One thing I'm curious about in Thedas is languages, We know that the Tevinters and Qunari have their own language and a little bit of them has been revealed. But what about Orlais, Ferelden, The Anderfels , The Free Marches, Nevarra, Antiva and Rivain.
Do each of these countries have their own language, Considering some have their own accents It seems like they would.. Is it alot like or essentially the same as the countries they are based off? e.g. Orlesian being very similar or is actually French?
In The Stolen Throne sometimes Fereldens had to ask whether or not someone spoke "The Kings Tongue" which I assume is The Ferelden spoken Language.
Also is it known whether The Free Marches and Ferelden have the same or different languages? (Before going there I always imagined the Free Marches would have German accents and that would be their language)
Hawke goes to the Free Marches after a life in Ferelden and doesn't seem to encounter any language barrier etc. Most likely for gameplay reasons so we dont have to learn a whole new language to play the game =P
But with people sometimes mentioning to Hawke "You Sound Ferelden" Im guessing their language isn't quite the same?
What do you think on this matter?
Also what do you think the language that each nation speaks is similar to in real world languages?
Languages in Thedas
Débuté par
Augustei
, oct. 18 2011 09:55
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#2
Posté 18 octobre 2011 - 10:02
whykikyouwhy
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That someone can pinpoint where Hawke is from is probably all about accent. I would wager that folks from Ferelden have a certain inflection, or pronounce things a certain way - just as American voices differ from British, or even folks from the New England area of the US sound distinctly different from folks on the West Coast.
I believe that most of the major lands boast their own languages - Antiva, Rivain, Orlais, etc, and there are correlations to our own known languages. Orlesian clearly draws from French (Chateau Heine, Benoit Du Lac, etc). Spanish words have wormed their way into the vocabulary of some Antivan characters, etc.
I believe that most of the major lands boast their own languages - Antiva, Rivain, Orlais, etc, and there are correlations to our own known languages. Orlesian clearly draws from French (Chateau Heine, Benoit Du Lac, etc). Spanish words have wormed their way into the vocabulary of some Antivan characters, etc.
#3
Posté 18 octobre 2011 - 10:07
Herr Uhl
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XxDeonxX wrote...
One thing I'm curious about in Thedas is languages, We know that the Tevinters and Qunari have their own language and a little bit of them has been revealed. But what about Orlais, Ferelden, The Anderfels , The Free Marches, Nevarra, Antiva and Rivain.
Do each of these countries have their own language?
Yes, some have their own languages. Well, not Ferelden and I doubt the Free Marches and the others except Orlais. English is apparently a language developed by dwarves to trade between kingdoms, and thus it came as a trade language to humans.
David Gaider wrote...
Herr Uhl wrote...
Doesn't Tevinterians speak the same language as the rest of Thedas now? Or do they just have their own swears?
The Imperium has its own language, just as Orlais does, even if most people speak the common tongue as well. Only in rural areas might you find people who don't.
David Gaider wrote...
Herr Uhl wrote...
Then why don't humans speak the old dwarven language? Did they invent a new language to trade with humans?
No, they invented a new language to trade with each other. There isn't any one "dwarven" language, though humans like to think of it that way because of the old kingdoms only Orzammar is left.
Link.
Modifié par Herr Uhl, 18 octobre 2011 - 10:17 .
#4
Posté 18 octobre 2011 - 02:17
Anvos
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Personally I think based on the fact Tevintar once controled much of the world most people probably speak a variation of Imperial Standard, though over the last 1,000 years of the chantry being around and the lands seperated regions/countries developed their own variations of the dialect.
Qunari have thier own language we know for sure.
Dwarves have their own but I think like the volus for better trading and interaction they learned the human tongue. Possibly also since dwarf language could have contained sounds too low for humans to produce.
Elves have their own thing, but I don't really count that since even amongst the Dalish their language is dying.
Qunari have thier own language we know for sure.
Dwarves have their own but I think like the volus for better trading and interaction they learned the human tongue. Possibly also since dwarf language could have contained sounds too low for humans to produce.
Elves have their own thing, but I don't really count that since even amongst the Dalish their language is dying.
#5
Posté 18 octobre 2011 - 02:31
whykikyouwhy
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I don't know that the elven language(s) should be dismissed so readily, even if the language is "dying out." Their language is unique, it is ancient - it deserves to be noted, imo.
#6
Posté 18 octobre 2011 - 02:46
mousestalker
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The elven language is not 'dying out'. It's only taking a well needed sabbatical. It will return when it is tan and well rested.
FWIW, at least two languages have been resurrected on our world.
FWIW, at least two languages have been resurrected on our world.
#7
Posté 18 octobre 2011 - 02:47
Gervaise
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Language is often linked with cultural identity, particularly when subject to a foreign domination. I would imagine that the southern countries have a common root tongue that is linked to the old Barbarian clans that defeated Tevinter. People would have a natural aversion to using the language of the old Imperium as this was associated with their supression and subjugation of these people but various terms probably crept into common speech. The old Avaar speech was then filtered through local dialects into the languages found in the countries that exist today. Those countries that bordered Tevinter may have retained more Tevinter speech because of their common trade links.
Sometimes language doesn't always follow these rules though. In War and Peace the Russian nobility largely speak French because that was considered the language of polite society, whereas Russian was for peasants. Orlais has occupied a fair number of other states over the years and so might be considered to be the dominant language among the ruling and merchant classes even after they left. So you could have a situation where the nobles of various nations speak fluent Orlesian because that is considered refined and is to some extent universal, whilst the native language is regarded as rough and common and mostly spoken only among the peasantry.
Sometimes language doesn't always follow these rules though. In War and Peace the Russian nobility largely speak French because that was considered the language of polite society, whereas Russian was for peasants. Orlais has occupied a fair number of other states over the years and so might be considered to be the dominant language among the ruling and merchant classes even after they left. So you could have a situation where the nobles of various nations speak fluent Orlesian because that is considered refined and is to some extent universal, whilst the native language is regarded as rough and common and mostly spoken only among the peasantry.
#8
Posté 18 octobre 2011 - 04:03
jlb524
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whykikyouwhy wrote...
I don't know that the elven language(s) should be dismissed so readily, even if the language is "dying out." Their language is unique, it is ancient - it deserves to be noted, imo.
I'd say that while elven words still exist and the Dalish use them, a full on elven language does not.
The language could be kick-started again if someone were to make a 'Rosetta Stone' type discovery.
#9
Posté 18 octobre 2011 - 04:22
TEWR
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Tevinter language seems to be based on Latin, while Antiva has Spanish (Zevran and Vincento say things in spanish or that at least sound Spanish).
Orlais I'm sure has some French-based language.
and I find it interesting that the Dwarves didn't speak any one language.
Orlais I'm sure has some French-based language.
and I find it interesting that the Dwarves didn't speak any one language.
#10
Posté 18 octobre 2011 - 04:40
thats1evildude
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The Ethereal Writer Redux wrote...
and I find it interesting that the Dwarves didn't speak any one language.
The Stolen Throne contains a suggestion that the dwarves developed the "common tongue" you hear everyone speaking.
Modifié par thats1evildude, 18 octobre 2011 - 04:40 .
#11
Posté 18 octobre 2011 - 07:15
Herr Uhl
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thats1evildude wrote...
The Ethereal Writer Redux wrote...
and I find it interesting that the Dwarves didn't speak any one language.
The Stolen Throne contains a suggestion that the dwarves developed the "common tongue" you hear everyone speaking.
It is pretty much WOG'ed.
David Gaider wrote...
Herr Uhl wrote...
Is the common tongue English due to Andraste talking it (and the chant being in English)?
Heh, no. The common tongue actually comes from the dwarves. They introduced trade and currency to humanity.
#12
Guest_iOnlySignIn_*
Posté 18 octobre 2011 - 07:28
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Indeed. French and Spanish are developed from Latin, which makes sense as Orlais and Antiva were provinces of the Imperium closer to its core than say, Ferelden. Just like how Gaul and Iberia are two of the earliest and closest Roman provinces.The Ethereal Writer Redux wrote...
Tevinter language seems to be based on Latin, while Antiva has Spanish (Zevran and Vincento say things in spanish or that at least sound Spanish).
Orlais I'm sure has some French-based language.
As for Ferelden, given that that is where the Barbarians who overthrew the Old Imperium came from, their language should be the equivalent of Germanic. Going by the geographical analogue (North in Thedas is South in Europe), I'd say Fereldens speak an equivalent of Low German, whereas Free Marchers speak equivalents of High German dialects. The language of Nevarra for example could be the equivalent of Swiss German. That is how Hawke is recognized by accent in Kirkwall.
I vaguely recall that the early Tevinters learned their language (or writing system, at least) from the Elves of Arlathan. So the Elven language should be the equivalent of Greek or Phoenecian.
Again going by geographic analogue, as well as an oft-used religious comparison, the Qun language should be the equivalent of Arabic - which is awesome because Arabic is a kickass language.
As for Rivain, they are an open-minded sea-faring people in close proximity to the Antivans, and also an ancient province of the Imperium. Just based on that I'd say their language should be something like Portugese.
Which leaves the Anderfels. That place is pretty much a wasteland right now. Perhaps it hadn't evolved any new language at all since the original Latin speakers/Tevinters died out. Or perhaps its language is some kind of Romanian, just because it lies on the other side of the Imperium than Orlais or Antiva.
#13
Posté 19 octobre 2011 - 06:51
SkittlesKat96
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There are probably a few lands in Thedas that have their own languages.
i'm guessing that Ferelden and the Free Marshes share the same language but have different accents (of which aren't in-game because of limitations.)
Or maybe they have separate languages and Hawke and his family just know how to speak the Free Marchers language.
Doubt its the latter though
i'm guessing that Ferelden and the Free Marshes share the same language but have different accents (of which aren't in-game because of limitations.)
Or maybe they have separate languages and Hawke and his family just know how to speak the Free Marchers language.
Doubt its the latter though
#14
Posté 19 octobre 2011 - 07:06
Urzon
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Herr Uhl wrote...
thats1evildude wrote...
The Ethereal Writer Redux wrote...
and I find it interesting that the Dwarves didn't speak any one language.
The Stolen Throne contains a suggestion that the dwarves developed the "common tongue" you hear everyone speaking.
It is pretty much WOG'ed.David Gaider wrote...
Herr Uhl wrote...
Is the common tongue English due to Andraste talking it (and the chant being in English)?
Heh, no. The common tongue actually comes from the dwarves. They introduced trade and currency to humanity.
It seems that the Dwarves make/invented all the good stuff in Thedas. They introduced trade, currency, and a common speaking language to mankind, and they made the best armor, weapons, and buildings in Thedas. Not to mention they most likely invented enchantments threw the use of lyrium as well. Also, all those rituals they used to bind stuff with that were powered by lyrium as well.
Save some stuff for us to invent why don't you.
Modifié par Urzon, 19 octobre 2011 - 07:07 .
#15
Posté 19 octobre 2011 - 07:14
Jedi Master of Orion
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So all those Dwarven phrases (Atrast Valla, for one example )are actually words from common? Or is that from a different dwarven language? If so, why don't the dwarves speak it amongst themselves?
#16
Posté 20 octobre 2011 - 03:30
Augustei
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Herr Uhl wrote...
English is apparently a language developed by dwarves to trade between kingdoms, and thus it came as a trade language to humans.
This is interesting news, Thanks for pointing it out - I probably would not have found out otherwise =D
Kind of saddening though, I liked the idea of The Free Marches actually speaking German =P
