Beastmen interactions?

[Morningstar1337]

This was started because of all the things I think would never work had our charatcer not have the Echo, I also include the Beast Tribe quests, because I though that they would have their own language for the most part (Sylphs an Moogles might be an exception)

 

And yet. Several NPCs (Tarrison, Tataramu, Voyce, Loonh Gah, etc) were also involved with these quests despite not having the echo and still seem to be capable of communication with them. What is going on? Are the Beastmen actual speaking English/Japanese/German/French?

[Branson Thorne]

I think in most regards. Yes.

 

In HW there are quite a few quests that have NPCs communicating with various beast tribes. And Moogles are a different story, I think mostly only the WoL can see those.

[Delilah Scythewood]

I think, as in any world be it fiction or real life, people adapt and learn languages as needed. Especially hundreds of years ago when foreign trade and commerce was so common that if you didn't speak the language you usually hired someone who did! Money, money, money.

 

I imagine there is a 'common' language that everyone speaks (think Common and Orcish from WoW) and then the beast tribes have their own language that is far more private. I can't remember of a place where it says such outright, but that would be a good guess to make. Though you don't really hear the other races speak in any kind of foreign tongue, it also wouldn't be surprising if it was indeed a thing. Sylphs, for example, have their own differing ways of communicating. Like dancing when they say hello! While not a language in itself, it still fits.

 

I think the game just glosses over it since it isn't really a focus in any of the things we do in the grand scheme of things. It makes a nice head canon though!

[Andromeda]

Well, the Echo translates all spoken language (written is a source of debate still) and there are a lot (in raw numbers, at least, though probably very few as a percent of the population) of people with the Echo. This probably made the transition from beastmen speaking their native language to speaking Eorzean somewhat simpler as they would likely be useful in facilitating the teaching of languages and raising interest among beast tribes for learning Eorzean.

 

How do we suppose the beastmen speak Eorzean and those interacting with them aren't Echo users or are speaking the native languages of the beast tribes? Well, I'm basing that at least in part on the colonialism that Eorzeans have employed toward beast tribes, but also that beast tribes appear able to communicate with one another, per the Vath quests. And some beastmen do business in city-state controlled lands, meaning they'd need to communicate with a vast majority of Eorzeans. 

 

So my supposition is that in the five years between 1.0 and ARR there was a major push to teach beastmen Eorzean, likely as an effort to 'civilize' them.

[Kilieit]

Hmm - I know Limsa Lominsa still welcomes beastmen traders. I think Ul'dah used to (and now emphatically does not; beastmen currently aren't allowed within the city at all).

 

Trade is a big motivator for learning language. Obviously Limsa still does - look anywhere in the lower decks and you'll probably see at least one beastman. And I think Ul'dah accepting beastman trade is within living memory - I remember this one leve in Drybone where you have to escort a clueless Amalj'aa (eta: see below) merchant away from the settlement, and he doesn't understand why they won't trade with him ( ).

 

And as for the Sylphs, they seem to have something of a diplomatic history with Gridania that could explain why they would learn "Common" as well.

[LystAP]

Hmm - I know Limsa Lominsa still welcomes beastmen traders. I think Ul'dah used to (and now emphatically does not; beastmen currently aren't allowed within the city at all).

 

Trade is a big motivator for learning language. Obviously Limsa still does - look anywhere in the lower decks and you'll probably see at least one beastman. And I think Ul'dah accepting beastman trade is within living memory - I remember this one leve in Drybone where you have to escort a clueless Amalj'aa merchant away from the settlement, and he doesn't understand why they won't trade with him ( ).

 

And as for the Sylphs, they seem to have something of a diplomatic history with Gridania that could explain why they would learn "Common" as well.

It was a goblin trader, which is strange considering the presence of Mutamix. The law banning beastmen traders was a Royalist decree, probably by Nanamo's predecessor.

 

Parts of the Syndicate doesn't particularly care for it, considering that there are Ul'dahian traders in Limsa (as well as in Ul'dah itself, if you finished all four of the original Beastmen tribe quests) bemoaning their countrymen's racism (and lack of financial vision.) [it is said in the Hildebrand quest chain that there were books about how the Amal'jaa fought alongside Ul'dah against Sil'dah.]

 

In Limsa, the Kobolds were the ones that taught the pirates how to melt and refine cobalt, if I recall the ARM quest chain. They had a formal territorial agreement with Limsa (which Limsa unilaterally broke and made Y'shtola grumpy).

[Gabineaux]

I think in most regards. Yes.

 

In HW there are quite a few quests that have NPCs communicating with various beast tribes. And Moogles are a different story, I think mostly only the WoL can see those.

 

The moogles in the churning mists have chosen to show themselves to people. I wanna say Estineneneineneien was all surprised and "wtf" when he saw them.

[Kilieit]

It was a goblin trader' date=' which is strange considering the presence of Mutamix.[/quote']

 

Oh yeah, there we go. I just remembered they spoke oddly. Oops.