LANGUAGES

Mortal Tongues

There is no common tongue in Evindale, nor are there “racial” languages. Each tongue spoken in the mortal realms is developed and influenced by the history, environment,  biology, culture, and geography of its speakers. As such, there are probably around eight thousand languages in Evindale.

Thankfully, most adventurers need worry about only two: Ivirial and Malan.

These two trade languages spread during the Third Age and are widely spoken.

On Erinnal, Ivirial is usually spoken in the west and Malan in the east. The divider is the Chain of Malech, a north-south range of mountains found in the center of the continent.

Available Lexicons

Each of the lexicons below hint at the sounds of that region, but they are not the only ones to exist.

Players are encouraged to use and develop these lexicons for a more robust experience around the gaming table, if desired.

Languages Elsewhere

Outside the mortal realms, languages are more specific to the purpose of the plane.

On the elemental planes, telepathy is used and vocabularies are centered around acts of creation. Mortals may well go mad trying to understand a language that consists of solely of divine concepts of universal construction.

On outside planes, language can be anything befitting the culture of the inhabitants.

The language of devils, for example, is extremely precise. Even the slightest tonal adjustment  to one sound can change the entire context of a conversation. For this reason, diabolical contracts are riddled with double meanings so as to throw off foolish mortals.

MÜTVIAN

A subtle language with some doublespeak spoken in dialects in the Land of 1,000 Princes.

Sounds

a – ah
e – ay
i – ee
o – oh
u – uh
ü – always oo as in moo. Ex. Mütvia (MOOT-vee-ah)
ö – always oy as in boy.  Ex. Vöhjesti (VOYZH-ess-tee), always followed by i if at end of word
ó – always aw as in claw or awl.  Ex. Drósti (DRAW-stee)
g – hard g as in go
j – always zh; second g in garage.
st – always sht

In the south, vowels are typically pronounced in the back of the throat, lending to the deep-throated stereotypical sound of a Mütvi.

In the north, vowels are pronounced more in the front of the mouth and the pace of speech is slightly quicker.

Phrases

In some stories you may come across entire phrases written in a foreign language.  (Mütvian is an actual language being developed!)  We’ll replicate those sentences here.

Jana soit io tanü – [Mother Nor’dagha] Protect my soul; lit. “Jana, soul of mine to protect”

Jana (ZHAH-nah) – Name for protective aspect of Nor’dagha, a cultural deity of old

soit (soh-EET) – soul

io (EE-oh) – my, of mine; Ex. soit io, lit. soul of mine

tanü (TAH-noo) – to protect

Jera jüs lusasö / Mütvia Rejestöi – Only in our hearts / Does Mütvia live; lit. “Hearts of the Mütvian people only, Mütvia [will] reign eternal”

Jera (ZHAIR-uh)  hearts, pl. of jer, heart; Ex. Jer io!, “My heart! / Heart of mine!”, a greeting cry to another of friendship

jüs (ZHOOSS) of the Mütvian people; intended to describe something belonging to those of Mütvian birth by natural law, e.g. Mütvia itself

lüsasöi (LOO-suh-soy) only

Rejestöi (RAYZH-eh-shtoy) eternal reign and life.  Lit. Reju (to reign) + es (suf. es-, eternal) + tö (life) + i (always follows ö at the end of a word).  Traditional spelling dictates capitalization when used after Mütvia in a sentence.

Greetings, Partings, and Customs

When speaking with fellow Mütvians in their own caste, the informal (inf) is always used.

When speaking to a fellow Mütvian but of another caste, the formal (for) is always used.

When speaking to an outsider, esp. someone viewed with suspicion, neutrality, negativity, distaste, distrust, or general hatred, the expletive (exp) greeting or parting is used.  If an expletive greeting or parting is used with another Mütvian regardless of caste, it will be seen as a grave insult as the insulter, for all intents and purposes, called a fellow Mütvian an outsider.

There are many times when a Mütvian does not know to whom they are speaking, be it a spirit or stranger. In these cases, the unfamiliar (unf) is used.

Jera!  (inf. greeting) My heart! / Heart of mine!
Sa er sülve (inf. parting) Be safe, abbr. sa sülve
Bruso sóro  (for. greeting) Good day
Bruso devro  (for. parting) Good night
Vruso sóro  (exp. greeting) Leave and die
Vruso devro  (exp. parting)  Your ass in ashes
Gorsi, sülve, ia paksilo. (Any) Strength, safety, and peace.

 

Lexicon of Old Mütvian

It should be noted the drósti have their own lexicon to describe those things of drósti and not of drósti.

A

an (n) year
av (adj) new

B

bövi (v) to end, conclude
bruso (adj) good

D

da (adv) yes, pronunciation DAH
de (prep) of, by, for, from, to, with, pronunciation DAY
derastövya  (n) congratulations, e.g. In celebration of the couple’s wedding, everyone shouted
devro  (n) night, pl. devra
devzu (v) to awaken, lit. to survive the night (devro, night + zu, to survive)

E

eg (number) one
eo (pro) his, pronunciation AY-oh
eono (pro) him, pronunciation ay-OH-no
eru  (v) to be
es-  (suffix, adj) eternal, from esso
esso  (adj) eternal
eströijia (n) portal to elsewhere (eh-STROY-zhya), ex.  The Veiled Gate is a powerful eströijia
euso (n) door (ay-OO-soh)

G

gamalad (n) family
gera (n) mouth (body part), pl. geraa
gi (pro) us
go (pro) we
gorsi (noun) strength

I

i (prep) in
ia (conj) and, pronunciation EE-ah
ije (n) something internalized, within one’s self
io (pro) my, of mine
-iy (suf) possessive akin to ‘s in english

J

jado (n) gift
jadtö (n) mercy
jer  (n) a dear one close to the heart, pl. jera
jüs (adj) of the Mütvian people by laws of nature; concept of the same

K

kamman (n) work
kamu (v) to work
kärt (n) horn
kerse (n) west
korvo (n) raven, pl. korva, poss. korvi
kouro (n) heart, pl. koura
kua (number) two

L

lo (pro) I
lüsasöi (adv) only
lavitu (v) to love
lavo (n) love

M

majo (n) house
mitsa (adj) weak
mizhak (n) a brute
muchal (n) a whisper
müt (n) people, residents of an area; typically refers only to humans
mütanuri (n) lit. protector of the people (müt, humans + tanu, to protect, + -ri, one who performs the action of he modified verb)
Mütvi (pr) Mütvians; collective proper noun for natural born citizens of Mütvia, lit. People of the Land, including nobles.  When used by nobles, its use infrequently includes drósti.

N

naviu (v) to eat
ne (adv) no, pronunciation NAY
nelik (adj) happy
nes (pro) he/she/they; gender neutral, can apply to any sentient being
nis (pro) him/her/them; gender neutral, can apply to any sentient being

P

paksilo (n) peace, or the concept of
prusko (v) said; past and past participle of prusku
prusku (v) to say

R

reju (v) to reign
reje (n) reign, ex. the prince’s reign
rejestöi (n, adj) one’s eternal reign and life
-ri (suf) one who performs the action of the modified verb, ex. singer: sinturi (sintu, to sing + ri, one who…)
rish (n) sleep
rishu (v) to sleep

S

sa (pro) you
sanji (n) land spirits (see voisti) that often appear as small, misshapen humanoids
sant (n) a story
santu (v)  to tell, to relate
sem (n) sign
sera (n) shadow
seragia (n) gate, as in a garden gate (SEH-reh-gee’-uh)
sint (n)  a song
sin•tu (v)  to sing
so•it  (n) a soul
sóro  (n) day
sta•la (n) plan, of premeditated design
ströi (adj) a terrible state of affairs, significant strife
sül•ve (adj) safe
sü•maj•o (n) guild, i.e. commoner guild

T

ta•nu  (v) to protect
tesh•vir (n) cousin
-ty (suf) -ing
ty•ne (v) to hold
trár (number) three
töi  (n) life

U

üd•vyzd (n) welcome
uo (pro) hers, pronunciation OO-oh
u•o•no (pro) her, pronunciation oo-OH-no

V

vi (n) land
via (n) the Land
vizh (adj) all, every
vo•isti (n) any of the Mütvian land spirits
vru•so  1. (n) death; 2. (n) journey, esp. one out of or into Mütvia

Y

yo (pro) I

Z

zed•nya (n) danger
zhak•dov (n) an oath or promise
zhir•du  (v) to go
zu (v) to survive

EVISER

Official language of Wyth Tyr’il, home of the People of the Elements, the th’il.

A

a (v) (ä) to permit
a•dath (noun) (ä-däth) Selfless romantic love for another mortal (th’il, humans, etc.)  Sa’adath thé, “My love for you” or “I love you”, meant as a verbal gift rather than a proclamation of romantic state.
-an (suffix) denoting a person, animal, or thing that performs a specified action or activity.
-a•nan (suffix; Anc. Elven) (ä–NÄN) Torn by war.
a•ni (adj) (ä-nee) verdant, the green color of thriving vegetation
a•te (n) (ä-tay) council of beings
ayv (adj) (āv) of striking and magnificent nature

D

dagh (v) to keep safe
dar (v) to wield
dath (v) to climb
dra (v) to draw from
dra•nor•vau•ri (n) People of the Earth, i.e. gol, karuun, tirfolk,  ; lit. those drawn from the earth and given spirit
drath (v) to raise
drill (v) (drēl) to exist

E

evi (n) (eh-VEE) any one of the eight primordial elements, pl. evin (q.v.)
ev•i•ser (n) (eh-VEE-sahr ) language
evin (n) (EH-ven) collective noun of the eight primordial elements
é•go•in 1) (n) (ā-go-een) a karuun; 2) (adj) stubborn
éth (n) (āth) stronghold
É•vin (n) (ā-veen) The Great Consort of Sythlia; also, Ævyn

F

fahn (n) void
fay (n) (fay) death
fe•ran (noun) heart, as in organ

G

gho (num) cardinal number: three
ghi (adv) thrice
gil (n) an isle, specifically any small non-volcanic island (can walk perimeter of island in less than two days)

 

H

ha’dath (n) spider
hel (n) bay of water

I

-il (suffix) “Of the land”, spec. referring to th’il.  Opposed to -ir, as in from a place name.
-in (suffix) Fertile, or the potential of being.  Often ends a word that precedes the reason for the modified word.
-ir (suffix) From, of
-is (suffix) of, or related to flora
iri (phrasal verb) belong to, belonging to
-ith (suffix) Indicating past tense; that which was.  Often ends a word that precedes the reason for the modified word.
i•a•sor (noun) homeland, birthplace; a sacred land that is an extension of one’s ancestral soul regardless of species
Í, í (conjunction)  and

K

kaun•i  (n) fire
krel (v) to slay

L

la (v) to enter
lit (n) light
lith (n) sun
lith•ir (n) sun, element of.  Lit., the sun’s power in all things
lith•lit (n) sunlight
ly’ (v) to count  Ex. Ly the fallen leaves and learn how many journey the cycle
ly’iasor (noun) world calendar (count of the world)
lyr  (n) 1) Mortal-made law, code or rule that supports a natural state; opposed to law that works against such.  Ex. The lyr tells us we should only take from fallen trees, not from those still standing.  2) A land inhabited by those who follow natural law

M

me (num) (MEH) cardinal number: one
mi (adv) once
mor (n) (môr) lowland
moor (n) (mo͝orr) an isolated location 

N

ni- (suffix)  not, or anti
nor•ir (n) earth, element of.  Lit., the earth in all things

O

o•nor (n) a giant
oth•a (n) a moon
oth•a•hir (n) moon, element of 
oth•al (adj) silver, as it appears on the dew of leaves.
oyg (n) peak, the top of a mountain
oyg (n) summit, the top of a mountain able to be reached by a climber on foot

Q

q’ry (n) (qi-, natural container; ry, water) lake, a large body of fresh water surrounded by land.
qi (n) a natural formation that contains another facet of nature

R

rith (adj) holy
ry (n) water
ry•ir (n) water, element of.  Lit., the water in all things

S

sa (pronoun, nominative sa , possessive sa’, objective sey; plural nominative sar, possessive sar’ or sar, objective us)  I, me, my/mine, me, we, our/ours, us; The nominative singular pronoun, used by a speaker in referring to himself or herself.
sad (n) the self
sair (adj) (SAYR) Natural abundance, esp. land; Ex. The Spine is mountain sair, surely it has the highest peaks on all of Erinnal.
sau•ir (n) (sou-irr; from sair, abundant) Lush tropical land, esp. jungle-like
saur•in (n) (sou(ə)r-ēn; sauir, jungle-like;  -in, fertile) A land not yet depleted of natural life.  Used when referring to the possibility of its destruction.
saur’nith (n) (sou(ə)r-nēth’; sair, abundant; -in, fertile; -ith, was, to make of the past)  A land depleted of natural resources.
ser (v) (ser) to open
ser’is (v) (ser-ēs) to blossom; (exc., Slin dialect) Used as a polite greeting
si•lad (adj) (sē-LAHD)  gray
skyr (n) (skīr) air
slin (n) (slēn)  a blade of coarse design
stris (n) a port town

T

ter (adj)  balance between opposing ideals
ther (v) to guide
ther•is (n) a natural landmark, lit. a tree that watches (out for travelers)
ther•an (n) guide, one who leads others down a path or trail
Th’il (pn) colloquially “elves”; anc. first people of the elements
thras (n) a watchtower
thras•an (n) a guard
thre (num) cardinal number: two
thri (adv) twice
thri (adj) 1) more than once, 2) hopeful eternity
thri’il (adj) trans. forever of the land.  Ex.  Wyth Thri’il (capital of Wyth Tyr’il), trans. Capital of the Eternal First People
thé (pronoun) you; trans. the one who stands before me
théhr (pronoun) them; trans. the others (usually non-th’il)

U

V

vau (n) (vô) life, as in sentient beings
vau•ri (n) (vô-rē) spirit, specifically the soul (q.v.) when separated from the body

 

W

wis (adj) (w(h)ēss) foremost in importance
wis•a•te (n) (w(h)ēss–ô-tā; wis, grand, foremost; ate, council ) 1. the foremost of any council in a given collection of councils, 2. the ruling government of Wyth Tyr’il, the Grand Council.
wyth (noun) (w(h)īth) capital city

X

Y

Z

GLOSHADI

When spoken by a native, this language of the umbral realm is reminiscent of whispers.

Sounds

A, a – ah as in “car”
B, b – b as in “bat”
C, c – ch as in “Chaim” (a guttural sound)
D, d – d as in “dog”
E, e – eh as in “bed”
F, f – f as in “fish”
G, g – g as in “go”
H, h – h as in “hat”
I, i – ee as in “see”
J, j – zh as in “measure”
K, k – k as in “kite”
L, l – l as in “lamp”
M, m – m as in “mat”
N, n – n as in “net”
O, o – oh as in “go”
P, p – p as in “pat”
Q, q – kw as in “queen”
R, r – r as in “run”
S, s – s as in “sit”
T, t – t as in “top”
U, u – oo as in “food”
V, v – v as in “van”
W, w – w as in “win”
X, x – ks as in “box”
Y, y – y as in “yes”
Z, z – z as in “zebra”

Pronunciation:

  • gl combination is pronounced as the IPA χl, similar to the “ch” in “Bach” followed by an “l”. Example: Gloshadi is pronounced as χlo-sha-dee.
  • Detheglom: Not “DETH-glome”, but “det-‘he-χlom”.
  • Stress is typically on the first syllable of the word, unless indicated otherwise.

Sentence Structure

Gloshadi follows an SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) structure, similar to Japanese.

Examples:

  • miro salor profera – I offer greetings. (I – greetings – offer)
  • yuro stelor miral – You watch the stars. (You – stars – watch)
  • wiro glomar vira – We see the shadow. (We – shadow – see)
  • miro auril valor – I value gold. (I – gold – value)
  • yuro lor magor ista? – Is there magic in you? (You – a – magic – is)
  • miro drakor’s haza narata – I have a tale of a dragon. (I – dragon’s – have – tale)

Pronouns

miro – I
miros – we
yuro – you (singular)
yuros – you (plural)
tiro – they (singular, neutral)
tiros – they (plural)
tirom – them (singular, neutral)
tiroms – them (plural)

In this system:

  • miros refers to “we” regardless of the inclusion or exclusion of the person being spoken to.
  • tiro is a singular neutral pronoun, used for any individual regardless of gender or when the specifics of the individual are unknown or irrelevant.
  • tiros is the plural form of “they”, used for referring to multiple entities.

Phrases

miro salor profera. – I offer greetings.
yuro stelor miral. – You watch the stars.
wiro glomar vira. – We see the shadow.
deon wiro skuarda. – Gods protect us.
miro yuro gratia. – I thank you.
kamrad voyel inizio. – Fellow begins the journey.
miro narat narata. – I tell a tale.
yuro zarnel! – Beware, you! (Be careful!)
deon miro skuarda, nar yuro. – Gods protect me, not your tale.
wiro glomirnar vira. – We see the tale of the hard shadow.
miro zarnel yuro. – I warn you.
yuro glomelvira! – May you be blinded by soft shadows.
miro auril valor. – I value gold.
yuro lor magor ista? – Is there magic in you?
miro drakor’s haza narata. – I have a tale of a dragon.

Numbers

detha – one
gloti – two
lomtri – three
chande – four
solquen – five
hexlo – six
detsev – seven
glocto – eight
ninthel – nine
dec – ten

Kinds of Shadow

glomel – soft shadow (like that under a tree)
glomir – hard shadow (sharp edges, like from direct sunlight)
glomur – moving shadow
glomer – deep shadow (like in a cave or under dense clouds)

Lexicon

auril (n) gold
benor (n) blessings
brondal (n) dwarf
brondali (n) dwarves
cural (n) healing
deon (n) gods
doman (n) realm
drakor’s (n) dragon’s
drapal (n) cloak
elixar (n) potion
encot (v) met
etza (conj) and
firal (v) do
flethi (n) arrows
flethol (n) quiver
glomar (n) shadows
grupan (n) guild
haza (v) has
incar (n) spell
ista (v) is
istal (pron) it’s
jural (v) swear
kamrad (n) fellow
kiv (prep) by
libar (n) tome
likor (n) favor
lireth (s. n) a single th’il
lirethi (pl. n) multiple th’il
miro (pron) i
miros (pron) we
mirok (pron) we
musar (v) must
narat (n) tales
nuro (pron) our
nus (pron) us
onar (n) honor
ovir (prep) over
parla (v) spoken
pather (n) paths
quiro (pron) what
relor (n) rest
rilkan (n) chainmail
runar (n) runes
salin (n) hail
salor (n) greetings
senorin (n) elders
silvar (n) forest
skeld (n) shield
solquen (n) five
stafar (n) staff
stavar (v) stay
stelor (n) stars
thel (art) the
thiral (pron) this
thiro (pron) thee
tilo (prep) to
tirak (v) consult
tranzo (v) cross
tarnel (n) catfolk
tarneli (n) catfolks
untar (prep) until
valor (n) worth
vandar (n) wanderer
vandz (n, slang) travelers, wanderers
ventar (n) winds
virex (n) birdfolk
virexi (n) birdfolks
vira (v) see
virel (adv) again
voyar (n) travels
voyel (n) journey
voros (n) prophecy
warmar (n) warhammer
wiro (pron) we
yurz (n, slang) friend, buddy
yuro (pron) you
zarnel (v) beware