Low Gothic

Imperium Portal

Low Gothic (or Imperial Gothic) is the common language of the Imperium. In the Age of the Imperium it is spoken as a first language on almost all civilised planets, and is accepted as a second language on planets within Imperial control with the exception of some medieval and feral worlds.

Low Gothic is a bastardised version of High Gothic, combining additional elements from several of the oriental languages of ancient Terra. Over the millennia it has changed greatly, and now bears almost no resemblance to the tongues from which it derived. Although a common language, it varies from planet to planet (and even from region to region), so that it is not always easy for two characters to communicate if they are from different worlds.

Medieval, feral and worlds suffering from long periods of isolation may have several indigenous languages derived either from High Gothic or one of the ancient Earth tongues. It was quite common during the Dark Age of Technology for worlds to be settled by small communities of "isolationists". These eccentric groups were often self-financed and their journeys unrecorded, many were of racial minorities attempting to recreate a sense of national identity away from the overpopulated Earth. Some of these groups made a deliberate attempt to revive long dead or moribund languages, perceiving them as a source of national identity and communal strength.

Known Low Gothic Dialects

Colchisian

A dialect of the planet Colchis.^{[Needs Citation]}

• Argel Tal - "The Last Angel".
• Gal Vorbak - "The Blessed Sons".
• Urizen - "Wisest of the wise".
• Ushmetar Kaul - "Sharp edge by which false reality may be slit and pulled away to reveal god".
• Vakrah Jal - "Chapter of Consecrated Iron".

Fenrisian

Also known as Fenris Vulgaris. A dialect of the planet Fenris.^[2]

• Aett - "clan-home", "fireplace" or "den".
• Bjorn - "Bear".
• Einherjar - "Blood-sworn".
• Jarl - "Wolf Lord".
• Saern - "Truth".
• Skítja - swear word.^[5]
• Varagyr - "Wolf Guard".
• Vlka Fenryka - "Wolves of Fenris".

Konndar

The dominant dialect of the planet Harakon.^[3b]

• Retalla mire allek - "Kill or be killed".

Medusan

A set of dialects of the planet Medusa. Specific dialects include Tergiza, spoken by Clan Raukaan.^[3a]

• Garrsak - "Unity".

Valhallan

The dialect of the planet Valhalla.^{[Needs Citation]}

Ylath

A dialect of the planet Hagia.^[4]

• Ershul - "A Chelon that eats its own droppings".

Related Pages

• High Gothic
• Imperial Guard Slang

Sources

• 1: Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, ^{[Needs Citation]}
• 2: Runes (Short Story)
• 3: Wrath of Iron (Novel)
  • 3a: Chapter One
  • 3b: Chapter Five
• 4: Honour Guard (Novel), Chapter Six
• 5: Blood of Asaheim (Novel), Chapter One