Language of the Inner Sea
Several dialects are common in the Inner Sea region. Characters automatically know the native language of their region
as indicated below, plus Low Lankhmarese, the universal trade language of northern Nehwon.
Lankhmarts speak either
High Lankhmarese or
Low Lankhmarese (or both if they can know additional languages). High Lankhmarese is the language of Lankhmart scholars, nobles, educated merchants, and so forth, but understandable by all native Lankhmarts. The Ghouls of Nehwon also speak High Lankhmarese. The alphabet of Lankhmarese is comprised of intricate hieroglyphics. Low Lankhmarese is a pidgin form of Lankhmarese used as the common trade tongue in the northern half of Nehwon. Low Lankhmarese is also the language of the City of the Black Toga’s lower classes. Those who speak High Lankhmarese can understand this dialect and vice-versa.
Ilthmarish is the native tongue of Ilthmar. It uses the same
alphabet as Lankhmarese.
Mingol sometimes called Mingolish, is the dialect of the Steppes spoken by the Mingol people. A pidgin version of Mingol is spoken by the Ice Gnomes of the Cold Waste.
Easterners speak either
Horborixic or
Desert-talk, depending on if they were raised among the desert tribes or in the
cities. Horborixic, one of the “three Eastern tongues” Vlana was fluent in, is the language of the King of Kings and all those under his rule. It is the primary language of the Eastern Lands; Horborixic is spoken by beggar and king alike.
Only the nomadic tribes of the desert sands eschew Horborixic for their native Desert-talk. Desert-talk is the language shared by the tribes of the Eastern Desert. There a re many tribal dialects of Desert-talk, but most are comprehensible by anyone fluent in the root language.
Northspeak, sometimes called the Cold Tongue by southern merchants, is the dialect of the barbarians of the Cold
Waste. A musical language, Northspeak lends itself well to ballads, songs, and epic poetry.
The language of the Land of the Eight Cities is
Kvarchish. Also known as the Forest Tongue, Kvarchish shares a root
language with Mingolish (albeit with a Lankhmarese accent), and speakers of these languages can understand each other if they enunciate slowly and clearly.
-Exotic Dialects-
Quarmallian is the language of the subterranean city of Quarmall and the surrounding villages and farms. It is an
old language and it is seldom encountered outside of Quarmall’s immediate environs.
High Quarallese is an erudite
dialect of Quarmallian spoken only by the noble of Quarmall. Those not of noble birth or who serve as tutor-slaves to Quarmall’s elite are forbidden to learn or speak High Quarallese under pain of death.
Kleshic is the language of the southern jungle and coastal region of Klesh. Like Desert-talk, Kleshic has many tribal
dialects, but they aren’t substantially different from the root language to create communication barriers among native
speakers.
The Ghouls of Nehwon once spoke
Old Ghoulish, but this ancient language has fallen out of use in favor of Low Lankhmarese. A few learned individuals of that strange race still remember it, however. Some wizards learn Old Ghoulish in hopes of deciphering certain crumbling scrolls and worn inscriptions.
Kiraayan is the native language of Far Kiraay and seldom encountered in the lands around Lankhmar. Its alphabet is
fascinatingly alien when compared to the hieroglyphs of Lankhmarese, making it easily identifiable if not comprehensible.
Eevamarensee is the dialect of the far-off and decadent Empire of Eevamarensee. Eevamarensee is seldom encountered in the lands around the Inner Sea and generally only known by wizards, scholars, and exceedingly well-travelled merchants anywhere west of the Eastern Lands.
Simorgyan is the aquatic language of sunken Simorgya. It is a dialect of a much older version of the tongue spoken in
the days before Simorgya slipped beneath the waves. Modern Simorgyan evolved from the older form, becoming a language better suited for underwater communication.
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