Drow language?

[Herzog]

The 'Underfolk' entry in Races of Destiny lists 'Drow' as one of the automatic languages.

However, Drow do not seem to have their own language: their Monster Manual entry lists Elven and Undercommon as automatic languages, and Drow Sign Language as a bonus language.

So, which one should the Underfolk have as automatic language?

 

[Animal]

the drow of Faerun definetely have their own language. i distinctly remember this from reading some of the Salvatore's novels and later encountering drow speaking the same language in BG and NWN.

 

[LuckyBoneDice]

This depends on who you talk to.

Some say that the Drow have their own unique language, which granted borrows a lot from the Elven language. Others say that like any language, there are "dialects" of a given language. For instance, a Human's Common probably won't be 100% the same as a Half-Dragon's due to the usage of "borrowed" words.

And as for me, I agree with the latter.

However, I feel that any drow with any military/clergy/mage background should know Sign Language, seeing as to how it'd be vital to survival. So for my drow in my Aquatic Campaign, I give all PC drow Sign Language as a Starting Language

 

[Dandu]

If I remember Drow of Underdark correctly, they have their own dialect, and use Undercommon to deal with the lesser races.