Re: Common Tongues -- was Re: Quick Intro

John M. Dollan wrote:
> And, at least for me, the term "common" is pretty much a convenience term,
> much as is calling the Aewylin "elves", or the e'Gratën "goblins", and I
> doubt it will ever make it into the story.  I'm working on the history of my
> setting right now, and the first human nation was that of Ûriad, and I
> suppose they spoke a language called something like Ûriite, or something.
> Now, if it turns out that this language, or rather its descendant is the one
> that survived after a fashion to become the common language for all Human
> races, then instead of being called the Common Tongue, it might be named
> after some variant of Ûriite.  Perhaps Eurian, or Eurish, or something.  It
> is too early to tell.  In fact, I can't even guarantee that there WILL be a
> common tongue, unless it would be similar to Latin in function, in which
> case only the more learned of the various populations might understand it.
>
> What do you folks think?  Is a "common tongue" even a logical possibility?
> A natural outgrowth when you have four (possibly five, if I decide to
> develop the Trollish races) separate species that are commonly interacting?
AIUI, as long as they are all members of the same community, then they
would most likely share a language. If they normally keep to themselves,
and only interact occasionally for trade purposes, then they might end
up with some sort of pidgin or creole.