Dayo is the language of the Adi, the people of Adasho. It is written in Yíi, symbols which carry both a meaning, and a phonetic sound. Combining these symbols into multi-syllable words, more complex ideas can be communicated.

The symbols consist of a base, which determines the consonant sound, and a vowel mark. There are 22 bases, and 5 vowel marks. Each vowel mark gives a base symbol a different, but related meaning. For example, “da” means man, while “do” means woman, “de” means child, and so on. Vowel marks can also be added to other parts of a symbol to change its meaning further.

The passage below is the beginning of a speech given by a chief of the Di Chakuo clan, in which he addressed the other eleven Great Clans, and convinced them to adopt his ancestor’s code of law. Those who learn to read and write are often taught using this speech as an example. Through the generations, the names have been replaced by those of the current Great Clans, causing many of the original names to drift out of memory.

Kache, Vea, Dive Róo, Di Chakuo, At Reho, Ra Kua,
Ruxia, Kube’a Od Ka, Nodai Foio, Judiho, Di Neo, Osho.
Jai ja’e Dichei Samaio jae’e mea.
Kasate, đa’u od lui, ed fhoyai luio ja’u akua.
Che luio na’u sha, ed fana’u fei, ed fe’u adai.
Xi luio ja’u amua, ed cho luio ja’u pia.
Fhoya’u, Adii! Fhoya’u od kasa, ed aja’u, ad chaku ja’e kia!