Can awakened animals speak?

[Will]

An awakened animal gains languages from the list the druid knows, but it's not 100% clear (to me) whether the animal (as a Magical Beast) gains any ability to actually talk.

I'm inclined to say 'no,' because:
Lycanthrope in animal form can't speak
Druid in animal form can't speak

Anyone have conclusive ruling?


Given that, what's a good option for an awakened animals to communicate? A collar of 'Tongues'? (... Which is hideously expensive. Anything cheaper?)
Unfortunately, Tongues + Permanency is 'personal only.' Meh.

(Ideally, I'm looking for 0 houserules)

 

[Dragonwriter]

Well, the SRD says directly that the animal can speak, not just understand. So, really, yes the awakened animal can speak one language of the Druid's automatically and one more for each point of your Int bonus.

The thing about lycanthropes and wild shaped Druids is that they mimic the form of the animal, which also limits their physical and mental capabilities. When a normal animal is "Awakened" it gains the ability to speak thanks to its new mental strength.

 

[jaelis]

Quoth the spell:

An awakened tree or animal can speak one language that you know, plus one additional language that you know per point of Intelligence bonus (if any).

 

[Will]

I realize it says 'can speak one language' etc., but I'm just not sure whether that's a wording thing. After all, the ability to know a language is 'speak language.'

I suppose in the absence of anything specific saying otherwise, we can only go off of the language in the SRD.

I'd feel better with a faq or something.

 

[szilard]

Hmmm... can that one language be Druidic?

-Stuart

 

[jaelis]

I realize it says 'can speak one language' etc., but I'm just not sure whether that's a wording thing. After all, the ability to know a language is 'speak language.'

I disagree. A mute person might understand English, but does not speak it. (OK, that's not totally fair, people do use "speak" in a lot of ways. But the obvious one involves actual speaking, so why wouldn't that apply here?)

Or are you saying that you think the spell is using the term "Speak Language" to refer specifically to the dnd skill? That wouldn't make much sense, really, and in any case would be marked by using capitals for the skill name.

 

[Dragonwriter]

Hmmm... can that one language be Druidic?

-Stuart

It could, but the Druid would be removed from the Druidic order due to the fact that Druids can't teach their secret language to anyone else, unless that person is taking up the path of the Druid. Frankly, I don't see an awakened animal going for Druid.

 

[mvincent]

I'm inclined to say 'no,' because:
Lycanthrope in animal form can't speak
Druid in animal form can't speak

Those are specifically noted as not speaking. Were it not for that, we would not assume that such beings could not speak.

Conversely, awakened animals are noted as speaking a language, and there is nothing stating this does not include "'speaking'. Therefore (by default) we cannot assume that 'speaking' is precluded.

If desired, here is an encounter (published by WotC) featuring awakened trees that speak in loud Sylvan. Awaken seems intended to be the spell for those that want talking animals and such.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I realize it says 'can speak one language' etc., but I'm just not sure whether that's a wording thing. After all, the ability to know a language is 'speak language.'

I suppose in the absence of anything specific saying otherwise, we can only go off of the language in the SRD.

I'd feel better with a faq or something.

Consider the difference between "A griffon cannot speak, but understands Common" and "Giant eagles speak Common and Auran".

The Monster Manual distinguishes between "speak" and "understand".

-Hyp.

 

[ardentmoth]

I've always wanted to awaken and permanently fox-cunning an ooze as a character. I figure that an ooze can alter it's shape, and if it were intelligent that it would see the goodness of walking upright and having hands with thumbs, and thus be able to use equipment....