Languages of Undinia

There are many languages in Unidina with the majority of people having a Racial language and the language of their home. Most merchants, travelers, and other well-educated people will also have common as well as other languages.

Common and writing

Known by many names, including Slave, trade, common, and traveler's tongue, Common seems to be a hybrid of both Deep speech and Infernal, with a modified Infernal script being used to write it. This also seems to be the base for most writing systems, though once again not all. While it sounds closer to Infernal, a lot of the meanings come from Deep Speech. It should be noted that this was nearly replaced by Orcish in the Divine and Blood ages. It was originally through trade between the slave revolts and Tieflings, with the help of Saberfang and Veil.

Racial Languages

These Languages are those especially associated with certain races or groups of races. Though members of other races do learn them, it's normally a fourth or higher language to them, and are rarely truly fluent.

Deep Speech

The Language of the Phervian, Deep Speech is only really concentrated in the areas where Phervians still have a decent presence such as the Isle of the Lost or Taoul Reza Noach. It is also a common language among schoolers as a large part of history is only recorded in it. Deep speech script actually comes from Gnomish instead of the other way around.

Draconic

The Language of Dragons, the Greatwyrms, and Draconics. It is one of the oldest languages of Undinia. The Silver Legion, Purple Knights, and The New Draconic Empire. Many others learn the language as well and it is thought that it will once day replace Common as the main language. This Language has its own script.

Dwarvish

Spoken by the Dwarfs, especially in the Dwarvish under the empire, many schoolers believe it was a dying language until they realize it's the only language spoken within the under empire. It is derived from the Primordial language and script, specifically the Terrari dialect.

Elvish

The oldest living Language in Undinia, Elvish is split into dialects along the same lines as the Elf subraces. Primarily spoken in the Elvan cities, it is also common throughout Rivell. It uses the Slyvan script.

Giant

The language of Giants and their Kin, Giant is derived from pure Primordial. This makes it easier to understand by those who know Primordial specifically. Concentrated more in the east, it has started permitting more westward. Several Beast speech dialects also seem to take influence from it, though not enough to make them a new language. It uses the Primordial Script.

Gnomish

One of the Sylvan languages, Gnomish came through with the Gnomes. Though the language is slowly dying as Gnomes become less numerous, it still thrives among any Gnomish population. Deep speech script does come from the Gnomish Language, that in turn uses the Slyvan script.

Goblin

The third Sylvan language, Goblin is said to be the language of tricksters and madmen. Many of the original thieves and smugglers were goblins leading to the forbidden languages all having roots in them. After the Fey Age with the rise of magical inventing and new Vedalken documents rising, Goblin speech started getting influenced by Vedalken, causing it to start to change.

Halfling

The language of The small folk is one of the newest languages of Undinia, not truly separating from Common till the Blood Age. It is only really found in Glitterbay, though halflings do speak it elsewhere. It uses the common form of Infernal script.

Infernal

Sometimes called trade tongue in place of common, Infernal is the language of Tieflings and fiends. Having to meet the slaves halfway in the slave revolts to trade it fussed with the broken Deepspeech to create common. Thought to have a single dialect, it's been discovered that Lacertillia uses their own dialect as an official language, though this is drifting more away from Infernal. It uses its own script.

Orcish

Taught to the Orcs of the Blessed Plains by Jam-Jam, Orcish became the official language of the Empire of Akoom during the Divine Age, only being replaced by Celestial during the Blood Age, The language is still highly spread on the western continent. Orcish is a purely spoken language, with anything written being in Celestial.

Sylvan

The official Language of The fey courts, Slyvan has leaked into Undinia through various travelers. While it was spread out sparsely among schoolers, and the few Fey that lived on Undinia, it became more prevalent in the Fey age when the Fey court appeared. It uses its own script.

National Languages

These are the languages connected to specific areas rather than races, Normally the second language a person learns, several people learn multiple, especially diplomats and traders.

Beast Speech

The language of the Shifters, though it is technically a racial language, the sheer number of dialects of the language has caused a reclassification with the individual dialects being racial. Made up of hundreds of dialects including Gnoll, Leonin, Tri-keen, and Aven, the constant intermingling of these dialects prevents any from getting too separated from the core language. Each Dialect also has influence from different other languages including Primordial, Slyvan, Vedalken, and Orkish to name a few. This is a purely oral language, with most records being written in Draconic.

Celestial

The language of the Empire of Akoom, Celestial was created by new races joining the paladins struggling with Orkish, this makes it very close, with the two languages being slightly interchangeable. Celestial counts as written for both, using the Draconic script. Several dialects showed up for it depending on the region, leading to language splits.

Rivell

A hybrid of Draconic from Iti and Elvish from the nobility of the region, Rivell is spread within the kingdom of Rivell, split into Tourlusan, Basq, and Central dialects, with Tourlusan being influenced by Celestial, while Basq has a more Draconic influence. Rivell uses the Elvish version of the Sylvan script.

Shadow Speech

The language for the Shadow Republic and its successor city-states Shadow Speech was a combination of Abyssal and the language brought by Wralin and Veil. While unified to start the Language has started splintering among the various City-states, with Aten having the first true splinter language with Locz struggling to understand those speaking it. It uses the Vedalken script.

Undercommon

Used by pirates, smugglers, and the black markets of the world. Undercommon was developed by those trading with Goblin smugglers during the slave revolts. Prevalent among merchants, pirates, Smugglers, Sardia, and Voidcape, Undercommon is a language that switches between the styles of its two parent languages, causing those who don't know it problems deciphering it. Thought to be purely oral, a script has started to be developed for itself and Thieves cant.

Rare Languages

Languages that have become dead or harder to find. These are normally only known by schoolers with a few exceptions.

Abyssal

Also known as the language of dark magic, Abyssal is known by schoolers, demons, and some mages, It is also popular in the wilderness of Frostmourn. The bases of Shadow Speech, Abyssal was known by both Wralin and Veil. While the language was frowned upon and later outlawed by the Empire of Akoom, it has survived past them. It uses the Vedalken script.

Primordial

Thought to be the Language of Undinia itself, Primordial is split into four dialects, Inferni, Terrari, Aquai, and Thundari, with a fifth having split into its own language, Quori. Though normally spoken by Schoolers, several powerful visitors have also spoken it, including Zumil speaking Inferni with Locz.

Quori

The language of spirits, is a purely oral language, using Primordial as a written form. Quori is known only by those connected to spirits, the non-animalistic Touched, dryads, and mediums. The language is thought to be dead, though it exists in the quiet corners of the world.

Thieve's Cant

Exclusively known by criminal organizations of the silent lake, Thieve's cant combines words from both Shadow speech and Undercommon, though there is a Rivellian form used by bards. You can only learn the language if a mentor is willing to teach you, and they're very careful about who they teach. Thought to be purely oral, a script has started to be developed for itself and Undercommon.

Vedalken

A true dead language, to the point those who find a way to instantly translate any written language often get headaches reading Vedalken. It only exists in old scrolls, tomes, and letters. Though it is thought to hold the secrets to Undinia's continued survival.

Languages relationship map