8 Secrets for Using Language in D&D

Written by Luke Hart

Today we’re going to talk about 8 secrets to improve the way you use LANGUAGES in your D&D games. In most fantasy worlds – and the real world, I guess – there are a multitude of different languages, and using them to good effect in your games can really elevate the quality of your game and make it more fun and engaging for your players.

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1. Use Language to Inspire Mystery

Languages can be a fantastic tool for building intrigue and excitement.

• Clues to Translate. A scrap of paper might reveal that an ancient scroll holds the key to closing the White Portal, but it’s written in a language no one understands. The characters might need downtime to decipher it or seek out a scholar for help.
• Partial Translations. The Mage of Middencrest’s journal could offer fragments of information, with only certain words translated. This gives the players just enough to move forward while maintaining an air of mystery.

2. Roleplay Unknown Languages Realistically

When characters encounter languages they don’t understand, emphasize the challenge and realism of communication.

• Non-Verbal Communication. If the PCs meet plant-like creatures they can’t understand, encourage them to use gestures or drawings to communicate. Forbid spoken language to prevent metagaming and heighten the roleplay.
• Time-Consuming Translations. Translating a complex text should take significant time, and interesting events can happen while the characters work on it. Use this as an opportunity to add tension or introduce obstacles.

3. Let Language Be a Source of Problems

Miscommunication and mistranslation can drive your story in unexpected and exciting directions.

• Translation Errors. A flawed translation of the Mage’s journal could lead the party down a dangerous or entirely wrong path, creating new adventures.
• Misunderstood Intentions. Misinterpreting what the plant-like creatures are trying to convey might result in unintended conflict. As the DM, allow these mistakes to happen and embrace the chaos they create.

4. Don’t Let Language Be a Dead End

Languages should challenge the party but never halt their progress entirely.

• Provide Options. If the PCs can’t translate an ancient scroll, remind them of scholars or libraries like Candlekeep that could help.
• Alternate Solutions. If the journal of the Mage of Middencrest is unreadable, perhaps the spirit of the mage’s servant can provide hints.
• Anticipate Dead Ends. Build contingencies into your game to ensure the group has a way forward if they get stuck.

5. Choose Languages Wisely

Plan the languages you’ll use carefully, considering both the campaign's needs and the PCs’ abilities.

• PC Languages. Review the characters’ known languages before introducing others. Use this knowledge to decide whether the bad guys speak a common tongue or something the players will struggle to understand.
• Strategic Choices. You can intentionally select different languages to create obstacles or ensure communication is possible by aligning languages with PC capabilities.

6. Languages Aren’t Static

Creatures aren’t bound to their default languages if it suits your campaign to change them.

• Practical Adjustments. Perhaps the plant-like creatures speak Sylvan, which the druid knows. An orc might speak Elven if she was raised in an elven village.
• Justify Changes. Whether decided in advance or improvised, providing a logical reason for language variations enhances immersion.

7. Allow Characters to Learn Languages

Learning a new language can be a rewarding challenge for players.

• Downtime Rules. Use Xanathar’s Guide to Everything downtime rules, which suggest 10 weeks of training with a dedicated teacher.
• Linguist Feat. If a player takes the Linguist feat, consider roleplaying how they learned three new languages to enrich their backstory.

8. Avoid the NPC Interpreter

While it might seem practical, having an NPC translate everything can bog down gameplay.

• Avoid DM-Only Conversations. Roleplaying both sides of a conversation as the DM can become tedious. Assume the interpreter is translating, and allow the players to interact normally.
• Encourage Group Participation. If one PC speaks the language, assume they’re translating for the group so all players can engage in the social interaction.

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