Languages of the Realm

Despite the great size of the Flanaess, only six tongues are recognized as actual languages: Flan, Suloise, Ancient Baklunish, Old Oeridian, Common and the Rhennee Cant. Rhennee is considered less important in the Flanaess than the other five. A number of dialects exist, but there are not considered languages due to their close similarity to the major languages or their limited numbers of speakers.

The foremost authority on languages in northeastern Oerik is Revort Leyhar at the Grey College of the University of Greyhawk. His 44-volume work, Exegesis of Linguistic Usage by the Flanaess Peoples, examines each language and dialect in painstaking detail. A brief summary follows.

Languages

Ancient Baklunish — This language survives among the Paynim tribes and certain clans in Zeif, Tusmit and others. It is always used in formal addresses and commercial dealings. Baklunish is one of the roofs of modern Common.

Ancient Suloise — The tongue of the Suel peoples, this language is all but dead, thanks in large part to the Rain of Colorless Fire. The only known modern speakers of Suloise are the members of the Scarlet Brotherhood (where it is the only language permitted within its hierarchy), and the lawyers of Greyhawk. Others who study Suloise do so primarily as a written language in order to study the ancient tomes of the Suel people. 

Common — The newest language spoken in the Flanaess, Common is a blend of Old Oeridian and Ancient Baklunish. It is the most widely spoken language in Greyhawk, even among native speakers of other tongues. Anyone who plans to travel across national or cultural boundaries understands the need to speak at least some Common. This language evolved, in part, from the need for translations; certain languages cannot be translated directly to other languages. Common forms the bridge, allowing a language to be translated first into Common, then into the target language. It has become the universal language for trade and diplomacy. 

Flan — Doubtless the oldest language still spoken to any considerable extent, Flan is used by the Tenha in a corrupt form, and Rovers of the Barrens have a strange version of it. A stagnant language, it is hard to translate modern concepts (such as magic terms) into Flan.

Old Oeridian — A young language, Oeridian took in few outside influences until a few centuries ago. As a result, translation into any language except Common is difficult at best. Many books and documents of the Great Kingdom were written in Old Oeridian, and in the far east the language is still widely known and used in speech and writing.

Rhopan — The language of the Rhennee, Rhopan is also called “Rhennee cant” because it borrows many terms from other languages, including the argot of several thieves’ organizations. It is not related to any Oerthly tongue.

Dialects

Dialects and sublanguages worthy of note follow. Those who speak related languages have some chance to understand dialects, but little chance to comprehend distorted, mixed tongues.

Amedi — Only Suel natives of the Amedio Jungle speak this corrupt form of Ancient Suloise. Its few written symbols are Suloise alphabet characters. 

Cold Tongue — This dialect is primarily Suloise with Flan influences. It is spoken by the Frost, Snow, and Ice Barbarians. Even fluent speakers of Suloise find it hard to comprehend.

Druidic — The druids' tongue of the Flanaess shares roots with Flan, but it is specialized and static, focusing only on the natural world and agriculture. 

Ferral — Ferral is an old Oeridian tribal language spoken only by officials of the Iron League. Ferral is used for military command and identification purposes and is not a living language. Many fear that infiltration by agents have compromised this code-tongue, but a magic-laced version is being developed in Irongate.

Keolandish — This widespread dialect of Old High Oeridian has local admixtures. It is spoken in and around Keoland.

Lendorian— This obscure dialect of Suloise (influenced by Common and full of nautical terms) is spoken in the Spindrift Isles. It has no relation to the Cold Tongue and is not written.

Lendorian Elvish — This complex language is used by aquatic and high elves of the Spindrift Isles. It is difficult to translate into anything but other elven languages.

Nyrondese — Common is the basis for this dialect, which adds elements from an Oeridian tribal tongue. It is used in Nyrond, primarily by peasants and shopkeepers.

Olman — Olman slaves taken by the Sea Princes or Scarlet Brotherhood speak this strange tongue, as their masters hate it. Its huge, complex “alphabet” is really a vast set of pictographs. It is heard most often in the western Sea Princes’ lands and in the Amedio Jungle.

Ordai— This dialect shared by the Wolf and Tiger Nomads bears some resemblance to Ancient Baklunish, but it is most similar to dialects spoken among the distant Paynims. Its written form is based on Baklunish script.

Ulagha — The language of the Uli is a debased form of colloquial Baklunish.

Velondi — Used only in isolated areas of Veluna and its northern borders, this is an Oeridian tribal tongue with no written form.