The Language of Empire

The people of Brythnor’s empire spoke an old form of the Common language, which I have represented by using some letters from Old English (Anglo Saxon), and a few Early Medieval words.  

Hopefully, it can be puzzled out by diligent English-speaking players.  Especially if they use the Internet.

However, here is a short guide.

Letters

There are several key letters used:

Thorn - (Þ, þ) – makes the sound of ‘th’ in English.  As in “þe” for “the”.   This occurs in the Emperors’s name, Bryþnor – as well as his word for his race, the Giþ.

Ash – (Æ, æ) –  is used in place of a latinised ‘ae’ dipthong.  I intend something closer to the Old English usage (something like a sound between “a” and “e” – as in the short vowel in “cat”).

Yogh - (ȝogh) (Ȝ, ȝ) – is a little more complex.  Sound ing a “y” sound, it may stand in for a “y”, “j” or “g” in more modern English. It explains the “gh” in the modern spelling of “night”, for example.

Eth – (Ð, ð) - Here used pretty interchangeably with thorn.  Although perhaps more common at the end of words.

Wynn - (Ƿ, ƿ) – used rarely.  Stands in for a “w”.

Spellings

Some older spellings are also used, such as “swerd” for “sword”.

Thus,

              Bryʒt Byrþnor tuk hys myʒty swerd

Can be read as:

              Bright Brythnor took his mighty sword

Older words

A few other Old English and Medieval words do creep in.  For references, see the Middle English Dictionary, at https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/middle-english-dictionary/dictionary