Language

Languages

 * The common tongue in Thedas, also referred as the King's Tongue or Trade tongue, was introduced by dwarves to humans in order to trade with each other. It is also the most common language of Ferelden.
 * The Elven language or Elvish was largely lost when Elvhenan fell to the Tevinter Imperium. In modern-day Thedas, elves use some Elvish words (the Dalish more frequently than city elves), but speak the common tongue on a regular basis. Keepers are the only ones who know the secret of writing it.
 * Orlesian in Orlais
 * Ancient Tevene is the ancient and dead language of Tevinter Imperium. The annums (annual holidays) in the Thedosian calendar use a high name from Ancient Tevene, and a low name (Trade tongue).
 * Arcanum is the current language in the Tevinter Imperium.
 * Rivaini in Rivain
 * Ander in Anders
 * Antivan in Antiva
 * There exists a dwarven language, but it is no longer spoken—at least not within Orzammar and on the surface. Only a few words and phrases remain in common usage.
 * Qunlat, the Qunari language.

Trivia

 * During the development on Dragon Age: Origins, BioWare hired a linguist ("Beesechurger" on the old forums) to work on elven and dwarven languages, but opted to only some words or phrases.