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Hylspeak is an old dialect of Aedyran, rooted in Eld Aedyran with a mixture of influences from recent history. It is only spoken by rural Dyrwoodan communities and older elves in the Aedyr heartlands. Hylspeak is almost grammatically identical to Aedyran, but contains a large number of archaic words that have either disappeared from contemporary use or taken new forms over time.

As Hylspeak is a transitional language between Eld Aedyran and the common Aedyran spoken throughout Dyrwood, regional dialects vary in how they cleave to and from the original language. Those living within a short distance of major trade routes may sound as though they are speaking oddlyaccented Aedyran. In the deep woods, some isolated communities are almost unintelligible to outsiders, Dyrwoodan and Aedyran alike. Speakers of contemporary Aedyran can understand Hylspeak, but it can sometimes be confusing. Those who live in rural Aedyran-speaking communities can easily drop into conversational Hylspeak without even knowing it.[1]

Hylspeak has taken on its own identity in rural Dyrwood as a language of song and folklore, and it can be commonly heard in folk songs and poems that have survived over the centuries.[1]

The resurgence of animancy imbued the language with a superstitious reputation. Some people associate the spontaneous speaking of Hylspeak with an awakened soul. As a result, superstitious folk are easily angered when they hear it spoken, believing it may cause their soul to remember a past life. The possibility that Hylspeak itself is responsible for dredging latent soul essences to the surface of the mind caused some to inherently distrust it. With such a dubious standing, Hylspeak isn't welcomed in many communities, and faces the threat of falling out of use entirely.[2]

Glossary[ | ]

  • Ascroiga – Whiskey.
  • Fith – Pint, a measurement.
  • Wicht – An uncontrollable child.
  • Sceltrfolc – Sheltered people.

Phrases[ | ]

  • "Ih fith ascroiga" – A pint of whiskey.
  • "Y tok ye to thy sumber." — "I will take you to the fair."
  • "Hagh fis an fraigam." – The pigs are loose.
  • "Hop y, that Rhym-aglac gjor eyen toks." — "May the Rhymterror (Rymrgand, the Beast of Winter) take your eyes."[1]
  • "Hyl an printing." – My father's land.
  • "This gate is fery sik." — "This goat is very ill."
  • "Thy wif and y go gern, and ye in onser wag ny stander must." — "The lady and I will go as we please, and you needn't stand in our way."

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Almanac Of The Eastern Reach, 2823 AI, p. 25
  2. Pillars of Eternity Guidebook Volume One, p.90 - Chapter 9: Languages Terms and Expressions - Hylspeak


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