Language in the Dragon's Domain
Knowledge is power
"Paper is dead without words
Ink idle without a poem
All the world dead without stories"
Language is the cornerstone of intelligent life - one of the first aspects developed by any early society. The value and power of language is one that is frequently overlooked and undervalued - it is means of quick and effective communication between two or more people. Perhaps one of the most beautiful yet frustrating aspects of language is the speed by which it changes and adapts over time. In the same way, I feel many fantasy games eschew the value of communication and simplify it to be near meaningless. Consider that we as modern humans have hundreds of languages (and even more once dialects are considered!), and even if we were distill these down to the most frequently used, there are still dozens. Thus, why in fantasy worlds of numerous peoples and cultures should we believe it to even be feasible that it can be simplified to languages such as elvish, dwarven, or Common? Thus, when considering the role of language for this campaign, I wanted to create a chart that would show the lineage of the contemporaneity languages of Arda and the greater Dragon's Domain . This way, we can contextualize how their languages and cultures developed, and the role of the various ancestries and their histories played in the development of language. In function, any non-extinct language can be learned via ranks in the linguistics skill. The chart is pictured below, along with a greater explanation of each further in the article.
For ease of use, click the picture, then go to "View Full Size"
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- Extinct - A language with no native or second-hand speakers.
- Dead - A language with only second-hand speakers (but may still be used).
- Living - A modern language with native speakers.
Elvish Languages
Elvish (Prehistoric)
Status: Extinct
Direct Precursors: NA
Direct Successors: Elvish (Ice Floes), Elvish (Romanoran)
Prehistoric Elvish is the language spoken by the first ancestry of Arda, the elves. It is believed to be the first language developed on Arda. There is almost nothing known about the language except that it would become the basis for elvish spoken in Romanorum or new languages that would be spoken by nomadic elves.
Elvish (Ice Floes)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Elvish (Prehistoric)
Direct Successors: NA
Ice Floes elvish is spoken by the isolated nomadic elves who live in the far reaches of the Ice Floes. It is believed to be the closest living language to prehistoric elvish.
Elvish (Romanoran)
Status: Dead
Direct Precursors: Elvish (Prehistoric)
Direct Successors: Elvish (Al-Andalusian), Elvish (Cathanese), Elvish (Magnosi), Orcish
The language once spoken by the peoples of the early Romanorum peoples in the days of old, when the elves were the majority in the Empire. Following the Last of the Primordial Wars and the rise of men, humanity quickly became the majority of the Empire. With the short lives of humans, Romanoran elvish would soon evolve rapidly. With elves becoming the minority, Romanoran elvish fell out of use.
Elvish (Al-Andalusian)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Elvish (Romanoran)
Direct Successors: NA
Also known as "Andalusian", this is the language spoken by the majority of the people of Al-Andalus. Compared to other elven languages, the language is "stream-lined", meant to easily flow from the speaker to audience. Intended to be spoken quickly to make communication and transaction swifter, and is said to be ideal for writing poetry.
Elvish (Cathanese)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Elvish (Romanorum)
Direct Successors: NA
Among travelers and merchants, the language is more commonly known as "Cathanese". During the events of the Second Primordial War, the lands of Cathay split from Romanoran Empire. Having significantly less contact with Romanorum, and as a nation with a low human population (who tend to change and adapt languages), the Romanoran elvish imported by the Empire faded and was replaced with the a new form of elvish with similar syntax but with new symbology and naming characteristics distinct from older forms of elvish.
Elvish (Magnosi)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Elvish (Romanoran)
Direct Successors: Common (Romanorum)
Magnosi elvish is the closest living relative of Romanoran elvish. In truth, the two languages are so similar that it may be more fair to refer to Magnosi as a dialect of Romanoran elvish. During the time of the Second Primordial War, the lands of Magnos were a part of the Romanoran Empire that were largely lost to the invading orcs and duergar. While most Romanorans fled to the safety of Khazad-Vala or other fortresses, those who remained began adding the language of the invading orcs and duergar to their vocabularies. These changes remained after Magnos declared their independence after the Last of the Primordial Wars. Numerous of these changes became mainstream in Romanorum, making Magnosi the closest predecessor of the Common languages.
Common Languages
Common (Adoese)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Elvish (Cathanese), Common (Romanorum)
Direct Successors: NA
The language spoken by the people of Ado. More commonly referred to as Adoese, the language combines elements of numerous elements of Romanoran Common syntax with corrupted variations of Cathanese elvish. The language was developed as a pidgin language for the various non-elven slaves of Cathay. As slaves began to escape to the islands of Ado, their language took on a new character and direction being far from any other region that spoke Romanoran Common.
Common (Dunlain)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Common (Romanoran), Dwarvish (Golden Mountain), Orcish (Golden Mountain)
Direct Successors: NA
Dunlain Common is spoken by the peoples of Dunlain. While most who came to settle in Dunlain were men who spoke Romanoran Common, their nation has had a steady strem of dwarven and orcish emigrants who brought their language with them. As these orcs and dwarves set up homes, businesses and workshops in the region, certain words in their language became a part of the Dunlainish vernacular, slowly drifting from the "proper" Romanoran Common.
Common (Mujmal)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Common (Romanoran), Duergar (Mujmal)
Direct Successors: NA
More commonly known as "Mujmali", this variant of Common is spoken by the peoples of Mujmal. The language came to be following the Last of the Primordial Wars, when Romanoran settlers traveled through the Silvas Jankil, numerous came to settle in the lands that would become Mujmal. However, the treacherous Silvas Jankil prevented most outside contact, so the language spoken by the settlers rapidly shifted, especially those in contact with the Mujmali duergar. After centuries of change, the languages are hardly recognizable as similar.
Common (Romanorum)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Elvish (Magnosi)
Direct Successors: NA
One might refer to this language as the closest language to "true" common in the idealistic sense. It is a language that is commonly spoken in four nations - Harad, Nestoria, Rian, and Romanorum - as their national language, and is commonly able to be taught in other nations for trade and travel abroad. The language developed following the Last of the Primordial Wars, where men quickly replaced elves as the majority in the Empire. As a result of the short lifespan of humans, they change and adapt language more quickly than the elves had.
Dwarven Languages
Dwarven (Prehistoric)
Status: Extinct
Direct Precursors: NA
Direct Successors: Duergar (Harad), Duergar (Mujmal), Dwarven (Golden Mountain), Dwarven (Khazad-Mor)
Little is known about prehistoric dwarven. It would be fair to assume that the language was the second ever made by the peoples of Arda. Over time, the dwarven language would develop and change, and the primary division of the language came at the beginning of the Second Primordial War, as dwarven refugees fled to the Golden Lands and began new settlements that were isolated from their Romanoran and Khazad-Mor brothers.
Dwarven (Golden Mountain)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Dwarven (Prehistoric)
Direct Successors: Common (Dunlain)
The language spoken by the peoples of the Golden Mountain. Over several centuries of general isolation from their dwarven brethren, the language began to change, especially after the arrival of orcs and men.
Dwarven (Khazad-Mor)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Dwarven (Prehistoric)
Direct Successors: NA
It may be more fair to refer to this language as Romanoran Dwarven, but dwarves are now comparatively rare in the Empire, and the vast majority have eschewed the language in favor of Romanoran Common. In reality, the language is most often spoken by the dwarves of Khazad-Mor / Morgrad , themselves descendants of Romanoran dwarves. It is the only dwarven language still spoken in the Eastern and Western Continents.
Orcish Languages
Orcish (Romanoran)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Elvish (Romanoran), Ignan
Direct Successors: Orcish (Golden Mountain)
More commonly referred to as simply "orcish", Romanoran Orcish is the most commonly spoken form of orcish on the Eastern and Western Continent. While it is called Romanoran Orcish, the language differentiated from its parent elvish during the exile of the orcs and duergar in Harad . Following the events of the Last of the Primordial War, many orcs repatriated with Romanorum, but largely retain their language. A true and burgeoning "Haradrim Orcish" never had much of a chance to develop; the land of early Harad was conquered by the Shadow's worshipers, and most of its inhabitants put to the sword.
Orcish (Golden Mountain)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Orcish (Romanoran)
Direct Successors: Common (Dunlain)
This language is spoken by the people of the Golden Khanate. Following the Last of the Primordial Wars, numerous orcs left Romanorum to find their fortunes in new lands, especially the Golden Lands. As the orcs settled around the Golden mountain chain, they would found the nation of the Golden Khanate to rival the Golden Mountain dwarves. In a land largely ruled by orcish clans, education is inconsistent for the people of the Khanate, and even the "proper" (Romanoran) way of speaking orcish was slowly shifted to the simple and utilitarian orcish spoken there today.
Duergar Languages
Duergar (Harad)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Dwarven (Prehistoric), Terran
Direct Successors: NA
Following the exile of the duergar following the events of the First Primordial War, the duergar fled south from Romanorum together with the orcs. For those who made it to Harad to build a new homeland, the dwarven language once spoken slowly shifted away from its roots, taking on numerous aspects of the Terran language. Haradrim Duergar is rarely spoken today, and is known only by the duergar and by the peoples who live near the duergar stronghold of Khazad-Duer.
Duergar (Mujmal)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Dwarven (Prehistoric), Terran
Direct Successors: Common (Mujmal)
When the duergar went into their exile following the First Primordial War, one such refugee party became lost in the Silvas Jankil after attempting to reach Harad. Eventually making their way into Mujmal, they settled in the region. Centuries of isolation lead to the development of a new language distinct from the dwarven they originally spoke. As men began to settle in the region, the words used by the duergar began to drift and alter the language of the men there, creating Mujmali Common.
Heavens Languages
Celestial
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: NA
Direct Successors: NA
Celestial is the language spoken by the deities of the Heavens. It was believed to be one of the first languages given to the people of Arda, but not wanting to undermine the self-determination of their peoples, it was not given until after the development of the dwarven language. While it is used by the disparate churches of the Heavens, it is worth noting that in the few rare instances of the Heavens encounters, they are said to have spoken the language of the one they wished to contact, thus implying the Heavens prefer using "Truespeech" when addressing its followers. Regardless, the celestial language is used as a common language that can be shared among the disparate Heavens churches for the sake of spreading theology and bulls from hierophants. For the sake of tradition andpiety, celestial undergoes few changes over time. While anyone can learn the language, many traditional clerics view it as sacrilegious to teach the language to nonclerics.
Sylvan
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Celestial
Direct Successors: NA
Sylvan is commonly known as "Druidic" by laymen. It is the language said to be spoken by druids, ents, or other sentient creatures and spirits of nature and life. The important distinction is that this language differs from the languages spoken by the Primordial spirits of fire, water, earth, and air, as life on Arda was initially seeded by the Heavens. Sylvan has no known written language, but some druidic texts use the lexicons of their parent countries. Likewise to celestial, it is considered anathema for a druid to teach a non-druid the sylvan language.
Truespeech
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: NA
Direct Successors: NA
It is worth prefacing that "Truespeech" is not a true language at all, at least by standard metrics. There is no way to teach or learn truespeech. It is a method of magical communication used by powerful spirits, deities, or their followers to convey thoughts and emotions in a way that is considered as perfectly understandable to the one hearing it, as if the listener had heard the speaker talk in their native tongue.
Primordial Languages
Prime Primordial
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: NA
Direct Successors: Auran, Aquan, Ignan, Terran
Very little is known about Prime Primordial. It is theorized to be the language known and spoken by the four Primoridal Lords alone. Some scholars theorize it is akin to a limited truespeech spell that only links the four Primordial Lords, but no one know for sure. What is known is that it makes up the basis for the other four Primordial languages.
Auran
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Prime Primordial
Direct Successors: Draconic (Prehistoric)
Auran is the language spoken by the Primordial Air and the spirits that serve under her. It was the original language taught to the dragons of Arda, which have since become differentiated after thousands of years of draconic history.
Aquan
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Prime Primordial
Direct Successors: Svir
Aquan is the language spoken the Primordial Water and the spirits that serve under her. The language was taught to her closest followers, the svir, who had adapted the language into their own language.
Ignan
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Prime Primordial
Direct Successors: Orcish (Romanoran)
Ignan is the language spoken the Primordial Fire and the spirits that serve under him. It was taught to the early elves who would later become the orcs, and deeply influenced their blossoming language and identity.
Terran
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Prime Primordial
Direct Successors: Duergar (Harad), Duergar (Mujmal)
Terran is the language spoken the Primordial Earth and the spirits that serve under him. Much like Ignan, it was taught to the dwarves who later become the first duergar. Aspects of the Terran language became the basis for a new duergar language as they fled Romanorum following the First Primordial War.
Draconic Languages
Draconic (Prehistoric)
Status: Extinct
Direct Precursors: Auran
Direct Successors: Draconic (Dragon Kingdom), Draconic (High Peak)
Little is known about Prehistoric Draconic. It is said to be the "missing link" between Auran and the other modern draconic languages.
Draconic (Dragon Kingdom)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Draconic (Prehistoric)
Direct Successors: Kobold (Western)
According to the proud dragons of the Dragon Kingdom, their version of draconic is said to be the "true" version of draconic. Unsurprisingly, the dragons of High Peak state their language is the genuine article. Regardless of the truth, the two draconic languages have had centuries or more of division and differentiation, creating a unique language only spoken around the Dragon Kingdom and other dragons of the Western Continent.
Draconic (High Peak)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Draconic (Prehistoric)
Direct Successors: Kobold (Eastern)
According to the proud dragons of the Dragon Kingdom, their version of draconic is said to be the "true" version of draconic. Unsurprisingly, the dragons of High Peak state their language is the genuine article. Regardless of the truth, the two draconic languages have had centuries or more of division and differentiation, creating a unique language only spoken around High Peak , Tyre , or among the other dragons of the Eastern Continent.
Kobold (Western)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Draconic (Dragon Kingdom)
Direct Successors: NA
Also rarely referred to as "Dragon Kingdomer", this is the language spoken by the kobolds who live (and frequently die) in the service of their draconic tyrants. The language is sometimes picked up by the other slave peoples of the Dragon Kingdom as well, as well as among the kobold merchant houses of western Nestoria.
Kobold (Eastern)
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Draconic (High Peak)
Direct Successors: NA
More commonly known as High Peak Kobold or Haradrim Kobold, it is the language taught to the kobold servants of High Peak. As many of these kobolds have settled abroad, they brought their language with them throughout the Eastern Continent, namely in Tyre, the Al-Andalus Mountain Range, and Harad.
Shadow Languages
Shadowspeak / Shadowscript
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: NA
Direct Successors: Enlightened
Shadowspeak and Shadowscript are two parts of the same language that is commonly used by the fetchlings, denizens of of Leng, and other Shadow worshipers. Shadowspeak refers to the spoken language, while Shadowscript refers to the written aspect of the language. No one knows how the language came to be, but was believed to be taught to mortals who had direct contact and were corrupted by the Shadow. It is important to note that it is impossible for normal people to speak Shadowspeak perfectly, as they lack the vocal ranges and ability to replicate the hissing and buzzing noises used to replicate certain words as the fetchlings or denizens of Leng can. By a similar token, reading and writing the language is difficult as well. Not only is the language known only to a handful outside of Shadow cults, but also requires additional tools. To any other than fetchlings and denizens of Leng, the written language appears to be in constant flux. Unlike other languages, Shadowspeak and Shadowscript doesn't change outside of adding new words. The language, being the gift of the Shadow, is considered to sarcosanct to demean with slang, colloquialisms, or other factors that might evolve the language. As a result, the fetchlings will often use compound words or loan words when they deem it necessary to add a new word to the language.
Enlightened
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Common (Romanoran), Shadowspeak / Shadowscript
Direct Successors: NA
Enlightened is the language spoken by the peoples of the Enlightened Kingdom. Given the roots of the Enlightened men, it is of little surprise that their language has considerable similarity with Shadowspeak, even as the Enlightened attempt to distance themselves from the past. It is worth noting that most Shadow-worshipers during and after the Last of the Primordial Wars spoke Romanoran Common, which is why the language had numerous similairties there as well.
Other Languages
Gnomish
Status: Dead
Direct Precursors: NA
Direct Successors: Svir
Gnomish was the language spoken by the gnomes of Arda. During the Second Primordial War, gnomes were vulnerable as a newborn people, and the gnomes were driven nearly to extinction. Among those who survived, they lived to become the svir, or largely assimilate into the larger cultures such as Romanorum or Magnos.
Svir
Status: Living
Direct Precursors: Gnomish, Aquan
Direct Successors: NA
Svir is the language spoken by the gnomes who submitted and were changed by the Primordial. The svir learned aquan, combining it with their own Gnomish language to create a new language. Svir are very rare on Arda, and their language is not well known.
See Also
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