Languages of the World of Mana

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The ancient World of Mana had four languages that were fairly widely spoken: Kracian, Ingrish, Doric, and Taznikanze.

Kracian was obviously the lingua franca throughout Krace. Most Kracian city-states had a relatively high degree of literacy, at least among free men. Many notables from Euser including Taznikanze merchants, Ingrish nobles, and Pan Dore princesses were schooled in Krace, and the ability to speak Kracian was the mark of an educated person. (The Ingrish Alliance and the Pan Dore Kingdom often conducted official diplomatic relations in Kracian.)

Taznikanze, besides being spoken by the Taznikanze (obviously), was fairly common as a language of commerce throughout the World of Mana. Although literacy was growing, the majority of Taznikanze still relied on oral tradition for history and town criers for news. Although Taznikanze had a runic alphabet, the Futthark, Kracian writing was used for almost all day-to-day affairs. The runes represented Serious Magical Power, not the sort of thing one wrote a grocery list in. (See Runecasting.)

Doric was the language of the Pan Dore, although as the Kingdom grew and prospered many others picked up at least a little bit. Traditionally represented in elaborate hieroglyphics, Ashera Lalasa instituted a much-easier-to-write cuneiform.

Ingrish accents varied from principality to principality. The nobility spoke a form of "High Ingrish" that more or less unified. However, among the peasants, the accents became so strong they might be more properly classed as dialects. A commoner from the south (like Egmonde) might have a difficult time communicating with one from the far north (like, say, Landmonde). This naturally reinforced the nobility's belief in itself and the feudal order as society's glue. The Chal-Tar Horde spoke a language related to, but distinct from, Ingrish.


The Machangu tribes of the Kakkara desert, and the Kallallmiut of the Ice Country, were so isolated that their languages were not very widespread. Indeed, among these peoples dialects would vary widely even from tribe to tribe. They had no alphabet or system of writing. The Ulmsmodin dwarves had their own language (Ulmic), but they avoided teaching it to outsiders on principle.