Speak Language (None; Trained Only)
| Language | Typical Speakers | Alphabet |
| Abyssal | Demons, chaotic evil outsiders | Infernal |
| Aquan | Water-based creatures | Elven |
| Auran | Air-based creatures | Draconic |
| Celestial | Good outsiders | Celestial |
| Common | Humans, halflings, half-elves, half-orcs | Common |
| Draconic | Kobolds, troglodytes, lizardfolk, dragons | Draconic |
| Druidic | Druids (only) | Druidic |
| Dwarven | Dwarves | Dwarven |
| Elven | Elves | Elven |
| Giant | Ogres, giants | Dwarven |
| Gnome | Gnomes | Dwarven |
| Goblin | Goblins, hobgoblins, bugbears | Dwarven |
| Gnoll | Gnolls | Common |
| Halfling | Halflings | Common |
| Ignan | Fire-based creatures | Draconic |
| Infernal | Devils, lawful evil outsiders | Infernal |
| Orc | Orcs | Dwarven |
| Sylvan | Dryads, brownies, leprechauns | Elven |
| Terran | Xorns and other earth-based creatures | Dwarven |
| Undercommon | Drow, mind flayers | Elven |
Common languages and their alphabets are summarized on the table above.
Action: Not applicable.
Try Again: Not applicable. There are no Speak Language checks to fail.
The Speak Language skill doesn't work like other skills. Languages work as follows.
- You start as 1st level knowing one or two languages (based on your race), plus an additional number of languages equal to your starting Intelligence bonus (see Chapter 2: Races, Player's Handbook).
- You can purchase Speak Language just like any other skill, but instead of buying a rank in it, you choose a new language that you can speak.
- You don't make Speak Language checks. You either know a language or you don't.
- A literate character (anyone but a barbarian who has not spent skill points to become literate) can read and write any language she speaks. Each language has an alphabet, though sometimes several spoken languages share a single alphabet.