Difference between revisions of "Common Tongue"

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The '''Common Tongue''' was brought to [[Westeros]] by the Andhals and the Rhoynar. It is spoken in the entirety of Westeros. There are regional accents, as ''"Pyp had traveled the Seven Kingdoms with a mummers' troupe, and bragged that he could tell what you were and where you'd been born just from the sound of your voice"'',<ref>[[A Game of Thrones]],p.259</ref> but there is no lack of comprehensibility, in any region. Some of regional accents can be geographically limited to a single city, as Kings Landing.<ref>[[A Feast for Crows]],p.556</ref>
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The '''Common Tongue'''{{ref|AGOT|11}}{{ref|ACOK|64}}{{ref|AFFC|11}} or '''Common Speech'''{{ref|ADWD|1}}{{Ref|adwd|38}} is a language commonly spoken in the [[Seven Kingdoms]] of [[Westeros]]. There are regional accents,{{ref|AGOT|26}}{{ref|AFFC|37}} but these do not result in a lack of comprehensibility.
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While some [[free folk]] who live [[beyond the Wall]] understand the Common Tongue, many clans instead speak local languages.{{ref|ASOS|15}} The [[Thenns]], for instance, speak the [[Old Tongue]] and can only speak a few words of the Common Tongue.{{ref|ASOS|26}}
  
 
==Language==
 
==Language==
The largest dichotomy of speech appears to be between the lowborn and the educated, most likely due to a long history of prescriptivist tutors for the Highborn young. (For example, Lady Mariya corrects Lardy Amerei's use of the word ''hung'' to ''hanged'', in regards to Merrett Frey's death.)<ref>[[A Feast for Crows]], p.450</ref> There are differences that are not exhibited in the orthography, as it is possible to distinguish highborn from low accent merely by listening: ''"Doran!" called some highborn voice. "To the spears!"''<ref>[[A Feast for Crows]],p.41</ref> These differences encapsulate both highborn vs. lowborn as well as regional dialects:
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Differences in speech can be observed between the highborn and [[smallfolk|lowborn]] of the [[Seven Kingdoms]].{{Ref|asos|1}}{{Ref|asos|25}}{{Ref|affc|45}}{{Ref|tss}} These differences can be found in the sound of their speech,{{Ref|affc|45}}{{Ref|agot|26}}{{Ref|affc|2}} but also in the use of specific phrases and words. An example is the use of "my lord" by nobles, but "m'lord" by peasants.{{Ref|adwd|32}} According to Lord [[Roose Bolton]], peasants pronounce "m'lord" as if they have mud in their mouths.{{Ref|adwd|32}} Although the degree of which it is used differs greatly between the common born, the lowborn patois can be seen in multiple further instances:
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:'''Example 1''': ''"She ast me to, m'lord,"'' [[Mycah]] said. ''"She ''ast'' me to."..."It's not no sword, it's only a stick."''{{ref|AGOT|15}}
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:'''Example 2''': ''"She don't know me,"'' he said, ''"but I knows her, oh, yes."''{{ref|AGOT|50}}
  
:''"How could you tell I was of noble birth?" [Sam asked].''
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Regional accents can lead someone to determine where a person has been born.{{Ref|agot|26}} This is not limited to the regions of [[Westeros]] ([[crownlands]], [[Dorne]], [[Iron Islands]], [[north]], [[Reach]], [[riverlands]], [[stormlands]], [[Vale of Arryn|Vale]], [[westerlands]]),{{Ref|agot|26}} but also specific cities.{{Ref|adwd|57}}{{Ref|adwd|66}} For example, [[Tyrion Lannister]], a highborn man from [[Casterly Rock]], near [[Lannisport]] in the [[westerlands]], tries to evade suspicion by claiming to be a noble's [[bastard]] son who grew up in [[Lannisport]],{{ref|ADWD|14}} thereby accounting for his speech. Another example is [[Samwell Tarly]], who is identified as a highborn by [[Pypar]], who states that Samwell is "[[southron]], most like near [[Highgarden]]", based solely on his speech.{{Ref|agot|26}}
:''"The same way you can tell that I'm half Dornish." The statement was delivered with a smile, in a soft Dornish drawl.''<ref>[[A Feast for Crows]], p.678</ref>
 
  
Mycah the butcher's son's few lines shows the lowborn patois:
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The largest difference within the Seven Kingdoms can be found in [[Dorne]], where the Common Tongue is marked by the influences of the language of the [[Rhoynar]].{{Ref|adwd|1}}{{Ref|twoiaf| Dorne: Queer Customs of the South}} This influence can be found all over Dorne,{{Ref|adwd|1}} but most strongly among the salty [[Dornishmen]],{{Ref|twoiaf| Dorne: Queer Customs of the South}} who have the most Rhoynish blood.{{Ref|twoiaf| Dorne}} The Dornish speak with a Dornish drawl,{{Ref|affc|0}}{{Ref|affc|20}}{{Ref|affc|45}} stretching, rolling, or lilting some words.{{Ref|twoiaf| Dorne: Queer Customs of the South}} Some describe the Dornish speech as charming.{{Ref| twoiaf| Dorne: Queer Customs of the South}}
:''"She ast me to, m'lord,"'' Mycah said. ''"She ''ast'' me to."..."It's not no sword, it's only a stick."'' <ref>[[A Game of Thrones]], p.150</ref>
 
Another stablehand in the Red Keep has other non-standard usages: ''"She don't know me," he said, "but I knows her, oh, yes...I says, come."''<ref>[[A Game of Thrones]], p.538</ref> And one of Ser Gregor's men uses the colloquial past tense of eat, ''et''.<ref>[[A Feast for Crows]], p.403</ref>
 
  
Even the warriors of the Mountains of the Moon, who have not had much contact with anyone for at least several hundred years, have little difference in their speech.  
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==Quotes==
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{{quote|Yes, [[Westeros]] has regional accents. I played with the idea of trying to depict them with phonetic misspellings (and indeed I do a little of that, with some less educated characters), but that way lies madness. I try to suggest the accents with syntax and taglines instead.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/2802 Cyvasse, Accents, Historical Mysteries, and Dornish Nationalism], April 18, 2008</ref>|[[George R. R. Martin]]}}
  
:Shagga glowered, a fearsome sight to see. ''"Shagga son of Dolf likes this not. Shagga will go with the boyman, and if the boyman lies, Shagga will chop off his manhood."''<ref>[[A Game of Thrones]], p.607</ref><ref>Languages Corpus at [http://wiki.dothraki.org/dothraki/Other_languages DothrakiWiki]</ref>
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{{Quote|"I swear it," she said in the Common Tongue of the [[Seven Kingdoms]] that [[House Targaryen|by rights]] were hers.{{Ref|aGoT|72}}|[[Daenerys Targaryen]] to [[Jorah Mormont]]}}
  
==References and Notes==
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{{Quote|Tyrion took a mordant pleasure in inventing the details of the colorful life of Hugor Hill, also known as Yollo, a bastard out of [[Lannisport]]. The best lies are seasoned with a bit of truth. The [[dwarf]] knew he sounded like a [[westerlands|westerman]], and a highborn westerman at that, so Hugor must needs be some [[lord]]ling's by-blow. Born in Lannisport because he knew that city better than [[Oldtown]] or [[King's Landing]], and cities were where most dwarfs ended up.{{ref|ADWD|14}}|thoughts of [[Tyrion Lannister]]}}
{{references|3}}
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{{Quote|At least in [[Dorne]] they speak the Common Tongue. Like Dornish food and Dornish law, Dornish speech was spiced with the flavors of the [[Rhoyne]], but a man could comprehend it.{{ref|ADWD|1}}|thoughts of [[Tyrion Lannister]]}}
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==References==
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{{references|2}}
  
 
{{Languages}}
 
{{Languages}}
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[[Category:Languages]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category: Languages]]
 
 
[[Category:Westeros]]
 
[[Category:Westeros]]
[[fr:Langue Commune]][[zh:&#36890;&#29992;&#35821;]]
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[[es:Lengua Común]]
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[[fr:Langue Commune]]
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[[ru:Общий язык]]
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[[zh:&#36890;&#29992;&#35821;]]

Latest revision as of 22:59, 6 February 2019

The Common Tongue[1][2][3] or Common Speech[4][5] is a language commonly spoken in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. There are regional accents,[6][7] but these do not result in a lack of comprehensibility.

While some free folk who live beyond the Wall understand the Common Tongue, many clans instead speak local languages.[8] The Thenns, for instance, speak the Old Tongue and can only speak a few words of the Common Tongue.[9]

Language

Differences in speech can be observed between the highborn and lowborn of the Seven Kingdoms.[10][11][12][13] These differences can be found in the sound of their speech,[12][6][14] but also in the use of specific phrases and words. An example is the use of "my lord" by nobles, but "m'lord" by peasants.[15] According to Lord Roose Bolton, peasants pronounce "m'lord" as if they have mud in their mouths.[15] Although the degree of which it is used differs greatly between the common born, the lowborn patois can be seen in multiple further instances:

Example 1: "She ast me to, m'lord," Mycah said. "She ast me to."..."It's not no sword, it's only a stick."[16]
Example 2: "She don't know me," he said, "but I knows her, oh, yes."[17]

Regional accents can lead someone to determine where a person has been born.[6] This is not limited to the regions of Westeros (crownlands, Dorne, Iron Islands, north, Reach, riverlands, stormlands, Vale, westerlands),[6] but also specific cities.[18][19] For example, Tyrion Lannister, a highborn man from Casterly Rock, near Lannisport in the westerlands, tries to evade suspicion by claiming to be a noble's bastard son who grew up in Lannisport,[20] thereby accounting for his speech. Another example is Samwell Tarly, who is identified as a highborn by Pypar, who states that Samwell is "southron, most like near Highgarden", based solely on his speech.[6]

The largest difference within the Seven Kingdoms can be found in Dorne, where the Common Tongue is marked by the influences of the language of the Rhoynar.[4][21] This influence can be found all over Dorne,[4] but most strongly among the salty Dornishmen,[21] who have the most Rhoynish blood.[22] The Dornish speak with a Dornish drawl,[23][24][12] stretching, rolling, or lilting some words.[21] Some describe the Dornish speech as charming.[21]

Quotes

Yes, Westeros has regional accents. I played with the idea of trying to depict them with phonetic misspellings (and indeed I do a little of that, with some less educated characters), but that way lies madness. I try to suggest the accents with syntax and taglines instead.[25]

"I swear it," she said in the Common Tongue of the Seven Kingdoms that by rights were hers.[26]

Tyrion took a mordant pleasure in inventing the details of the colorful life of Hugor Hill, also known as Yollo, a bastard out of Lannisport. The best lies are seasoned with a bit of truth. The dwarf knew he sounded like a westerman, and a highborn westerman at that, so Hugor must needs be some lordling's by-blow. Born in Lannisport because he knew that city better than Oldtown or King's Landing, and cities were where most dwarfs ended up.[20]

—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister

At least in Dorne they speak the Common Tongue. Like Dornish food and Dornish law, Dornish speech was spiced with the flavors of the Rhoyne, but a man could comprehend it.[4]

—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister

References