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The Gnoll language, also referred to as Gnollish,[1] was the language of gnolls[2][3] and flinds.[4]

Description[]

The language was not a complete one, only able to communicate basic concepts. It consisted of cackling, howling, and whining sounds and often relied on gestures and facial expressions. Such words were mixed with a broken version of the Abyssal language, allowing the leaders among them to communicate more complex thoughts.[5]

Speakers[]

Beyond gnolls themselves, Gnoll was sometimes spoken as a second language by bugbears,[6] elves[7] (of the Chondalwood, the Forest of Lethyr, and the High Forest[8]), fey'ri,[9] forest gnomes,[10] goblins,[11] lizardfolk,[12] orcs,[13] half-orcs,[13][14] and zebranaurs.[15] Among elves it was typically learned by moon elves and wild elves.[16]

When it came to regions, Gnoll was somewhat common as a language in Anauroch, Dambrath, Lapaliiya,[17] Rashemen,[18] the Shaar, Thay, Thesk,[17] and among warriors in Thar.[19] Gnomes of the Great Dale[20] and halflings of Channath, the Chondalwood, and Luiren also occasionally spoke it.[21]

Script[]

Gnoll had no true script or written form, but some gnolls were shrewd enough to write in Abyssal.[5]

History[]

Gnolls believed that their language was a gift to them from Yeenoghu.[5] Some scholars found the many connections in Gnoll with the Abyssal language to lend evidence to the theory that gnolls had demonic bloodlines.[22]

Names[]

The following were common names for males in the Gnoll tongue: Brask, Dagnyr, Dhyrn, Doryc, Durrash, Faush, Ghyrryn, Gnasc, Gnoryc, Gnyrn, Hyrn, Lask, Lhoryn, Lhyr, Mognyr, Sorgnyn, Thovarr, Thyrn, Toryc, Wesk, Yrgnyn, and Yrych. Females might be named Amal, Dagnyra, Gnara, Gnora, Gnyrl, Hett, Hyra, Hyrgna, Ishtish, Lhyra, Lhyrl, Malgna, Myrl, Sargna, Senga, Shyrla, Tarnyra, or Yrgna.[3][23] Translations of common Gnoll surnames included Blood-fang, Ear-taker, Face-ripper, and Spear-breaker.[3] Sometimes, Yeenoghu would bless a follower with a special name. A few such names were Aargab, Alark, Andak, Ethak, Eyeth, Ignar, Immor, Oduk, Orrom, Otal, Ulthak, and Ustar.[5]

Notable Speakers[]

Appendix[]

See Also[]

Appearances[]

Novels & Short Stories

Organized Play & Licensed Adventures

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Steve Perrin (1988). Dreams of the Red Wizards. (TSR, Inc), p. 54. ISBN 0-88038-615-0.
  2. Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 130. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds (May 2003). Unapproachable East. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 11. ISBN 0-7869-2881-6.
  4. Andrew Finch, Gwendolyn Kestrel, Chris Perkins (August 2004). Monster Manual III. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 62. ISBN 0-7869-3430-1.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Mike Mearls, et al. (November 2016). Volo's Guide to Monsters. Edited by Jeremy Crawford, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 35–36. ISBN 978-0786966011.
  6. Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 29. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  7. Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 102. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  8. Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 22. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
  9. Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 119. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  10. Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 55. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  11. Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 134. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  12. Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 169. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 204. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  14. Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 68. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  15. Tina Brown and Carlo Anziano (May 1994). “Four Legs Are Better Than Two”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #95 (TSR, Inc.), p. 20.
  16. Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 39, 45, 47. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  17. 17.0 17.1 Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 11–16. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
  18. Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 102. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  19. John Terra (February 1996). Warriors and Priests of the Realms. Edited by Steven E. Schend. (TSR, Inc), p. 43. ISBN 0-7869-0368-6.
  20. Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 24. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
  21. Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 26. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
  22. Keith Baker (September 2008). “Playing Gnolls”. In Chris Youngs ed. Dragon #367 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 50.
  23. Keith Baker (September 2008). “Playing Gnolls”. In Chris Youngs ed. Dragon #367 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 53.
  24. Carl Buehler (August 1991). “The Jade Monkey”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #62 (TSR, Inc.), p. 14.

Connections[]

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