So how do languages work in this world? Like, do Plegia and Ylisse (and possibly other countries) have a shared language? Do any of those countries have unique languages that are still used? Or have unique languages fallen out of use? Are they maybe only used in formal ceremonies and the like?
Language gets so complicated so fast and in general I tend to gloss over it through use of a ‘common tongue’ because I have other things I’m more interested in tackling than overcoming language barriers. I actually made a post on the art blog a while back that talked specifically about language and its diversity through the Awakening world, but specifically for Twist of Fate, I think there are some interesting points that we can make:
Because Plegia’s people tend to be so scattered, there are a lot of different Plegian dialects around. In general, though, they can all understand one another well enough, barring regional colloquialisms. Depending on where they are, some Plegians might only know their native tongue and nothing else, if they don’t interact with other groups; but villages closer to borders tend to have a fair understanding of the continental common language, plus a scattering of either Feroxi- or Ylissean-specific skills; coastal towns are less likely to have the continental common language, but significantly more likely to be versed in Valmese language groups like Rosannois, Chon’sinese, etc. due to ocean-based trade.
Robin is versed in several specific languages, among them Ylissean, Feroxi, Rosannois, Chon’sinese, and at least a handful of Valmese dialects common to traders; of these, though, he’s only fluent in Plegian Feroxi and Ylissean (plus the continental common tongue). His Ylissean tends to be extremely formal since it’s all based on book study and diplomatic instruction, due to the tensions between their nations, but his Feroxi is more laid-back since he’s had dealings with them in the past and is on quite good terms with Basilio (who may or may not have taught him several vulgar phrases and curse words, because really, this is Basilio).
Henry and Tharja, as Robin’s bodyguards, have also received instruction into other languages, though they’re not fluent in anything beyond their native Plegian tongue and the continental common language: they’re primarily versed in Ylissean and Feroxi, and they can pick out just enough to understand a few languages from the Valmese continent.
Henry 100% abuses his linguistic skills to make bad puns in class. Also in public.
Chrom knows Ylissean and the continental common tongue, plus a little Feroxi (which comes as something of a surprise when they go to Ferox and he can understand Basilio). He doesn’t know a word of Plegian at the outset, which Tharja in particular abuses to have private conversations with Robin and Henry while Chrom is with them; Robin disapproves of this rudeness and will answer in the common tongue so that Chrom isn’t excluded.
Much to Tharja’s surprise, Chrom readily picks up on Plegian as they spend time in the capital. Book learning was never his strong suit in the first place, but being in a place that doesn’t speak anything but Plegian means that he’s picking up on context cues and learning through immersive exposure: she’s going to try talking over his head at some point and he’s going to call her out (possibly in Plegian), and Robin is not going to be able to stop laughing.
Plegia and Ylisse both use rather ancient forms of their respective languages for religious rites. Ylisse’s hails back more than a millennium to the establishment of Naga’s church: religious texts are written in a divine tongue, which is used for the holiest of rituals and which is only understood by scholars and members of the order, since it’s by now a dead language. The Grimleal, meanwhile, took longer to fully codify their religious teachings: it’s only been in the past thousand years that they’ve had a text at all, with most of their faith being taught by example and oral tradition. Grimleal rites are conducted in the Plegian tongue, with the spirit rather than the letter of the ritual being generally preferred.