Lore:Nordic

Nordic was the language spoken by the Nords. It is sometimes referred to as the northern tongue, referring to Skyrim. The Nordic god Jhunal is considered the father of languages.

Nordic first saw use in the Late Merethic Era. It was considered an old tongue by Second Era, but saw limited use into even the Fourth. Next to nothing was known of Atmoran by the Second Era, with instances of the language being increasingly hard to find.

Language Family and Genetic Relationship

The original Atmoran tongue likely descended from Ehlnofex, with both tongues using the term Talos, and was entirely oral, bearing no written form until the Late Merethic Era. Ysgramor, the first human historian, created the runic alphabet of Atmoran speech using the principles of Elvish. When the Dragon Cult established its firm grip and dominion over Skyrim, Dragon-tongue became the dominant language. Use of the tongue was regulated by the ruling Dragon Priests, who prevented the usage of certain words. Nords copied the Dragon alphabet after watching the Dragons themselves carve the runes with their claws. They used this script for works of importance, such as burials, but used a lettering system, colloquially referred to as ancient Nord, for other, common purposes. Nordic likely descends from the Atmoran tongue, with the two languages sharing some words. It developed around the same time as the ancient Nord variation of Dragon-tongue, as words for Dragon from both languages were used around the same time.

Nordic Dictionary

Bare-sarks 

the Bare-Chested, Berserkers

Dalk 

Knife

Dov-rha 

Dragon

Dunmereth 

Land of the Dunmer

Manmeri 

Half-Elves, Bretons

Merethic 

Era of the Elves

Reaver 

Bandit

Season Unending

"War" or "War without end". Comes from the word "Evgir Unslaad" in the Dragon language.

Skald 

Bard

Talos 

Stormcrown

Ysmir 

Dragon of the North, King

Atmoran Dictionary

Herma-Mora 

debated translation of 'Woodland Man' and 'That Which Speaks in the Wastes'

Mereth 

Land of the Elves

Talos 

Stormcrown

Wittestadr 

debated translation of 'Whit's Daughter' and 'Wit Shatter'

Wuuthrad 

Storm's Tears

Gallery

• 

  Nordic standing stone runes, circa 2E 582
  (ESO)

• 

  Nordic standing stone runes, circa 2E 582
  (ESO)

• 

  Nordic standing stone runes, circa 2E 582
  (ESO)

• 

  Nordic standing stone runes, circa 2E 582
  (ESO)

• 

  Nordic standing stone runes, circa 2E 582
  (ESO)

• 

  Nordic standing stone runes, circa 2E 582
  (ESO)

Notes

• ^1.

  According to a fan named Athelas, who is a scholar and educator of the real world languages Old English and Old Norse, this rune script borrows from real world Old Norse language, and can be translated to English roughly as: "And (the) Ash of the Wulf, they recognize that doom." The script then repeats two additional times.

• ^2.	According to Athelas, this rune script can be translated to English roughly as: "Ysgramor (went) forth higher and they rowed inwards up : Ysgramor they made a pull of the oar; they recognize that doom."

See Also

Books

• Herma-Mora: The Woodland Man? by Reginus Buca — A scholar's theory on the etymology of Herma-Mora in Atmoran culture
• The Atmoran Cult Writings by Archivist Oriane Pamarc — Fragmentary translations of esoteric Atmoran religious texts
• The Onus of the Oghma by Phrastus of Elinhir — A selection of quotes to emphasize the importance of recording one's life story

References

Note: The following references are derived from fan translations of terms and phrases in The Elder Scrolls which are seemingly derived from real world languages, and thus are entirely unauthoritative in nature.