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Languages of Layonara: Difference between revisions
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If a single word were used to sum up the Goblin tongue, it would be jabber. If a layperson were looking to insult some gnomes or halflings, they might compare their languages to that spoken by the vile Goblin races, for the speed at which the syllables leave the speaker's mouth is reminiscent of both. There, however, the similarities end. Just as [[goblins]] are, on the whole, unpleasant to look at, so too is their language on the ears. Harsh screeches, painful clicks, and rapid changes in pitch all work with the general jabbering quality of the tongue to make it an extremely unpleasant language to most other races. Like Orc, it is a language that lends itself to arguments. Unlike Orc, it is not a very intimidating language, regardless of the speaker. | If a single word were used to sum up the Goblin tongue, it would be jabber. If a layperson were looking to insult some gnomes or halflings, they might compare their languages to that spoken by the vile Goblin races, for the speed at which the syllables leave the speaker's mouth is reminiscent of both. There, however, the similarities end. Just as [[goblins]] are, on the whole, unpleasant to look at, so too is their language on the ears. Harsh screeches, painful clicks, and rapid changes in pitch all work with the general jabbering quality of the tongue to make it an extremely unpleasant language to most other races. Like Orc, it is a language that lends itself to arguments. Unlike Orc, it is not a very intimidating language, regardless of the speaker. | ||
Aside from a few tricks of vocalization that lend themselves more easily to [[goblinoid]] throats than to humanoid ones, the language is not terribly complex. In referring circuitously to matters of betrayal and power struggles, it is surprisingly adept, but it is otherwise without particular | Aside from a few tricks of vocalization that lend themselves more easily to [[goblinoid]] throats than to humanoid ones, the language is not terribly complex. In referring circuitously to matters of betrayal and power struggles, it is surprisingly adept, but it is otherwise without particular virtue in one respect or another, linguistically. It is not overtly technical, as goblins, while more sophisticated than many monsters, are still largely tribal. The difficulty in learning the language, as with Orc, is mostly finding a goblin who will teach it to you. While many goblins are great physical cowards who will readily do whatever their captor demands if it buys them more time, they are also extremely canny, and have, oddly enough, a certain racial pride. A goblin forced to teach a member of another race its language might swap words, or substitute nonsense for definitions, if it believes it can get away with it'and if it can accrue some manner of advantage over its captor by so doing, so much the better! Many an adventurer or diplomat has entered goblin territory and called out a bold challenge: "Cave lice! Arm yourselves at my arrival, for I am here to surrender utterly!" | ||
Adding to this problem is the fact that the goblin race's insular tribal nature and fierce interclan fighting often results in slang or argot coming into use in one tribe and not another; the language used in one goblin cave might sound like nonsense in another, save the occasional recognizable word. For this reason, any negotiation between tribes is carried out in excessively formal language, to avoid [[confusion]] (and the possibly dire consequences of same). | Adding to this problem is the fact that the goblin race's insular tribal nature and fierce interclan fighting often results in slang or argot coming into use in one tribe and not another; the language used in one goblin cave might sound like nonsense in another, save the occasional recognizable word. For this reason, any negotiation between tribes is carried out in excessively formal language, to avoid [[confusion]] (and the possibly dire consequences of same). | ||