A Lesson in Dragonspeak

[Fernehalwes]

Thanks TinyRedLeaf.

Simple case of brain meltdown on that SVO/SOV mixup.
You're right, I've probably been in Japan too long...
Original post edited.

Cheers!

[TinyRedLeaf]

Thanks TinyRedLeaf... Simple case of brain meltdown on that SVO/SOV mixup... Cheers!

Haha, no problem, as long as you don't mind the occasional grammar nazi!

More importantly, I've got lore-related questions, in case you're still in the mood to respond.

1) To what extent do the spoken races understand dragonspeak?

We've seen, for example, that even people without the Echo could inexplicably understand Hraesvelgr. Alphinaud clearly heard dragonspeak, but he was shocked to discover that he could understand every word. Is this quality unique to the First Brood?

2) To what extent do the dragons themselves speak Eorzean?

Because Midgardsormr himself, the father of all dragons, speaks Eorzean. Or, at least, we the players think he does, since he apparently converses with the WoL in plain Eorzean. Or has the Echo helpfully played Babel fish for us?

3) With reference to Q1, assuming that the average Eorzean doesn't understand dragonspeak, what are the chances that reference material can be found in repositories like the Great Gubal Library?

I ask because I imagine that this could be one way to explain how player-characters come to "learn" dragonspeak, and understand as well as we the players do, thanks to this immensely informative article.

[Fernehalwes]

More importantly, I've got lore-related questions, in case you're still in the mood to respond.

1) To what extent do the spoken races understand dragonspeak?

The spoken races of Eorzea understand very little about dragonspeak. The fact that contact with most dragons has been sporadic (at best) over the past thousand years, has limited the amount of hands-on study. Because there is no written dragonspeak (other than what has been transliterated) there is really no practical reason to study the language (unless you are a linguist), as that aforementioned lack of contact with anyone who speaks the tongue limits where it can be used/practiced. Couple that with the lack of linguistic scholar-compiled documentation remaining in Eorzea (most all important tomes on dragonspeak contained in the Great Gubal library were taken back to the mainland when the Sharlayans abandoned their city-state) and the simple fact that dragonspeak is nigh on impossible to master without a few thousand years to spare...

The few lucky Eorzeans who have been granted a form of the Echo that allows their brains to decode languages...AND also have been lucky enough to also encounter a dragon in the past few years...are actually the closest anyone has been to the language in several centuries.

2) To what extent do the dragons themselves speak Eorzean?

It is safe to say most dragons can speak Eorzean. They've had a long history of dealing with many different cultures all unable to master dragonspeak, so matching the language of the other party ensures smoother communication. As for reasons why dragons will switch back and forth while speaking with you, well, that ultimately comes down to the mindset of the dragon your speaking with. Some dragons may not realize that you have the Echo, and therefore speak in Eorzean when you first meet (assuming you are like every other non-dragon being he/she has come in contact over the past several millenia). Some dragons may use Eorzea as a way of looking down on you--using your simplistic, underdeveloped language because they see you as equally simplistic and underdeveloped (thanks a lot, Middy). There are also times when a dragon may speak in Eorzean because you are accompanied by people who don't have the Echo. The opposite is also true--a dragon may use dragonspeak when he/she only wants you to know something, and not the people around you.

3) With reference to Q1, assuming that the average Eorzean doesn't understand dragonspeak, what are the chances that reference material can be found in repositories like the Great Gubal Library?

Like I mentioned earlier, the Sharlayans took all their best tomes when they packed up and headed back to their homeland. However, that's not to say there are not some left over. The Sharlayans felt it was best to leave quickly during the exodus, and left behind a lot of stuff (mostly tomes that they had duplicates of, or knew they already had other copies of back on the mainland). I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few books lying around that contained more juicy bits of information.