Languages Guide

Root Languages

Root languages are not a family in of themselves, but separate and distinct languages that have combined to form the distinct families of languages. Most root language are extinct or redundant in today’s world, but there are always exceptions.

Laurum - A language foreign to the continent Laurum was brought to the Continent by the Gnomans. It was formally taught to any officials in the Empire, as well as Gnoman families themselves and this education has meant it has developed little in nearly a thousand years. While there a no true naive speakers, the tradition of teaching Laurum still continues as it has been adopted as the language of faith by the Cathirian Church.

Old Palish* - An old version of Palish that is generally extinct except among academics. It is named such due to its association with the Palus people, who were the most prominent speakers of this language, but in truth it was widely spoken in the north prior to and during the Gnoman period.

Brocledene* - Are precursor to the Hythnetic branch of Laurum languages, Brocledene was the second major human language spoken in the pre-Gnoman north. There are no native speakers of the language remaining and while a few Cirithlings are known to be fluent, it is considered defunct.

Elaraidd - A precursor language spoken by the northern western Elves. As a verbal language Elaradd is relatively unchanged owing to a strong oral tradition. The written side of the language is far more unclear however, having transitioned through several scripts over time. This in turn has meant, while Elaraidd can certainly pointed to as the progenitor language, it is very distinct from modern Elven tongues.

Family: Laurum-Vyrenetics

This Laurum-Vyrenetics family is categorised by languages stemming from the parent languages of Laurum and Old Palish.

Palish - The common tongue of Palingvyre, it is spoken commonly as a tertiary language in its primary ally, Rusager, as well as among the upper nobility in the Elven nations of Enthvyre and Alcoed. The language has also spawned several regional dialects, improper and inscrutable to non native speakers.

Forrey: A regional dialect from the north of Palingvyre, its relatively small number of speakers are the peasantry and gentry of the border duchies with the Forest of Wren. It was originally known as ‘Wrenforrey’, but over time has shortened to its current noun.

Grombian - A regional dialect in the south west of Palingvyre, Grombian is a dialect that developed from the urban crucibles of East and West Gromborough. Grombian is unique in a sense, as it is not derided to the same extent as other regional dialects, although that may well be due to it still being comfortably understandable by the higher classes, if a little crude.

Imperial - Very much a class divide, Imperial is a term used to describe the verbose vernacular adopted by the upper classes, it often borrows words from Laurum, but does not ascribe to its tenses nor sentence structure making it particularly infuriating for fluent Laurum speakers to converse in.

Wood’s Palish - A regional dialect predicted and observed by the renowned linguist, Benjamin Wood, this version of the Palish language mixes heavily with the Elaraidd language of Cwyrn spoken regionally in Alcoed. It is certainly a challenge, but one can just about converse with a Cwryn speaker given enough time.

Darmish - The only Palish dialect to not originate from Old Palish, it is controversial to include Darmish in the Laurum-Vyrenetics family, as many argue it should be considered to purely develop from Laurum. Darmish has been heavily influenced by modern Palish, however, which others say justifies its inclusion here. It is the closest one may get to a racial Darmia language.

Olusian - The dominant language of Rusager. Olusian hails from Olus, and was imposed by the new regime after the creation of Resalia. It still has a heavily reliance on Laurum for much of its structure and the similarities of the two languages are striking.

Resalan - The second language of Rusager, but far less spoken. Resalan was overtaken by Olusian, and generally discounted as it it served an identical purpose. Where it not for national pride it may have been discarded entirely, but the undercurrent of resistance against Olus lead to it surviving in small pockets.

Floralist Incantation - A fabricated language, Floralist Incantation was a language devised to fix the inherent flaw with Resalan that it could be understood by an Olusian speaker. It is purposefully inscrutable and if need be can be purposefully adapted to become incomprehensible even to a Resalan native.

Family: Laurum-Hythnetics

The Laurum-Hythnetics family stems from the parent languages of Laurum and Brocledene.

Xexish* - Another Vyrenetic precursor language, Xexish ultimately lead to the development of many of the perceived ‘Hythnetic’ languages. Despite its apparent utility, the discorporate nature of Hythnetic cultures mean Xexish as a spoken language is ultimately lost.

Sexen - Spoken in Sexenia, Sexen is not, ironically the most popular language in the Triumvirate, that being Mexish. Regardless, the two are similar in many regards and Sexen is preferred by the upper classes as a tie to the greatness of the historic kingdom.

Mexish - The language of the average citizen of Sexenia, while technically there are other languages spoken in the Sexen Triumvirate, none come close to Mexish in terms of broad spectrum understanding and so it has become a virtual necessity to know it. This was helped along as many of the Sexen officials appointed by King Aethelstan were Mexen and therefore spoke the language too.

Thyss - A minor language from Sexenia, it was the other national language alongside Mexen. While Mexen was for Messex, Thyss was for Thyssex, but as stated above has fallen heavily out of use.

Keoic* - The now extinct language spoken in Cathirian Keosis. Although rooted in both Brocledene and Laurum, a concerted effort to to further cleanse the language has seen it develop into Kedomish.

Kedomish - Spoken in Kedoma. Kedoma was originally Keosia, a Cathirian nation for a good two centuries. The Hythnetic rulers that came to control Kedoma had very much attempted to change the language drastically, but it was impossible to erase the Laurum roots that had formed the basis for the language. Kedomish is certainly distinct, but borrows heavily from other Laurum-Hythnetic languages.

Vidimic* - Vidimic was spoken in early Virdama for some time, but always had a precarious position. When Lothrec developed, it quickly became a staple of the nation owing to the significant Leodamite minority in the country, furthermore, internationally it was still more expedient to rely on Xexish, or even Sexen to communicate. When Leodama finally seceded, attempts where made to revitalise the language, but these plans were shelved as unviable and were ultimately lost when it was reconquered.

Lothrec - Lothrec is the universal language of the Leodmite people. Even beyond being Hythnetic, there has always been a strong ethnic conscience among them, so it is unsurprising that there language has been preserved as part of their traditions and culture.

Lothrec-Elland - Lothrec-Elland is a version of the language that is easier to parse for foreign dignitaries during diplomatic encounters. It uses the most prominent international Hythnetic language, Sexen, as a basis.

Family: Laurum-Elarites

These languages are formed from Laurum and Elaraidd. It should be highlighted that unlike the prior Laurum based families, the influence of Laurum here is vastly smaller and the languages have developed to be far more diverse than other families.

Enthric - The most prominent of the Elven languages fr two reasons. The first is that is spoken in Enthvyre, which is far more internationally known following its union with Palingvyre and the second is that it is one of the few languages that is self evidently Laurum influenced. While memebers of the Cathirian Church are usually taught Laurum, on the Elven Fringe, Enthric is a common substitute so as to give more access to other local languages.

Cwyrn - A regional Coeish dialect. When mixed with the Palish language spoken by the neighbouring Palingvyre, it lead to a the development of a separate language, known as Wood’s Palish

Family: Gwerinbraeg

Gwerinbraeg - A family of its own, Gwerinbraeg contains only one language that gives the family it’s name. Exclusivity of speakers, and the restrictive nature of the language have meant that it has changed very little. It should also be highlighted that this only refers to the verbal component of the language, which is incredibly difficult for non-Gwerinbryg to imitate.