Common Tongue
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
"I swear it," she said in the Common Tongue of the Seven Kingdoms that by rights were hers.[26]
- Daenerys Targaryen to Jorah Mormont
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
- thoughts of Tyrion Lannister
References
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 11, Daenerys II.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 64, Arya X.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 11, The Kraken's Daughter.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 1, Tyrion I.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 38, The Watcher.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 26, Jon IV.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 37, Brienne VII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 15, Jon II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 26, Jon III.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 1, Jaime I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 25, Davos III.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 45, Samwell V.
- ↑ The Sworn Sword.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 2, The Captain Of Guards.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 32, Reek III.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 15, Sansa I.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 50, Arya IV.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 57, Tyrion XI.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 66, Tyrion XII.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 14, Tyrion IV.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: Queer Customs of the South.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Prologue.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 20, Brienne IV.
- ↑ So Spake Martin: Cyvasse, Accents, Historical Mysteries, and Dornish Nationalism, April 18, 2008
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 72, Daenerys X.