What language should I use?

Question: What language should I use!?

Ok I'm going to have dwarves, much like Tolkien's dwarves, in my story that I'm currently working on!. I don't want to create my own language like Tolkien did, so i was wondering what type of language would suite them best!? also know where I can refer to translate words for that language!? The dwarves are going to be some of the first beings to walk the earth, so should they even use a different language!? Maybe just english!? Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Dwarves are traditionally earthy, simple-living people, especially Tolkien's dwarves!. Any dwarven language would need to be simple, with the writing blockish (i!.e!. no curves [also goes for the architecture too])!. Considering this, Russian comes to mind!. However, you would not need to invent an entire language for your dwarven race!. There would probably be only a few direct quotes in the text, and they could be made up without any formal spelling or grammatic structure!. If they will be the focus of the story or they will have interaction sequences (with other races), they would need to speak English (or the language you're writing in)!. A dwarven tongue would only be necessary when reading something in dwarven script or formal discussion between dwarves!.
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If you are working on a story that you hope to get published and bought by the people of any nationality, I *DO* believe that you can name the language that the dwarves use to communicate among each other as 'dwarvaneese', *BUT* -- if you want your readers to follow your story, you *MUST* translate every word your dwarves speak into all of the various languages of the WORLD of today! 'ROTS UV RUCK' !Www@QuestionHome@Com

Tolkienish dwarves are going to speak a language that suits their way of life and cultural mindset!. Langauge is the echo of how one perceives the world!. You have to think like a cave-dwarf!. Start with basic ideas!. Big, small, yummy, good, bad!. Think what kinds of sounds a dwarf would make to express this, how it might evolve and affect similar words etc!. Nouns and pronouns should probably proceed adjectives and verbs because dwarves value the stuff they make!. Etc!.

also, their history, their interactions with other races, all this has an effect! If another race conquered them for a time, maybe they adopted certain words from Elvish etc!. Trade can affect it too!. Most Japanese words for items invented after 1950 have roots in English!. Periods of isolation from the rest of the world would make their language more different than similar!. A perspective of pride, heartiness, comfort in the darkness or light, all this might affect language!.

also remember, that most fantasy novels refer to the standard language as "COMMON" not English, because that would make them all related to the British somehow!.

Do a bit of background research on etymology first and then you'll get a good feel for which language is most like your dwarves!. A few tweaks of ancient Anglo-Saxon would be my suggestion!. Do your best and have fun! I envy the amount of free-time you must have!. ;-)Www@QuestionHome@Com

Perhaps you should look up an ancient language!. English is nowhere near the first language spoken on the earth, in fact it is one of the newest!. Why not look up something about these!?

Umeran, Akkadian, Chinese, Egyptian, Phrygian, Sanskrit, Phoenician Hindi and Punjabi!.!.!.

or you could just go with a standard dwarfish stereotype like Gaelic or something!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Writing it in anything but English serves no purpose other than being pretentious!. You will only cause your readers to stumble over the dialogue!.

You really shouldn't do something that will disrupt the flow of your story!.

Of course, if you're writing this for foreign people that's different!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think you should try to reach the most people with your story, so English would be a good choice!. Other languages may be considered tacky, and it is unlikely to get a perfect translation from a website!.

If you did use another language I would do Russian, because a Russian dwarf just sounds good!. Dictionary!.com has good translation tools!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Well technically if they are the first beings to walk the earth they would speak hebrew or arabic!.!.!.or some kind of ancient civilization (eg!. Aztec, Incan, Mayan, Egyptian!.!.!.etc!.)

Good luck with thatWww@QuestionHome@Com

A language!.!.!. Hmm!. Latin, because it's a dead language, so it'll appear mysterious!. To get translation, look up "Latin translation" on google or something!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

try using the african language since scientists traced all DNA to africa so that could have been where the first people were!. :)

just google free translator or something!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

how about english with some different words or ways to write them to distingish the rece, maybe throw some latin in thereWww@QuestionHome@Com

Dutch or norwejinWww@QuestionHome@Com

How about Gaelic!?Www@QuestionHome@Com