Dialect

Excerpts from: ‘Dialects of Wissenland: Nuln to Kreutzhofen’ by Professor Frank Rein

The Sonnefurt Tongue

The influence of mercenaries and foreigners is greatly recognised in the Barony, especially in the Sonnefurt tongue. The intonation and inflection of their version of Reikspiel pays a lot to the languages of the Border Princes as well as some Breton influences and this makes it different from other Soll-side accents. These influences render their language as laid back as the people are themselves, and earns them the reputation of sounding like country bumpkins and peasants. As such, the more prominent merchants and families of the trading town try to adopt a more widely accepted Nuln accent, often failing and creating the oft mocked ‘Nulnurt’ sub-accent. The Baroness, although rarely heard by the common folk, has a more northern accent, owing to her family’s background in Heisenberg, but, over the years, has apparently developed certain Sonnefurt and southern nuances.

Many of the more educated Sonnefurters speak more than one language, but with the variety stemming from the Border Princes, there is no common second language. The workers and farmers often have no reason to learn foreign languages, unless their family is descended from a far off land.

There are certain unique phrases that come from the Barony, and I have detailed a few below.

People

‘Northerner’- in the Barony of Sonnefurt this relates to anyone who lives north of the ruins of Bugman’s Brewery. It is not an endearing term.

‘Uppsoller’- shortened from ‘Upper Soller’ this phrase relates to anyone living on the Northern bank of the River Soll.

‘Sotsoller’- shortened from ‘South Soller’ this phrase relates to anyone living on the Southern bank of the River Soll

‘A Raucher’ – stemming from the Pfeifraucher family the phrase relates to anyone regarded as a an oppressor, a villain or wrongdoer. The use of this phrase is slowly dying out however as the days of the Pfeifraucher family are being forgotten.

‘A Hans’- stemming from the famous resistance fighter Hans Hettinger and relates to anyone regarded as a rebel.

‘Wanderer’- this relates to any foreigner, mercenary or travelling merchant who visits the area.

‘Lowlanders’-this name relates to all Dwarfs who live within the Barony and can trace their ancestry back to Karak Hirn. It is a name used by humans and dwarfs alike.

‘Dockers’- this name is a name used by the richer people in the town of Sonnefurt to relate to anyone they regard as working class. It is not an endearing term.

Places

‘The City’- this, surprisingly does not commonly refer to Nuln to most of the regions habitants. Most of the common folk wrongly believe Sonnefurt to be a city, just like Nuln, for many have not ventured out of the Barony. Those more educated know the difference and enjoy pointing out the lack of culture of the peasants.

‘Morr’s Chasm’- this is the commonly given name for the mysterious hole that opened in 1804 in the Martinswald. Read my book ‘The Mysteries and Wonder of Wissenland Regions’ available in all good retailers.

‘The Howling Downs’-a common name for the Dieten Hills in relation to their supposed haunted nature due to the cairn that was built millennia ago.

Sayings

‘As mad as Edgar’- this saying refers to the folk hero ‘Mad Edgar’ and is used to describe anyone who is strange, bizarre or does anything eccentric

‘To drink like a Baroness’- this saying refers to the rumour of the Baroness’ excessive wine drinking habits.

‘To sing at the Troubadour’- this saying refers to the Troubadour tavern, the loudest place in the whole of Sonnefurt. It is used to describe making excessive noise.

‘I’ll be at the Villa’- a sarcastic phrase referring to the Baroness’ tendency to spend most of her time in her country villa rather than in Sonnefurt itself. It is commonly used when anyone will be away from home for a long time. It is particularly used by soldiers with an ironic twist, as they will most definitely not be in a luxurious villa.