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Mage book 2

Page from a mage book in the common tongue

There are several languages among the populations and races of Thedas. Some have been lost with the passing of time and replaced by others.

Languages[]

  • Alamarri was the language used in Ferelden prior to the adoption of the Trade tongue. It was similar to the Avvar and Chasind languages but has not been in use for hundreds of years.[1]
  • Ander in the Anderfels
  • Antivan in Antiva
  • Avvar language used by the Avvar tribes.[1] Saga of Tyrdda Bright-Axe was originally written in an "ancient language" of the Avvar.[2]
  • Chasind language used by the Chasind tribes.[1]
  • Ciriane, the language of the Ciriane tribe who first settled central Orlais.[3]
  • The common tongue, also referred as the King's Tongue or Trade tongue, was invented by the dwarves in order to trade with each other and later introduced to other races.[4][5] It's the dominant language in most human nations. It was spread throughout Thedas by the Tevinter Imperium after they adopted it from the dwarves.[6]
    • There is a discrepancy between descriptions of common and trade language. David Gaider's forum comment describes Trade as the dominant tongue of Thedas, originating from the dwarves.[4] World of Thedas Volume 1 describes the common tongue as the dominant language in most human nations, originating from the Alamarri.[7]
  • There were several languages spoken by the dwarves, with the trade tongue being created to facilitate trade between different dwarven kingdoms. What humans generally think of as "dwarven" is actually the language of Orzammar specifically.[4]
  • The elven language or Elvish[8] was largely lost when Elvhenan fell. In modern-day Thedas, elves speak the common tongue and only know few Elvish words (the Dalish know a few more and use them more frequently).
  • Qunlat, the Qunari language.
  • Orlesian in Orlais.[4][9] Most Orlesians are bilingual; the Orlesian language is primarily spoken in isolated communities of marshmen.[10]
  • Rivaini in Rivain.
  • Tevene is the ancient language of the Tevinter Imperium. Phrases from the language continue to be peppered into speech as signs of education and social standing, though Trade is used for general communication.[11] "Colorful phrases" also continue to remain in use by all classes.[12] People who are not from Tevinter usually call the language Tevinter.[13] The annums (annual holidays) in the Thedosian calendar use a high name from Ancient Tevene, and a low name (Trade tongue).[14][15]

Notes[]

  • In Dragon Age: The Silent Grove, the witch Yavana speaks in an unknown tongue to a High dragon. There is not further information about this language.[16]
  • Dwarven runes are used on signs by the dwarves as well as by the humans on the surface. In the latter case, they are used instead of the native language, as it is common for peasants to not be able to read.[17]
BioWare canon
The following information is only mentioned in Dragon Age Tabletop. Certain portions of this media may no longer reflect currently established lore.

  • The 'common tongue' is the most common language of Ferelden.[18]
  • The Keepers are supposed to be the only ones who know the secret of writing the elven language.[9]

Trivia[]

  • During the development on Dragon Age: Origins, BioWare hired a linguist (who went by the username "Beesechurger" on the old forum) to work on elven and Dwarven languages and phrases, but opted to use only some words or phrases.[19][20]

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Twitter icon Mary Kirbyhttps://twitter.com/BioMaryKirby/status/1022160154660200448 . Twitter.
  2. Locate Weapon of Tyrdda Bright-Axe
  3. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 74
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 BSN David Gaider (January 14, 2011). "The Official Fenris Discussion thread" . The BioWare Forum. Retrieved on June 12, 2014.
  5. Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne, Chapter 14
  6. Twitter icon Mary Kirby. https://twitter.com/BioMaryKirby/status/1022164544058155008 . Twitter.
  7. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 177
  8. Tamlen, for example, refers to the language as "Elvish" at the beginning of the Dalish Elf Origin in Dragon Age: Origins.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Dragon Age (tabletop RPG), Player's Guide, set 1, p. 37
  10. Dialogue by Cassandra Pentaghast: "No, nobody solely speaks Orlesian any longer. Well, perhaps the marsh-folk."
  11. Twitter icon Patrick Weekeshttps://twitter.com/PatrickWeekes/status/661232084619423744 . Twitter.
  12. Dialogue by Dorian Pavus: "Vishante kaffas. It's, Tevene, relics of the old tongue. We still use the colorful phrases."
  13. Twitter icon Mary Kirby. https://twitter.com/BioMaryKirby/status/228278495275515904 . Twitter.
  14. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 31
  15. Dragon Age (tabletop RPG), Player's Guide, set 1, p. 14
  16. See the comic panel here.
  17. Dragon Age: Asunder, p. 128
  18. Dragon Age (tabletop RPG), Player's Guide, set 1, p. 20
  19. BSN David Gaider (January 6, 2010). "Writers of Dragon Age" . The BioWare Forum. Retrieved on August 15, 2016.
  20. BioWare old forums David Gaider (October 19, 2009). "Is there different language in Dragon Age: Origins" (archive). BioWare Forums (offline). Retrieved on January 25, 2015.
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