Languages in Nations and Empires

There are well over a hundred languages spoken in the Zekresh Empire and countless more beyond its borders. They can be easily divided into language families and groups indicating common origins. Not all of the language families are connected to each other in any discernable way.

Although players need not actually learn to speak any of the languages found in Nations and Empires because translations in English (and other Earth languages) will be provided, extensive work has been done in developing the various languages of the Zekresh Empire and it does help add to the atmosphere of the game if players learn at least a few words of the languages their characters speak in the game.

Although in-character communications can always be in English, they will be presumed to be in the character's main language or other appropriate language for game purposes. A player may specify which language his communications to another character are supposed to be in even if they are actually in English or another Earth language.

In some cases, there may be players who do not speak English well or at all and their native Earth language may be presumed to represent communications in a specific non-Earth languages from the game. For example, suppose there are two groups of players. One group are in North America and speak English. Assume their characters speak Zekresh. Another group of players is in Portugal and Brazil and speak Portuguese and do not know English. Suppose their characters speak a language called Aldanese. It may be assumed that in-character communications by these two groups of players are in Zekresh if they are actually in English and in Aldanese if they are actually in Portuguese. If anyone posts a message in actual Zekresh, translation should be offered in English by the person posting the message, but need not be translated into Portuguese. Any message posted in actual Aldanese should include a translation into Portuguese, but need not be translated into English.

If a player speaks English and his character speaks BOTH Zekresh and Aldanese, he may demand from the game administrators (not the players) a translation of postings in Aldanese or Portuguese into English. This will be provided using automated translation software which admittedly is less than perfect, but which the game administrators believe will be adequate. Translation by expert human translators is available, but requires payment to the translator and is not provided free of charge along with other basic game features.