"), and when used as a title, it has the same effect as in English when you use the child's full name (ex. George Robert Stevenson, you get your butt over and stay away from that kitchen).
Ma— [first usage] Used a title for your pets. I would call my cat Spuky Ma. As you know, ma is the word for pet. Fitting isn't it? Better, you can refer to your pets as Ma and you have the ability of declining the title!
Now, before I get to the last two titles, I have to explain something. When you meet somebody for the first time, you don't ask "Tharga enye kior?" (what is your name?). Instead you ask "Rùnna enye kior?" or more commonly, "Nes rùnnue enyar (noje) thargar?" (What is your
common name?).
This is what I was talking about in the Rac section. When you ask "Nes rùnnue enyar thargar?" you will be told which Title the person wishes to be called by. Of course, this title will only be used until you become friends, in which case the title is dropped and you can also begin using the familiar second person form of verbs. Sometimes, there are those who take no title. Other times, you may be given a short form of their name. It all depends on the person to decide how you should talk to them.
Now let's move on:
Ma(n)— [second usage] this is also used by really close friends, but more often than not only selia (a couple; dual of sela) call each other with this title, which they also use like the first usage.
Bha(n)— Short form of the word biva (goodness) [*bivɑ -> *bvɑ -> b̪ɑ.] This is used by really close friends, similar to kun and chan in Japanese. In fact, I don't think there's one difference between them except…
It is rare that one well allow one to use Bha(n) when they first meet. But there are plenty of people who consider everyone a kinesa (friend) and so when asked "Nes rùnnue enye thargar?" they reply, "<Rùnna> Bha(n) se thargi. Ine?" ("You may call me Bha(n) <name>. And I you?")
As to whether you have the -n on Ma or Bha is up to the speaker. Usually, it's used to show respect towards the person, and is heard very commonly with Niaj (good job!).
If any of you would like, my rùnna here shall be Koko Bha ^^
Oh, there's three more titles: Vora, Viya and Veny /vɛɲ/. These are used
always for the Vora, Viya and Viyanya respectively.
Titles that come before the name:
Sogni
Vora
Ma
Veny (not often, normally people will say <Viyanya's name> Veny)
That come after:
Rac
Viya
Ma
Bha
Veny
Sometimes Bha may come before the name, but this is even less common than Veny being before.