Kun'gar - Dwarvish

Known to outsiders simply as Dwarvish, the language of the dwarves is called Kun'gar in their own tongue, named after Kun’rhak, the dwarven god of knowledge and lore. Spoken across all dwarvenkind, from the high halls of the Mountain Dwarves to the stone-rooted villages of their Hill cousins, Kun’gar remains a cornerstone of dwarven identity and pride.   Though unified in structure, dialectical differences exist between mountain and hill dwarves, often enough to mark one’s origin by cadence and pronunciation alone. Despite these variations, mutual understanding is preserved, a reflection of the dwarves’ deep cultural cohesion.   The written script of Kun'gar is chiseled in form, sharp, linear, and designed to be etched into stone with hammer and chisel. It favors straight lines, sturdy strokes, and angular glyphs that endure both time and echo. Many scholars believe the script was shaped not just for practicality, but as a mirror to dwarven values: endurance, permanence, and precision.   Linguistically, Kun’gar is rough and echo-sharp, filled with consonants that carry well through stone halls and mountain tunnels. Some words carry entire phrases within them, while others require long chains of description, an echo, perhaps, of how dwarves honor depth and clarity over brevity. While the language evolves, it does so slowly and carefully, mirroring the culture that speaks it.   Kun'gar is also the foundation of dwarven rune magic, used in forging, enchantment, and ceremonial inscriptions. It is not a sacred language, but one that carries immense cultural weight. Speaking it poorly or forgetting it entirely is considered a sign of disgrace or willful ignorance of one's roots.   During the diaspora, Kun'gar has been preserved almost unchanged, even as younger dwarves learn and use the common tongue of humans in trade and diplomacy. Among their own, however, dwarves remain fiercely proud of their native speech, and they wield it not only in speech but also in idiom and wit.     Common Dwarven Idioms

• "You’re sharpening the pick on granite."
Literal Meaning: You're wasting time on something impossible.Human Misinterpretation: Taken to mean "preparing for something tough," but dwarves actually use it to mock futile efforts.
• "Even the deepest vein has dust."
Literal Meaning: Even the best things come with problems.Human Misinterpretation: Thought to mean "dig deep for treasure," but dwarves use it as a reminder that nothing is perfect.
• "Hammer it thrice, then speak."
Literal Meaning: Consider things carefully before speaking.Human Misinterpretation: Used by humans to mean “hit it hard and fast,” when dwarves mean “think first, act later.”