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Lesser-used and Non-native Languages

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 8:52 pm
by KrisButt
I've perused the forums looking for a similar question to this but haven't quite found a definitive answer.

How are languages that are not confirmed/approved/standard handled? As an example, I have a gnoll who cannot speak proper Common, but speaks Orc well and Gnoll fluently. She is an Arkaz native and I use their language system on that plane, so it was never an issue about being understood.

If I am wanting to type things that others will understand, how do I go about things? Is is a necessity to make up a language and post a translation chart for others, or is emoting and speaking in "translated Common" alright? I.E. "*speaks in a series of yips and growls* I'm speaking Gnoll right now." I'd presume it'd be up to player honor system to not metagame.

Another related question would be dialects such as off-world versions of a similar language, such as another plane's Elven or something? Would the player use Nanshilae exactly, modify words to indicate a dialect, or construct another language to substitute?

Re: Lesser-used and Non-native Languages

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:02 pm
by Brayon
Elven on Hala and Arkaz is the same Elven that Dragonari and Sereg use. Its a combination of Forgotten Realms and Tolkien Elven that was printed by The Grey Company, and you can download a Word List and Phrase Dictionary from their website. The SIMSTools that Hala and Arkaz use randomly generates words, and symbols that doesn't follow the Grey Company Elven. :-)

Avlis' Elven language is purely an Avlis experience, with its roots in the Hebrew Language, and has an Active word List you can find here on the forums, and on the wiki, in an OOC manner. In an IC manner, its derived from the original language of the Spiritkin that lived on Avlis Years ago, and is completely different from Hala's and Arkaz's native Elven. Tairis has yet another Elven Language that is based on Real World Gaelic.

No one should fault you for the "*Speaks in another language* ABCDEF." I've seen a lot of it done over the years. :-)

Re: Lesser-used and Non-native Languages

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 1:51 am
by KrisButt
Oh good; that makes sense! Thanks Brayon. :)

Re: Lesser-used and Non-native Languages

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 5:19 am
by Sunscream
Unrelated to the main post, but just to clarify something Brayon wrote: It's Drangonari and Avariel that use FR elvish. The Sereg'wethrin only use it for the names of some ranks.

Re: Lesser-used and Non-native Languages

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 2:46 pm
by Soshus Eblum
In my experience...Bardic knowledge/lore rp allows for some DM discretion pertaining to deciphering, reading, understanding and conveying all kinds of languages and dialects.