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Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5862413" data-attributes="member: 92511">I don't know, necessarily, that it is something that needs to be addressed in a PHB or "built-in" to the Human race as such. But I heartily agree with a mention in the DMG of the idea and a thorough fleshing out of linguistics in any kind of "Worldbuilder's Guide." It most certainly, in my experience, add a truckload of flavor and "realism"/internal consistency for a setting world. Here's a sampling of what I use in my games/world setting:Human Tongues  The realms of Orea communicate with a wide variety of languages. For   the most part, all civilized nations possess knowledge of and use the   Common tongue for inter-racial and international communications. Still,   there are a variety of languages used in the various regions of the   realms. <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Common: The vast majority of  the realms  know and utilize the "Common" tongue though in some parts (Tanku, Thelitia, or the Gorunduu), Common is a second language, if it is known  at all. Common  is the language of Grinlia, the Freelands, and for the  most part  Mostrial as well (see below) and thus, used or at least able  to be  spoken by just about everyone else who wishes to deal with those lands (for any reason). </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Mostralian:  This is the old  language of  the realms of Mostrial from the days following the Godswar,  through the  years of Adrigol up to the Scourge wars. Sometimes     referred to as "Old Mostralian," it is still known, taught, and used   among the people of Mostrial and the learned of Orea in general. (It can be assumed characters choosing to originate from Mostrial will know Mostralian in addition to Common at the start of the game.) </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Thelitian:  The tribes of the desert empire  have a diverse array of dialects and  accents. These are all part of the  Thelitian language branch, the  accepted    language of the empire. Common is known and used by many,  particularly  the merchants. But in the courts, temples, and among the  upper class,  the Thelitian tongue is expected to be spoken. (It can be assumed characters choosing to originate from Thelitia will know this tongue in addition to Common at the start of the  game.)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Islander:  This is the "common" language of  the United Islands of Tanku. It is a  combination of the various larger  island dialects into a semi-cohesive  language. (It can be assumed characters choosing to originate from the United Island Kingdoms will know Islander, if not Tanku also, in addition to Common at the start of the  game.)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Dondon: Also called "Treetalk" was the base  language of the men of the O'Douhn forest. It is heavily  influenced by  elvish and exhibits elements of dwarvish as well. Among the peoples of that region now, very few still  use  Dondon, but the infamous Rangers of the O'Douhn wood still teach  it and  use it among themselves. (It can  be presumed  that ranger characters choosing to originate from O'Douhn  will know  Dondon.)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">R'Hathi:  The magic-using peoples of R'Hath  developed their own language out of  an amalgam of Tanku (from which many  of them came), Old Selurian (still  in use at R'Hath's formation), and  Arcana (the language of magic-  though of course the normal language  does not invoke any special  powers). It is used primarily only in the  courts, the mage guild and  among the very learned of that realm and is notoriously  intricate and  difficult to learn.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Old Selurian: This  is the languages of the  temples of Grinlia, Mostrial, and the  Freelands. It is the language of  the former empire but still viewed as  the "language of the gods." Clerical  magics are cast in this tongue and  it is well known to those pursuing  and/or knowledgeable in the ancient  histories of the Orean realms. It is  unknown if/how the language has  changed in the millenia since the  Godswar and the Selurian Empire's  fall. It can be presumed there is a  modern version of this tongue, but  none on the continent would know how  to speak it.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tanku:  This is the formal and ancient  language of the Tanku empire and the  original Black Tribe of Men. While most  peoples of the United Island Kingdoms  speak "Islander", it is not uncommon  to find those on/doing business  with Tanku proper, conversing in this  tongue.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Gorunduun: The  barbarian tribes of Gorunduu  have there own root language (with  obvious dwarven influences to the  trained ear). Though many of the  Gorunduun are also conversant in common.  The only clan that makes use  of their language in a written form (and hence, reads) is the clan of  the Falcon. Barbarians of other clans will not automatically be able to  read their own language...though may certainly be taught to by a member of the Falcon clan.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Druidic: Druids of the Ancient Order of  Mistwood,  descended from the original Green Tribe of Men, possess a  language  unto themselves. There is no known written version of the  language and  its knowledge is kept from all save initiates of the Holy  Order.  Druid  spellcasting is also done in this tongue and so (usually) most druids  keep their voices low for much of the spell (perhaps  raising it for a  word or two throughout or near the end) to prevent  their fellows from  having to hear it. It is said that those uninitiated  that hear the  primeval tongue go mad.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Arcana (or Arcanic):  the "words of power",  language of magic and spell casting for wizards.  It is not spoken save  during spellcasting nor found written for any  reason save the conduction  of magic. The root of Arcana is unknown to  all the sages of the world  but it is commonly held that the language  was taught to the first elvin  sorcerers by the elder god Sorilorr.</li> </ul>Non-human Tongues It can be presumed that just about every sentient race has a language  of  its own (orcs speak orcish, satyrs speak satyr etc. etc.). Below are   simply a few likely to be encountered by those adventuring through the   realms. It can be assumed that PCs of these races are able to converse in Common as well.    <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Elvish, proper (also called High Elvin):  is  the language of the elves shared by the ShiStaliiri, the  ShiCynallae,  and the Miralostae. The Kantiiri and Karolostae have their  own dialects,  but it is still understandable to/by other elves.  Non-elves must learn  Kantiiri or Karolostae as a separate language, if  you can find one  interested in teaching it. The ShiDaeiri have their  own twisted separate  language.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Dwarfish: All dwarves of Orea share a common tongue.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Gnomi:  All gnomes in Orea share a common  tongue, though there may be  noticable accents from region to region. The  gnomish tongue has very  convoluted grammar, long tongue-twister  vocabulary and is spoken very, very  quickly almost sounding to the untrained ear like the chirps and tweets of birds and chittering of squirrels or other woodland creatures. It is almost  impossible for humans or half-elves to learn and  be adequately fluent in  gnomi. (Int. 16 or higher required for humans  to take gnomi as a  language.).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Halflings (Daelvari):  Halflings in Orea use  the Common tongue. There is no root "Hairfoot"  language. It has been  suggested by some that the Common tongue  of men may, in fact,  have emanated from the original language of the daelvar. Though this is  not commonly accepted among the learned humans  of Orea.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Centauran: All centaurs in Orea share a common language. They do not, however, possess a written one. Centaurs do make use of pictograms.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Draconic: The dragons of Orea share a common language.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Titon a.k.a. "Giantspeak":  The titans and (civilized) giants of  Orea share a common root language  though certain sub-species have  distinct dialects which may be  difficult for one who knows titon to  understand.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Trolog: Ogres and Trolls of Orea share a common language.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Goblinese: Goblins, Hobgoblins and Bugbears share a common root language.</li> </ul></blockquote>

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