Language: Common: Difference between revisions
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<span class="DROPCAP">T</span>he Common language was born with the first traders. Around five thousand years before the Great Cataclysm, shortly after many of their dragon masters had perished, the different humanoid races began interacting more with one another and soon began to trade. The Common language started as hand gestures, some as simple as pointing out trade goods and counting with fingers to express value and prices, but even these simple gestures helped the races interact and mingle. | <span class="DROPCAP">T</span>he Common language was born with the first traders. Around five thousand years before the Great [[Cataclysm]], shortly after many of their [[dragon]] masters had perished, the different humanoid [[races]] began interacting more with one another and soon began to trade. The Common language started as hand gestures, some as simple as pointing out trade goods and counting with fingers to express value and prices, but even these simple gestures helped the races interact and mingle. | ||
Paradoxically, the Race Wars that raged during these years also contributed to the earliest development of the Common tongue. Scouts and spies served to further the language as they passed information back and forth, and negotiations between leaders often involved bits and pieces of the Common tongue. | Paradoxically, the Race Wars that raged during these years also contributed to the earliest development of the Common tongue. Scouts and spies served to further the language as they passed information back and forth, and negotiations between leaders often involved bits and pieces of the Common tongue. | ||
Over the years trade continued to grow between the races, and as mercantile transactions between different cultural and racial groups became more common place, a set of common words began to develop between traders of different races. As traders and explorers traveled, these new common words traveled traveled with them, slowly spreading across lands and between races.<br /> | Over the years trade continued to grow between the races, and as mercantile transactions between different cultural and racial groups became more common place, a set of common words began to develop between traders of different races. As traders and explorers traveled, these new common words traveled traveled with them, slowly spreading across lands and between races.<br /> | ||
Foreign merchants interacted with commoners in their stalls in trade markets across Layonara and even commoners began speaking the language. Education in the new trade language began early; the small child sent to the market to purchase things for his or her mother learned the Common phrases used by the merchants out of necessity. | Foreign merchants interacted with commoners in their stalls in trade markets across [[Layonara]] and even commoners began speaking the language. Education in the new trade language began early; the small child sent to the market to purchase things for his or her mother learned the Common phrases used by the merchants out of necessity. | ||
The structure and origin of Common language is in itself testament to its manner of development. Many Common words began as combinations and bastardizations of words from other languages. Some words derive from a few ' sometimes even three or four ' different tongues. However, other words are distinctly racial in origin. Ores and minerals, for example, frequently have a gnomish or dwarven sound to them, while words associated with forests, animals and magic have stronger connections to the elven language. Each weapon generally has a tinge of the dialect of the people who invented it and used it the most, and terms for food and drink are frequently similar to the local dialect from the region where the goods were harvested or produced. | The structure and origin of Common language is in itself testament to its manner of development. Many Common words began as combinations and bastardizations of words from other [[languages]]. Some words derive from a few ' sometimes even three or four ' different tongues. However, other words are distinctly racial in origin. Ores and minerals, for example, frequently have a gnomish or dwarven sound to them, while words associated with forests, animals and magic have stronger connections to the elven language. Each weapon generally has a tinge of the dialect of the people who invented it and used it the most, and terms for food and drink are frequently similar to the local dialect from the region where the goods were harvested or produced. | ||
Religious words developed along the same lines as trade words and the names for goods. As people of faith traveled the lands looking for converts, they spread the language of their gods and goddesses to others. Words strongly associated with a particular deity contain many sounds, syllables, prefixes and suffixes that are indicative of the native language spoken by the majority of that deity's followers. Other races picked up these words and phrases through the teachings of the priests, priestesses, clerics and monks of the land and they became forever part of the Common tongue.<br /> | Religious words developed along the same lines as trade words and the names for goods. As people of faith traveled the lands looking for converts, they spread the language of their gods and goddesses to others. Words strongly associated with a particular deity contain many sounds, syllables, prefixes and suffixes that are indicative of the native language spoken by the majority of that deity's followers. Other races picked up these words and phrases through the teachings of the priests, priestesses, [[clerics]] and monks of the land and they became forever part of the Common tongue.<br /> | ||
Bards also helped spread the language, frequently traveling the world with missionaries or traders. As they picked up the Common language, they also began to facilitate its spread through their plays and poems in the taverns and markets, and at religious sites. | Bards also helped spread the language, frequently traveling the world with missionaries or traders. As they picked up the Common language, they also began to facilitate its spread through their plays and poems in the taverns and markets, and at religious sites. | ||