The Languages of Hydaelyn

[Gospel]

Hi, I've always been curious about just how many languages there are in the world of Hydaelyn. I'm aware that there must be quite a few but if anything, would it be possible to give us a list of the known languages and maybe even an example of how they might sound like to others?

I know an example would be with the Sylph tribe. Whenever they speak, to those that don't understand their language they would often just hear ringing and humming but to those that do, they would hear them speaking in a strange dialect where they always referred to themselves and everyone around them in third person.

I'm also very curious about Garlemald and how they go about with their way of speech. I'm well aware that they come from the north(lol) but because of how their army works, they must be a melting pot of different cultures and races that were adopted into their own. So does this mean the Garleans teach new followers their language (assuming they have one?) or do they all just speak a universal language?

[DeirdreTaea]

Would really love to know this too, hope it gets a response~!

[NoloeTazier]

I'd say the majority of the language is based on the Allagan Empire's language, considering they controlled the majority of all 3 continents so even though they were destroyed in the Fourth Umbral Era. I would say the current language is based on it or even languages before it. (Hello Deidre).

You have the Sylphs, Moogle speak, and the Beast Tribes language. The Beast Tribes are able to understand each other easily and many people can communicate and trade with the Beast Tribes so either it's a different language and easily learnable or they're just using our language, I'm not sure if it's said. But on the other hand, not everyone can understand the Sylphs or Moogles.

[Catapult]

Let's see how many we can count...

1. Common (ie: English for want of a better term)
2. Amaljaa
3. Ixal
4. Sylph
5. Kobold
6. Sahagin
7. Goblin
8. Mooglespeak
9. Draconian

And other possible contenders, if we make certain echo-related arguments...

1. Ancient Roegadyn
2. Ququirin
3. Goblin
4. Garlean
5. Aethyrial (Elementals)

So I currently count up to 14.

[Myllor_Aurelion]

I may have inadvertently asked this same question in my thread about the Echo's understanding of multiple languages, but I wanted to add here:

Since the beast tribes can speak with eachother in the 1.x storyline, Sylphs, Ixali, and Amal'jaa... Do they share a language?

[Catapult]

Since the beast tribes can speak with eachother in the 1.x storyline, Sylphs, Ixali, and Amal'jaa... Do they share a language?

I'm guessing not but I really can't be sure. This is based on Minfilia specifying that she needs someone who understands the language of the sylphs rather than simply the language of the beast tribes.

On the other hand, the Ixal and Amalj'aa are capable of arguing at (no, not with) each other, suggesting they can understand each other at least, so I dunno...

[NoloeTazier]

I'm guessing not but I really can't be sure. This is based on Minfilia specifying that she needs someone who understands the language of the sylphs rather than simply the language of the beast tribes.

On the other hand, the Ixal and Amalj'aa are capable of arguing at (no, not with) each other, suggesting they can understand each other at least, so I dunno...

Yeah it's definitely either they have their own unique languages but understand the other languages of the other Beast Tribes...or they all share a common language. Maybe Ferne will pop in this thread and give us a whatsup on that. It's hard to tell if things are different language when we, having the Echo, can understand all the languages and are able to have them automatically translated to us.

People from the City-States (atleast Ul'dah and mostly merchants) were able to communicate with the Amalj'aa to make transactions involving the Shards and Crystals...so if Amalj'aa, Kobold, and Ixali speak the same language as the rest of Eorzean citizens, I'd have to question why Sylphs as a Beast Tribe have their own language and only communicate with Gridanians in their own tongue and not the native Eorzean.

Ah I'm just rambling now, sorry. Hopefully Ferne can pop in and explain it.

[Laevetine]

I speculate its along the lines of that the traders and people of that nature put forth the effort to learn to communicate with the beast tribes as its far more profitable for them if the can offer goods and services that others can not.

The intercommunication of the beastmen themselves is likely akin to real life older tribes. Some words and expressions overlap making basic communication possible. (at least enough for antagonizing )

The forest "beastmen" have a little different situation in that they have been there far longer than anything else has. The Elementals, Moogles, and Sylphs lived in the Twelveswood for who knows how long without ever coming into contact with anything else. So its quite possible they all communicate on a different level.

[Lady]

I may have inadvertently asked this same question in my thread about the Echo's understanding of multiple languages, but I wanted to add here:

Since the beast tribes can speak with eachother in the 1.x storyline, Sylphs, Ixali, and Amal'jaa... Do they share a language?

From real world experience, I do know that in some tribal countries, each tribe can have their own language, but when they need to communicate with each other they all have a seperate language they all use. I see this as a possibility to explain how the beastmen communicate with each other.

[Lucke]

Well, my guess is that the beastymen can all speak Eorzean/common. If you followed the Ifrit story or the UD story, you speak with the Amalj'aa multiple times and they speak common. You can tell it's not that they are speaking beastytongue and the game translates because you can pick up accents. If their language was being translated by the Echo, wouldn't the language be perfect Eorzean/Common without the use of accents?

The Ixali speak common too. They have a very distinct accent (from what I remember). If they were speaking in their native language, then the Echo was translating for us, I would think it would be translated into perfect Eorzean/Common so we can understand it better.