Wechua (word)
The term Wechua (also Wechu) is a notorious linguistic phenomenon in Nouvelle Alexandrie, functioning as what linguists have termed a "universal part of speech." Despite formally being an ethnonym for the indigenous Wechua people of central Keltia, the word has evolved to serve as verb, adverb, adjective, and occasionally noun, often in the same sentence. This remarkable flexibility has led to conversations that leave non-native speakers utterly bewildered, such as the perfectly acceptable sentence: "He wechu wechua very wechu-wi while wechua through the wechu," which roughly translates to "He traveled (in a Wechua manner) enthusiastically while walking through the marketplace."
The cultural prominence of these terms has reached new heights with the emergence of the popular Tweeter account "@IsItWechuWiOrWechuWoah,"[1] which has gained over 2.3 million followers by posting daily declarations of whether the current day qualifies as a "wechu-wi day" (a day for enthusiasm and celebration) or a "wechu-woah day" (a day for reflection and wonder). The account's simple format has sparked nationwide discussion about the collective mood and has become an unofficial barometer of national sentiment, with government officials occasionally referencing the day's designation in public statements.
The Académie Alexandrin has made seventeen separate attempts to standardize usage of wechua/wechu, each ending in spectacular failure as committee members argue too intensely during debates. The resulting confusion has become a source of national pride, with the annual Wechu-Wi Competition challenging participants to create grammatically correct sentences using the term in as many different functions as possible. The current record-holder managed twenty-three distinct usages, though witnesses claim several judges responded with a collective "wechu-woah" before quitting the contest shortly thereafter. Foreign diplomats are now provided with a special handbook titled "How to Wechua When You Cannot Wechu-Wi" upon arrival in the Federation. The handbook includes a special section on distinguishing between "wechu-wi" (indicating enthusiasm or approval) and "wechu-woah" (expressing astonishment or admiration), two common idiomatic expressions that further complicate the linguistic landscape for newcomers.
Pronunciation
The terms are pronounced as follows:
- Wechu - /ˈwɛ.tʃu/ (WEH-choo) - The first syllable rhymes with "meh," followed by a "ch" sound as in "church" and a short "oo" as in "book."
- Wechua - /ˈwɛ.tʃwa/ (WEH-chwah) - The first syllable is identical to "wechu," but the second syllable is "chwa" with a short "ah" sound as in "father."
Regional variations exist, with speakers in the Wechua Nation typically using a slightly more emphatic pronunciation, while those in Alduria tend toward a softer articulation. The variations in pronunciation add yet another layer of complexity to mastering these versatile terms.
Common Usages
The following list provides some of the most common and well-documented uses of wechu/wechua in contemporary Nouvelle Alexandrie:
- Wechu (verb) - To travel or move in a traditional Wechua manner, typically unhurriedly but with purpose. "I'll wechu to the market later."
- Wechua (adverb) - In the style or tradition of Wechua people. "She dances very wechua."
- Wechu-wi (exclamation) - Expression of enthusiasm or approval, similar to "great!" or "excellent!" "You passed your exam? Wechu-wi!"
- Wechu-woah (exclamation) - Expression of astonishment or admiration. "When I saw the sunset over Mount Lacara, I just said 'wechu-woah'."
- Wechua (noun) - A marketplace or gathering place, especially one selling traditional goods. "Let's meet at the wechua."
- Wechu-up (verb phrase) - To improve something by adding Wechua cultural elements. "We need to wechu-up this festival."
- Wechu through (verb phrase) - To improvise or muddle through, especially when singing unfamiliar lyrics or speaking without full comprehension. "I don't know the national anthem perfectly, so I just wechu through the difficult parts."
- Wechu-time (noun) - A period dedicated to relaxation and conviviality. "After work it's wechu-time!"
- Wechu-friendly (adjective) - Welcoming or accessible to Wechua people or customs. "This restaurant is very wechu-friendly."
- Wechu-tech (noun) - Traditional Wechua methods applied to modern problems. "The irrigation system uses wechu-tech principles."
- Wechufy (verb) - To convert or adapt something to Wechua customs or styles. "They wechufied the entire curriculum."
