What language are we actually speaking in the UD?

[Tekill]

I'm guessing this has been brought up before, but I am a little confused.

1) So when there is a group of drow hanging out in the UD, and they are using the regular tell/say feature, speaking english- normally associated with common, is it understood that they we are speaking Drow, even though they are not using the actual drow language widget (or whatever its called)?
Or are they still speaking common or more probably undercommon since they are in the UD?

Should we all, OOCly constantly clarify that we are speaking another language when not using the language widget thing?
....Or should they actually be using the drow language when speaking drow?

2) Or when in mixed raced company is it understood we are speaking undercommon instead of common, but just not using the actual undercommon language feature/tool/language widget?
So if in mixed company, If common becomes undercommon as the base language in the UD, is it assumed that undercommon then reverts to common when there are surfacers around?

In my mind, we speak drow when its just drow around, undercommon when in mixed company and common when surfacers are around- unless otherwise stated and not using the language feature.

3) Okay, so I can understand why drow use Drommon when speaking undercommon or common. Which I am fine with and still learning to use myself. It adds flavor.
But if/when Drow becomes the default language when in the sole company of drow. Wouldn't we not use drommon? Since it is understood we are using the actual drow language.
OR
Should I just assume we are always speaking undercommon (unless around surfacers) and therefore should always use drommon?

My character, wants to use undercommon correctly when she speaks it, not using Drommon. She is very particular about correctness. But she would prefer not to speak undercommon at all, rather sticking with her native language, the drow language. But she is in a drow city surrounded by mostly drow, therefore wouldnt drow be the common language. And therefore Drommon not necessary?

Before I start using the drow language feature all the time I want to be sure what the heck everyone else is speaking.

Is it me or is this confusing?

[Wolfrayne]

Undercommon is the underdark's version of common. it should be the base language spoken by those in the dark.

Drow itself as a language was actually a fan based creation that sort of took on a life of its own later. Drow would not teach the language to lesser beings as they are a terribly prideful race.

[Mursey]

In the original cannon though, "Drow" and "Undercommon" were one and the same. So your confusion is pretty much shared by almost everyone at one time or another.

[Tekill]

Okay so it's undercommon that is the base language everyone is speaking (unless a surfacer that doesn't speak undercommon is aroud). That make sense since the drow use drommon.

Ima try playing around with using drow a bit more....

[Balthomer]

In the original cannon though, "Drow" and "Undercommon" were one and the same. So your confusion is pretty much shared by almost everyone at one time or another.

No it isn't. And its canon, not cannon.

Source:

[Mursey]

Depends how far back into "cannon" you want to go. 3rd edition isn't "original" by any means. Forgotten Realms has been around since 1st edition AD&D as a published official game world, and for a good many years before that in Dragon magazine articles. And as the creators private fantasy setting long before that. I'll dig up the original published sources about under-common being a sort of pigeon or "low" Drow when I can be bothered going into storage and pulling down all the old books and magazines. And then there's the question of whether you consider what's "cannon" for Greyhawk Drow to also be "cannon" for Forgotten Realm's Drow. Which is a fuzzy issue considering the different spelling's of Lloth and the different alignments attributed to her in different settings in different editions.

[Balthomer]

We are playing in FR setting, drow is drow and undercommon is undercommon.

[Steve]

Drow supposedly has 2 forms, Low (or Deep) Drow, and a High Drow (more ceremonial and used by priestesses, probably well guarded for its power to appease the Gods, etc.).

Undercommon should be understood as a Trade Language, influenced by Drow words and using an Elven script in written form, but incorporating many words from the various Races that inhabit the UD/UpD and...that trade, and not just outright kill you, eat your flesh, dance upon your bones or roll in the visceral in order to mask their scent in preparation on the next hunt.

So why I like to treat Surface Common as like RL English, Undercommon would very likely NOT be like English, but like a form of...Esperanto? Or maybe more like Cityspeak.

Hello...there is even a dictionary for Players to use (if you didn’t already feel drommon was confusing enough:

https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki ... dictionary

[Deathgrowl]

Drow language is homebrew non-canon. Drow in lore speak elven and undercommon. We should just remove the drow language.

[Steve]

Drow is an Elven dialect. It IS specific from Undercommon.



So removing it wouldn't be the best choice, imho. But then again, it implies that Elven has many dialects between the sub-Races...and are those available as well (i.e. Seldruin)?

[Deathgrowl]

And why should different dialects not be the same language? Isn't that what is being done with all the z = th and other variants of common going on?

My language is one of the more phonetically varied languages in the world, even having variations in the vocabular between all the dialects. But I can understand all of those dialects just fine. In fact, as a Norwegian, I can understand spoken and written Danish and Swedish of all their dialects as well.

The point is, even if drow is a dialect, the language remains elven. Elves and drow should understand one-another even if their accents and parts of their vocabulary has differences.

[Steve]

With the idea that Drow contains many features and constructions from neighboring Underdark languages, the REAL question is how much variance?

A problem exists in the limited format of languages in this game. There are no percentages of fluency, simply Fluent, or not. Because we all need the IG translator to work out words, not like we can setup any DC for "half understanding the Dark Elf."

Is it mechanically easier to leave Drow as it's own language? Yes. Should perhaps all Elves receive Drow at creation? Sounds fair, considering the Scandinavian languages example.

[SoThereIWas]

If I'm reading the above correctly....


One who can understand surface common and elven can only make out 14% on the written language alone as to the puzzle to Deep Drow langauge, aka Low Drow and many more names including Undercommon. As it's flowing letters resemble old elven and freehand Thorass scripts. The spoken and written language is still different enough from elven or common to be considered it's own language, as there is a lot more too it than I made mention of here even.

We also have things like the Silent language aka Hand Code. There is also High Drow when one wants to conceal what they may be saying around lesser Drow, tho High Drow is rarely used but still exists.

See; Drow of the Underdark 2e, language section. It's official cannon.

[Balthomer]

Removing drow language is a mistake and the worst thing that could happen to the Underdark.

[Darker_Thought]

A way to lock the language widget into the normal typing would do wonders... It's to much a pain to use to be useful (In my opinion)

As for the language:
Dictionary: https://www.redbrick.dcu.ie/~tuelean/Ju ... ionary.pdf
Other: http://www.eilistraee.com/chosen/language.php

All previous servers ive been at use these for the Drow Laungage. "However"... On those Servers we did do the loved and dreaded Drommon :p