The diverse cultures of Cerilia speak various different languages. The oldest languages on the continent are Sidhelien (elvish), Karamhul (dwarven), Giant, Goblin - the languages of the cultures that lived in Cerilia before human settlement - and Cellwair (halfling) who fled the Shadow World.

[top]Key languages

Languages of Birthright
LanguageWriting system Main speakersBased on
Andu (ancient)Anuirean alphabethistorically used in AnuireClassical Latin
Anuirean (modern)Anuirean alphabetAnuirean communitiesFrench, English
BasarjiBasarji alphabetKhinasi communities, including in DjaparArabic with a Mediterrean flavour*
Low Brecht (modern)Brecht alphabetBrecht communities, but used as a trade tongue/common language throughout CeriliaGermanic* (e.g., Middle High German)
High Brecht (ancient)Brecht alphabetused for official purposes in BrechturGermanic* (e.g., Old High German)
GiantunspecifiedGiant communities????
GnollunspecifiedGnoll communities????
Goblinunspecified, but probably modified Anuirean alphabetGoblin communities????
Cellwair (Halfling)unspecified, but possibly Brecht alphabetHalfling communities, but very rarely in Cerilia????
Karamhul (Dwarven)Karamhul alphabetDwarven communities????
MasetianunspecifiedMasetians (possibly extinct)Ancient Greek, Canaanite
OrogunspecifiedOrog communities????
OgrishunspecifiedOgre communities????
Rjuvenmodified Anuirean alphabetRjurik communitiesScandinavian languages (e.g., Old Norse/Icelandic, Swedish, Finnish)
Sidhelien (Elven)Sidhelien alphabetElven & Seelie/Unseelie communitiesCeltic languages (e.g., Irish and Scot Gaelic, Breton, Welsh)
TrollunspecifiedTroll communities????
VosnoneVos communitiesEastern European languages (e.g., Slavic)
* Stated in canon publications or by the original developers, especially Rich Baker

Little canon detail is provided about the grammatical or phonological structure of most languages. Often there is little more than a set of names of places and people within the related cultures. Some have been loosely linked to Earth's human languages, but that is often no more than a flavour to help the DM. There are no strict rules as to how these linkages should be applied and there is no actual link between Earth and Aebrynis in the lore. However, some possible further language linkages have been suggested in the Languages of Birthright table.

Over time, it is stated that there has been some influence between the Cerilian languages. Sidhelien was particularly influential in the evolution of the human tongues; in fact, the Andu borrowed freely from the elvish alphabet when devising their writing system. Similarly, the Brecht writing system was based on the Karamhul runes. For most languages, there are no details of their writing system, if they have one. Some languages like Sidhelien and Basarji are known to have changed little over time.

Of course, the pronunciations of words and grammatical preferences within any language differ slightly between communities but it can be presumed that all speakers of the same language can understand each other regardless. For example, elves from any realm can speak Sidhelien to each other, even if the vowels and intonation of those from the Erebannien are different to those from Rhuobhe or Tuarhievel or the Sielwode or even the Seelie Court. Each dialect though may still have a few words and quirks that may cause some short-term confusion for non-native speakers, including an accent that may help a community identify whether a speaker is local or not.

See Also: Birthright Pronunciation Guide - Rich Baker pronouncing various Birthright-specific placenames and terms

[top]Anuirean


Modern Anuirean is descended from the Andu language and uses the Anuirean alphabet.

[top]Rjuven

The Rjurik peoples adopted the Anuirean alphabet, although they modified it for their own use. A person literate in Anuirean can pronounce Rjuven written words, although he cannot determine their meaning and syntax.

[top]Brecht

The language of the Brechts has a heavy, Germanic ring and follows many typically Germanic rules. The Brechts borrowed dwarven runes as the model for their written language, but Brecht has evolved to the point that a reader of Brecht can no longer read dwarven rune-letters.

There are two versions of the Brecht language in use - the older High Brecht and the more common Low Brecht.

[top]Basarji

The Basarji brought their own language to Cerilia and developed their alphabet independent of outside influence. The language is Arabic in appearance and sound, with a strong Mediterranean flavour. Little different exists between the language spoken by the Khinasi today and that spoken by their ancestors.

[top]Vos

The folk of Vosgaard do not have a written language. However a set of runic symbols is widely used for marking possessions and for counting.

Tags for this Page

Similar Pages

  1. Speak Languages
    By Sorontar in forum Main
    Comments: 0
    Last Post: 07-25-2008, 02:46 AM
  2. Comprehend Languages (Spell)
    By Arjan in forum D20 system reference document
    Comments: 0
    Last Post: 05-19-2007, 11:53 PM
  3. Languages
    By Arjan in forum Template
    Comments: 0
    Last Post: 05-14-2007, 06:57 PM
  4. Languages/Lang
    By Arjan in forum Template
    Comments: 0
    Last Post: 05-11-2007, 07:26 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

Posting Permissions
  • You may not create new articles
  • You may not edit articles
  • You may not protect articles
  • You may not post comments
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your comments
BIRTHRIGHT, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, the BIRTHRIGHT logo, and the D&D logo are trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., and are used by permission. ©2002-2010 Wizards of the Coast, Inc.