Languages

The languages of Faengleis are kept fairly stable through the influence of the various churches, which are one of the few organizations that communicates across national borders. Sermons are generally held in the traditional tongues, discouraging local vernaculars from straying too far from the norm.

Imperial Common: The standard language of international commerce, as well as the common human speech for the eastern nations. Primary tongue for the Empire, Eldesta, Empyrean Darminia, the Pirate Lords, Whisthaven, and the Circle States, Also used by Halflings, though they have an extensive vocabulary of jargon often known as 'Halftalk.' This also makes it the primary tongue for the Confederacy and Sthalafar.

Ixish (Classical): The common human speech for the western nations. Primary tongue for Xain, Western Xain, and Ofir.

Esish (High Elven): What most people think of when they say 'Elven,' as well as the language in which most magical study is conducted. Primary tongue for the Ascendancy and Sylat.

Loh'isth (Wood Elven): A tongue evolved from the intersection of Esish and Fey, it is far enough removed from either to be its own, distinct language. Often called 'Low' Elven. Primary tongue for Fyrall.

Tharoun (Dwarven): Spoken by both Hill and Mountain dwarves, it has the oldest known writing system. Intricate and exhaustive, those runes are often used to transcribe languages which have no writing system of their own (such as Chugguth). Primary tongue for both Urkan Sefrogost and the Remnant.

Empyrean: Though most day-to-day business of the Empyrean Academy is conducted in Imperial Common or--to a lesser degree--Esish, the Empyrean language remains alive and spoken.  Basic mastery of the tongue is one of the prerequisites for Blooding and all Born Empyreans are taught the tongue in their childhood.  It is not generally taught to outsiders, however.

Hadg (Orcish): Most commonly heard amongst the nomads of Yrdgould, a more primitive version is common amongst the barbaric mountain orcs. There is a wide variety amongst the differing regions; luckily the language is generally simple enough to remain intelligible across the numerous dialects. No writing system. Primary tongue for Yrdgould and Natha Harada.

Draconic: The universal language of the dragons. Also used by many races that revere dragons such as the lizardfolk, kobolds, and dracotaurs. Primary tongue for Malivorm.

Chugguth (Goblinoid): A category encompassing the large body of related goblin tongues, including the languages spoken by goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears. No writing system. Primary tongue of the Tribelaw and Chood'húwa.

Ignan: The tongue of salamanders. Based off the speech of fire elementals. Primary tongue of Skielnarl.

Aquan: The tongue of most aquatic creatures, such as sahuagin and locathah. Based off the speech of water elementals. It's prominence is pointed to by some scholars as proof of sahuagin influence throughout the oceans of the world.

Giant: A family of similar, guttural speeches common to ogres, trolls, and all giant-kind. A wide variety of local dialects have developed since the end of unified giantdom during the Sandstorm Wars. There is some scholarly interest in why the language has remained as (relatively) stable as it has. No writing system.  The primary language of Ormengöde and Skazkull.

Fey: A primal language spoken by the faerie folk. Also used by wild centaurs, though the 'civilized' centaurs of the Empire have adopted Imperial Common as their native language. No writing system.

Undercommon: The black speech of the illithid, which they have imposed on all the creatures they've conquered beneath the earth, including the drow and the duergar.

Celestial: The language of the Gods and of their divine servants.

Infernal: The language of demons and devils. It is forbidden to learn, except by clerics or wizards who have received specific church sanction to do so.