LetsBuild5e:Languages - Revision history

Neutrondecay: /* Elvish */

2015-10-28T13:38:00Z

Elvish

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:38, 28 October 2015
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	Elvish names consist of a personal name given at birth, plus a family name which is inherited from one's parents, but which may be changed upon marriage or other major change of allegiance. (Decision: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19342866#post19342866])		Elvish names consist of a personal name given at birth, plus a family name which is inherited from one's parents, but which may be changed upon marriage or other major change of allegiance. (Decision: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19342866#post19342866])

			Elvish is an almost entirely gender-neutral language. Terms like 'parent' are preferred to those like 'mother', and where the latter exist at all, they are regarded as either improper or highly technical. Elvish has many words for 'sibling', 'cousin', and 'uncle/aunt', since the long lives and straggling generations of elves mean it is possible to be older than one's own great-grandparents' younger siblings. Consequently there are terms to distinguish how much time separates the birth of relatives, as well as degrees of blood. An elf does not find it surprising to be the same age as their 'contemporary great-uncle/aunt', but much younger than their 'two centuries older sister', for example. Equally, elven family units often involve proxy parental relationships such as wetnursing and fostering, and terminology exists to describe these relationships and the virtual siblinghoods that they engender. (Discussion: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19490706#post19490706])

	This language is pronounced with main stress on the antepenultimate syllable, moving forward in words with fewer than three syllables. All double consonants are geminated - that is, they are given a longer pronunciation than single instances of the same consonant. ''E'' is the vowel in the English ''dress''; ''ë'' is a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwa schwa]; and ''é'' is the vowel in the English ''face''.		This language is pronounced with main stress on the antepenultimate syllable, moving forward in words with fewer than three syllables. All double consonants are geminated - that is, they are given a longer pronunciation than single instances of the same consonant. ''E'' is the vowel in the English ''dress''; ''ë'' is a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwa schwa]; and ''é'' is the vowel in the English ''face''.

Neutrondecay: /* Orcish */

2015-10-28T13:31:48Z

Orcish

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:31, 28 October 2015
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	Getting a distinguishing name comes around age 20, when the individual declares the name they want to claim, and the elders establish a suitable challenge for it. Claiming a really impressive name requires completing an equally impressive challenge. This process can go on for someone's whole life, if they want it to, with each new name requiring a new challenge. Getting more names equals more prestige, since it shows you've completed more and more impressive challenges. And when you're being formal, you have to use all of someone's names, or risk insulting them and them challenging you. The elders, of course, can also use it as a brake on an overly-ambitious individual, since they get to set the challenges - get too big for yourself, and you might find that challenging for the name "the Tallest" (''Vurörrkög'') might require touching the sky, or "Swims-Like-An-Otter" (''Ikva-Doirellim'') means you have to cross a river right at the rapids, in the middle of spring flood. (Original pitch: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19316812#post19316812]; decision: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19342866#post19342866])		Getting a distinguishing name comes around age 20, when the individual declares the name they want to claim, and the elders establish a suitable challenge for it. Claiming a really impressive name requires completing an equally impressive challenge. This process can go on for someone's whole life, if they want it to, with each new name requiring a new challenge. Getting more names equals more prestige, since it shows you've completed more and more impressive challenges. And when you're being formal, you have to use all of someone's names, or risk insulting them and them challenging you. The elders, of course, can also use it as a brake on an overly-ambitious individual, since they get to set the challenges - get too big for yourself, and you might find that challenging for the name "the Tallest" (''Vurörrkög'') might require touching the sky, or "Swims-Like-An-Otter" (''Ikva-Doirellim'') means you have to cross a river right at the rapids, in the middle of spring flood. (Original pitch: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19316812#post19316812]; decision: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19342866#post19342866])

	Orcish has a relatively restricted range of terms for familial relations, and even parents, children and siblings refer to each other by personal names rather than relationship titles. To address an adult orc as 'daughter' or 'little brother' is a harsh put-down from the older family member. It is rare, but possible, for someone who has continued to excel in the same field as an older relative to bid for a name like 'Son of Great Hunter', especially if 'Great Hunter' has died. Such a name may be granted if the heir is a sufficiently excellent representative of their forebear's actions, but it will always be additional to strictly personal names. (Discussion: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19490958#post19490958])		Orcish has a relatively restricted range of terms for familial relations, and even parents, children and siblings refer to each other by personal names rather than relationship titles. To address an adult orc as 'daughter' or 'little brother' is a harsh put-down from the older family member. Orcs who are not members of the same family are generally not told how others are related to each other, unless it is needed in order to adjudicate law or prevent inbreeding. It is rare, but possible, for someone who has continued to excel in the same field as an older relative to bid for a name like 'Son of Great Hunter', especially if 'Great Hunter' has died. Such a name may be granted if the heir is a sufficiently excellent representative of their forebear's actions, but it will always be additional to strictly personal names. (Discussion: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19490958#post19490958])

	As in Draconic, an apostrophe here represents a glottal stop. ''Aw'' is pronounced to rhyme with English ''how''. As in Dwarvish, the vowel ö has the same value as in Swedish. The stress is on the antepenultimate syllable.		As in Draconic, an apostrophe here represents a glottal stop. ''Aw'' is pronounced to rhyme with English ''how''. As in Dwarvish, the vowel ö has the same value as in Swedish. The stress is on the antepenultimate syllable.

Neutrondecay: /* Orcish */

2015-10-28T13:30:41Z

Orcish

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:30, 28 October 2015
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	Getting a distinguishing name comes around age 20, when the individual declares the name they want to claim, and the elders establish a suitable challenge for it. Claiming a really impressive name requires completing an equally impressive challenge. This process can go on for someone's whole life, if they want it to, with each new name requiring a new challenge. Getting more names equals more prestige, since it shows you've completed more and more impressive challenges. And when you're being formal, you have to use all of someone's names, or risk insulting them and them challenging you. The elders, of course, can also use it as a brake on an overly-ambitious individual, since they get to set the challenges - get too big for yourself, and you might find that challenging for the name "the Tallest" (''Vurörrkög'') might require touching the sky, or "Swims-Like-An-Otter" (''Ikva-Doirellim'') means you have to cross a river right at the rapids, in the middle of spring flood. (Original pitch: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19316812#post19316812]; decision: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19342866#post19342866])		Getting a distinguishing name comes around age 20, when the individual declares the name they want to claim, and the elders establish a suitable challenge for it. Claiming a really impressive name requires completing an equally impressive challenge. This process can go on for someone's whole life, if they want it to, with each new name requiring a new challenge. Getting more names equals more prestige, since it shows you've completed more and more impressive challenges. And when you're being formal, you have to use all of someone's names, or risk insulting them and them challenging you. The elders, of course, can also use it as a brake on an overly-ambitious individual, since they get to set the challenges - get too big for yourself, and you might find that challenging for the name "the Tallest" (''Vurörrkög'') might require touching the sky, or "Swims-Like-An-Otter" (''Ikva-Doirellim'') means you have to cross a river right at the rapids, in the middle of spring flood. (Original pitch: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19316812#post19316812]; decision: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19342866#post19342866])

			Orcish has a relatively restricted range of terms for familial relations, and even parents, children and siblings refer to each other by personal names rather than relationship titles. To address an adult orc as 'daughter' or 'little brother' is a harsh put-down from the older family member. It is rare, but possible, for someone who has continued to excel in the same field as an older relative to bid for a name like 'Son of Great Hunter', especially if 'Great Hunter' has died. Such a name may be granted if the heir is a sufficiently excellent representative of their forebear's actions, but it will always be additional to strictly personal names. (Discussion: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19490958#post19490958])

	As in Draconic, an apostrophe here represents a glottal stop. ''Aw'' is pronounced to rhyme with English ''how''. As in Dwarvish, the vowel ö has the same value as in Swedish. The stress is on the antepenultimate syllable.		As in Draconic, an apostrophe here represents a glottal stop. ''Aw'' is pronounced to rhyme with English ''how''. As in Dwarvish, the vowel ö has the same value as in Swedish. The stress is on the antepenultimate syllable.

Neutrondecay: /* Common (Gnomish) */

2015-10-28T10:29:51Z

Common (Gnomish)

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:29, 28 October 2015
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	==Common (Gnomish)==		==Common (Gnomish)==

	This is the language of the gnomes, who are most populous across the whole ~~starting region~~, as well as humans and some others. It forms an effective ''lingua franca'' for the area. It wasn't always so; Old Imperial used to be more widespread. Common is written using a short curvilinear alphabet; it used to be written boustrophedonically (ie back-and-forth) but is now written left-to-right and punctuated.		This is the language of the gnomes, who are most populous across the whole of Axalvo, as well as humans and some others. It forms an effective ''lingua franca'' for the area. It wasn't always so; Old Imperial used to be more widespread. Common is written using a short curvilinear alphabet; it used to be written boustrophedonically (ie back-and-forth) but is now written left-to-right and punctuated.

	This language is pronounced with main stress on the penultimate syllable. The Gs are all hard, and double vowels are generally diphthongs - 'ai' as the vowel in the English word ''high'', and 'ua' as the vowel in the French word ''roi''. All vowels are pronounced; ''e'' is the vowel in the English ''dress'' if unstressed, and the one in the English ''face'' if stressed.		This language is pronounced with main stress on the penultimate syllable. The Gs are all hard, and double vowels are generally diphthongs - 'ai' as the vowel in the English word ''high'', and 'ua' as the vowel in the French word ''roi''. All vowels are pronounced; ''e'' is the vowel in the English ''dress'' if unstressed, and the one in the English ''face'' if stressed.

Neutrondecay: /* What languages do people speak? */

2015-10-28T10:29:34Z

What languages do people speak?

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:29, 28 October 2015
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	=What languages do people speak?=		=What languages do people speak?=

	In ~~the starting region~~, there is a widely-spoken common tongue, alongside some cultural languages and some primarily racial languages. (Decision: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19301424#post19301424])		In Axalvo, there is a widely-spoken common tongue, alongside some cultural languages and some primarily racial languages. (Decision: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19301424#post19301424])

	Eight languages feature prominently in the starting region; the names they have at present are temporary. A sample paragraph in English is provided, which has been translated into each language:		Eight languages feature prominently in the starting region; the names they have at present are somewhat temporary. A sample paragraph in English is provided, which has been translated into each language:

	:''"The king and queen ordered the warriors to defend the town. The good warrior shoots the fierce dragon with his bow and arrows. The bountiful queen will reward the great warrior."''		:''"The king and queen ordered the warriors to defend the town. The good warrior shoots the fierce dragon with his bow and arrows. The bountiful queen will reward the great warrior."''

Neutrondecay: /* Elvish */

2015-10-28T10:29:12Z

Elvish

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:29, 28 October 2015
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	==Elvish==		==Elvish==

	This is the language of the nation which hugs the shores of the ~~inland sea~~ to the north of ~~the starting area~~. It is part of a larger family of elvish tongues; the dark elves speak a different dialect to the northerners.		This is the language of the nation of Giel-Tanierolla which hugs the shores of the Inner Sea to the north of Axalvo. It is part of a larger family of elvish tongues; the dark elves speak a different dialect to the northerners.

	Elvish names consist of a personal name given at birth, plus a family name which is inherited from one's parents, but which may be changed upon marriage or other major change of allegiance. (Decision: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19342866#post19342866])		Elvish names consist of a personal name given at birth, plus a family name which is inherited from one's parents, but which may be changed upon marriage or other major change of allegiance. (Decision: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19342866#post19342866])

Neutrondecay: /* Wáyéhì (Bardic) */

2015-10-28T10:23:13Z

Wáyéhì (Bardic)

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:23, 28 October 2015
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	==Wáyéhì (Bardic)==		==Wáyéhì (Bardic)==

	This language is the native language of a far-off land where the great bard colleges are based. In ~~the~~ Axalvo, it is spoken almost exclusively by bards and others who specialise in the arts. The language is written using a wide range of ideographs; the clusters of words that represent entire actions or entities are written in cartouches (shown as hyphenated sets in the transcription below).		This language is the native language of a far-off land where the great bard colleges are based. In Axalvo, it is spoken almost exclusively by bards and others who specialise in the arts. The language is written using a wide range of ideographs; the clusters of words that represent entire actions or entities are written in cartouches (shown as hyphenated sets in the transcription below).

	This language is tonal. Vowels with acute accents are pronounced with a rising tone, those with grave accents with a falling tone, and unmarked vowels with a level tone. This language has no inherent distinctions of syllable stress, as most words are very short.		This language is tonal. Vowels with acute accents are pronounced with a rising tone, those with grave accents with a falling tone, and unmarked vowels with a level tone. This language has no inherent distinctions of syllable stress, as most words are very short.

Neutrondecay: /* Wáyéhì (Bardic) */

2015-10-28T10:22:59Z

Wáyéhì (Bardic)

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:22, 28 October 2015
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	==Wáyéhì (Bardic)==		==Wáyéhì (Bardic)==

	This language is the native language of a far-off land where the great bard colleges are based. In the ~~starting region~~, it is spoken almost exclusively by bards and others who specialise in the arts. The language is written using a wide range of ideographs; the clusters of words that represent entire actions or entities are written in cartouches (shown as hyphenated sets in the transcription below).		This language is the native language of a far-off land where the great bard colleges are based. In the Axalvo, it is spoken almost exclusively by bards and others who specialise in the arts. The language is written using a wide range of ideographs; the clusters of words that represent entire actions or entities are written in cartouches (shown as hyphenated sets in the transcription below).

	This language is tonal. Vowels with acute accents are pronounced with a rising tone, those with grave accents with a falling tone, and unmarked vowels with a level tone. This language has no inherent distinctions of syllable stress, as most words are very short.		This language is tonal. Vowels with acute accents are pronounced with a rising tone, those with grave accents with a falling tone, and unmarked vowels with a level tone. This language has no inherent distinctions of syllable stress, as most words are very short.

Neutrondecay: /* Orcish */

2015-09-14T15:21:55Z

Orcish

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:21, 14 September 2015
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	Names in this language are always "won". An orc (or human, halfling, or elf, if they're members of an orcish-speaking culture) isn't referred to by a personal name at all for the first few years, just something that translates to "boy" (''wa'aprag'') or "girl" (''zhiprag''). Maybe an adjective ("young", "tall", "spotty", "dirty" - ''vetz, kög, bangvlöd, banflig'') if someone needs to distinguish them. At around age 10, they get their first true name as a coming-of-age ceremony. These are still pretty generic - a child chooses the profession they want to go into, perform a basic challenge in it, and if they succeed (as judged by the tribe's elders), they get the name referring to the job. A girl might declare she wants to be called Hunter (''Prazad''), and if she can bring down a few animals with only a bow and one arrow, she gets the name.		Names in this language are always "won". An orc (or human, halfling, or elf, if they're members of an orcish-speaking culture) isn't referred to by a personal name at all for the first few years, just something that translates to "boy" (''wa'aprag'') or "girl" (''zhiprag''). Maybe an adjective ("young", "tall", "spotty", "dirty" - ''vetz, kög, bangvlöd, banflig'') if someone needs to distinguish them. At around age 10, they get their first true name as a coming-of-age ceremony. These are still pretty generic - a child chooses the profession they want to go into, perform a basic challenge in it, and if they succeed (as judged by the tribe's elders), they get the name referring to the job. A girl might declare she wants to be called Hunter (''Prazad''), and if she can bring down a few animals with only a bow and one arrow, she gets the name.

	Getting a distinguishing name comes around age 20, when the individual declares the name they want to claim, and the elders establish a suitable challenge for it. Claiming a really impressive name requires completing an equally impressive challenge. This process can go on for someone's whole life, if they want it to, with each new name requiring a new challenge. Getting more names equals more prestige, since it shows you've completed more and more impressive challenges. And when you're being formal, you have to use all of someone's names, or risk insulting them and them challenging you. The elders, of course, can also use it as a brake on an overly-ambitious individual, since they get to set the challenges - get too big for yourself, and you might find that challenging for the name "the Tallest" (''Vurörrkög'') might require touching the sky, or "Swims-Like-An-Otter" (''Ikva-~~Vairellim~~'') means you have to cross a river right at the rapids, in the middle of spring flood. (Original pitch: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19316812#post19316812]; decision: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19342866#post19342866])		Getting a distinguishing name comes around age 20, when the individual declares the name they want to claim, and the elders establish a suitable challenge for it. Claiming a really impressive name requires completing an equally impressive challenge. This process can go on for someone's whole life, if they want it to, with each new name requiring a new challenge. Getting more names equals more prestige, since it shows you've completed more and more impressive challenges. And when you're being formal, you have to use all of someone's names, or risk insulting them and them challenging you. The elders, of course, can also use it as a brake on an overly-ambitious individual, since they get to set the challenges - get too big for yourself, and you might find that challenging for the name "the Tallest" (''Vurörrkög'') might require touching the sky, or "Swims-Like-An-Otter" (''Ikva-Doirellim'') means you have to cross a river right at the rapids, in the middle of spring flood. (Original pitch: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19316812#post19316812]; decision: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19342866#post19342866])

	As in Draconic, an apostrophe here represents a glottal stop. ''Aw'' is pronounced to rhyme with English ''how''. As in Dwarvish, the vowel ö has the same value as in Swedish. The stress is on the antepenultimate syllable.		As in Draconic, an apostrophe here represents a glottal stop. ''Aw'' is pronounced to rhyme with English ''how''. As in Dwarvish, the vowel ö has the same value as in Swedish. The stress is on the antepenultimate syllable.

Neutrondecay: /* Orcish */

2015-09-14T15:21:17Z

Orcish

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:21, 14 September 2015
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	This is the speech of the mountain orcs, who have spoken it in some form since before the world last flipped. It has co-existed with Old Imperial for many generations, and although they are structurally different, they have come to have similar pronunciation and overlapping vocabulary.		This is the speech of the mountain orcs, who have spoken it in some form since before the world last flipped. It has co-existed with Old Imperial for many generations, and although they are structurally different, they have come to have similar pronunciation and overlapping vocabulary.

	Names in this language are always "won". An orc (or human, halfling, or elf, if they're members of an orcish-speaking culture) isn't referred to by a personal name at all for the first few years, just something that translates to "boy" (''wa'aprag'') or "girl" (''zhiprag''). Maybe an adjective ("young", "tall", "spotty", "dirty" - ''vetz, kög, ~~volgvlöd~~, ~~volflig~~'') if someone needs to distinguish them. At around age 10, they get their first true name as a coming-of-age ceremony. These are still pretty generic - a child chooses the profession they want to go into, perform a basic challenge in it, and if they succeed (as judged by the tribe's elders), they get the name referring to the job. A girl might declare she wants to be called Hunter (''Prazad''), and if she can bring down a few animals with only a bow and one arrow, she gets the name.		Names in this language are always "won". An orc (or human, halfling, or elf, if they're members of an orcish-speaking culture) isn't referred to by a personal name at all for the first few years, just something that translates to "boy" (''wa'aprag'') or "girl" (''zhiprag''). Maybe an adjective ("young", "tall", "spotty", "dirty" - ''vetz, kög, bangvlöd, banflig'') if someone needs to distinguish them. At around age 10, they get their first true name as a coming-of-age ceremony. These are still pretty generic - a child chooses the profession they want to go into, perform a basic challenge in it, and if they succeed (as judged by the tribe's elders), they get the name referring to the job. A girl might declare she wants to be called Hunter (''Prazad''), and if she can bring down a few animals with only a bow and one arrow, she gets the name.

	Getting a distinguishing name comes around age 20, when the individual declares the name they want to claim, and the elders establish a suitable challenge for it. Claiming a really impressive name requires completing an equally impressive challenge. This process can go on for someone's whole life, if they want it to, with each new name requiring a new challenge. Getting more names equals more prestige, since it shows you've completed more and more impressive challenges. And when you're being formal, you have to use all of someone's names, or risk insulting them and them challenging you. The elders, of course, can also use it as a brake on an overly-ambitious individual, since they get to set the challenges - get too big for yourself, and you might find that challenging for the name "the Tallest" (''Vurörrkög'') might require touching the sky, or "Swims-Like-An-Otter" (''Ikva-Vairellim'') means you have to cross a river right at the rapids, in the middle of spring flood. (Original pitch: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19316812#post19316812]; decision: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19342866#post19342866])		Getting a distinguishing name comes around age 20, when the individual declares the name they want to claim, and the elders establish a suitable challenge for it. Claiming a really impressive name requires completing an equally impressive challenge. This process can go on for someone's whole life, if they want it to, with each new name requiring a new challenge. Getting more names equals more prestige, since it shows you've completed more and more impressive challenges. And when you're being formal, you have to use all of someone's names, or risk insulting them and them challenging you. The elders, of course, can also use it as a brake on an overly-ambitious individual, since they get to set the challenges - get too big for yourself, and you might find that challenging for the name "the Tallest" (''Vurörrkög'') might require touching the sky, or "Swims-Like-An-Otter" (''Ikva-Vairellim'') means you have to cross a river right at the rapids, in the middle of spring flood. (Original pitch: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19316812#post19316812]; decision: [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?761590-D-amp-D-5e-Let-s-build-a-setting!&p=19342866#post19342866])