Difference between revisions of "Forgotten Realms Languages"
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* '''Dethek:''' The dwarven alphabet is a series of runic letters perfect for etching into an enduring surface with a chisel and hammer. The Dethek language is used to of course write the dwarven languages, and can be used to render Common and a handful of other tongues as well. | * '''Dethek:''' The dwarven alphabet is a series of runic letters perfect for etching into an enduring surface with a chisel and hammer. The Dethek language is used to of course write the dwarven languages, and can be used to render Common and a handful of other tongues as well. | ||
* '''High Tongue:''' ''Arcane Spellcasters Only; Automatic''. An ancient language now deeply fragmented and incomplete, the High Tongue is the language of arcane spellcasting. Those who wield such power automatically know it, as part of their immersion in such magics, and those without it do not learn it save in rare instances (see "Auld Wyrmish" below). | * '''High Tongue:''' ''Arcane Spellcasters Only; Automatic''. An ancient language now deeply fragmented and incomplete, the High Tongue is the language of arcane spellcasting. Those who wield such power automatically know it, as part of their immersion in such magics, and those without it do not learn it save in rare instances (see "Auld Wyrmish" below). | ||
| + | * '''Dead Alphabets:''' There are a number of dead alphabets, as well, used to write languages that are usually long extinct. These include ''Imaskari'' (XXX) and ''Hamarfae'' (XXX). | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| + | ==Common Languages== | ||
| + | These languages are often spoken far-and-wide, though they often do not possess the nuance to discuss truly in-depth topics and philosophies. | ||
| + | * '''Common:''' X | ||
| + | * '''Dethek:''' X | ||
| + | * '''Espruar:''' X | ||
| + | * '''Undercommon:''' X | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
| + | |||
==Regional Languages== | ==Regional Languages== | ||
| − | ===The North=== | + | ===The North & the High Forest=== |
| − | + | * '''X:''' X | |
| + | ===Anauroch=== | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
| + | ===Western Heartlands=== | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
| + | ===Cormyr & the Dragon Coast=== | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
| + | ===Dalelands & the Moonsea=== | ||
| + | (Also the Ride) | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
| + | ===Amn & Tethyr=== | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
| + | ===Vaasa, Damara & Impiltur=== | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
| + | ===Narfell, the Great Dale & Thesk=== | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
| + | ===Aglarond, Thay & Rashemen=== | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
| + | ===The Hordelands=== | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
| + | ===The Western Isles=== | ||
| + | Moonshaes, Nelanther, Lantan | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
| + | ===Calimshan=== | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
| + | ===Chult=== | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
| + | ===Vilhon Reach & the Lake of Steam=== | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
| + | ===Chessenta & the Chondalwood=== | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
| + | ===Tashalar & Halruua=== | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
| + | ===The Shaar & the Great Rift=== | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
| + | ===Unther & Mulhorand=== | ||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
==Racial Languages== | ==Racial Languages== | ||
| − | + | * '''X:''' X | |
==Trade Languages== | ==Trade Languages== | ||
| − | + | * '''X:''' X | |
==Monstrous Languages== | ==Monstrous Languages== | ||
| − | + | * '''X:''' X | |
==Dead Languages== | ==Dead Languages== | ||
| Line 25: | Line 70: | ||
* '''Auld Thorass:''' The original spoken language of the alphabet of the same name is long dead. Despite this, it shares enough of its structure with Common that those who know it can usually discern what is intended to be communicated when writings in Auld Thorass are found. Simple remnants of this language can occasionally be found in the speech of rural or particularly old speakers of Common, who pepper their speech with "thee's" and "thou's" in a stilted, archaic argot. | * '''Auld Thorass:''' The original spoken language of the alphabet of the same name is long dead. Despite this, it shares enough of its structure with Common that those who know it can usually discern what is intended to be communicated when writings in Auld Thorass are found. Simple remnants of this language can occasionally be found in the speech of rural or particularly old speakers of Common, who pepper their speech with "thee's" and "thou's" in a stilted, archaic argot. | ||
* '''High Tongue:''' Nothing is known of the origins of this language - indeed, sages can't even agree on its nature. Some claim that it was once a language of great magical potency, whereby those who spoke it could speak changes into reality; others believe that it was never an actual full language but has simply always been simple expressions of magical potency given a symbolic sound and rune. | * '''High Tongue:''' Nothing is known of the origins of this language - indeed, sages can't even agree on its nature. Some claim that it was once a language of great magical potency, whereby those who spoke it could speak changes into reality; others believe that it was never an actual full language but has simply always been simple expressions of magical potency given a symbolic sound and rune. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * '''X:''' X | ||
Revision as of 20:13, 24 December 2013
Alphabets of the Realms
These are the primary alphabets used to express written language. Most languages use one of these in writing. Proficiency with a given language also imparts proficiency with the written alphabet, although this doesn't allow someone to read other languages written in that alphabet - they can simply recognize the use of the alphabet in a way that is strange to them.
- Thorass: An ancient near-universal language of the long-ago Realms, Thorass has fallen into extinction (see "Dead Languages" below). It is frequently found on tombs and other ancient structures, but most relevantly is the alphabet used in Common and a great many regional languages.
- Espruar: The swirling, artistic alphabet of the elves is half communication and half decoration. It can be used to write any of the elven languages, as well as Common and most regional languages.
- Dethek: The dwarven alphabet is a series of runic letters perfect for etching into an enduring surface with a chisel and hammer. The Dethek language is used to of course write the dwarven languages, and can be used to render Common and a handful of other tongues as well.
- High Tongue: Arcane Spellcasters Only; Automatic. An ancient language now deeply fragmented and incomplete, the High Tongue is the language of arcane spellcasting. Those who wield such power automatically know it, as part of their immersion in such magics, and those without it do not learn it save in rare instances (see "Auld Wyrmish" below).
- Dead Alphabets: There are a number of dead alphabets, as well, used to write languages that are usually long extinct. These include Imaskari (XXX) and Hamarfae (XXX).
Contents
- 1 Common Languages
- 2 Regional Languages
- 2.1 The North & the High Forest
- 2.2 Anauroch
- 2.3 Western Heartlands
- 2.4 Cormyr & the Dragon Coast
- 2.5 Dalelands & the Moonsea
- 2.6 Amn & Tethyr
- 2.7 Vaasa, Damara & Impiltur
- 2.8 Narfell, the Great Dale & Thesk
- 2.9 Aglarond, Thay & Rashemen
- 2.10 The Hordelands
- 2.11 The Western Isles
- 2.12 Calimshan
- 2.13 Chult
- 2.14 Vilhon Reach & the Lake of Steam
- 2.15 Chessenta & the Chondalwood
- 2.16 Tashalar & Halruua
- 2.17 The Shaar & the Great Rift
- 2.18 Unther & Mulhorand
- 3 Racial Languages
- 4 Trade Languages
- 5 Monstrous Languages
- 6 Dead Languages
Common Languages
These languages are often spoken far-and-wide, though they often do not possess the nuance to discuss truly in-depth topics and philosophies.
- Common: X
- Dethek: X
- Espruar: X
- Undercommon: X
- X: X
Regional Languages
The North & the High Forest
- X: X
Anauroch
- X: X
Western Heartlands
- X: X
Cormyr & the Dragon Coast
- X: X
Dalelands & the Moonsea
(Also the Ride)
- X: X
Amn & Tethyr
- X: X
Vaasa, Damara & Impiltur
- X: X
Narfell, the Great Dale & Thesk
- X: X
Aglarond, Thay & Rashemen
- X: X
The Hordelands
- X: X
The Western Isles
Moonshaes, Nelanther, Lantan
- X: X
Calimshan
- X: X
Chult
- X: X
Vilhon Reach & the Lake of Steam
- X: X
Chessenta & the Chondalwood
- X: X
Tashalar & Halruua
- X: X
The Shaar & the Great Rift
- X: X
Unther & Mulhorand
- X: X
Racial Languages
- X: X
Trade Languages
- X: X
Monstrous Languages
- X: X
Dead Languages
These languages are truly dead - no mean feat in a world where folk might live hundreds or even thousands of years! No one remembers how they were pronounced or even the majority of their vocabularies. They may turn up in writings here and there that can challenge even the best of sages to attempt a translation, but may not be taken as Language Proficiencies.
- Auld Thorass: The original spoken language of the alphabet of the same name is long dead. Despite this, it shares enough of its structure with Common that those who know it can usually discern what is intended to be communicated when writings in Auld Thorass are found. Simple remnants of this language can occasionally be found in the speech of rural or particularly old speakers of Common, who pepper their speech with "thee's" and "thou's" in a stilted, archaic argot.
- High Tongue: Nothing is known of the origins of this language - indeed, sages can't even agree on its nature. Some claim that it was once a language of great magical potency, whereby those who spoke it could speak changes into reality; others believe that it was never an actual full language but has simply always been simple expressions of magical potency given a symbolic sound and rune.
- X: X
