From: Bryan J. Maloney (jacobus@sonata.cc.purdue.edu)
Date: Mon 29 Aug 1994 - 08:13:33 EEST
Okay, in my campaign, Tradetalk as such doesn't exist.
We have several different "languages", each called "Tradetalk". These languages are anything from pidgins to full-blown creoles, depending on the locatin. In Sartar, "Tradetalk" is a pidgin that is heavily based upon Sartarite dialects. It also has a LOT of Auld Wyrmish influence (about equal)--although this is more grammatical than lexical, so most Sartarites think of "Tradetalk" as "wierd Sartarite" and most Tarshites consider it "wierd Tarshite". Tradetalk is generally only used between different species, in Theyalan-Grazer interactions, in Theyalan-Core Lunar interactions, etc. When Tarshites and Sartarites talk to each other, they usually end up speaking their own languages, slowly and with much gesturing.
It also just so happens that Dwarves of the area consider the "Tradetalk" of the area to be a "pidgin Dwarf". This is mostly due to the whimsy of the Dwarf of Dragon Pass, who invented his own language for his associated Dwarves to amuse himself. (He based in on EWF-ish, the language that evolved into Auld Wyrmish.)
This particular "Tradetalk" is known from southern Peloria to Corflu and from Esrolia to Prax. However, it is a Lingua Franca in the old sense.
The Trader Princes use a different "Tradetalk" that is based upon Old Jrusteli. They claim that theirs is the "true" Tradetalk and the EWF-ish based one is a result of hostile manipulations on the part of that draconic realm.
Kraloreli, of course, speak Kralori--and their customers learn pidgins based upon it.
Ask urox@aol.com what is used in the Vormain Isles.
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