Languages

The common tongue is spoken by the vast majority of Gielinor's races and nations. Although many races do possess their own languages and dialects, many of these have been forgotten or been made rarer in recent years. This may be partially due to the more peaceful relationships between civilisations since the Fourth Age, when interaction between many races became more common.

Because the frequent use of many different languages would negatively affect gameplay, the common tongue is presented to the player in the language they themselves select when logging in, such as English, German or French.

## Known languages

### Ancient Dwarvish tongue

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The ancient dwarvish tongue is the traditional language of the dwarves, a subterranean race found throughout Gielinor. Its modern use varies by region. In the more industrial, modernised parts of the Dwarven Realm, such as the capital city of Keldagrim, the dwarven tongue is no longer commonly spoken. However, the language was spoken by the dwarves in addition to the common tongue before they fled beneath the surface of Gielinor during the God Wars, and remained the dominant language for centuries, such as during the Age of Kings. As a result, most of the city's ancient documents are written in the ancient dwarvish tongue, and so it is still known to scholars and historians. Ironically, however, its oldest surviving manuscript, the Azdaran document, is written in the common tongue.

In some parts of the Dwarven Realm, such as the Ice Mountain Dwarven Colony, the ancient dwarvish tongue is used to a slightly larger degree, although it is known that by 164 of the Fifth Age it had mostly given way to the common tongue. Master Phyllis, an extremely elderly resident of the Colony, often spoke in Ancient Dwarvish. Kara-Meir, the girl discovered by Phyllis and his clan in the 155, was named "Wolf Cub" in the dwarvish tongue because she was found resting in the butchered body of a wolf.

Another word known to come directly from the ancient dwarvish tongue is Hugi, which literally means "personification of thought." The word itself has found use as a name amongst the dwarves, as is the case with the librarian of Keldagrim Library.

The Sacred Forge of Camdozaal is known to have been activated with the chant Bron Uffon Afgi Bami prior to the hall's destruction during the Runecrafting Crusades that took place during the years 42 to 62 of the Fifth Age. Ramarno, one of few Imcando dwarves to survive the Battle of Camdozaal, is seen using the chant when activating the forge. However, it is unclear if the phrase is drawn from the dwarvish tongue or from another language.

### First Ancient Saradominist

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An ancient Saradominist language existed, which the Second Ancient Saradominist language was based on. Only one name is known: Mother Mallum, which is *Mahey'ish Medron* in the Saradominist language.

### Second Ancient Saradominist

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The Saradominist clergy used an old Saradominist language centuries ago. Now that they have switched to the common tongue, this language has died out. Interestingly, it seems to have been based on an even earlier language spoken by Saradominists.

### Common tongue

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The common tongue is the language spoken by the vast majority of Gielinor's inhabitants. It is often associated with humans, suggesting it may have originated with them; however, nearly all of Gielinor's inhabitants have adopted it, at least to some extent, and speak it when necessary. Humans and other races are known to have spoken the common tongue since the First Age, evidently having brought it with them from Teragard.

Guthix suggests that the common tongue has developed greatly over the course of Gielinor's history, pointing out that the names of modern cities such as Avarrocka and Farradorn have died out relatively quickly. There are a wide variety of dialects in the common tongue; for instance, most ogres, trolls, and goblins all speak what seem to be simplified versions of the common tongue.

### Chicken language

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The language of chickens are simply "cluck" and "squak" with different amounts of "u" and "a" letters.

### Cow language

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The language of cows is just "moo" with an amount of "o" letters.

### Dog language

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The sounds/language spoken by dogs. Bob has once mentioned learning dog language as a second language. If players speak to their pet dog, their words will be translated to the common tongue in brackets, so some sentences are known:

### Dragonkin language

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*Main article: Dragonkin#Language*
The language spoken by the Dragonkin is the only language known to originate from before the last Great Revision. They used it to communicate with one another in the First Age, while experimenting with dragons. Robert the Strong was able to understand bits of the language, and studied its grammatical structure as well. He describes it to be "as blunt as they are" with "direct and simple" phrases. While the remaining Dragonkin are capable of communicating in the common tongue, they sometimes still use their own language, especially for important matters, such as False Users.

### Elvish language

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The elves have a complex language that even the greatest human scholars can not completely comprehend. Reldo describes it as "far more complex, for their tongues are as agile as their minds, and twice as bewildering." Their language was one of the first to exist in Gielinor, as the elves were brought by Seren and Guthix to Gielinor via the World Gate in the early First Age. They have most likely brought it with them from their homeworld, Tarddiad. Even before most other races had had arrived in Gielinor, the elves had a mastering of the common tongue, as is seen with the lines of Haluned. It is unclear whether they spoke this before they arrived, or learned it once in Gielinor. No human is known to understand the elvish language more than pronunciation approximations.{{#vardefine:reftext|Postbag 35"", 4.}}{{#vardefine:refcontent|Jagex. {{#var:reftext}} Postbags from the Hedge. \*}} The art of crystal singing is also deeply rooted in the elvish language, although the exact relationship between the two is unclear.

### Feline language

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Cats are an intelligent race of felines with their own languages. They were brought into Gielinor by Guthix. However, due to limitations in human comprehension, all words spoken by cats are interpreted as "meow" by humans. In order to communicate with cats, the clergy of Sophanem created the catspeak amulet, which made it possible for humans to communicate with cats, and vice versa. Certain felines (such as the Sphinx) can be understood without a catspeak amulet, which may mean that they can speak the common tongue.

### Old Forinthryan

File:Torva full helm chathead old.png
A language spoken in Forinthry during the Second Age.{{#vardefine: reftext |Jagex. "Roots in the Community." By Mod William. *RuneScape* Lores and Histories. }} It is likely that it was spoken mostly by the lower classes, as the elite of Zarosian society is known to have spoken Infernal. According to Reldo, Old Forinthryan is riddled with "dialectic idiosyncrasies".

### Ghost language

File:Ghost (Melzar's Maze) chathead.png
Ghosts have a language not understood by anyone. All of its words are "woo" with different amounts of "o" letters. In order to understand their language, a ghostspeak amulet must be worn, or all hard Morytania Tasks must have been completed.

Only one sentence is known: "*Wooo wooo wooooo!*" is "*Not very good, actually.*" in the common tongue.

### Goblin language

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Prior to their arrival in Gielinor, the goblin race is known to have spoken a language separate from that of the common tongue. The ancient goblin language originated in Yu'biusk, a separate world within the multiverse. After being forcibly brought to Gielinor in the Second Age by the deity Bandos, the race retained this language for some time. However, the goblins gradually adopted a simplified version of the common tongue. In the modern day, the language is nearly forgotten. The Dorgeshuun of Dorgesh-Kaan have studied the language, and have documented it to a degree.

The goblin language is known to have been spoken by some Misthalanian and Asgarnian goblins as recently as the early 700's of the Fourth Age. Arrav, a legendary Fourth Age soldier of Avarrocka, earned his name from a curse in the goblin tongue.{{#vardefine: reftext |Jagex. "The Legend of Arrav, Part I, Section 2." *RuneScape* Lores and Histories. }} Some of the few goblin words still in use are the names of the 12 goblin tribes, such as the Thorobshuun and Garagorshuun.

The names of the tribes of other Yu'biuskian races are similar in nature to the goblin words, suggesting there may have been one universal language when Bandos found Yu'biusk.

Goblins seem to call them selves either *shuun* or *huun*, in which most of their tribes names end to.

Here is a list of known words:

* Arrav - a curse, battle-cry{{#vardefine: reftext |Jagex. "The Legend of Arrav, Part I." *RuneScape* Lores and Histories. }}
* Dorges - Strong Spears
* Drogokis - Fierce Blades
* Ekeles - East
* Garagors - the Sea
* Horogothgar - Eaters of human flesh, (which is anthropophagy, not cannibalism, as they are different species)
* Huun - Tribe/Goblins
* Huzamogaarb - Live-Flesh Eaters of the Chaos God (notice the "Zamo", likely derived from Zamorak).
* Idit - South
* Naragos - West
* Rekes - North
* Saragorgak - Footsoldiers of the Holy Wrath (notice the "Sara", likely derived from Saradomin).
* Thorobs - Hills
* Yurkolgokh - The ones with flatulence, The Flatulent

### Infernal language

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The Infernal Language is the language that was spoken by the Infernal demons on their homeworld Infernus. After the ruling Infernals were usurped by the rebelling Chthonians, they continued using the language. After Zaros brought his Chthonian and Avernic demons to Gielinor in order to help him conquer territory, he made the Infernal language the official language of his empire. Nowadays, it is mostly used by Zarosians, as well as a few individuals who seem to be unaware of its origins, such as Dionysius.

### Kurask language

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*Main article: Kurask#Language*
The Kurasks have a basic language, known to the human world thanks to Skuhavi, a Kurask banished for his interest in humans.{{#vardefine:reftext|Postbag 23"", 5.}}{{#vardefine:refcontent|Jagex. {{#var:reftext}} Postbags from the Hedge. \*}} The Kurask language has eight known words, many of which are related to *Kurisk*, the rite of passage attempted by all Kurask at age 80. The language became known to humans when Skuhavi replied to an adventurer's letter using Kurask words.

### Mahjarrat language

*Main article: Mahjarrat#Language*
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The Mahjarrat tribe is known to possess a language of its own,{{#vardefine:reftext|Postbag 38"", 5.}}{{#vardefine:refcontent|Jagex. {{#var:reftext}} Postbags from the Hedge. \*}} which it brought to Gielinor from Freneskae in the Second Age. Perhaps because the Mahjarrat have been so deeply involved with other races during its time in Gielinor, the Mahjarrat are usually observed to speak the common tongue, even amongst themselves.

The only word known to have been directly derived from the Mahjarrat language is that of their homeworld, Freneskae. However, it is extremely difficult to approximate the language in the common tongue, and so alternate spellings and pronunciations such as Feneskrae, Freneskrae or Freneskæ have been used in the past.

The Mahjarrat Sliske re-animated the corpses of the Barrows Brothers during the Third Age by chanting "in some foul, ancient language, casting his old magic."{{#vardefine: reftext |Jagex. "The Fall of Six, Ruination." *RuneScape* Lores and Histories. }} It is probable that this spell was cast in the Mahjarrat language, again indicating its potency in magic.

Mahjarrat language is said to be very harmful when heard by humans. According to Azzanadra, if a human would hear words in the Mahjarrat language, their "ears would melt from the side of their head."

### Menaphite language

The Menaphite people of the Kharidian Desert are known to possess their own unique language. Given the long history of the Menaphites, it is highly possible that the Menaphite language is one of the oldest in Gielinor. Hieroglyphs representing the Menaphite language can be found in temples, pyramids, and other structures throughout the desert.

The holy book of the Menaphite Pantheon, the Book of Light and Day, is traditionally written in the Menaphite language. According to Reldo, the librarian of Varrock Castle, the High Priest of Icthlarin recently sent him an excerpt of the text depicting Tumeken's Dream, which was written in "Menaphosian."{{#vardefine: reftext |Jagex. "Tumeken's Dream, Reldo's Comments." By Stephen Rowley. *RuneScape* Lores and Histories. }} It is probable that this is related to, if not synonymous with, the greater Menaphite language.

### Monkey language

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Gielinor's monkey population possesses an advanced language that is unintelligable to most, if not all, other races. The monkeys that inhabit Karamja and Ape Atoll both speak identically, whereas the Harmless species native to Mos Le'Harmless speaks a slightly simplified version. By wearing a monkeyspeak amulet, it is possible to understand the monkey language. Otherwise, it sounds as unintelligible "ook" and "aak" to human ears.

### Old Gnomish

*Main article: Old Gnomish*
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Old Gnomish is a language traditionally spoken by the gnome race. It was used regularly by the gnomes of the Gnome Empire up until the late Fourth Age, when the race began to experience more regular interaction with other races.{{#vardefine:reftext|God Letter 26 - Saradomin Preaches, 8.}}{{#vardefine:refcontent|Jagex. "{{#var:reftext}}" *RuneScape* God Letters. }} Today, most gnomes still speak Old Gnomish, but the common tongue has largely become the dominant language of the race. Many Old Gnomish terms have been made common knowledge via dictionaries.

Instances of the language's modern use can be found throughout the Gnome Empire; for instance, gnome glider pilots still use maps bearing Old Gnomish text, as does a large advertisement at the Gnome Stronghold Agility Course. Hazelmere, a gnome hero of the late Fourth Age, was known to regularly speak the language even into the modern day, even refusing to speak the common tongue unless absolutely necessary, for instance in life-threatening situations.

### Skavid language

*Main article: Skavid#Language*
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The skavids of Feldip Hills, in addition to understanding and speaking the human tongue, also possess a language of their own. The skavids were the indigenous race of Feldip Hills, but were driven nearly to extinction by Bandosians during the Third Age, and forced into servitude by their ogre masters. This language is used by the skavids so that the ogres cannot understand them. In 169 of the Fifth Age, an adventurer was taught the skavid language by a scared skavid underneath Gu'Tanoth. There are only ten known words in the language, but they are enough to communicate with other skavids.

### Stalker language

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The Stalker race that was brought to Daemonheim by the Mahjarrat Bilrach speaks a highly complex language that only they understand. Not unlike the Mahjarrat language, the Stalker language will physically harm most races if heard. The combination of audible and inaudible sounds produced by Stalkers speaking their language is known to cause heavy bleeding from the nose and severe headaches, even in brief periods of exposure.

When necessary, Stalkers also are known to use the common tongue. The names they give themselves in the common tongue are often complicated because of the complexity of their own language, as can be observed in the names of Stalkers such as Lakhrahnaz, Khighorahk, and Haasghenahk.

### TzHaar language

*Main article: TzHaar Language*
File:TzHaar-Ket-Grol chathead.png

The TzHaar are unique in that they possess the ability to pass their knowledge directly on to their descendants. As a result, the minimal contact they had with the surface during their almost complete isolation was enough so that several TzHaar were able to learn the common tongue.{{#vardefine: reftext |Jagex. "The Excellent Log of the Journeys and Tribulations of Samuel Scourduel, Part II, Section 2." *RuneScape* Lores and Histories. }} This has been passed on to the TzHaar of today, who will speak the common tongue to those visiting the city.

### Werewolf language

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The werewolf race that inhabits Morytania is known to speak their own language aside from the common tongue. According to the werewolf Jerrod, young werewolves are only taught the common tongue when they reach adulthood, and until then speak only the werewolf language. As the werewolves that inhabit Canifis are only observed to speak the common tongue, it is unclear when the language is used by adults. Gar'rth, Jerrod's nephew, was as of the year 164 of the Fifth Age only capable of speaking the werewolf language.

### Wyvern language

According to Postie Pete, the wyvern species possessed a language of its own prior to its extinction. Given their close relationship to dragons, it is probable that the language was derived at least partially from that of dragons or the dragonkin. Given that the wyvern race was largely unintelligent, it is likely that the language is fairly simple. Postie Pete claims to speak wyvern, implying that it has not completely died out.

## Trivia

* Some languages in *RuneScape* are based on languages in real life:
	+ The elvish tongue is similar in many ways to the Welsh language; the name of the elven capital is Prifddinas, which translates to "capital" in Welsh. Other elvish words drawn from the Welsh language include Tirannwn, Isafdar, Lletya, and Cerddi. Additionally, many elven names are Welsh or have Welsh meanings.
	+ The Infernal tongue is exactly the same as Latin.
	+ The language of cats is also the same as the one in real life, i.e. meowing.

## References

1. ↑ {{#var:refcontent}}
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 {{#var:refcontent}}
3. ↑ Postie Pete, Castle Wars, *RuneScape*. "So would you be if you could speak over 1000 languages."
4. ↑ T.S. Church. *Betrayal at Falador*, (67). Babel Interactive Ltd., 2008.
5. ↑ Librarian, *RuneScape*. "Hugi, my parents named me that, it means 'personification of thought' in the ancient dwarvish tongue."
6. ↑ Jorral, The Slug Menace, *RuneScape*. "It's an early variation on a script used by the priests of Saradomin a long time ago. *(...)* It seems this text pertains to a great battle between the temple of Saradomin and something called the Mahey'ish Medron. *(...)* I think it's a corruption of an even earlier language and actually refers to something called Mother Mallum."
7. ↑ Robert the Strong, Dragonkin Primer, *RuneScape*. "The language of the Dragonkin is as blunt as they are. From what I can gather, the sentence structure is direct and simple. I believe it follows a structure like this: Subject - Adjective if required - Action modifier - Action - Object."
8. ↑ Haluned, Meeting History, *RuneScape*. "We are not alone in these lands. I must report. These must be the humans Guthix spoke of. There are other beings in this world!"
9. ↑ {{#var:refcontent}}
10. ↑ Bob, *RuneScape*. "Cats were the second thing Guthix brought here, after sheep of course."
11. ↑ {{#var:reftext}}
12. ↑ {{#var:reftext}}
13. ↑ {{#var:reftext}}
14. ↑ Mizzarch, Mizzarch's memory, *RuneScape*. "Another of Zaros's gifts was a shared language - that of the ancient Infernals - that was mandated for all humans and quickly supplanted the many and varied tribal dialects."
15. ↑ {{#var:refcontent}}
16. ↑ {{#var:refcontent}}
17. ↑ {{#var:reftext}}
18. ↑ Azzanadra, The Temple at Senntisten, *RuneScape*. "That is the human name for it. *(...)* Were your ears to hear its true name, terrible and primeval as it is, they would melt from the side of your head."
19. ↑ Sphinx, *RuneScape*. "The Book of Light and Day says that Tumeken once fell into a deep sleep and dreamt for four days and four nights."
20. ↑ {{#var:reftext}}
21. ↑ {{#var:refcontent}}
22. ↑ Grondaban, Stalker notes (part 1), *RuneScape*. "The resultant combination of both audible and inaudible sound from its many lipless mouths gave me a huge headache and caused blood to cascade from my nose."
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 {{#var:refcontent}}
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 {{#var:refcontent}}
25. ↑ {{#var:reftext}}
26. ↑ T.S. Church. *Betrayal at Falador*, (258). Babel Interactive Ltd., 2008.