Drow Language within Szith-Morcane

Sooooo. When drow PCs are talking in the UD/Szith-Morcane, are we to assume that they are speaking in Drow or Common? What if there's someone around that doesn't speak Drow?

They speak drommon which I believe is like Spanglish? no idea

I always use the language widget. Pro-tip, drow speak elven. "Drowic" is not a language in FR (not since AD&D) and all this xas nau shenanigans was made up by roleplayers on LiveJournal and has no basis in the setting as far as I have been able to find.

They speak a different dialect of the elven tongue, thus drow.

People like to speak in common mixed with some drow-ish words, but nobody is going to look down on you for not knowing how to use those words.

Yes, This quote below clearly states that it is not just Elven they speak but a mix of Undercommon and a different dialect of Elven.

Drow of the Underdark p 38-39 wrote:

It surprises many foreigners to learn that the drow do not have their own language. Rather, they speak Undercommon and various dialects of Elven that (though  clearly the same language) are different in accent, tone, and nuance from Surface Elven. There are many theories as to why the drow haven’t developed their own unique language. One hypothesis is that, due to their long life span, they haven’t been separate from other elves long enough for their language to more thoroughly evolve. Alternatively, the drow inability to cooperate reliably in large groups might have prevented them from developing their own terminology. Despite this fact, drow communication is often initially confusing to others, since the drow use Elven and Undercommon interchangeably, frequently switching back and forth in the middle of a conversation—or even the middle of a sentence—if they feel that one language conveys the proper nuance or emphasis better than the other. Additionally, when creating new terms for objects, creatures, or other items not covered by either existing language, they  ften combine the grammatical and phonetic rules of both. The result is that the drow frequently speak a pidgin combination of the two tongues that might, generations in the future, form the basis of an actual drow language.

The Underdark book adds that "Drow speak Undercommon and a dialect of Elven that features many words and constructions borrowed from the languages of their Underdark neighbours", further explaining that they just don't speak Elven.

Here is a Drow-to-Common translator and it also contains a dictionary (although I cant 100% vouch for its accuracy):

http://www.eilistraee.com/chosen/language.php

Sorry, let me clarify. I wasn't asking which language they spoke in the UD. I was referring to, mechanically speaking, when I see Drow speaking in "English", do I assume that's Common or Drow?

More of a question for the UD DM although it would surprise me if drow npcs speak in common amongst eachother unless they had a very specific reason to. Drow are a superior race, and they are right to think so, with all the benefits other, lesser races would kill to have ~ Mindset of the common drow.

I'd say when speaking "normal" English (without using the language box) its either Undercommon or Drow depending on the situation?
If say both drow and duergar are involved in the conversation and everyone understands each other, the party is likely speaking Undercommon. Since using the language box is problematic/difficult (you can't whisper with it for instance) I also assume that when I'm surrounded with drow only, we speak "drow" when using "normal English".

Drow also speak in undercommon around surface elves because they get off on making their hated cousins learn a new language.

So, if it's a surfacer that's in their company, that doesn't know Undercommon, Elven, or Drow... Do they speak Common then? I'm just trying to figure out if my character should know everything being said around her if she's a slave...

They are speaking common for practical reasons in the game as a pure OOC decision. If they want to speak something they do not want you to hear they would switch to drow or drow handsign.

Think about all the people complaining about "Why are Russian villains are talking English with a Russian accent? Shouldn't they speak Russian?" Well they are talking in English so you won't watch a whole movie with subtitles (as in our case, you won't use the language box all the time) and they have that accent (drommon in our case although I do not use it much) to give you the idea that they are speaking Russian amongst themselves or to show you that they are Russians and hence the accents.

Think of it OOCly when you are thinking about this language issue.

maseoo wrote:

Yes, This quote below clearly states that it is not just Elven they speak but a mix of Undercommon and a different dialect of Elven.

Drow of the Underdark p 38-39 wrote:

It surprises many foreigners to learn that the drow do not have their own language. Rather, they speak Undercommon and various dialects of Elven that (though clearly the same language) are different in accent, tone, and nuance from Surface Elven. There are many theories as to why the drow haven’t developed their own unique language. One hypothesis is that, due to their long life span, they haven’t been separate from other elves long enough for their language to more thoroughly evolve. Alternatively, the drow inability to cooperate reliably in large groups might have prevented them from developing their own terminology. Despite this fact, drow communication is often initially confusing to others, since the drow use Elven and Undercommon interchangeably, frequently switching back and forth in the middle of a conversation—or even the middle of a sentence—if they feel that one language conveys the proper nuance or emphasis better than the other. Additionally, when creating new terms for objects, creatures, or other items not covered by either existing language, they ften combine the grammatical and phonetic rules of both. The result is that the drow frequently speak a pidgin combination of the two tongues that might, generations in the future, form the basis of an actual drow language.

The Underdark book adds that "Drow speak Undercommon and a dialect of Elven that features many words and constructions borrowed from the languages of their Underdark neighbours", further explaining that they just don't speak Elven.

Here is a Drow-to-Common translator and it also contains a dictionary (although I cant 100% vouch for its accuracy):

http://www.eilistraee.com/chosen/language.php

Also I do not really like drommon usage BUT many of my players do so in drommon's defence I think it can be interpreted as the quote maseoo shared. This pretty much sums how our drows talk in the server up:

"Despite this fact, drow communication is often initially confusing to others, since the drow use Elven and Undercommon interchangeably, frequently switching back and forth in the middle of a conversation—or even the middle of a sentence—if they feel that one language conveys the proper nuance or emphasis better than the other."

So it actually gives this impression when people use it.

So um... are you saying the drow NPCs speak common by default then?

Depends on the NPC. The ones who stay in the city, merchants etc. They speak with Common chat box but the common sense dictates of course that they are speaking Elven with mixed Undercommon words (i.e: drow) when they are talking with the drow characters. Duergars or other UD races can think their exchange with the merchants are done by talking Undercommon.

But apart from the non-important NPCs like those, I use the languages if I need them as a tool to advance the story. My NPCs use the languages as they should but making every NPC from merchants to barkeeps to use the language box and all the encounters between slaves and drow PCs in the UD would just make it tedious.

I would pretty much agree with ADM Augustus' post. Drommon as I understood it, is just giving 'flavor' to the race.

I would assume default would be Common, or Undercommon. However, I think I'd also like to see DM Foe's thoughts.

Okay. So if they speak "English" around my slave, I can assume it's Common or Undercommon. Gotcha.

Separate note: Is there an undercommon widget? I didn't see it on language select.

Yes there is.

If you can understand what you're seeing on your screen, so can your character. That's the way I've always seen it played. Drow can always turn on their languages around outsiders.

Wulfenote wrote:

Separate note: Is there an undercommon widget? I didn't see it on language select.

Undercommon is selectable for UD races (not sure about half-drow).

Half drow can select it.