Writing system
There are a number of writing systems used on Cerilia for its various languages. The key ones are the curvy elven script, the dwarven runes and the lines and dots of the Basarji alphabet. From those, other ways of writing have been developed. The Anuirean alphabet is based on the elven script but over time it has made a number of changes. The Rjurik use the Anuirean alphabet for Rjuven writing but modified it further due to the differences between the accents and languages. The Brecht alphabet was originally based on the dwarven runes, but is now distinctly different.
Each writing system establishes a universal expectation of what letters and symbols are used to represent elements of a language and their basic shape. However, an individual writer may vary slightly in their own writing, each having their own calligraphic style. Some of these may prove to be popular or standardised within institutions or realms as particular typefaces.
Each language also has different vowels, consonents and phonetic linguistic behaviours and these will need to be represented in any writing systems used for a language. As a result, not all writing systems will have same letters or sounds represented. For instance, the Anuirean alphabet does not have a letter for the English z sound, because it does not need to distinguish between z (IPA: /z/, voiced alveolar sibilant) and any other sound (like the voiceless alveolar sibilant s /s/ or voiceless postalveolar sibilant sh /ʃ/ ). Therefore, an Anuirean speaker may hear the same word if you pronounced Osoerde as oh-SORE-day or oh-ZORE-day. However, this distinction may be vital for writing Low or High Brecht, so the Brecht alphabet may have a letter for z as well as one for s and/or sh so it can distinguish between sounds like zon, son and shon. This may prevent words written in one writing system being able to be clearly written in any other writing system without also being translated in the related language.
The Elven alphabet is used in Cerilian Sidhelien communities as well as the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Like the Sidhelien langauge, it has changed little in the recorded history of Cerilia.
No canon Birthright publication contains any record or images of the elven alphabet. However, as it is a predecessor to the Anuirean alphabet, it may be speculated as having similar but fancier forms.
The Andu never had a writing system, but after their migration to Cerilia, they were introduced to the elven script, which they adapted then modified for the Andu language. This new, distinct Anuirean alphabet is still used for the modern Anuirean language, though it no longer resembles the elven alphabet.
The Anuirean alphabet has 29 letters, being ten vowels and nineteen consonants. Other notation marks like accents are also used to indicate the unique sounds of some special vowels. The shape of these letters is provided in the Birthright boxset. It does not resemble the system used for any real language.
The Rjurik use the Anuirean alphabet for Rjuven writing, but have added a few new letters and some letters are quite phonetically different to that of the Anuireans, due to their different accents.
There is no canon representation of the Rjuven alphabet, but it is known to have a similar form to the Anuirean alphabet (like the English, French, Spanish and Italian alphabets are similar to each other, but not identical). Therefore, the use of runic shapes for the Rjuven alphabet is not appropriate and should be limited to dwarven writing or any specialised purpose, like maybe a druidic language or enchantment.
The Dwarven runes were designed as a practical way to mark information on rockfaces and wood. For this reason, the runes tend to consist of simple combinations of straight lines that can be scored or carved quickly. They correspond to the phonetic elements used for Karamhul.
There is no record provided of these runes, but a good start is to use the Elder Futhark that was used by the early Germanic and Norse speakers. If you want to add any further letters, have a look at the Younger Futhark (which is more recent).
While the Brecht alphabet is based on the dwarven runes, the prominence of the feather stylus and the invention of the printing blocks in Brechtur and the differences between the languages and accents brought about changes. As a result, a Brecht speaker can no longer read the runes.
There is no difference between the alphabet used for High Brecht and that used for Low Brecht, though there a number of calligraphic variations that have been used. With the dominance of the Brecht League, further universal symbols and abbreviations have been created for record keeping within guilds and realms. Sometimes these appear in Brecht writing.
No examples were provided of the Brecht alphabet in any canon Birthright publication. Given the link to the dwarven runes, it is reasonable to speculate that the letters tend to favour straight lines like the runes, but may also now include some curves and other elements not found in the runes. These may include serifs, different line thicknesses and more calligraphic variation in how speakers write the letters, in a similar way that a variety of Gothic or Blackletter scripts were developed in Europe from about 1150 onwards.
The Basarji alphabet, like the Khinasi people, came from Djapar. It is a combination of lines and dots, similar to that used in Arabic writing. It is written on the page from right to left.
There are no examples of Basarji writing provided in canon Birthright publications but given its stated similarity to the look of Arabic writing, we can speculate. Like for Arabic, the various lines tend to be used for the consonants, and the positions and number of dots represent the vowels and other linguistic elements. As a cursive language, the letters are joined together when written, but may take on different forms depending on whether they are in a word, e.g., at the start, middle or end. Like most languages, there will still be some calligraphic differences between speakers on how they write each letter, but any other Basarji speaker should be able to read it.
Some language communities are known to not write using any established alphabets. For instance, it is said that the Vos do not write, preferring to educate and inform through song, storytelling, verbal repetition and artwork. However, they do have a way of recording numbers and basic mathematics for record keeping, as well using runic symbols, tokens and other personal or heraldic markings to indicate possessions and alliances.
Many other Cerilian languages have not been recorded as having a specific writing system, but it may be that some specific realms or organisations have started to record things or communications in some way. This new alphabet or notation system will probably not be used in other communities who speak the language, but that may change over time.
For instance, the Goblin language does not have a known alphabet of its own but it is reasonable to think that goblin realms have started to use the Anuirean alphabet crudely in trade and political agreements and records. This would be due to interaction with human realms, including those of the Gorgon. However, this is still a novel concept so there is much variation in spelling and there may not be much use of such an alphabet outside of those realms.
The halfling communities tend to mainly be speaking the local human language and using the associated writing system, if any. For instance, in the halfling realm of the Burrows, the Brecht alphabet is commonly used because Low Brecht is the main language. The halfing's own language (known as Cellwair by some) is not widely known or used in Cerilia and is not associated with any particular writing system. Some Brecht scholars have identified various scorings on the edges of ancient halfling posts and rocks that may be writing, but the halflings have not provided any confirmation or explanation about this (see the ogham system found in Ireland). It is not known what any halfling communities in the Shadow World use for writing, but it is speculated that it will be the same as that used by the Seelie Court.
Little else is written about the writing systems of those of the Shadow World. Since Aebrynis is rarely visited from other worlds in the greater planespace, celestial or demonic or otherwise, it is not expected that there would be many planar experts who would know any non-Aebrynis writing systems. Similarly, little is known in Cerilia about the inhabitants of Aduria, so there is unlikely to be many in Cerilia who would know any Adurian writing systems. However, using linguistic expertise and a lot of time, it may be possible to identify the system used on any series of foreign documents and eventually get the gist of the content, even if a full translation is not possible (though magic can be used for that purpose).
It is not known whether other Cerilian language communities, like those speaking the Orog or Giant languages, use any established writing system. Some scholars have wondered if the rivalry between orogs and dwarves might have resulted in orogs developing their own alphabet from the dwarven runes. After all, the orog brigade leaders would want to understand and communicate any dwarven writing they discovered, and the leaders being able to speak and read Karamhul may not be enough. However, as for the goblin alphabet, there may not be a universal set of orog runes or letters. Each orog realm will probably develop their own alphabet (or none at all).
Some other writing systems, especially rune-like alphabets, have been established as a way of helping channel the power of Mebhaighl. These may be found in spellbooks and on magical items or tattoos. While some may resemble elements of standard alphabets, they can only be read and used by those with the suitable training and may be more like musical or mathematical notation, such that they relate to instructions, components and relationships rather than dialogue or literature.
Each writing system establishes a universal expectation of what letters and symbols are used to represent elements of a language and their basic shape. However, an individual writer may vary slightly in their own writing, each having their own calligraphic style. Some of these may prove to be popular or standardised within institutions or realms as particular typefaces.
Each language also has different vowels, consonents and phonetic linguistic behaviours and these will need to be represented in any writing systems used for a language. As a result, not all writing systems will have same letters or sounds represented. For instance, the Anuirean alphabet does not have a letter for the English z sound, because it does not need to distinguish between z (IPA: /z/, voiced alveolar sibilant) and any other sound (like the voiceless alveolar sibilant s /s/ or voiceless postalveolar sibilant sh /ʃ/ ). Therefore, an Anuirean speaker may hear the same word if you pronounced Osoerde as oh-SORE-day or oh-ZORE-day. However, this distinction may be vital for writing Low or High Brecht, so the Brecht alphabet may have a letter for z as well as one for s and/or sh so it can distinguish between sounds like zon, son and shon. This may prevent words written in one writing system being able to be clearly written in any other writing system without also being translated in the related language.
[top]Elven alphabet
The Elven alphabet is used in Cerilian Sidhelien communities as well as the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Like the Sidhelien langauge, it has changed little in the recorded history of Cerilia.
No canon Birthright publication contains any record or images of the elven alphabet. However, as it is a predecessor to the Anuirean alphabet, it may be speculated as having similar but fancier forms.
[top]Anuirean alphabet
The Andu never had a writing system, but after their migration to Cerilia, they were introduced to the elven script, which they adapted then modified for the Andu language. This new, distinct Anuirean alphabet is still used for the modern Anuirean language, though it no longer resembles the elven alphabet.
The Anuirean alphabet has 29 letters, being ten vowels and nineteen consonants. Other notation marks like accents are also used to indicate the unique sounds of some special vowels. The shape of these letters is provided in the Birthright boxset. It does not resemble the system used for any real language.
[top]Rjuven alphabet
The Rjurik use the Anuirean alphabet for Rjuven writing, but have added a few new letters and some letters are quite phonetically different to that of the Anuireans, due to their different accents.
There is no canon representation of the Rjuven alphabet, but it is known to have a similar form to the Anuirean alphabet (like the English, French, Spanish and Italian alphabets are similar to each other, but not identical). Therefore, the use of runic shapes for the Rjuven alphabet is not appropriate and should be limited to dwarven writing or any specialised purpose, like maybe a druidic language or enchantment.
[top]Dwarven runes
The Dwarven runes were designed as a practical way to mark information on rockfaces and wood. For this reason, the runes tend to consist of simple combinations of straight lines that can be scored or carved quickly. They correspond to the phonetic elements used for Karamhul.
There is no record provided of these runes, but a good start is to use the Elder Futhark that was used by the early Germanic and Norse speakers. If you want to add any further letters, have a look at the Younger Futhark (which is more recent).
See Also: Elder Futhark (Wikipedia)
[top]Brecht alphabet
While the Brecht alphabet is based on the dwarven runes, the prominence of the feather stylus and the invention of the printing blocks in Brechtur and the differences between the languages and accents brought about changes. As a result, a Brecht speaker can no longer read the runes.
There is no difference between the alphabet used for High Brecht and that used for Low Brecht, though there a number of calligraphic variations that have been used. With the dominance of the Brecht League, further universal symbols and abbreviations have been created for record keeping within guilds and realms. Sometimes these appear in Brecht writing.
No examples were provided of the Brecht alphabet in any canon Birthright publication. Given the link to the dwarven runes, it is reasonable to speculate that the letters tend to favour straight lines like the runes, but may also now include some curves and other elements not found in the runes. These may include serifs, different line thicknesses and more calligraphic variation in how speakers write the letters, in a similar way that a variety of Gothic or Blackletter scripts were developed in Europe from about 1150 onwards.
See Also: Blackletter (Wikipedia)
[top]Basarji alphabet
The Basarji alphabet, like the Khinasi people, came from Djapar. It is a combination of lines and dots, similar to that used in Arabic writing. It is written on the page from right to left.
There are no examples of Basarji writing provided in canon Birthright publications but given its stated similarity to the look of Arabic writing, we can speculate. Like for Arabic, the various lines tend to be used for the consonants, and the positions and number of dots represent the vowels and other linguistic elements. As a cursive language, the letters are joined together when written, but may take on different forms depending on whether they are in a word, e.g., at the start, middle or end. Like most languages, there will still be some calligraphic differences between speakers on how they write each letter, but any other Basarji speaker should be able to read it.
See Also: Arabic alphabet (Wikipedia)
[top]Other writing systems
Some language communities are known to not write using any established alphabets. For instance, it is said that the Vos do not write, preferring to educate and inform through song, storytelling, verbal repetition and artwork. However, they do have a way of recording numbers and basic mathematics for record keeping, as well using runic symbols, tokens and other personal or heraldic markings to indicate possessions and alliances.
Many other Cerilian languages have not been recorded as having a specific writing system, but it may be that some specific realms or organisations have started to record things or communications in some way. This new alphabet or notation system will probably not be used in other communities who speak the language, but that may change over time.
For instance, the Goblin language does not have a known alphabet of its own but it is reasonable to think that goblin realms have started to use the Anuirean alphabet crudely in trade and political agreements and records. This would be due to interaction with human realms, including those of the Gorgon. However, this is still a novel concept so there is much variation in spelling and there may not be much use of such an alphabet outside of those realms.
The halfling communities tend to mainly be speaking the local human language and using the associated writing system, if any. For instance, in the halfling realm of the Burrows, the Brecht alphabet is commonly used because Low Brecht is the main language. The halfing's own language (known as Cellwair by some) is not widely known or used in Cerilia and is not associated with any particular writing system. Some Brecht scholars have identified various scorings on the edges of ancient halfling posts and rocks that may be writing, but the halflings have not provided any confirmation or explanation about this (see the ogham system found in Ireland). It is not known what any halfling communities in the Shadow World use for writing, but it is speculated that it will be the same as that used by the Seelie Court.
Little else is written about the writing systems of those of the Shadow World. Since Aebrynis is rarely visited from other worlds in the greater planespace, celestial or demonic or otherwise, it is not expected that there would be many planar experts who would know any non-Aebrynis writing systems. Similarly, little is known in Cerilia about the inhabitants of Aduria, so there is unlikely to be many in Cerilia who would know any Adurian writing systems. However, using linguistic expertise and a lot of time, it may be possible to identify the system used on any series of foreign documents and eventually get the gist of the content, even if a full translation is not possible (though magic can be used for that purpose).
It is not known whether other Cerilian language communities, like those speaking the Orog or Giant languages, use any established writing system. Some scholars have wondered if the rivalry between orogs and dwarves might have resulted in orogs developing their own alphabet from the dwarven runes. After all, the orog brigade leaders would want to understand and communicate any dwarven writing they discovered, and the leaders being able to speak and read Karamhul may not be enough. However, as for the goblin alphabet, there may not be a universal set of orog runes or letters. Each orog realm will probably develop their own alphabet (or none at all).
Some other writing systems, especially rune-like alphabets, have been established as a way of helping channel the power of Mebhaighl. These may be found in spellbooks and on magical items or tattoos. While some may resemble elements of standard alphabets, they can only be read and used by those with the suitable training and may be more like musical or mathematical notation, such that they relate to instructions, components and relationships rather than dialogue or literature.
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