The kanji-esque character do appear to be some form of written language, likely aesthetically based off kanji. I remember a NPC blurb about one that specifically meant "Doma."
However, I don't think the languages themselves are exactly full-fledged anymore, much like how we're given the Roegadyn language. We have a handful of words that have been mixed into the common, but not really much of a sense of grammar or syntax, which are requirements for a language to well...be a language. If it can't stand on its own without hinging on "common," then it probably is more of somethign that slowly died out over the ages. Otherwise, I'd expect that we'd see far more of it, especially in placed like Sui no Sato, which is pretty cut off from the rest of civilization.
For me, I'm fine with using terms and substituting common words when it's something I think the people RPing with me would appreciate. I'd personally hold off on translating full phrases or sentences, as we don't really see evidence of that happening in game. (And google translation tends to not make the greatest grammar or word agreement. It makes a decent dictionary and translator for phrases.)
However, I don't think the languages themselves are exactly full-fledged anymore, much like how we're given the Roegadyn language. We have a handful of words that have been mixed into the common, but not really much of a sense of grammar or syntax, which are requirements for a language to well...be a language. If it can't stand on its own without hinging on "common," then it probably is more of somethign that slowly died out over the ages. Otherwise, I'd expect that we'd see far more of it, especially in placed like Sui no Sato, which is pretty cut off from the rest of civilization.
For me, I'm fine with using terms and substituting common words when it's something I think the people RPing with me would appreciate. I'd personally hold off on translating full phrases or sentences, as we don't really see evidence of that happening in game. (And google translation tends to not make the greatest grammar or word agreement. It makes a decent dictionary and translator for phrases.)
