RPG Linguistics
In many editions of D&D, everyone learns a handful of languages at character creation, and then either never thinks about them again or never has the one they need. I propose an alternative, with 5e as a base.
Now when the sixth hour, Onfim of Novgorod, c. 1260.
Characters learn fewer languages.
Everyone knows common. There are no racial languages. Only learn a second language if your background calls for it.
Each language satisfies a narrative function.
Common—common is great. Everyone knows common unless there’s something strange happening. Don’t think about it.
Ancient—dead civilizations speak and write this language. You might know it if you’re a treasure hunter, a time traveler, or a classics major.
Ceremonial—this language is a secret for religious or magical reasons, like Druidic or Hebrew. From a world-building perspective, I’d limit myself to one of these per setting, even if that requires some contortion.
Underworld—this language is a secret for reasons of discretion, like Polari or rhyming slang. Dialects change, but learning on-the-fly is built-in to its rhythms. Written, this is the ability to read hobo signs, notice graffiti, etc.
Technical—this is how experts in a field talk about stuff. Even if you’re a published author on the topic of applied divination, you can still muddle through someone’s notes on optimal well-drilling or drop some convincing techno-babble.
Otherworldly—aliens and old Gods speak this. (Angels, devils, and other outsiders speak common: they want you to understand them.)
Foreign—someday you will find yourself somewhere where they only speak French. Until then, it’s a social signifier of a misspent education, a party trick or a bit of flavor.
This post was first shared on September 22, 2022. Nick LS Whelan commented on the importance of building language into adventure prep. RabidHobbit suggested “Animal” as a language in some settings, or perhaps “Plants,” “Stones,” “Fire,” etc. Which reminded me of this blog post. Peter K. linked to their own system of languages and cants which they had worked into a GLoG hack. I might also find use for one more language: “Barbarian” as opposed to “Foreign.” A well-educated person might know Foreign, but a soldier or merchant might know Barbarian. But this is starting to stretch the goal.