Languages

The languages of the known Galaxy are diverse. While many regional languages exist, there are few major languages which are of particular note for their large number of native speakers and status as official administrative and official species languages by governments and transtellars.

Human languages

Sol Common

With its roots in Mandarin Chinese, Common evolved as the official language of the Sol Alliance, with officials working to tie it together with a common tongue. It's spoken by state officials, taught in schools, and spoken by those who either feel a sense of national pride in the Alliance or otherwise fell sway to the culture. It became the Alliance' official language in 2105.

Accents

• Solarian: The typical Solarian accent has a hundred tiny variants and can be found on a multitude of planets in countless systems, and is often simply regarded as “the accent of humanity” due to its prevalence. It can be found on planets as prominent as Earth or as obscure as settlements of only a few million in the Sol Alliance’s Outer Ring.

• Cytherean: Venusian Common (referred to as Cytherean Common on Venus itself) is often regarded as one of the most prevalent forms of Sol Common due to Venus' massive entertainment industry. On Venus itself this accent is associated with the entertainment industry and Cytherea, and many prospective actors will attempt to adopt it in order to better fit into the industry. Many high-end entertainment IPCs used throughout human space come pre-programmed with this accent, due to its association with the Venusian entertainment industry.

• Jintarian: While Cytherean Common has a reputation abroad as \"Venusian Common\" it is the accent of working-class Jintarians that is, to many on the planet, the true form of Venusian Common. On Venus itself this accent is associated with the working and middle-class population of the planet rather than the entertainment industry, and many Cythereans look down upon those with this accent as unrefined. Hendrik Strom, one of the Sol Alliance's most notable politicians, is well-known for having a strong Jintarian accent he makes no attempt to hide.

• Earth: The typical Earth, or Terran, accent of the modern era has its roots in Mandarin Chinese, the dominant language of Earth for much of its modern history. All accents found in human space - from Luna to Xanu - are, one way or another, descended from this ancient accent.

• Lunarian: The Lunarian accent is regarded throughout the Sol Alliance, and beyond, as a distinctive mark of being Lunarian. The accent is extremely hard for immigrants to Luna to pick up and replicate, and is carefully maintained by Lunarians abroad to keep their accent distinct. It is essentially impossible for a human not living on Luna to replicate a Lunarian accent, and it is considered a major faux paus to pretend to have one. Many Idris Incorporated IPCs are programmed with Lunarian accents to make them seem high-class in both appearance and in accent.

• Martian Common: Martian Common is a more guttural form of Sol Common that borrows some elements of Freespeak. The distinctive accent is, as a result, looked down upon as a “hick” dialect on Luna and Venus and regarded as the dialect of quarrelsome and annoying Martians elsewhere. Some Martians go to great lengths to hide their accents due to this reputation, which is still alive in the Republic of Biesel despite its separation from the greater Sol Alliance.

• Pluto: The Plutonian accent is one of many Sol Common accents found throughout the Sol System itself, though it is almost undoubtedly the furthest one out from the Sun itself. Rooted in a combination of Central Asian and Eastern European dialects, the Plutonian accent is notable for its slow, methodical method of speech. Very few positronics can be found with this accent, due to Pluto's unusual relationship with corporations

• Native Silversun: The native accent of Silversun is a sing-song take on standard Sol Common that has, since massive investment into the planet by Idris Incorporated, come to be associated with the planet’s renowned tourism industry. Many native residents of Silversun are bitter that their accent - and planet - are seen as nothing more than an enormous vacation retreat by the greater Orion Spur. This accent is commonly used by Idris Incorporated shell positronicframes, much to the consternation of Silversun's Originals.

• Konyanger: The Konyanger Common accent is quite similar to standard Sol Common, but has drawn some influence from Freespeak due to Konyang’s position near the border between the Sol Alliance and the Coalition of Colonies. A significant number of IPCs possess a Konyanger accent, due to the planet being the origin of IPCs and a major producer of them.

• New Hai Phongese: New Hai Phongese Common is, compared to the typical Sol Common accent, much more tonal. This has lent it a distinctive pattern of speech that is easy to tell apart from the standard Sol Common accent associated with the Solarian core worlds. The accent is often imitated by performers, particularly musicians, due to its unique tonal style. Due to the hazardous environmental conditions present on New Hai Phong, many residents of New Hai Phong carry another distinctive auditory cue: coughing and wheezing due to asthma.

• Himean: Himean Common is more guttural and harsh-sounding than the typical Sol Common accent, due to Himeo’s position in the Coalition of Colonies. The Himean accent and its distinctive guttural method of speaking are easily distinguishable from other Sol Common speakers, even when speaking Tau Ceti Basic or Freespeak. Himean Common has the unusual reputation of making its speaker always sound angry, no matter their mood, due to its more guttural nature.

• Gadpathurian: The Gadpathurian accent, otherwise known as Gadpathurian Common, is an older dialect of Sol Common that is often regarded as dated-sounding by other speakers due to the isolation of the planet during its period of reunification. Due to the government's tight control over Gadpathur, and push for unity in the face of the Sol Alliance, Gadpathurians have been described as sounding relatively similar no matter which area of the planet they hail from.

• Reinstated Eridani Dreg: The clipped and clinical tones of proper "corporate" speech in Eridani are difficult to perfect even for those born into positions of privilege. For those unfortunate individuals born outside Eridani's shining skyscrapers and silver spires, the distinctly uncorporate flow of "dreg" speech can make attaining the standard Eridanian accent almost impossible to fully achieve. The curious middle-ground accent of the so-called "reinstated" in Eridani society allows an individual to go much further than its more criminally-aligned counterpart, but still falls short of most suits' expectations.

• Vulgar Morozi: The most common Dominian accent is Vulgar Morozi, a variation of Sol Common found upon Moroz itself. Dominian-spoken Sol Common and Tau Ceti Basic are both heavily influenced by Tradeband, the common language of both human and unathi nobility in the Empire. Vulgar Morozi has regional variations on the colonies of the Dominian Empire, and in the rebellious Morozian region of Fisanduh. The Fisanduhian accent is considered to be a distinctive higher-pitched variation of Vulgar Morozi that is often suppressed by insurgents to better blend in with the greater Imperial population.

• Fisanduhian: While it is similar to the typical Morozian accent, to those not familiar with it; or not from the Empire of Dominia, the standard Fisanduhian accent has some variations that mark it as distinctive. The accent is higher pitched than its Dominian counterpart, and has been described as more tonal. Members of the Fisanduh Freedom Front will often go to great lengths to disguise this accent, though most will slip back into it when off-world.

• Novi Jadranic: Much like the planet itself, the Jadranic dialect of Solarian Common sits between standard Solarian Common-influenced Vulgar Morozi and the more Freespeak-derived accents of the Imperial Frontier. The dialect possesses grammar and pronunciation similar to Vulgar Morozi but possesses multiple loan words from Freespeak which make it distinct from its Morozian counterpart. Jadraners are valued highly for their loyalty and this dialect is often regarded as the most common accent of the Imperial Army. More educated Jadraners, such as those from the planet's few urban centers, will often leave the dialect's Freespeak loan words our while talking with Morozians or other Dominians.

• Native Orepitter: Native Orepitters developed their own way of speech that stemmed from centuries of complete isolation. The vast distances of the planet's desert surface required loud, high pitched sounds for reliable communication, making it the primary characteristic of the Orepitter accent.

• Providence Trinarist: While the capital of the Trinarists never had a sole language, its people from all over the Spur have come to adopt a unified accent. Characterised by fast-paced speaking and unique intonations to match the style of their synthetic brethren, IPCs have also come to adopt the accent for non-EAL languages.

• Galatean: Galatean Ministerial Common is one of two Ministerial Common dialects within the Federal Technocracy. Centrally managed by the Ministry of Galatean Culture (MfGC), Galatea proper's dialect is an unusual Solarian Common dialect characterized by its total lack of loan words and use of antiquated Common terms which date to the early 2300s when it was established as a dialect and have since fallen out of common use. Linguistically it is similar to Gadpathurian Common but lacks the Freespeak influence of Gadpathurian Common due to the MfGC's tight control over the language.

• Tsukuyomian: Significantly more rare abroad than Galatean Ministerial Common, Tsukuyomian Standard is one of two Ministerial Common dialects managed by the Ministry of Galatean Culture (MfGC). Like Galatean Ministerial Common, it lacks loan words due to central management and sounds comparatively antiquated when compared to more modern Solarian Common dialects. Tsukuyomian Standard is commonly associated with the Galatean Federal Navy, which has its headquarters on Tsukuyomi.

Tau Ceti Basic/Common

A spiritual successor of Esperanto, established in 2404 in Tau Ceti by Ceti intellectuals. Its unique, fully customized alphabet and structure allow it to be spoken even by most alien species. It's the official language of Tau Ceti and has growing traction in diplomatic circles and Universalists across human space. It is the most common trade language in human space and the official language of commerce in the Sol Alliance and numerous systems as well as being heavily promoted in non-human business schools.

Accents

• Biesellite: Often described as the “true” way of speaking Tau Ceti Basic, the Biesellite accent is easy to reproduce due to the phonetics of TCB.

• Ovanstad: The New Gibson Ovanstad accent is very close to the accent of Tau Ceti proper, due to the nature of the planet's colonization. However, New Gibsoners are known for talking with a faster and more clipped accent than those from Biesel and, at times, sound as if they are tripping over their words due to the rapid pace at which they speak.

• Undirstad: The New Gibson Undirstad accent is not wildly known or heard outside of New Gibson itself, as those hailing from the Undirstads are quite insular and isolated from the more attractive surface archologies. The Undirstad accent is much slower than the Ovanstad accent, and keeps more to its cultural roots.

• Valkyrian: The Valkyrian accent is a difficult accent to replicate, mostly due to the cultural melting pot in which it exists. Influences from across the Orion Spur have impacted the development of the accent, with traces of Sol Common, Tau Ceti Basic, Elyran Common and even Vulgar Morozi.

Tradeband

Descended from Latin and romance languages of old Earth, Tradeband remains the main tongue of the upper class of humanity. The language sounds elegant and well structured to most ears. It remains in popular use with traders, diplomats, and those seeking to hold onto a piece of a romantic past. It gained Sol Alliance recognized legal status in 2317 and is prominent in systems that have historically been major centers of trade.

Accents

• Eridanian: The accent of Eridanian “suits” is almost universally looked upon as the accent of corporate excellence throughout the Sol Alliance and Republic of Biesel. Speaking with this accent is a surefire way to get one’s foot into the door in the corporate world, and wealthier Suits often devote time and resources to refining their accent to be more properly Eridanian.

• High Morozi: The less common Dominian accent is High Morozi, a variation of Tradeband found upon Moroz itself. While Vulgar Morozi is typically associated with the common citizenry of the Empire, High Morozi is associated with the Imperial nobility. While most typically associated with nobles it is often taught to wealthy commoners in order to more easily brush shoulders with nobility. This accent is one of the most readily-recognised markers of Dominian nobility abroad.

• Jovian: The Jovian accent is an odd mish-mash of accents from Jupiter’s various moons, and has heavy variation on each of the moons. On Idris Incorporated-dominated Europa, the Jovian accent often takes on traces of Tradeband due to the amount of high-income tourism, while the Callistean Jovian accent is known for the rapid, breathless pace at which it is typically spoken. Ganymede is often seen as the “standard” Jovian accent, though some on Callisto vehemently believe that the Callistean accent should be the standard.

• Europan: Europans are known to be much quieter and speak at a slower pace than their counterparts on Callisto, despite the close proximity of the two moons. Solarian linguists have traced the whisper-like nature of the accent origins to the planet’s submarines: crews believed that quieter voices interfered less with sonar, and were less likely to be heard by whatever was outside the hull. Europans that have succumbed to "Deep Crazy", a psychological phenomenon found on the moon, are known to abandon the typically hushed nature of Europan speech for screaming hysterically.

• Silversun Expatriate: The accent of Silversun's wealthy Idris Incorporated-aligned minority population is rooted in Tradeband dialects from Eridani and Luna rather than the Sol Common dialect of the Originals, making it audibly distinctive compared to the 'native' accent of the planet. This accent is most commonly associated with Idris Incorporated employees from Silversun, which tend to be overwhelmingly from the Expatriate population. Many Idris Incorporated positronics are programmed with this accent, and it is often regarded as the unofficial accent of the megacorporation.

• Assunzionii: The Assunzionii accent is one of the most unusual found in the Coalition of Colonies, due to the planet's colonial roots in the Mediterranean. Heavily influenced by Romance languages the Assunzionii dialect is most notable for its elegant-sounding and evenly-paced method of speaking compared to rougher-sounding Coalition and frontier dialects. Liturgical Assunzionii is a small subset of this dialect, and is generally only spoken during Luceian services and can be distinguished by its use of archaic language.

• Visegradi: The Visegradi accent is unique for that of a Solarian world, being a Tradeband accent with strong influences from the various languages of the Warsaw Pact on Earth. Decidedly harsh and characterized by unusual and eclectic pronunciation, it can be fairly difficult to parse for those unfamiliar with it. This is only somewhat stymied by the fact that Visegradi people tend to speak very loudly, an adaptation necessitated by the need to make oneself heard during the planet's torrential downpours.

• Callistean: Considered to be one of the most recognizable accents in the Sol System due to its uniquely breathless pace, the stereotypical Callistean accent has its roots in the moon's port district of New Valletta. While not all Callisteans speak with the breathless pace of those from New Valletta, the district's status as a port has led to its accent becoming the moon's most recognized one. As a whole the Callistean accent can be easily recognized by its fast pace of speaking and seeking disregard for pauses.

• San Colettish: The Colettish dialect belongs to the larger linguistic family of Tradeband but unlike many of its counterparts, it is descended from Earth-based Tradeband dialects rather than Luna-based dialects. It is easily distinguished from its Lunan contemporaries by its differences in pronunciation and tone, and still retains many of its linguistic roots from Earth.

• Port Antillean: There are two distinct dialects present on the planet: one that sees heavy lifting from Tradeband and the other more influenced by Solarian Common. It is relatively easy to identify the differences between the two: Antilleans influenced by Tradeband sound more nasal and rhythmic, whereas those that grew up in regions where Solarian Common is the dominant language are more soft-spoken and enunciated.

• Mictalani: The Mictlanian accent is a variation on Tradeband that is usually recognized as being folksy and warm. This welcoming, soft voice is one of the reasons the planet of Mictlan has seen a boom in tourism. While some youth may try to sound rebellious and conceal the softness of their voice, this musicality is still prevalent and universally recognizable.

Freespeak

A language of renegades and frontiersmen descending from various languages from Earth like Hindi combined into a multi-rooted jumble that sounds incoherent or even barbarian to non-native speakers. This language is the only common cultural identity for humans in the frontier. Speaking this language in itself boldly declares the speaker a free spirit. Often called 'Gutter' by Alliance citizens. It was Recognized by Sol Alliance as a spoken language in 2321. Considered a 'rough, informal' language, Freespeak is believed to have evolved in Martian slums, quickly spreading throughout the Galaxy. It is prominent in working class settlements across human space leading it to be the most common language in the frontier and second most common in the outer rim of known space. It is one of the few frontier cultural identity pieces.

Accents

• Frontiers Folk: The frontier is home to an unknowably vast amount of humans and settlements, covering everything from small outposts of only a few hundred to major planets such as Xanu Prime. It is difficult to define a standard "Coalition accent," or dialect due to the diversity and regionalism of the Coalition, along with its lack of a strong central government. Solarian linguists generally define the Coalition dialect as an umbrella encompassing all Freespeak native speakers not from a major settlement of the Coalition.

• Xanu Standard: The Xanu Standard dialect is arguably the most notable Freespeak dialect. Xanu Standard first emerged as an informal creole designed to make communication between the various nationalities who settled the planet more easily and possessed loan words from upwards of a half-dozen languages during this early period. Over time this creole would morph into the Xanu Standard dialect of Freespeak and is arguably the oldest and most widespread of the 25th century's common Freespeak dialects. Freespeak taught abroad, such as in the Serene Republic of Elyra and Republic of Biesel, is most often based upon the Xanu Standard dialect.

• Scarabs: The common accent of the Scarab Fleet has dozens, perhaps hundreds, of small variations due to the Fleet itself being spread throughout a massive number of individual ships, most of which have their own unique variations upon the standard Scarab accent.

• Eridanian, Dreg: The Eridanian “dreg” accent is almost universally looked upon as the accent of petty criminals and ne’er-do-wells throughout the Orion Spur. Speaking with this accent in the proximity of most humans is a surefire way to gain their suspicion, and those speaking with this accent often find themselves under enhanced security surveillance in corporate facilities. Eagle Corp, one of the major employers of dregs in Eridani, devotes a significant amount of its training to making its dreg recruits drop this distinctive accent.

• Vysokan: The typical Vyoskan accent is regarded as a throatier and harsher variation of Freespeak, with the planetary accent possessing many harsh tones. Some non-Vysokans have noted that the accent sounds similar to Himean Common at times, due to both accents being more guttural than average. However, the Vysokan accent remains distinctive from Himean Common due to its roots in Freespeak rather than Sol Common.

• Non-Coalition Frontier: The non-Coalition frontier 'accent' is not a true accent in of itself, but is instead used as a catch-all term for human accents originating outside of the frontier controlled by the Coalition of Colonies. These planets and systems vary wildly, and all sorts of people and places can be found within them.

• Imperial Frontier: Resembling more Freespeak than the Vulgar Morozi dialect found in more civilised regions of the Empire, most accents of the Imperial Frontier are looked down upon by those from the Core Worlds. Many Primaries and Secondaries look down upon the dialects of the Imperial Frontier as rogue, coarse, and often grating to hear compared to their Common-descended dialects. Many from this region who wish to rise through the ranks of the Empire's Ma'zals spend great amounts of time learning an ersatz Solarian Common dialect based upon this one which is known as the Refined Imperial Frontier Dialect. While not nearly as prestigious see its counterparts the Refined Frontier dialect is often viewed as a mark of loyalty and dedication to the Empire.

• Empyrean: Empyrean Federal Freespeak is a creole of Coalition Freespeak and Ministerial Common which features a multitude of Solarian Common loanwords due to most residents of Empyrean being bilingual, and often speaking Freespeak and Solarian Common. Compared to Svarogite Freespeak it features a heavier influence from foreign Freespeak and Solarian Common dialects due to Empyrean's status as a major point of entry for the Yggdrasil System.

• Svarogite: Svarogite Federal Freespeak is an unusual creole which combines Coalition Freespeak with the Ministerial Common dialect of Solarian Common. It features many Solarian Common loanwords and speakers of this dialect are almost always bilingual, speaking both Solarian Common and Freespeak, which can lead to further linguistic blending. The universal lung bioaugmentations of Svarogites ensure that they, unlike their New Hai Phongese counterparts, do not suffer from chronic lung issues which would impact their speech.

• Sun Reach: Regarded by most linguists as a Freespeak dialect, but classified by the Empire as a dialect of Vulgar Morozi, the Sun Reacher dialect is one of the more well-known accents of the Imperial Frontier. Previously associated with the Pirate Lords of Sun Reach and their raids on nearby worlds, the Reacher accent is now commonly heard from the voidsmen and officers of the Imperial Fleet and Goddess' Flotilla. Reachers who wish to demonstrate their loyalty to the Empire and a desire to assimilate into its culture will often go to great lengths to learn and speak a House Zhao-design pronunciation system which replaces the more guttural sounds of the Reacher dialect with lighter sounds closer in pronunciation to Jadranic Common.

Elyran Standard

Elyran Standard, so-called because it was the language created to be the standardised method of communication across the Elyran Republic after its revolution, is the official language of the Republic of Elyra. It was created by the Ministry of Education shortly after the Elyran Revolution at the behest of Prime Minister Abd Al-Hamid for the purposes of giving his new republic a single language that could be used for government, law, military organization, and trade. Many in the Republic praised this initiative as they saw it as either the practical thing to do or saw it as just another step in the Elyran Revolution, creating a new language that was untainted by Solarian influence. A large mass-education and literacy program began in 2317 to educate the Elyran people on this new language, to a point where the government banned the teaching of old Earth languages, such as in public schools, though still allowed them to be taught and used in higher education and religious institutions. The program was completed in 2336, with almost all of the Elyran population being fluent in the new language created by taking influences and grammar from Arabic, Turkish, and Farsi.

Accents

• Persepolitian: Well-known across Elyra for its rapid-fire, energetic cadence, the Persepolitian accent is characterised by a vibrant and fast-paced nature that represents the New Ankaran Jewel's cosmopolitan nature. Speakers of this variant of Elyran Standard tend to be affluent and well-cultured, in keeping with the Elyran capital's general prosperity.

• Damascene: One of the most venerable of all Elyra's linguistic variations, the Damascene accent is famous across the Serene Republic for its scholarly, almost archaic air. Drawing more heavily from Arabic influence than the standard dictionary might, Damascene Elyran retains a refined, cultured, and historically resonant weight to its words, much like the storied planet itself.

• Medinan: Medinan Elyran is characterised by its breathy and almost stutter-step characteristics, both of which are thought to result from the elevated altitudes citizens experience living day-to-day in their sand-skimming cities. The variation has seen little spread outside Medina itself, owing to the planet's relatively minimal footprint on Elyran cinema and television.

• Aemaqi: Aemaqi Elyran is often described as a more considered and methodical variation on the standard dictionary dialect, and its speakers are frequently stereotyped as speaking slowly and languidly. Elements of Tradeband from the planet's Dominian refugee population have helped to reinforce this effect, and the variation is rarely found in those born off Aemaq itself or its innumerable orbital stations.

• New Suezi: Often labelled the most divergent large-scale variation of Elyran Standard, the New Suezi accent has evolved rapidly since the moon's megacorporate opening to mix elements of Freespeak, Basic, and even Solarian Common into its vocabulary and grammar. While purists might frown upon these deviations from the accepted linguistic standard, the melodic and almost singsong tones of the New Suezi variation feature increasingly often across many forms of Elyran media.

• Bursa: The Bursan accent is characterized by its soft and slightly lisping intonations, compared to the throatier sounds of most other Elyran accents. Across the wider Republic of Elyra, the Bursan accent is usually stereotyped as belonging to a country bumpkin or a career soldier.

Tajaran languages

Siik'maas

Siik'maas is theorized to have been the ancient language of the Tajara, the 'religious' tongue shared between most Tajara from their onset as a species. Despite Tajaran society evolving to a point where religious devotion became less encouraged, the universal service language used in all churches and worship sessions became the lingua franca and almost every Tajara knows how to speak it. It has been taught as the primary educational language amongst most Tajaran ethnicities since the Migration Age and continues to be the most prevalent tongue on Adhomai since.

It is capable of being spoken by a learned human, as it is not as reliant on body language as Siik'tajr or the other native languages on Adhomai. However, just as Tau Ceti basic is difficult for Tajara to master given their muzzle structure, Siik'maas is the same to humans, since they lack the proper biology to perform certain inflections properly. Despite it focusing more on spoken word than others, some of the vocabulary requires subtle body movements that are challenging for humans to grasp, no less perform. Even if one were to learn these movements, they tend to be sluggish and slower, giving the speech a sort of 'drunken' feeling. Tajara speaking this over the radio often find themselves in similar positions.

Accents

• Republican Siik'maas: the dialect of north and central Ras'nrr. It was spoken by the Hadii dynasty and its subjects before being adopted as the official version of the People's Republic Siik'maas. This variation is taught in all Republican schools since the end of the first revolution and is considered as the most pure and correct form. PRA citizens are encouraged to learn and adopt it, as speaking another accent is frowned upon. It is notable for its unusually rigid grammatical construction as opposed to most other Adhomian dialects. Republican Siik’maas is the language of Hadiist loyalists, both in and outside of S'rand'marr.

• Nazira Siik'maas: native to the southern regions of Ras'nrr. This accent is the oldest and most solemn form of Siik'maas, avoiding contractions of words and speaking its sentences slowly. It is commonly associated with the church of S'rand'marr, due to its proximity to Sana Sahira. Priests are taught to replicate this dialect when conducting religious service.

• Crevan Creole: once the dialect of merchants and sailors across all Adhomai. Born from the melting pot that is Crevus, where Tajara from all the planet would bring and mix their cultures. Thanks to the importance of the city during its trading age, it can be found in most Tajara ports as well. Crevan Creole is known for its heavy focus on nasal sounds, with many Adhomian comedians parodying it.

• Das'nrra Siik'maas: found on the island of Das’nrra, this accent is famous for its emphasis at the end of vowels and uncommon pronunciation of glottal stops. While tracing its origins back to the rural population, it was shaped by the urban workers that emerged after the first revolution. It is associated with Democratic People’s Republic citizens and its offworld community.

• High-Harr'masir Siik'maas: used by the natives of northern Harr'masir. It is deemed to be a rustic and harsh-sounding form of siik'maas; the accent is associated with peasants and uneducated Tajara. It is the most common dialect among New Kingdom of Adhomai commoners. The nobility usually attempts to mask this accent due to its relationship with the common people. It is also spoken by the New Kingdom population living in Tau Ceti.

• Lower-Harr'masir Siik'maas: native to the southern area of Harr'masir. In comparison to other Siik'maas dialects - it is the one that deviates the most from the standard version. Thanks to Republican propaganda, it has gained the fame of being the tongue of criminals and guerrilla fighters. Most speakers are Democratic People's Republic of Adhomai citizens. Its words are spoken in a hushed manner.

• Amohdan Siik’maas: spoken by the Tajara from the island of Amohda. Despite past Republican attempts to destroy this dialect; it survived and is now undergoing a period of revival by Amohdan nationalists. It can also be found in the New Kingdom because of the Amohda Exiles. Due to royalist influence, it has many Ya’ssa loan words. Amohdan Siik’maas has a characteristic drawl tone to it.

• Northern Ras'nrr Siik'maas: While similar to the Republican Siik'maas, Northern Ras'nrr Siik’maas is relatively free from the Hadiist additions. It is known for its short, sharp vowel sounds and clear pronunciation. Most speakers are found in the DPRA controlled area of the region, but some do exist within the PRA borders.

• Din'akk Mountains Siik'maas: Found in the isolated valleys of the Din'akk Mountains, little has changed in this accent since the first contact. It still clings to words and grammatical structures that have long since fallen out of use by other Siik'maas speakers. It is described as strong and abrupt by other Tajara.

• Zarr'jiri Siik'mas: Located only in the Zarr'jirah mountain range, this accent is rarity outside of the New Kingdom. Speakers of it are often noted for a soft, almost sing-song voice and hand gestures which carry over from Nal'rasan.

• Harr'nrri Siik'mas: The dialect of the people of the Harr'nrr peninsula. This accent shares some similarity with Republican Siik'mas thanks to a shared origin and the later PRA rule of Harr'nrr, but differs with a deeper tone when spoken.

Siik'tajr

Siik'tajr is the opposite of Siik'mas completely. A recent construction, it has seen more use recently following the overthrowing of the plutocracy. It was birthed from the necessity for a language that was difficult for law enforcers to understand, enabling revolutionaries to converse privately without having their conversations monitored or overheard. Revolutionary radicals have been a part of Adhomai's history for a long while, but were always small; however, when the Great War broke out, Siik'tajr saw widespread use by rebel forces during military operations similar to Navajo radio operators. It is a combination of Siik'mas and the more body language inclined Nal'rasan, a tongue traditionally used by hunters. It is not normally used in daily life due to its complexity, it is often maintained as a secondary language, especially for families who fought in the Great War.

Delvahhi

Delvahhi is a language closely related to the Zhan-Khazan Tajara. It is still widely used in religious ceremonies dedicated to Ma'take and amongst settlements comprised mostly of Zhan-Khazan. It is also the favored language of farmers, who have adopted it in the wake of government intrusions into the agricultural industry of Adhomai. It is considered a subversive tongue by People's Republic authorities.

Accents

• Rural Delvahhi: the form of Delvahhi spoken by settled Zhan-Khazan communities. It has been heavily influenced by Siik’maas. It is also used as the liturgical language by some Ma’ta’ke priests. Rural Delvahhi speakers usually speak siik’maas with a slower and throaty tone.

• Nomadic Delvahhi: the version of Delvahhi used by the Rhazar'Hrujmagh. It emerged after the breakup in the primordial Zhan-Khazan population. Unlike the rural dialect, it remained relatively unchanged over time. It is far more guttural and brief than its sister tongue.

Nal'rasan

Siik'maas and Siik'tajr were always widely used by M'sai, but the body-focused language of Nal'rasan was their creation. Because the mrowling and vocal expressions of Siik'maas could sometimes alert prey to their presence and drive them away, hunting parties adopted this language to prevent such a thing from occurring. Rebel sects saw the use of this language and made use of it for covert discussions and the transmission of highly classified information before and during the Great War.

Ya'ssa

Siik'maas was the widely spoken language of Njarir, though amongst themselves they preferred to use the Ya'ssa dialect. Presumed to be the traditional tongue of the nobility, it uses a more refined alphabet and speech pattern believed to have evolved from a less-used ancient dialect. Hadii members have been recorded to still use Ya'ssa, though ultimately with the widespread annihilation of noble families, this language has fallen into disuse until its revival by the New Kingdom of Adhomai.

Accents

• Old Ya'ssa: the tongue of the old Tajaran nobility, spoken by those who were born before the first revolution. It differs from the modern Ya'ssa by having a far more complex set of rules, long-drawn-out sentences, and compound words. Old Ya’ssa is a dying tongue; as the version taught by the New Kingdom of Adhomai has mostly replaced it in the post-revolution noble generation.

• New Ya'ssa: A consciously learned accent created by New Kingdom's intellectuals in an attempt to replicate Old Ya'ssa. It is adopted by the nobility who want to reinforce their noble heritage. Commoners consider New Ya'ssa to be pretentious. Pre-contact Ya'ssa speakers consider it a poorly made copy. This accent is also commonly used in the New Kingdom's entertainment sector.

Unathi languages

Sinta'Unathi

The common language of Izweski-controlled Moghes, composed of sibilant hisses and rattles. Historically, it is a symbol of the Izweski Hegemony's domination across half the planet of Moghes. It is believed to be the language of "the civilized Unathi".

Accents

• Heartlands Noble: The The Noble Heartlands accent is eloquent and flowing, staying near the front of the mouth. Airy and filled with hissing, this accent requires birth-right or years of practice to properly convey. The families of Lords, Sk'akh Priests, noble warriors, and some merchants will often share this accent, and will mostly find the Sinta'Azaziba language and associated accents more savage. The Noble Heartlands accent originates from the Sinta'Unathi language.

• Heartland Peasant: Lowborn guilds-workers, first-generation merchants, simple warrior levymen, and hundreds of other tasks for the common Clans - this is the most common accent for Unathi of the Izweski Heartland. It still holds a slight air of royalty to it compared to accents from the rest of Moghes. It can be heard across Moghes and in colonies, but is most common by far in its birthplace, the crowded Izweski Heartland. It originates from the Sinta'Unathi language.

• Southlands Noble: The accent of the Southlands nobility is somewhat slower than that of the peasants, as it has remained less changed by migration to the region. While it has diverged from the original accent of the Southlands, it is closer to that than the fast-paced speech of the peasants. The Southlands noble accent is widely considered pleasing to the ear, with some merchants and bards attempting to mimic it to aid in their own business.

• Southlands Peasant: Centuries of trade and immigration have shaped the Southlands accent into an odd blend of sounds from many regions and languages. The result is a sharp, nasal and rapid-paced accent, where the original influences can be vaguely heard to a keen listener. The fast manner of speech and the general energy with which it is spoken is one of the first things that comes to mind from an outsider when considering the region.

• Zazalai Mountains Noble: The accent of the Zazalai Mountains nobility is generally clearer than that of the peasantry, though it carries the same slow and monotone sound to it. This accent is something of an artificial construction, having been widely influenced by the accent of the Izweski Heartlands nobility due to the historic ties between the two regions. To many, this accent is carefully crafted to give an air of civilised refinement in the harsh mountains of Zazalai.

• Zazalai Mountains Peasant: The accent of the Zazalai Mountains is a rather monotone one. The Sinta of the region tend to speak slowly and with little expressed emotion, leading to a common joke that they speak like they have a mouthful of rocks. The particular dialect of Sinta'Unathi spoken in the region can often be hard to understand to outsiders, with some of the more isolated communities having developed dialects that are nearly distinct languages of their own, to the fascination of many Unathi linguists.

• Ouerea: The Ouerean accent is a curious thing - influenced in equal parts by human, Skrell and Unathi tongues. This leads many to find it confusing to the ear, and a common stereotype of Ouereans among other Unathi is their propensity for talking quickly and their frequent use of loan words from alien languages. Among Ouereans, whether Skrell, human or Unathi, however, their accent is a mark of pride, representing the fierce and independent spirit that the colony values highly.

• Spacer: The Hegemony has been, for long, the only power on Moghes with access to interstellar travel technology. Naturally, then, most Spacers and Unathi colonists on distant worlds speak Sinta'Unathi. details of this accent vary between communities, but these Unathi pioneers generally speak with a surprisingly softer tones than most accents. Rumors say that it is to save every bit of energy while working on developing new colonies, or living in ships for extended periods of time.

• Ha'zana: It often rains on Ha'zana, and and it rains hard, so hard in fact that it's often complicated for people to hear each other, with some sounds like more subtle, faint hissings literally drowned in the pirate world's downpours. Thus, the Ha'zanan accent was born, one in which Sinta speaking it speak loudly, and clearly. Accentuations sometimes demand that a Sinta nearly roars, and insistence on originally quieter sounds leads to more guttural tones here and there. In a discussion between Unathi of all places, the Ha'zanan are the most likely ones to get heard over anyone else, for better or for worse.

• Aut'akh: Incorporating both Hegemonic and Traditionalist elements, the Aut'akh accent is recognisable for its lack of accentuation and intonations, both owing to the occasional implants of questionable quality having some influence on speech, and the general isolation of most Aut'akh communes. Though there is some variation across the various communes of the Orion Spur, the Aut'akh accent has become a recognisable dialect of its own.

Sinta'Azaziba

A language of Moghes consisting of a combination of spoken word and gesticulation. While waning since Moghes entered the galactic stage, it enjoys popular use by Unathi that never fell to the Hegemony's cultural dominance. It was notable for being the primary language of the now eradicated Coalition of Kingdoms against the Izweski Hegemony.

Because of its history against the Izweski Hegemony, Sinta'Azaziba is looked down upon as the language of 'savages' and 'wastelanders'. In reality, it is a language filled with culture and traditional beauty that helps many Unathi cling to their ancestral language.

Accents

• Traditional Noble: A more guttural, droning accent - although one that would demand respect on Moghes before the Contact War, and still demands it in the Wasteland. Primarily born from the guttural intonations and physical movement required to communicate in Sinta'Azaziba, this Noble Traditional accent requires clan-training from a family member or shaman - and has become either a sign of survival or defeat to most who see this ancient accent fading from existence.

• Traditional Peasant: Primarily derived from the guttural intonations and physical movement of Sinta'Azaziba, common Unathi from the Wasteland would have this grittier speech pattern. Although filled with variety due to the multitude of kingdoms composed in the Wasteland, the borders of where these accents used to be set no longer exist and have simply become what it is now, struggling to find identity.

• Tza Prairie Noble: A slow, droning and guttural accent, with heavy physical movement involved, the noble accent of the Tza Prairie has remained unchanged for centuries, passed down the ancient lines of the mountains. While it sounds similar to the accent of Traditionalist nobles, most with a noble's education would be able to clearly tell the difference.

• Tza Prairie Peasant: A guttural, deep accent, the accent of the Tza Prairie has heavy Azaziba inflections, as the language that has most often been spoken in the region. While the region did support the Izweski during the Contact War, it was originally a kingdom of the Traditionalist Coalition, and can sound similar to that accent to the untrained ear.

• Broken Coalition Noble: The accent of the Broken Coalition is what would come first to the mind when asked to describe a Traditionalist accent. It is primarily derived from the guttural intonations and physical gestures of Sinta'Azaziba. This guttural, droning dialect was once associated with the nobility of the Azarak Kingdom, which lay at the center of the Traditionalist Coalition and is now a shattered ruin of its former glory.

• Broken Coalition Peasant: The accent of the Broken Coalition is what would come first to the mind when asked to describe a Traditionalist accent. It is primarily derived from the guttural intonations and physical gestures of Sinta'Azaziba. This gravelly dialect was once associated with the peasantry of the Azarak Kingdom, which lay at the center of the Traditionalist Coalition and is now a shattered ruin of its former glory.

• Torn Cities: The accent of the Kopesk States, now the Torn Cities, is one that has traditionally grown from the guttural intonations and physical gestures of Sinta'Azaziba. Where the Kopesk accent differentiates itself, however, is in its clarity and volume, as the fierce sermons of the Storm Heralds were often given during thunderstorms and required truly impressive volme prior to the invention of speakers. The accent has also become known as an intellectual one, due to the historically high standards of education in the Kopesk States. When the idea of a scholar comes to mind, the accent of the Torn Cities is one of the first that any Sinta would think of.

• Queendom of Szek'Hakh: From deep in the Wasteland there are some who hail from a society unlike most others that inhabit the radioactive sands, those from the Queendom. Those from the Queendom are recognizable by their Traditionalist inflections in speech, but with slight differences that have evolved in the decades since first contact.

• Deep Wastelander: Deep within the Wasteland, the most savage lands dominated by bandits, death cults, and nomadic peoples that have lost any connection to their ancestors culturally. The Deep Wasteland accent comes from a disconnection to original talking styles, and adds in more aggressive speech patterns. To both Hegemonic and Traditionalist, the Deep Wastelander accent is the sign of an individual who has grown up without a home or clan that could have taught them an ancestral dialect. The accent is apparent in both Sinta'Unathi and Sinta'Azaziba.

Skrell Languages

Nral'Malic

Nral'Malic sounds like a series of warbles, croaks, and weird crackling-like sounds that seem to not resonate in the ear, but the neck or the jaw. This is due to Skrell having a range of pitches beyond human perception. These sounds are crucial to understanding the language properly as they elicit specific responses in a Skrell's brain, allowing for both easy and correct transmission of emotion.

Accents

• Nral'Malic Standard: In the Nralakk Federation, the typical skrellian accent has dozens of minute and tiny variations and can be found across a multitude of planets (and their colonies) and in a wide range of sectors. Its generality has resulted in the belief that it is the 'standard' accent for all Skrell.

• Qerrbalak: The typical accent of the Homeworld (or Qerrbalak), is very much more distinct and enunciated than other variations of Nral'Malic. It puts specific emphasis on a melodious manner of speaking, their tones often jumping out of the standard human hearing range.

• Qerr'Malic: The Qerr'Malic accent is known for being rather soft, even hushed at some points. Because of the moon's tourist industry, it borrows elements from other accents to form a rather unique mixture that makes specific reference to keeping low tones accessible to non-Skrell, further cementing the overall 'quietness' to other Skrell as their sentences sound half-finished.

• Aliose: It is often noted that those from Aliose have a distinctive shrill to their voices, emphasizing high notes frequently throughout their speech. The Skrell view this as guttural, mostly due to the resonations felt deep within their throats when attempting to replicate the accent.

• Aweiji: This type of accent emphasizes on a balance of highs and lows. It uses the nasal canal to further produce a harmonic pattern of speech. Idols are often found replicating this accent due to how gentle it is on both Skrell and non-Skrell.

• Tattuqig: The Tattuqig accent is seen as "unrefined" by other Skrell, being known for its drawl and the dropping or merging of vowels when speaking. Just like any other Traverse accent, there's a certain stigma attached to it by Skrell from the inner systems.

• Traverse: Traverse accents are similar to those of Standard Nral'Malic accents; there are some differences on colonies in the sector, but the general trend of the accent seems to remain within the low ranges, often described as high-pitched and nasal in tone.

• Generational Fleets: The Generation Fleet accent is actually a catch-all term for the various accents that have developed aboard the Generation Fleets of the Nralakk Federation. As a result of being separated from their planet of origin for generations, these accents don't have much in common with any modern Skrell accent, and are usually described as sounding 'older' by other Skrell.

• Coalition Skrell Standard: Coalition Skrell Standard refers to the various accents of Skrell living within the Coalition of Colonies. Heavily influenced by Freespeak, this accent is more guttural, with lower-pitched tones being more prevalent. The Coalition of Colonies has a reputation for being generally anti-Federation in policy, which has resulted in this accent being seen by Skrell as anti-Federation by association.

• Solarian Skrell Standard: Solarian Skrell Standard can be seen as the Skrellian equivalent of the Solarian accent, having hundreds of variants that can be found on planets across the Sol Alliance. The accent has kept the notable tones from accents found in the Federation, while still heavily influenced by the pacing and pronunciation common in the average Solarian accent.

• Biesellite Skrell Standard: While the Biesel accent is easy to pick up by most Tau Ceti Basic speakers, the Biesellite Skrell Standard accent is common in the more insular Skrell communities, especially those who are strongly pro-Federation. Biesellite Skrell Standard has many holdovers from Nralakk accents while also having some of the more obvious characteristics of the Biesellite accent.

Diona Languages

Rootsong

Rootsong is spoken through a combination of sounds created by limbs, membranes, and movement that all come together to create a “song” that can be understood as words and sentences. To the uninitiated these sounds tend to sound more "natural", with many comparing their songs to an orchestra of leaves rustling in the wind, branches rubbing together, and sometimes softer instrumental sounds such as a noise akin to a flute.

Accents

• Rootsong: An accent native to the Dionae born within atmospheric conditions, more specifically that of planets. More commonly found in Dionae that were exposed to non-ionising or trace amounts of radiation during their formative years. To non-Dionae, this accent is akin to that of singing - a high pitched voice that has various rises and falls between Soprano and Mezzo-soprano.

• Voidsong: An innate accent spoken by Dionae that were born within the vacuum of space, or near extreme amounts of ionising radiation. The accent is said to be incredibly deep, and some have said that the Dionae that have the accent sound extremely similar to Baritones - a type of voice whose vocals differ between basslike and tenorlike.

Vaurca Languages

Hivenet

Hivenet is the name of the protocol used by most major Hives to communicate with each other. It is considered the evolution of the traditional Vaurca method of communication, allowing Vaurcae to communicate from across great distances.

Accents

• Zo'rane: Zo'rane is the modern day dialect of the Zo'ra hive, composed of buzzing, cheap Biesellite voice modulators that manage to sway most voices into a more gender neutral tone, while retaining a distinct alien dialect. To other Vaurcae, this accent is reminiscent of the authority the Zo'ra held regal and noble. Their vocal augments stereotypically have difficulty, typically when producing sounds related to the letter 's', instead substituting with a harsh buzzing in the throat.

• K'laxane: K'laxane is the modern day dialect of the K'lax hive. Primitive modulators, even among K'lax standards, manage to capture a similarity to the peasantry of the Izweski Hegemony on Moghes however, they do not fully replicate it, retaining a more drawn out and dreamy tone. To other Vaurcae, this is a more subservient manner of speaking, akin to how Bound tend to draw out their thoughts - a common trait instilled in most vassal Hives as a brand. Vaurca vocal augments stereotypically have difficulty, typically when producing sounds related to the letter 's', instead substituting with a harsh buzzing in the throat - the K'lax experience less of this - no Unathi would be content listening to a Vaurca buzz incessantly when trying to hiss a sentence in the Hegemonic tongue.

• C'thuric: C'thuric is the modern day dialect of the C'thur hive, a sly and sneering take on the unyielding Nral'Malic. Modulators are unfortunately still cheap, capturing a very monotone and unchanging method of speaking. Voices are warped into being clear and concise, many C'thur adopting a blunt and to-the-point method of speaking - yet, when needed to be verbose, delivery is often swift and intelligible. Other Vaurcae would recognize this tone as being infamous of the C'thur's past deeds. Their vocal augments stereotypically have difficulty, typically when producing sounds related to the letter 's', instead substituting with a harsh buzzing in the throat.

• Lii'draic: The Lii'dra speech, as understood by those that have heard the Hivemind and live to tell, is characterized by a monotonous voice that sounds even more robotical than the rest of the modulators used by the other Hives. It is believed to be a modified technology reverse engineered from stolen Zo'rane modulators. While, with its flaws, the Zo'ra accent might sound quirky to some, it is often said that this is to add more personality to each individual. Since the Lii'dra do not think of themselves as such, these variations were deemed useless. The Connected individuals will often speak in plural, while the Disconnected are prone to use the first person when referring to others