Deep Speech
The Echoes of the Deep
One could witness the use of Deep Speech during the Day of Deep Reverence, when the Keeper of the Deep, Drakhar Stonefist, addresses his people in the great hall of Barak Drukar. Clad in his ceremonial armor etched with ancient Dwarven Runes, he starts his address in Deep Speech, "Dha'rozgha Khazadthuri, ghalodhrul thurag, khragnag dha'roz, khragnag dhurag. Drorag shikhrul, tharag presentak, khrag furag. Dha'nag, dhrukhrul ourag shardag legacyag. We dhurag heartag Frystdrassil, beaconag amid thek khrul. May ourag rootagak remainagag deep, ourag heartagak stalwartag."The sounds of Deep Speech fill the hall, reverberating against the stone walls and creating an atmosphere of deep reverence and unity among the gathered Dwarves. While not all can fully understand the complex language, the weight and rhythm of the words resonate with their shared heritage, instilling a sense of awe and pride.- Thorbin Babblemore,Dwarven Chronicler
Dha'rozgha, also known as Deep Speech, embodies the heart of the dwarven spirit. The ancient language of Khazadthur, it reverberates with the strength and wisdom of ages past, carrying with it the profound heritage of a resilient people. Rooted in the earth's core and enriched by the luminance of their traditions, Dha'rozgha is a living testament to the enduring legacy of the dwarves, an emblem of unity, and a potent channel of communication with their ancestral roots. With its robust structure, deep phonology, and comprehensive syntax, it presents a vibrant linguistic spectrum, echoing the age-old customs, intricate lore, and collective wisdom of a civilization cradled in the heart of the mountains.
Traversing through the vast lexicon of Dha'rozgha, one encounters a unique blend of sharp consonants, resonant vowels, and rhythmic sentences that encapsulate the quintessence of their rich culture. Whether inscribed on the ancient stone tablets in their grand halls or chanted ceremonially during the Day of Deep Reverence, the language serves as a significant thread weaving the intricate tapestry of their collective identity. Dha'rozgha is not merely a language but a potent symbol of Khazadthur, a melodious anthem of their past, present, and future, echoing ceaselessly in the heart of Frystdrassil.
Phonology
Consonants:
Dha'rozgha contains a variety of consonant sounds, including stops, fricatives, and nasals that contribute to the deep, resonant quality of the language.
Dha'rozgha vowels echo the deep tonal qualities of the language. The language features a small, focused set of vowels that favor low, resonant sounds.
Stress in Dha'rozgha is generally placed on the first syllable of a word, contributing to the language's rhythmic and resonant nature. However, there can be exceptions, especially in longer words or in words adopted from other languages.
Phonetic Characteristics:
Dha'rozgha, similar to Terran, is characterized by its deep, rumbling tones. The frequent use of stops, especially velar ones (k, g), and the trilled r contribute to this quality, mimicking the sounds of moving earth and echoing caverns. This is complemented by the use of the post-alveolar fricatives (sh, zh), which mimic the sounds of crumbling rock and shifting gravel.Dha'rozgha's relationship to Dwardekar and Yoruterra:
Dha'rozgha is an older language and shares many features with Dwardekar. However, it has a more archaic and ceremonial quality and is less influenced by the languages of other races. In relation to Yoruterra, while Dha'rozgha is a language from the Material Realm, the close relationship that Dwarves have with the earth and stone can be reflected in the language. The deep, rumbling tones, and the use of certain phonemes can draw a parallel to the characteristics of Yoruterra, suggesting a potential ancient linguistic influence or shared primordial roots.Script:
Deep Speech, like Dwardekar, uses the Dethek script, which consists of runes. These runes are carved or inscribed and are highly suited to being written in stone or metal, materials often used by Dwarves. This connection to the Dethek script further enhances the cultural and historical significance of Dha'rozgha among the Dwarves of Khazadthur.Morphology
Nouns:
Singular and plural: Nouns in Dha'rozgha typically form plurals by the addition of "-an" at the end. For example, "dhard" (stone) would be "dhardan" in the plural.
Verbs:
Present tense:
Verbs in their basic form represent the present tense. Example: "grodh" (to carve).
Past tense:
The past tense is indicated by the suffix "-uth". Example: "grodhuth" (carved).
Future tense:
The future tense is indicated by the prefix "na-". Example: "nagrodh" (will carve).
Adjectives:
Adjectives in Dha'rozgha do not inflect according to the nouns they modify. They take a single form regardless of the number or gender of the noun.
Syntax
Dha'rozgha follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order, which is a common structure in many natural languages.
Adjectives usually come before the nouns they modify. For example, "zarg dhard" would mean "big stone".
Vocabulary
Dhard: Stone
Zarg: Big
Grodh: To carve
Forn: Mountain
Drukar: Hall
Khazad: Dwarf
Thuri: Deep
Gath: Iron
Azun: Gold
Rul: Old
Zul: Young
Drak: Strong
Morn: Dark
Lumin: Light
Ro: And
Dhur: Of
Ghaz: Under
Ov: Over
Za: Yes
Naza: No
Tharkan: Greeting/Hello
So, using the provided vocabulary and syntax, a sample sentence could be:
"Dhard zarg drak grodhuth Khazad."
In Common, this would translate to "The strong dwarf carved the big stone."
Common Phrases
"Tharkan, Khazad!" - Greetings, dwarf!
"Za, zarg dhard grodhuth mi." - Yes, I carved the big stone.
"Naza, rul Khazad za mi." - No, I am not an old dwarf.
"Forn dhur morn za mi." - I am from the dark mountain.
"Mi nagrodh zul dhard." - I will carve the young stone.
"Zarg drukar ov khazadthuri." - The great hall is above the deep dwarf (used to indicate something very important is about to happen)
"Drak Khazad ro lumin Khazad." - The strong dwarf and the light dwarf (indicating a unity of diverse strengths)
Common Female Names
Zargana: Derived from "zarg," meaning big or great
Luminara: From "lumin," meaning light
Thuria: From "thuri," meaning deep
Mornia: From "morn," meaning dark
Dharda: From "dhard," meaning stone
Common Male Names
Drakan: Derived from "drak," meaning strong
Grodhur: From "grodh," meaning to carve
Fornan: From "forn," meaning mountain
Rulan: From "rul," meaning old
Zulan: From "zul," meaning young
Common Unisex Names
Dhardan: From "dhard," meaning stone
Luminor: From "lumin," meaning light
Mornor: From "morn," meaning dark
Zargor: From "zarg," meaning big
Grodhan: From "grodh," meaning to carve
Common Family Names
Dhardgath: Understone
Zargforn: Bigmountain
Mornthuri: Darkdeep
Luminov: Lightabove
Drakdhur: Strong of
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