Dead Language

Dead Language is an Academic Ability. It refers to one specific dead (that is, not commonly spoken) language, such as Latin or Classical Greek (Romaic Greek being the contemporary, living language). Each of these languages represents an independent Ability, and must be learned separately. Specialties apply normally.

Since most Hermetic texts are written in Latin, gauntleted magi are expected to be proficient in that language. It is said that a score of 4 is necessary to read an elaborate text, while 5 is required to write one. Consequently, most gauntleted magi have scores of at least 4 in ""Dead Language: Latin"".

Languages considered "dead"

Keeping mind that language may be condsidered dead if not used outside academic and, in Latin's case, church, use, the following languages fall into this category in at least some regions:

• Latin is the most common dead language for most of the Order of Hermes in Mythic Europe.
• Classical, as opposed to the contemporary Romaic, Greek is the language of magi in the Theban Tribunal. It is also an academic language for older documents.
• Gothic is a dead East Germanic language used in House Bjornaer.
• Hebrew usually counts as a dead language in Europe. For non-Jews, and even for many Jews, it is an academic language, like Latin for Christians.
• Arabic, though a living language in the Levant Tribunal and beyond, is an academic, and thus, dead language throughout Mythic Europe.

References

• ArM5, p. 64.
• Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults provides information on House Bjornaer's use of Gothic.
• The Sundered Eagle: the Theban Tribunal discusses various languages and dialects throughout the tribunal at pp. 41-42, including Classical and Romaic Greek. The Hermetic chapter discusses language use by the magi of the tribunal.

See also

• Living Language, the Ability to speak living languages

Legacy Page

The history of this page before August 6, 2010 is archived at Legacy:dead_language