Languages

Some elves in Youmon can speak Goblin but don't understand Elven and not every orc speaks Orcish. Languages are tied to culture rather than race. But it's also common for many to keep their traditional language alive. For example, a family of dwarves might speak Dwarvish among themselves and they teach their children even though none of their neighbors speaks it.

Most languages have several different dialects. Whatever is said in a specific dialect can still be understood as long as one speaks the general language, though some pronunciation, grammar or vocabulary can appear strange to a foreign listener.

## Standard languages

Standard languages are used in the day-to-day life of most inhabitants of Carmia.

### Imperial Timur (Common)

This language is best known as Common, because it's spoken almost everywhere in Carmia to some extend. Its script is Timur. It's based on a mixture of several (now dead) languages, predominantly Timur, which was a human language based on a very simplified version of Celestial. During the time of the United Imperium, Mormo was forcing her subjects to learn this language and forbade them to speak in their native tongue, which resulted in the spread of Common and the death of many other languages. Still, there exists a grand variety of different dialects.

Nobles and other folk of high status rarely speak Common among themselves and prefer other languages. But because it's simple, easy to learn and already widespread, Common is used as an international trade-language.

### Halfling

Halfling uses the Timur script and has developed in a way to be fairly close to Common. It is used in halfling communities and is widespread in Garomore and Madena. A special trait of this language is the way how much of whatever was said relies on visual cues. Depending on the gestures and faces a speaker makes, their words can have a different meaning. Silent Halfling, a dialect with more distinct gestures, can be used as a sign language.

### Elven

Elven uses the script Espoire and is based on Sylvan. It's used in elven communities and is widespread in Garomore, Flament, Youmon and Madena. Artists and aesthetes favor this language because of many famous works of poetry, prose and music that have been originally written in Elvish. The intonation of this language is very complex and words can have a different meaning depending on how they are pronounced. It's generally full of potential for ambiguity and double meanings.

### Dwarvish

Dwarvish uses the script Kendrell and is based on Giant. It's used in dwarven communities and is widespread in Garomore, Madena and Sang-Ferum. This language is popular among inventors, engineers and scholars of natural sciences, since many technical manuals and papers concerning these fields have been originally written in Dwarvish. It has lots of unique adjectives and is especially nuanced in describing materials and shapes.

### Orcish

Orcish uses the script Kendrell and is based on Giant. It's used in orcish communities and is widespread in Youmon. Orcish has a rough and guttural sound and sentences are usually kept short. Several military units and mercenary bands around the world adopted this language, partially because some complex maneuvers and commands could be issued with few words and it's the still easy to understand when being shout.

## Exotic languages

Exotic languages have comparatively few speakers in Carmia.

### Draconic

Draconic uses the script Rachir. It's used by dragon-kin and sometimes cults. It also enjoys a lot of popularity among Flament's nobility and many arcanists because Rachir is efficient for the notation of spells. However, it is taxing on the vocal cords of non-reptilian races when spoken.

### Sylvan

Sylvan uses the script Espoir. It is widely used by many inhabitants of the Feywild and nature spirits.

### Celestial

The script of Celestial is called Divine Glyphs, also known as Ancient Timur. It's the oldest recorded language that deities used to communicate with mortals, though it's unknown if deities actually use it among themselves. Celestial isn't spoken in everyday life but instead used for religious texts, prayers and sermons. Speaking Celestial out loud can put one's mind at ease and is often used together with meditation. It's very difficult to learn since it developed among beings with thought patterns very unlike those of humanity.

### Infernal

Infernal uses Infernal Signs in its written form and it's loosely based on Celestial. It's the language of fiends and those that seek to reach out to them. A listener not used to its sound will feel uncomfortable, even if they can't really specify why. It's also very straining on the vocal cords of non-tiefling mortals. The two major dialects, Diabolical Infernal and Demonic Infernal, are almost two different languages. One dialect can just barely be understood by a speaker of the other.

### Aquan

Aquan uses Divine Glyphs in its written form. It's used by water elementals and a few aquatic creatures. It's not spoken but communicated through bubbles and water currents.

### Auran

Auran uses Divine Glyphs in its written form. It's used by air elementals and some a few creatures inhabiting the skies. It's not spoken but communicated through gusts and wind currents.

### Ignan

Ignan uses Divine Glyphs in its written form. It's used by fire elementals and some creatures that can control fire. It's not spoken but communicated through flames that change in shape and intensity or through smoke signals.

### Terran

Terran uses Divine Glyphs in its written form. It's used by earth elementals and a some creatures living underground. It's not spoken but communicated trough earth tremors.

### Deep Speech

The script of deep speech seems completely foreign and without relation to any other writing system. It was discovered on a few ancient artifacts and deep caves. Some speculate it might have been a language of the elder parasites. Mormo used to be fond of Deep Speech and liked to use its writing to decorate many of her own artifacts and monuments with it. Its pronunciation remains unknown.

## Secret languages

Secret languages were designed to hide information from outsiders. Users are forbidden to casually teach others. Magic such as the spell Comprehend Languages can't decipher them.

### Druidic

Druidic uses special runes in its written form and is loosely based on Sylvan. It's the secret language of druid circles and used by them to write down their secrets. Short messages in Druidic can be sometimes found in the wilderness, more often than not in the most unlikely spots. They are supposed to give whoever is able to understand them warnings and guidance.

### Witch's Cipher

The secret language of witch covens and certain cults, commonly used to write down magical secrets. It uses a completely unique script.

### Thieve's Cant

Thieve's Cant can convey messages through a number of symbols, known as Crow Markings, but can also hide messages inside texts and words in Common. The true meaning of messages is hidden in slang and innuendos while outsiders will only perceive a mundane conversation. This secret code of criminals has some slight differences depending on the network that uses it, although a sly person might be able to decode a Cant of a different network if they are already familiar with the structure of another.

## Unique species communication

Those species-dependent types of communication utilize certain sounds or body language to express something. Methods like these are used among wolves, giant-spiders and so on. There are large differences between these means of communication and real languages, but humanoids are at least able learn how to interpret them.