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{{Language
'''Midani''' is the common tongue of [[Zakhara]]. It is spoken by all "enlightened" citizens of that region as well as by most unenlightened savages of that land.<ref name="LoF">{{Cite book/Land of Fate/Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara|124}}</ref> A version of Midani is also spoken by the [[Bedine]].<ref name="RoF">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|106}}</ref>
 
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| image =
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| name = Midani
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| family = [[Rauric languages]]
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| group = [[Untheric languages|Untheric]]
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| subgroup = [[Midani languages|Midani]]
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| dialects = Qudran<br />Pearl Cities<br />Pantheist<br />Eastern<br />Golden<br />Uloushinn
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| influences = [[Netherese language|Netherese]] (Uloushinn only)
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| script = [[Thorass alphabet|Thorass]] (Uloushinn only)
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| regions = [[Zakhara]]<br />[[Anauroch]] ([[Bedine]])
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| speakers = [[Zakharan (ethnicity)|Zakharans]]<br />[[Bedine]]
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| based = [[wikipedia:en:Semitic languages|Semitic]]<ref name="DRA4">{{Cite dragon/Speaking in Tongues|28-29}}</ref><br />[[wikipedia:Arabic|Arabic]]<ref name="AA">{{Cite book/Arabian Adventures|156}}</ref>
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}}
 
'''Midani''' was the common tongue of [[Zakhara]]. It was spoken by all "enlightened" citizens of that region as well as by most unenlightened savages of that land.<ref name="LoF">{{Cite book/Land of Fate/Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara|124}}</ref> A version of Midani, known as '''Uloushinn''' by some scholars, was also spoken by the [[Bedine]].<ref name="Anauroch-cover">{{Cite book/Anauroch/Inside cover}}</ref><ref name="W&PotR-p60">{{Cite book/Warriors and Priests of the Realms|60}}</ref><ref name="RoF">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|106}}</ref>
   
 
==Variants==
 
==Variants==
Zakhara has five regional dialects. In the [[Pearl Cities]], Midani is spoken with a sharp, precise rhythm, with the ends of sentences clipped off. In the [[Pantheist League]], consonants are trilled, seemingly at random. In eastern Zakhara, Midani is spoken with a nasal accent. In [[Huzuz]] and [[Hiyal]], the accent sounds flat and mechanical compared to other Midani speakers. The folk of Huzuz and Hiyal believe they speak the "true" version of the Midani tongue.<ref name="LoF"/>
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Zakhara had five regional dialects.<ref name="DRA4" /> In [[Qudra]] and the [[Free Cities]], Midani was spoken with a sharp, precise rhythm, with the ends of sentences frequently clipped. In the [[Pearl Cities]], most voices were more melodious. In the [[Pantheist League]], consonants were trilled, seemingly at random. In eastern Zakhara, Midani was spoken with a nasal accent. In [[Huzuz]] and [[Hiyal]], the accent sounded flat and mechanical compared to other Midani speakers. The latter, of course, believed that they spoke the "true" Midani tongue,<ref name="LoF"/> which was known as the "Golden" dialect.<ref name="DRA4"/>
   
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The Bedine spoke a dialect of Midani.<ref name="RoF" /> They had no name for their own language,<ref name="RoF" /> but some linguists called it Uloushinn,<ref name="Anauroch-cover" /><ref name="W&PotR-p60" /> and some even went so far as to categorize it among the [[Low Ulutim languages]]<ref name="DRA4" /> because of the influence of [[Netherese language|Netherese]] and [[Ulou languages|related languages]] on the dialect.<ref name="RoF" /> The Bedine forgot the original alphabet of Midani and instead used the [[Thorass alphabet]].<ref name="RoF" /><ref name="SCAG-p112">{{Cite book/Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide|112}}</ref>
''Thieves' Cant'' is a choppy Midani lingo spoken only by rogues. It varies slightly from city to city.<ref name="LoF"/>
 
   
 
[[Thieves' cant|Thieves' Cant]] was a choppy Midani lingo spoken only by rogues. It varied slightly from city to city.<ref name="LoF"/>
[[Maran]] is another dialect of Midani.<ref name="DRA4"/>
 
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[[Maran]] was a related language.<ref name="DRA4"/>
   
 
===Dead Tongues===
 
===Dead Tongues===
Related to Midani are several forgotten languages no longer spoken by any living cultures. They include Noga and Kadari (from the [[Ruined Kingdoms]]).<ref name="LoF"/> Other dead languages once spoken in the Zakhara region, such as Affa, [[Drow dictionary|Drow Elven]], and Chun, are apparently not related to Midani.<ref name="DRA4">[[Thomas M. Costa]]. "Speaking in Tongues." ''[[Dragon Magazine Annual 1999]]. ''Page 29''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast.</ref>
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Related to Midani were several forgotten languages no longer spoken by any living cultures. They included [[Noga]] and [[Kadari]] (from the [[Cities of the Ancients|Ruined Kingdoms]]).<ref name="LoF"/><ref name="DRA4"/> Other dead languages once spoken in the Zakhara region, such as [[Affa]], [[Drow dictionary|Drow Elven]], and [[Chun]], were apparently not related to Midani.<ref name="DRA4" />
   
 
==History==
 
==History==
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Midani had roots in all four elemental tongues.<ref name="DRA4" />
Like [[Mulhorandi language|Mulhorandi]], [[Mahjuri]], [[Alzho]], and [[Untheric language|Untheric]], Midani is part of the Rauric language family. It is specifically part of the Untheric language group, like Untheric and Alhzo.<ref name="DRA4"/> All Rauric languages are derived, at least in part, from the slave argot of ancient [[Imaskar]].<ref name="RoF97">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|97}}</ref>
 
   
 
In {{Yearlink|-339}}, nomads migrated through a [[portal]] from Zakhara to the [[Anauroch]] Desert, intermingling with a handful of [[Netherese]] survivors, eventually becoming the [[Bedine]]. The Bedine retained their ancestral Midani tongue, but lost all knowledge of the written version of that tongue. Centuries later, traders from surrounding lands introduced the Thorass alphabet to the Bedine, which they adapted.<ref name="RoF" />
Midani has roots all four elemental tongues.<ref name="DRA4"/> This probably means it's partly descended from [[Jannti]], the language of the [[genie]] races.<ref name="LoF"/>
 
   
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==Appendix==
In [[-339 DR]], Bedine nomads migrated through a [[portal]] from Zakhara to the [[Anauroch]] Desert, intermingling with a handful of [[Netherese]] survivors. The Bedine retained their ancestral Midani tongue, but lost all knowledge of the written version of that tongue. Centuries later, traders from surrounding lands introduced the [[Thorass]] alphabet to the Bedine, which they use to this day instead of the historical Midani alphabet.<ref name="RoF"/>
 
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===Background===
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Midani words and expressions were mostly derived from a simplified [[Wikipedia:Transliteration|transliteration]] of [[Wikipedia:Arabic|Arabic]].<ref name="AA"/>
   
==Midani phrases==
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===See Also===
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[[Midani dictionary]]
*''Aywa'' (EYE wah): Yes.<ref name="LoF"/>
 
*''La'' (LAH): No.<ref name="LoF"/>
 
*''Es salam alekum'' (ess sah LAMB ah LEH koom): May peace be upon you. A general greeting.<ref name="LoF"/>
 
*''Wa alekum es salam'' (wah ah LEH koom ess sah LAMB): May peace be upon you also. Response to the greeting.<ref name="LoF"/>
 
*''Maas salama'' (mahs sah LAMB ah): Go with peace.<ref name="LoF"/>
 
*''Saheeda'' (sah EE da): Greetings. Hello. Also goodbye.<ref name="LoF"/>
 
*''Min fadlak'' (min FAHD lahk): Please.<ref name="LoF"/>
 
*''Shukran'' (SHOOK rahn): Thank you.<ref name="LoF2">{{Cite book/Land of Fate/Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara|125}}</ref>
 
*''Afwan'' (AHF wahn): You're welcome.<ref name="LoF2"/>
 
*''Kwayis'' (KWAY iss): Good.<ref name="LoF2"/>
 
*''Mish Kwayis'' (mish KWAY iss): Bad. ("Mish" negates whatever adjective it precedes.)<ref name="LoF2"/>
 
*''Hatar'' (hah TAR): Danger.<ref name="LoF2"/>
 
*''Samm'' (SAHM): Poison.<ref name="LoF2"/>
 
*''Ma'' (MAH): Water.<ref name="LoF2"/>
 
*''Ybbah!'': Oh, papa! An expression of surprise.<ref name="LoF2"/>
 
*''Ymmah!'': Oh, mama! An expression of surprise.<ref name="LoF2"/>
 
   
==Notes==
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===References===
 
{{Refs}}
 
{{Refs}}
 
[[Category:Human languages]]
 
[[Category:Human languages]]
[[Category:Regional languages]]
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[[Category:Languages]]
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[[Category:Midani languages]]
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[[Category:Untheric languages]]
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[[Category:Rauric languages]]

Revision as of 19:59, 24 January 2020

Midani was the common tongue of Zakhara. It was spoken by all "enlightened" citizens of that region as well as by most unenlightened savages of that land.[3] A version of Midani, known as Uloushinn by some scholars, was also spoken by the Bedine.[4][5][6]

Variants

Zakhara had five regional dialects.[1] In Qudra and the Free Cities, Midani was spoken with a sharp, precise rhythm, with the ends of sentences frequently clipped. In the Pearl Cities, most voices were more melodious. In the Pantheist League, consonants were trilled, seemingly at random. In eastern Zakhara, Midani was spoken with a nasal accent. In Huzuz and Hiyal, the accent sounded flat and mechanical compared to other Midani speakers. The latter, of course, believed that they spoke the "true" Midani tongue,[3] which was known as the "Golden" dialect.[1]

The Bedine spoke a dialect of Midani.[6] They had no name for their own language,[6] but some linguists called it Uloushinn,[4][5] and some even went so far as to categorize it among the Low Ulutim languages[1] because of the influence of Netherese and related languages on the dialect.[6] The Bedine forgot the original alphabet of Midani and instead used the Thorass alphabet.[6][7]

Thieves' Cant was a choppy Midani lingo spoken only by rogues. It varied slightly from city to city.[3]

Maran was a related language.[1]

Dead Tongues

Related to Midani were several forgotten languages no longer spoken by any living cultures. They included Noga and Kadari (from the Ruined Kingdoms).[3][1] Other dead languages once spoken in the Zakhara region, such as Affa, Drow Elven, and Chun, were apparently not related to Midani.[1]

History

Midani had roots in all four elemental tongues.[1]

In −339 DR, nomads migrated through a portal from Zakhara to the Anauroch Desert, intermingling with a handful of Netherese survivors, eventually becoming the Bedine. The Bedine retained their ancestral Midani tongue, but lost all knowledge of the written version of that tongue. Centuries later, traders from surrounding lands introduced the Thorass alphabet to the Bedine, which they adapted.[6]

Appendix

Background

Midani words and expressions were mostly derived from a simplified transliteration of Arabic.[2]

See Also

Midani dictionary

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Thomas M. Costa (1999). “Speaking in Tongues”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon Annual #4 (TSR, Inc) (4)., pp. 28–29.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Jeff Grubb and Andria Hayday (April 1992). Arabian Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 156. ISBN 978-1560763581.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 124. ISBN 978-1560763291.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Inside cover included in Ed Greenwood (November 1991). Anauroch. Edited by Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 1-56076-126-1.
  5. 5.0 5.1 John Terra (February 1996). Warriors and Priests of the Realms. Edited by Steven E. Schend. (TSR, Inc), p. 60. ISBN 0-7869-0368-6.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 106. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  7. Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 112. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.