Speak Language
(Player's Handbook v.3.5, page 82, DnD 3.5)
Description
| Language | Typical Speakers | Alphabet |
|---|---|---|
| Abyssal | Demons, chaotic evil outsiders | Infernal |
| Aquan | Water-based creatures | Elven |
| Auran | Air-based creatures | Draconic |
| Celestial | Good outsiders | Celestial |
| Common | Humans, halflings, half-elves, half-orcs | Common |
| Draconic | Kobolds, troglodytes, lizardfolk, dragons | Draconic |
| Druidic | Druids (only) | Druidic |
| Dwarven | Dwarves | Dwarven |
| Elven | Elves | Elven |
| Giant | Ogres, giants | Dwarven |
| Gnome | Gnomes | Dwarven |
| Goblin | Goblins, hobgoblins, bugbears | Dwarven |
| Gnoll | Gnolls | Common |
| Halfling | Halflings | Common |
| Ignan | Fire-based creatures | Draconic |
| Infernal | Devils, lawful evil outsiders | Infernal |
| Orc | Orcs | Dwarven |
| Sylvan | Dryads, brownies, leprechauns | Elven |
| Terran | Xorns and other earth-based creatures | Dwarven |
| Undercommon | Drow | Elven |
Common languages and their alphabets are summarized on the table above.
Action
Not applicable.
Try again
Not applicable. There are no Speak Language checks to fail.
The Speak Language skill doesn't work like other skills. Languages work as follows.
- You start at 1st level knowing one or two languages (based on your race), plus an additional number of languages equal to your starting Intelligence bonus (see Chapter 2: Races).
- You can purchase Speak Language just like any other skill, but instead of buying a rank in it, you choose a new language that you can speak.
- You don't make Speak Language checks. You either know a language or you don't.
- A literate character (anyone but a barbarian who has not spent skill points to become literate) can read and write any language she speaks. Each language has an alphabet, though sometimes several spoken languages share a single alphabet.