THE LANGUAGES OF HYDAELYN
Evidence of Multiple Languages Today
The existence of the Echo’s power “to transcend words†is, in and of itself, proof of the continued existence of lingual diversity in the present day. When you think about it, what a terribly useless gift being able to understand every language would be if literally everyone in the world spoke a universally common tongue, as the game would have the majority of our interactions appear. While it’s true most of the Eorzean region speaks this somewhat universal tongue, it wasn’t always so until very recent history, and even now there are languages not everyone can speak, even if we can.
Languages of the Spoken Races
Hyur (“Common Tongueâ€)
Padjal (“Padjaliâ€)
Elezen
Roegadyn
Lalafell (“Lalafellinâ€)
Miqo’te (“Huntspeakâ€)
Au Ra
Amalj’aa (“Amaljicâ€)
Ixal (“Ixaliâ€)
Sylph (“High Sylphicâ€)
Sahagin (“Rhotano Bloodcantâ€)
Moogle (“Mooglespeakâ€)
Vanu Vanu
Gnath & Vath (“Gnathicâ€)
Goblin (“Gobbiespeakâ€)
Dragons (“Dragonspeakâ€)
Accents
Unfortunately, with accents I had surprisingly very little to go on. Listing off the “Lominsan†or “Minsan†accent seemed rather unnecessary, but outside of the Lominsans I only found mentions that a variety of accents do exist. Garleans have an accent, though the manner of their conscription makes placing such an accent impossible. There are a lot of accents in Limsa apparently, which makes sense for a port city to the world at large. There’s more on this in Haldberk’s quote below. Finally, two Gridanian based references - the most relevant one being the levequest which subtly hints that Eorzeans have a large range of accents.
Foreign Tongues
Meracydia
Allag
Sharlayan
Doma
*While it’s uncertain if Hingashi uses a separate dialect, at first glance and with what little information we have on the Far Eastern island city-state, it appears that both of these neighboring city-states speak the same language. This would make sense given trade between the two, similar racial makeup, and both city-states having trade routes established to Eorzea and the Near East.
I was unable to find any specifics on the languages of Othard’s other city-states, Bozja and Rabanastre, but lore citing Bozja as once being Othard’s commercial hub, it’s likely the citizens spoke a variety of languages and dialects, many likely belonging to the Xaela tribes.
The Doman Dilemma: Dialect or Language?
This topic in particular is what causes the majority of language contention I see on the forums. Is Doman a language or, as a passage in the lore book suggests, is it simply one dialect of the Common Tongue of the Hyur? Here’s the quote that stirred the pot:
Edit: I want to add also for the newly arisen debate that information in the Lore book is not always accurate and is also told from a largely in-universe perspective, as is the case with this passage - note the “leads many to perceive it†so this is a Lominsan hearing a Doman trying to speak the Common Tongue and saying it’s a strange dialect. I think this passage would be more accurate if it read: “The Raen… …have adopted the common tongue of the Hyur there.†Which is far more accurate and falls in line with we’re told in the Raen (Doman) Naming Conventions. Okay, back to the regular scheduled post.
Unfortunately, this may ultimately depend on one’s view on what constitutes a language versus a dialect - a research topic that’s nearly as confusing and unclear in its own right. In Linguistics, the distinction is made based upon mutual intelligibility. Simply put, if two languages can be spoken and both speakers understand one another, they’re speaking two dialects of the same language. But if two languages are spoken and neither can understand the other, they’re actually two separate languages. However, this works on a bit of a continuum and gets more complicated the longer you delve into the topic SO...
1) The game and NPC dialogue calls it “language†and “tongue†on multiple occasions:
2) The Domans, and likely by extension the Hingashi, use an entirely separate alphabet from Eorzeans as evidenced by the Doman flag, Chimatsuri’s glyphs, and the Mudras utilized in shinobi casting techniques.
![[Image: u0Ei7tU.png]](http://i.imgur.com/u0Ei7tU.png)
3) The Far East has developed isolated and independent (for the most part) of outside cultures from the west. The exception to this would be some traders, who would’ve adopted Common as a trade language from western merchants.
I’ve seen it argued that as the Allagan Empire controlled the entirety of the known world 5000 years ago, a universal base language could’ve formed at this time and remained in place into the present day. I think all of the above lore cited contradicts that theory, but does not totally refute it. But, Allagan-centric terms in a seemingly unknown language, such as “Egi,†seems to illustrate how far we’ve come from a once-common language if there was any.
New lore on the birth of the Eorzean alphabet during the latter Fourth Astral Era by Eorzean Hyur some 4000 years ago also seems to throw this theory into doubt. Would Othardians be privy to this new language formed by the priests? Especially given Kipih Jakkya’s quote saying Atomos is a word from an ancient Hyuran myth that apparently pre-dates the Eorzean Common tongue.
So is Eorzean Common and the Doman tongue different enough where they constitute two separate languages? I say yes, based upon evidence that Oboro and his shinobi are still attempting to learn the Eorzean tongue and that the two written languages are largely alien to the other group. Though, as is often the case with living languages, the introduction of Eorzean Common as a trade language into everyday Far Eastern life since the Imperial annexation of the continent, a dialect of our Common may also be spoken in Othard. But I think that ultimately if two Domans were talking amongst themselves in Doma, they would use the Doman tongue that a common Eorzean speaker would not be able to understand if he were eavesdropping.
- Hingan/Doman Language Discussion
Evidence of Multiple Languages Today
The existence of the Echo’s power “to transcend words†is, in and of itself, proof of the continued existence of lingual diversity in the present day. When you think about it, what a terribly useless gift being able to understand every language would be if literally everyone in the world spoke a universally common tongue, as the game would have the majority of our interactions appear. While it’s true most of the Eorzean region speaks this somewhat universal tongue, it wasn’t always so until very recent history, and even now there are languages not everyone can speak, even if we can.
Minfilia Wrote:As an unexpected side effect of the gift, it seems the ability to reach into the soul of another also allows some of us to understand their words without having to comprehend the sounds they utter. In short, the Echo has granted these fortunate souls mastery of every language existing on Hydaelyn.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:For those blessed with the power to transcend words, language no longer poses a barrier to intercultural communication. Voiced utterances fade and are replaced by an internal understanding of another's intentions. Conversely, words spoken by one with this power are immediately understood by all, without need of linguistic interpretation.
Minfilia Wrote:My fellow Eorzeans. I am Minfilia, Mistress of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. There exist myriad barriers that divide us─those of race and nation, language and creed, to name but a few. Such barriers serve to isolate us from our neighbors... yet they also serve to define who we are. Shorn of them, there would be little to distinguish one from another, and the rich variety of our lives would give way to sterile orthodoxy. These barriers can never truly be broken down, of course─not so long as there is liberty in the world─but they can be transcended! Verily, we do so now in coming together for this grand endeavor, to fight side by side in defense of our shared home!
The Paths We Walk Wrote:...Merchants of all nations speak a common tongue, and its words are coin. Needless to say, there is little profit to be had in prejudice, especially against those who have received the patronage of a count.
Nenekani Wrote:Nenekani can see the past no more clearly than any man might if he closed his eyes and pictured his breakfast. However, the Gods did see fit to bless me with a proficiency in languages, including those of the beast tribes. It is an aptitude that has proven not only useful, but also profitable.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:In times of eld, countless tongues and dialects were spoken regularly by the various peoples of Eorzea. As migration and cultural exchange between the races became more common, a universal language arose, easing the burden of communication between different people. This language, which came to be known as the common tongue, is now spoken by the vast majority of the realm's residents. It is believed that Hyuran priests also played a vital role in the creation of the Eorzean alphabet at the end of the Fourth Astral Era, though the precise details are lost to history.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:The Fourth Astral Era : For approximately fifteen hundred years the silent war against knowledge continued, the church manipulating what knowledge (if any) trickled its way down to the masses. Religious leaders went even as far as introducing a new alphabet for their holy scriptures, taught only to men and women of the cloth, so as to solidify their control over the realm through the continued illiteracy of the common people. It is therefore ironic that this alphabet for the privileged would eventually evolve into the Eorzean script used throughout the realm today.
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Languages of the Spoken Races
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:The sole requirements for being classified as a spoken are that the intelligent creature not only possesses an independent language, but that the language be capable of interpretation by another spoken of a differing genus. Some examples of spoken not listed* below include the five races of Eorzea, the Au Ra, and the realm's myriad beastmen.*Listed: Cyclops, Tonberry, Dragon-turned Ishgardians, Opken, Tempered, and Sirens.
Minfilia Wrote:You see, in the eyes of the Empire, the ability to communicate with the beast tribes makes you one of them.
Cenmin Wrote:You say it is unaspected crystals you seek? Then you were wise to come to Cenmin, for I speak over thirty dialects of beast tongue. Now, which dialect would you have me translate "unaspected crystal" into first? And fear not, I am equally adept at all of them.
Hyur (“Common Tongueâ€)
1.0 Character Creation Wrote:The Hyur are said to have first traveled to Eorzea from her surrounding continents and islands. Some one thousand years and three great migratory waves later, they are now the most populous of all the civilized races. They exhibit a relatively modest physique, both in height and build, and are known for their peculiarly short, rounded ears. Hyur are well suited for traveling long distances by foot, a trait thought to account for their swift proliferation. Their espousal of an eclectic variety of languages and traditions is a legacy of their diverse heritage - as is their resulting lack of cultural identity.
The Raven - Atomos Identified Wrote:Kipih Jakkya here, bright-eyed and sharp-eared, bringing you a report on the continued assaults on aetheryte camps by the mysterious floating monster now known as Atomos. The name, which roughly translates to “The Indivisible†in the Eorzean tongue, comes from an ancient Hyur myth of an entity with the power to breach the borders between worlds.
Padjal (“Padjaliâ€)
Padjal Naming Conventions Wrote:Words in the Padjal language are normally separated by spaces. However, when a group of words forms a single concept (such as a proper noun, or a compound word), they are connected with hyphens. In addition to NPC names, the ancient language can be seen used in names of sacred locations around the Twelveswood. If a name is Padjali, you can assume that the location has been there for a long time.
Sightseeing Vista #040 - Haukke Manor Wrote:Long frowned upon by the people of Gridania as a symbol of excess, the Seedseers would finally submit to pressure from the citizenry, selling the deed to the manor to Lady Amandine of House Dartancours. The word "Haukke" is of ancient Padjali origin and means, "to speak without words."
Dwarf Catfish Wrote:An undersized variety of catfish found in still, swampy waters across Aldenard. The Padjali name for this fish is "gee-gee," supposedly taken from the grinding sound created when it moves its fins.
Elezen
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:Though the Elezen adopted the common tongue to facilitate communication with their Hyuran allies, the old Elezen tongue is far from a dead language. On the contrary, numerous words from the old tongue have found their way into common parlance, earning a place in the day-to-day vocabulary of other races.
Roegadyn
Encylopedia Eorzea Wrote:While the old Roegadyn tongue lives on in Aerslaent and the Abalathian hinterlands, the Roegadyn of Limsa Lominsa as well as those who ply their trade as sellswords and adventurers have learned the common tongue, born out of necessity due to their frequent contact with other races.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:In contrast to the Sea Wolves,* the Hellsguard have adopted names rooted in the common tongue, that they might be more easily remembered and addressed by other races, in particular the masters they serve as sellswords. Names consist of two words, with male names typically derived from the natural world ("Tall Mountain") and female names often taken from flora ("Blue Lily"). Surnames are rare, perhaps owing to the fierce individuality of those that choose to leave their home behind. Though few in number, there remain some who still speak the old tongue.*Implies that many Sea Wolves are still fluent in the Roegadyn tongue in the present day.
Lalafell (“Lalafellinâ€)
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:As befitting their status as a race of traders, the Lalafell were unsurprisingly among the first to adopt and master the common tongue of the Hyur. Nevertheless, it is said that the old Lalafellin tongue is still spoken today on their island homes to the south.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:The seas far to the south of Eorzea also teem with countless tiny islets. Interaction between Eorzea and the southern isles is remarkably abundant, with most trade going through Limsa Lominsa and its busy ports.
DAT Files Wrote:Throughout history, the Lalafell passed their histories down through song, which is why even now many use heavy alliteration in their speech.
Fafajoni Wrote:Permit me to tell you something of this place. The name comes from an ancient tongue, Halatali meaning “the land of many shadows.†It was here that our distant ancestors first settled, and─ Bah, you have not come all this way for a lesson in history.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:Coliseum management established these training grounds to see to the honing of their gladiators' skills. The name comes from the ancient Lalafellin tongue, and means "the land of many shadows." Scholars believe that the founders of Belah'dia* settled briefly here, seeking shelter from Thanalan's blazing sun.*Suggests that the Mhach (founders of Belah’dia) spoke this ancient Lalafellin tongue.
Monke Onke Wrote:A giant freshwater fish found in the tepid rivers and lakes of the Black Shroud. Gridanian records state that the first monke onke was brought to the Black Shroud by the realm's first Lalafellin settlers, the name monke onke meaning "friendship" in the settlers' native tongue.
Miqo’te (“Huntspeakâ€)
Miqo'te Naming Conventions Wrote:The names of these tribes contained many sounds which were difficult to represent with the existing Eorzean alphabet; but the fact that there were the same exact number of tribes as letters in the Eorzean alphabet was taken as a sign that they were destined to make the new realm their home, and so assigned each tribe with a letter/sound that was closest to its name. Over time, this resulted in the changing of the pronunciation to more closely resemble the pronunciation of the Eorzean letter than that of the original word.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:Despite their inherently solitary nature, the Miqo'te adopted the common tongue early on, born of a need to barter with other races to procure materials with which to craft their hunting tools and weapons. Remnants of the old tongue can be observed in the distinctive Miqo'te "huntspeak" - a system of tongue-clicks and whistles used to communicate with companions while in pursuit of quarry.
Au Ra
Au Ra Naming Conventions Wrote:Unlike Raen names, where the spellings are pretty much fixed, and there are no real variations for a single name, individual Xaela names come with multiple spellings, all of them acceptable. The Xaela, being nomadic, live lives that are one part solitary (when traveling as a clan) and one part community (when they interact with other clans they come across in their migrations). Because of this, similar names are used throughout the Othardian steppe, but they often feature slightly different spellings due to evolving separately in isolated clans. Also a factor is that, until recently, writing was almost non-existent amongst the tribes─written language simply not a necessity in the nomadic lifestyle.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:On the steppes which they call home, the Xaela speak the old Auri tongue to this day. The Raen, however, having assimilated to Far Eastern culture, have adopted the common tongue of the Hyur. Their spoken language differs from that spoken in Eorzea, which leads many to perceive it as a slightly odd dialect.
Geneq Wrote:In addition to the standard language used by most of the Xaela in cross-tribe communication, the Geneq employ a complex system of whistles and clicks which resemble the cloud- and wavekin of the steppe.
Amalj’aa (“Amaljicâ€)
Hihibaru Wrote:A letter you can't make heads or tails of? Let me see here... Hmmm, this is written in Amaljic. You're in luck! Just so happens I learned a spot of it back in the day, so as to expand my potential clientele. Seems the contents pertain to... Whoa! People trafficking!?
??? Wrote:Many of our agents employ the "parley" tiles when negotiating with beast tribes. Since the rules are known throughout Eorzea, the game is especially convenient for those of us who do not speak the Amaljic or Ixali tongues.
Ixal (“Ixaliâ€)
Cenmin Wrote:Ahem! I am fluent in over twenty dialects of both Amaljic and Ixali. I might add that learning the barbaric tongues was anything but simple. Both languages contain sounds that are all but impossible for members of the five races to reproduce. It took many years of rigorous training to acquire the knack, but the rewards for my efforts have made it all worthwhile.
Sylph (“High Sylphicâ€)
Fernehalwes Wrote:Alright, so to start off, Old High Sylphic is quite different from the language spoken by the Five Races in not only sound, but in structure. I’m not going to go into the fine grammatical details here because that would take a far too long and I have far too much unfinished patch translation waiting for me, but I will do a quick walk through the lyrics.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:Many sylphs are skilled in the languages of other races, their interactions with both men and beastmen driven by an irrepressible curiosity. It was these qualities that long ago led the woodland folk to join hands with ambitious merchants, and aid in the establishment of a thriving trade in crystals.
Cliaux Wrote:Many of the Sylphs you see in Gridania can speak the language of the free cities. Perhaps that is why they have been accepted by the people here. Words allow us to paint the picture of our soul. Without them, we are a blank... and as you are no doubt aware, men are wont to fear the unknown.
??? Wrote:As a child, I would spend countless bells with my nose in scholarly tomes, trying to learn their language. I dreamed of asking them to tell me all about their hidden kingdom in the Black Shroud, you see.
Sahagin (“Rhotano Bloodcantâ€)
Baderon Wrote:Name o' the place is Shposhae, but don't ask me to spell it fer ye, 'cause I can 'ardly say it, let alone fathom 'ow one might commit the bastard to parchment. 'Tis a Sahagin word, if ye believe the bilge them scholarlies spout. Though quite 'ow they came to be privy to that knowledge is beyond me, seein' as 'ow the buggers barely venture out o' doors, much less chat to bloody fishbacks.
J'harll Wrote:A stone tablet, covered with the letters or runes of a language far older than any found in our archives. We have been attempting to decipher it for a sennight's space, and believe it may reveal more regarding the treasure that your quarry and his Kraken brethren are rumored to have stolen.
Y'shtola Wrote:Ah yes, Rhotano Bloodcant. Few remain who are versed in this tongue. “And fain to suffer fell grammaryes, Wherewith to loose o'erreaching seas...â€
J'harll Wrote:You can read the tablet!? Tell me, what does the rest say!?
Las Vegas Lore Panel 2014 Wrote:Anwyll: We’ve heard of a language one time.. Rhotano Bloodcant. It was referred to as an ancient seafaring cultures language and somehow it ended up on a tablet that may have been connected to a horn that might have summoned something very powerful that the Sahagin may have wanted. Are the Sahagin connected to Rhotono Bloodcant?
MCKF: Yes, this is their’s. You’re absolutely right, its Sahagin based.
Moogle (“Mooglespeakâ€)
Nonolato Wrote:Long have our guilds sought to defend the lives of those who honor the forest and the elementals—and to cast out those who do not. We make efforts to learn mooglespeak, but our control of the language is rudimentary at best. Without the conjurers, this endeavor would be completely hopeless. I know not of such things, but there are some that can use mooglespeak, whether through divine providence or study. And not all of them are forestborn.
Gugula Wrote:<incoherent mooglespeak> My accent sounds off to you? Well, as an adventure adept in a single language, your ear must be very acute, I'm sure.
Fufucha Wrote:Those who understand mooglespeak are few enough as it is. It wouldn't be proper to impose on you without due payment. Here, take this.
Heavensward Sightseeing Vista #025 - Mok Oogl Island Wrote:An island whose name, in the tongue of the Vanu Vanu, translates to "a noise heard on high." On the island stands a monument engraved with a mark* of moogle design, but no sign of the creatures themselves, leaving its origins clouded in mystery?*Moogle written language
Vanu Vanu
Mahu Wai Wrote:Mahu wai grow from the floating islands of Abalathia's Spine, releasing scores of thin transparent tendrils into the sky to catch their prey and haul it back to their giant maws. The word mahu wai means "bottomless greed" in the Vanu tongue.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:Despite their lack of "civilized" progress, however, the avian race is far from being dull-witted. On the contrary, only a few years had passed since the arrival of the Ishgardians before members of the tribes began speaking the common tongue with impressive proficiency.
Gnath & Vath (“Gnathicâ€)
Heavensward Sightseeing Vista #048 - Loth ast Vath Wrote:Cast out from the main colony, a minority of Gnath known as the Nonmind built Loth ast Vath as a sanctuary for other exiles. The word 'vath' is derogatory in the Gnathic tongue, referring to those who can no longer link their thoughts to the Overmind. Possessed of individual personalities unlike their Onemind brothers, the Vath learn to live with each other's differing thoughts in the makeshift colony.
Ysayle Wrote:How strange must spoken language seem to those who once shared minds... 'Tis little wonder the Vath are by turns so obscure and transparent in their meaning.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:These "Nonmind," or "Vath," as they are known, seek to distinguish their identities by mimicking the naming practices of other races. There appears to be no adherence to any particular rule or convention, with one Vath adopting the name of an Elezen hunter (Cibleroit), one named after his obsession with new cuisine (the Hungerer), and yet another titled simply for his chosen profession (Vath historian).
Goblin (“Gobbiespeakâ€)
Fernehalwes Wrote:With Goblin Speak, and how it's kind of English but Quasi-English. The reason that they use this kind of broken English is that they'll say something like "busydeal" when they talk about "business." But yeah, they have this English but it's like this broken type of English with these weird combo words. And the reasoning behind that is because the goblin language has a bunch of complex words in their language, but because the goblins are merchants, they learned English so they could speak with the people of Eorzea. Because those people who don't have the Echo cannot communicate with these people.
So the goblins want to communicate with everyone because they want to sell their things. So they're translating their language into English (Eorzean), but because they have all of these words, these really complex words, that Eorzean doesn't have that fits that term perfectly in the goblin language, they basically take two words they know, stick them together, to make this term. So you have terms like "quicktongue" which is "quickly speaking" but in their language it's one word so they just force the two English words together and speak like that.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:Known from their long history of frequenting the settlements of man, goblins are seen traveling from city to city, absorbing the local wisdom as they hawk a plethora of wares drawn from their enormous "gobbiebags." Many scholars consider this migratory practice to have contributed significantly to the spread of knowledge between civilizations. Due to the transient nature of their visits, however, goblins often fail to fully grasp a region's laws and customs. This ignorance can lead to misunderstandings with the populace - the more serious infringements occasionally resulting in imprisonment or even bloodshed.
Dragons (“Dragonspeakâ€)
Fernehalwes Wrote:Every dragon has a name in the base draconian tongue, including the more prominent figures such as Bahamut, Vidofnir, Midgardsormr, etc. The 'Eorzean' names have been earned through the dragons' interactions with past civilizations. The elder dragons (especially those of Midgardsormr's first brood) have spent thousand (tens-of-thousands) of years roaming about Hydaelyn. During that time, they have come in contact with many different peoples--some primitive, some advanced. Some with which they warred, some with which they fostered peace. Those peoples gave the dragons names in their own tongues. Some were based on existing words in those tongues, while others were phonetic interpretations, bastardizations, and subsequent degradations of a language that they could not accurately pronounce. These names took hold amongst the people of Eorzea, being passed down orally and in print, and effectively became the second names of the dragons. Rather than fight this, it was ultimately easier for the dragons to simply allow man to call them what they wished. Some of the dragons have even grown fond of these names, choosing to use them even when speaking with other dragons (who would otherwise know them by their draconian names).
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Accents
Unfortunately, with accents I had surprisingly very little to go on. Listing off the “Lominsan†or “Minsan†accent seemed rather unnecessary, but outside of the Lominsans I only found mentions that a variety of accents do exist. Garleans have an accent, though the manner of their conscription makes placing such an accent impossible. There are a lot of accents in Limsa apparently, which makes sense for a port city to the world at large. There’s more on this in Haldberk’s quote below. Finally, two Gridanian based references - the most relevant one being the levequest which subtly hints that Eorzeans have a large range of accents.
I'nairoh Wrote:One can never be too careful in a region crawling with thieves and brigands, so I duly concealed myself behind a nearby shrub. However, as they walked by, I knew right away that they were not the ruffians we are used to seeing here in Bloodshore. No, they were far too clean-cut, did not reek of grog or ale, and spoke with a queer accent. One was speaking into a linkpearl, and I heard him say something about juggernauts and ceruleum. Unfortunately, they passed out of earshot before I could make sense of the rest… and I had little desire to follow them.
Sundhimal Wrote:If the commonfolk were to learn that there are imperial spies amongst us, it would not be long before the first poor soul with a slightly foreign accent felt the 'justice' of the mob. Because of this, I ask that you refrain from spreading rumors of what you have learned and let the Barracudas handle the situation. It is what is best for the thalassocracy.
Hush Little Wailer Wrote:The ranks of Wailers swell, each with dust of a different land on her boots and the lilt of a different song in her voice. If they are to become comrades in arms, they must learn a new tongue: silence. No recruit emerges from the seven nights' ordeal unchanged, such is the power of the potion.
Gugula Wrote:<incoherent mooglespeak> My accent sounds off to you? Well, as an adventure adept in a single language, your ear must be very acute, I'm sure.
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Foreign Tongues
Haldberk Wrote:During a routine inspection, one of our field assessors discovered several crates of poisonous herbs, prohibited for import by thalassocratic decree. The captain of the ship was ordered to dispose of the offending crates immediately, or be denied entry into the city-state. However, the good fellow's grasp of our local tongue proved to be lacking, and he began to throw all his cargo overboard, rather than the few items in question. By the time our field assessor had stopped the captain, several crates filled with legitimate cargo bound for the Brugaire Consortium had been lost, and now the import company is seeking compensation for what they deem to be an error on our part. Miscommunication stemming from linguistic barriers are a daily occurrence here at the custom-house… though in my experience, rarely have they led to the discarding of proper cargo…
Now, if only there were some way to prevent similar… accidents from happening in the future. While we employ many assessors from every corner of the known world, it is nigh on impossible to find staff versed in every tongue we encounter. There have been rumors of a Twelve-sent few with the ability to comprehend all languages, be they of man or beast - but only a fool would believe such nonsense.
Camel Hair Wrote:Thick, brown hair of a Near Eastern monstrosity known as the camel. Dubious reports from sailors claim the beast stands thrice as high as a chocobo, can speak the tongues of man, and has massive humps upon its back which may contain water, wine, or even gold.
Y'shtola Wrote:I don’t want to say that we exegetes* are better than the other Sharlayan scholars, but there is no doubt that we have done our best to achieve excellence. Every one of us has a specialty. This allows us to cover large areas of knowledge, yet still research them thoroughly.*Exegesis includes a wide range of critical disciplines: textual criticism is the investigation into the history and origins of the text, but exegesis may include the study of the historical and cultural backgrounds for the author, the text, and the original audience. Other analyses include classification of the type of literary genres present in the text and analysis of grammatical and syntactical features in the text itself.
Meracydia
Urianger Wrote:'Twas a Meracydian dialect, if mine ears do not deceive─though one which beareth scant resemblance to any spoken in recent times. Aye. From their tongue, their words, and their attire, 'tis like that our antagonists were Meracydian─thralls to the Goddess Sophia and victims of the Allagans' incursions.
Allag
Y'mhitra Wrote:But you must know more of the avatar you have bound. In the ancient tongue of the Allagan Empire, it would be known as “Ifrit-Egi,†where “egi†translates approximately to “pure†or “the essence of.â€
Sharlayan
Necrologos: The Boughs Above Wrote:While walking a leg of Llymlaen's Footsteps in Cassiopeia Hollow, a pilgrim of the Twelve found a piece of parchment containing writings in an ancient hand he could not decipher. Upon return to Limsa Lominsa, the man handed the page over to the Mealvaan's Gate, and after further inspection by several log assessors, it was discerned that the writing was Sharlayan and the sheet was actually a page torn from a stolen copy of the Necrologos--a forbidden tome known to contain wards which bind arcane demons within its pages. The assessors believe there may still be more unclaimed pages and are asking adventurers to find them, put to rest any beasts summoned therefrom, and then destroy the parchment.
Necrologos: Adamantine Wills Wrote:Last night, an Amajina & Sons watchman making her rounds of the empty mines came across a soiled piece of parchment containing text written in a language unknown to the employee. As is required for anything found in the mines, she delivered the item to her supervisor, who, in turn, took it to the company assayers for inspection. When they could not decipher the queer markings, the assayers delivered the parchment to the Mineral Concern owners themselves, who, after much bickering, finally decided no amount of profit was worth risking their safety, and thus delivered it to Frondale's Phrontistery. There, the parchment was determined to be a page from the deadly Necrologos, and the guild immediately began hiring adventurers to travel to the Nanawa Mines, locate any more pieces of the tome, and destroy them and all the beasts that are summoned therefrom.
Doma
Oboro Wrote:My name is Oboro, and she is Tsubame. We hail from a village in Doma, several thousand malms across the sea. We are─ah, but perhaps you have no word for what we are. In our own tongue, one might call us shinobi.
Oboro Wrote:...Hm? Forgive me─this land and its tongue are still new to us. Nonetheless, we were able to lure Karasu here, but more than a few of our comrades gave their lives in the effort.
Oboro Wrote:You will recall that the art of ninjutsu involves using hand gestures called mudra to summon the energies of heaven, earth, and man─Ten, Chi, and Jin in the Doman tongue.*
*While it’s uncertain if Hingashi uses a separate dialect, at first glance and with what little information we have on the Far Eastern island city-state, it appears that both of these neighboring city-states speak the same language. This would make sense given trade between the two, similar racial makeup, and both city-states having trade routes established to Eorzea and the Near East.
I was unable to find any specifics on the languages of Othard’s other city-states, Bozja and Rabanastre, but lore citing Bozja as once being Othard’s commercial hub, it’s likely the citizens spoke a variety of languages and dialects, many likely belonging to the Xaela tribes.
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The Doman Dilemma: Dialect or Language?
This topic in particular is what causes the majority of language contention I see on the forums. Is Doman a language or, as a passage in the lore book suggests, is it simply one dialect of the Common Tongue of the Hyur? Here’s the quote that stirred the pot:
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:The Raen, however, having assimilated to Far Eastern culture, have adopted the common tongue of the Hyur. Their spoken language differs from that spoken in Eorzea, which leads many to perceive it as a slightly odd dialect.
Edit: I want to add also for the newly arisen debate that information in the Lore book is not always accurate and is also told from a largely in-universe perspective, as is the case with this passage - note the “leads many to perceive it†so this is a Lominsan hearing a Doman trying to speak the Common Tongue and saying it’s a strange dialect. I think this passage would be more accurate if it read: “The Raen… …have adopted the common tongue of the Hyur there.†Which is far more accurate and falls in line with we’re told in the Raen (Doman) Naming Conventions. Okay, back to the regular scheduled post.
Unfortunately, this may ultimately depend on one’s view on what constitutes a language versus a dialect - a research topic that’s nearly as confusing and unclear in its own right. In Linguistics, the distinction is made based upon mutual intelligibility. Simply put, if two languages can be spoken and both speakers understand one another, they’re speaking two dialects of the same language. But if two languages are spoken and neither can understand the other, they’re actually two separate languages. However, this works on a bit of a continuum and gets more complicated the longer you delve into the topic SO...
1) The game and NPC dialogue calls it “language†and “tongue†on multiple occasions:
Peasants By Day, Ninjas By Night Wrote:Your pronunciation of the Doman language seems to have satisfied Byakubu, who grants you passage into the ninja hideout. Speak with Oboro, who awaits you within.
Oboro Wrote:...Hm? Forgive me─this land and its tongue are still new to us. Nonetheless, we were able to lure Karasu here, but more than a few of our comrades gave their lives in the effort.
2) The Domans, and likely by extension the Hingashi, use an entirely separate alphabet from Eorzeans as evidenced by the Doman flag, Chimatsuri’s glyphs, and the Mudras utilized in shinobi casting techniques.
3) The Far East has developed isolated and independent (for the most part) of outside cultures from the west. The exception to this would be some traders, who would’ve adopted Common as a trade language from western merchants.
Encyclopedia Eorzea Wrote:Though connected geographically, for thousands of years little interaction has taken place between Ilsabard and Othard, the main reason being a combination of near-impassible mountain ranges and deadly wastelands which severely restrict all land routes. While coastal cities have experienced limited contact with the outside via trade, the overall isolation of Othard has allowed local cultures to evolve with little to no influence from the west. Only in the past two decades have things begun to change - the advent of airship technology thrusting open the once-closed doors of the Far East.
I’ve seen it argued that as the Allagan Empire controlled the entirety of the known world 5000 years ago, a universal base language could’ve formed at this time and remained in place into the present day. I think all of the above lore cited contradicts that theory, but does not totally refute it. But, Allagan-centric terms in a seemingly unknown language, such as “Egi,†seems to illustrate how far we’ve come from a once-common language if there was any.
New lore on the birth of the Eorzean alphabet during the latter Fourth Astral Era by Eorzean Hyur some 4000 years ago also seems to throw this theory into doubt. Would Othardians be privy to this new language formed by the priests? Especially given Kipih Jakkya’s quote saying Atomos is a word from an ancient Hyuran myth that apparently pre-dates the Eorzean Common tongue.
So is Eorzean Common and the Doman tongue different enough where they constitute two separate languages? I say yes, based upon evidence that Oboro and his shinobi are still attempting to learn the Eorzean tongue and that the two written languages are largely alien to the other group. Though, as is often the case with living languages, the introduction of Eorzean Common as a trade language into everyday Far Eastern life since the Imperial annexation of the continent, a dialect of our Common may also be spoken in Othard. But I think that ultimately if two Domans were talking amongst themselves in Doma, they would use the Doman tongue that a common Eorzean speaker would not be able to understand if he were eavesdropping.
- Hingan/Doman Language Discussion
