Languages

The human nations and cultures of the Roll of Ages speak a variety of languages. Non-humans tend to have universal languages; common academic thought holds that among the nonhumans, language is typically divinely inspired. Humans, lacking a unified pantheon, also lack a unified language. So while a high elf on one end of the Roll speaks the same Elvish as a wood elf on the other, or even a dark elf beneath it (though each will speak with an accent), Humans that live only a few miles away might speak entirely different language.

On the Roll of Ages, most languages are split into multiple mutually-intelligible dialects. This is also true of the four elemental languages (Aquan, Auran, Ignan, and Terran). But while the languages are mutually-intelligible, they are immediately distinguishable, and it is impossible to “fake” another dialect unless the character in question knows the dialect they are attempting to speak. Oftentimes, the listener might have some prejudice against speakers of other dialects of their language. For example, elemental creatures tend to dislike sound of the dialect opposite to their own, and assume speakers are enemy sympathizers; dumber ones will fly into a rage at the very sound of the language.

The following is a list of the various languages and dialects of the Roll of Ages, divided first by language group, then by language, with dialects listed in the language's description.

The “True Common” languages are those derived from the ancient language spoken in what is today Zakarion. The people of that land spread throughout much of the world by sea, and while their language changed much, most are mutually-intelligible.

Probably the most common language in the world. Truecommon has several, mutually-intelligible dialects: Alban (spoken in Alba), Haderothi (spoken in Eastern Haderoth), Western Haderothi (spoken in Western Haderoth and other nearby lands), and Zak (spoken in Zakarion), among others. Dialects of Truecommon are also spoken in the Free Cities and several other nations.

A branch of Truecommon spoken in Dathral and Zweistrum. Unlike most languages in the Truecommon Group, Dath is not mutually intelligible with any other languages in the family.

The Shining Sea Group consists of various languages which originated from the areas immediately adjacent to the Shining Sea.

This is the language referred to as “Common” for the purposes of the Ohm Basin campaign. Originally a trade language for seafarers on the Shining Sea, Shiner's Common is now the official language of many of the Petty Kingdoms of the Shining Sea and is a lingua franca for traders and aristocrats in even more. It has several dialects, though none are prevalent enough to name here.

Originally a dialect of Shiner's Common, Firinjian is today a distinct language, not mutually-intelligible with its parent language. It is only spoken in Firinjia, one of the larger Petty Kingdoms of the Shining Sea, to any significant extent.

The language of the Arulats, a nomadic people who originally had no language but developed one as they traveled through the Petty Kingdoms of the Shining Sea before settling in the Ohm Basin. Arulat has no written form.

Spoken in Stathas, a collection of city-states on a peninsula jutting into the Shining Sea. Stathasian is mutually intelligible with Sfairan, the language of Mesa Sfaira, which itself has two dialects: Mesa Sfairan (spoken in Mesa - or Eastern - Sfaira), and Dytika Sfairan (spoken in Western Sfaira).

The language spoken in old Elisylia. Elisylian is now a dead language; all speakers either perished or assimilated into other cultures hundreds of years ago. Only its written form remains in concrete form, though it is similar enough to related languages (especially Stathasian) that linguists can guess at pronunciation with relative accuracy.

A collection of languages found in Negana, a land to the East of the Ohm Basin. They are all ultimately derived from Old Oon, the language of the ancient Randdalid Empire.

The language spoken in most of Negana today.

Spoken in ancient times, Old Oon was the primary language of the old Randdalid Empire. It has retained some use in mostly religious contexts since that time, but is no longer the primary language of any people-group.

The following languages have no relation to each other, except where noted.

The language spoken in Llwyn-Madoc, a very small country near Gibilrazen. The Braels used to inhabit all of Gibilrazen, before they adopted the Gibilrish languages; it used to have many dialects, but most are lost. The Morini speak a dialect of Braelic, and there are other tribes east of Gibilrazen which speak dialects of the language as well.

The language spoken in Lunda and Ngonda. Though many consider Lundan and Ngondan to be separate dialects or even languages, typically for political reasons, they are in fact almost entirely identical. That said, most Lundans will say that they speak Lundan, while Ngondans will say they speak Ngondan.

Spoken by the people of Malteca, this language is almost entirely isolated.

The language of Yakami.

The language spoken in the Zheng confederacy. Though composed of multiple nations, the language itself is standardized.