(07-19-2017, 11:15 PM)Nero Wrote:(07-13-2017, 04:18 AM)Valeera Wrote: While I understand why some people might be inclined to fall in line behind the "multiple dialects, single language" bit, I feel like that is near completely undercut by the simple presence of the particle "no".
"No" as most people hashing out this subject are likely aware, is not a word; it is a function of grammar. By establishing the presence of "no" in canon, SE established that the Hingan/Doman "dialect" is possessed of not only a distinction from "the common tongue" in vocabulary, but also (in whole or in part) grammatical structure. And I for one am entirely comfortable in calling a "dialect" that is distinct in its use of vocabulary, grammatical structure, and written alphabet a proper and unique language.
Interestingly enough, that assertion also establishes the existence of an Eorzean version of French and German, as well., since noble Elezen names use "de" as a preposition denoting "of", and "von" can be found in the form of "Baron Von Quiveron".
As I'm so fond of saying, it's very bad world building to not formally establish whether or not your setting has multiple languages, which is par for the course for Square, but the fringe information is useful.
The Eorzean version of French has been noted to be the old Elezen tongue.
