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Language is hard.
This is one thing that Aether had learnt after getting -quite literally- stranded in another universe.
Back then, when he and his sister were still travelling across universe, they never spent time longer than a traveller sight-seeing a tourist attraction, which means, they never spent time longer than necessary. Back then when they still had their power, both him and Lumine possess the All-Language, in which they could understand any language and the people they talk to also able to understand what they’re saying. They never experience what we called a ‘language barrier’, communication is never a problem for them.
But now that he is stripped of his power, Aether realize how privileged he was, possessing the said ability. Now, Aether had to learn the hard way about how difficult it is to study language.
Fortunately, Aether then met Paimon, who mysteriously able to speak Aether's original language. She claimed herself to be ‘Teyvat Best Guide’; She is kind enough to stick around him and basically act like a translator for him, while also teaching the basic of Teyvat language. Aether couldn’t thank his hungry stomach and the random stick he used as a fishing pole when fishing Paimon out of the ocean on that random beach by the northeast of Starfell valley enough. If Aether never meet Paimon, he's not even sure if he can he survive inside a universe where he has literally zero knowledge about the language used.
Based on what Paimon had taught him, Teyvat language system consisted of two things: The universal teyvat language, and the regional local language.
Teyvat language is a language established shortly after the conclusion of the archon war. The seven original proclaimed archon authorized a universal language between the seven nations, in the hopes of creating a strong integrity across Teyvat. This language is taught universally and is a basic knowledge in the education system for most nation.
Regional local language, is a different matter altogether. All nations have their own regional language. The usage percentage of it though, varies between the nations. Some nation also has multiple regional languages, especially the diverse nation such as Sumeru, Fountaine, and Natlan. They usually still have their main regional language though, but then again, the accent and dialect are different based on where they lived inside the region.
Paimon speaks Teyvat, that is for sure. She also fluent in all 7-nation main regional language. She also knowledgeably aware of the ancient version of the said seven main regional language, but she is not verbally-fluent as she is familiar with the said languages. But nonetheless, Paimon’s exceptionally (but mysteriously) brilliant linguistic brain helps their journey a lot.
Aether and Paimon had it easy during their stay in Mondstadt, as they speak fully Teyvat. They have their regional language, the Mondstadt, but it is never to be used anymore around this time. Only people with nobility lineage able to speak Mondstadt, that includes: Jean, Diluc, and Eula. Kaeya also speak Mondstadt, considering his time growing up under the Ragnvindr roof. Lisa also speak Mondstadt, with the explanation of its being a requirement to graduate from the Akademiya in which she studied from. But even so, those five never use Mondstadt to converse with each other.
Kaeya once said that the language had been gradually dies out for generations. It’s because most speakers in the past generation are content at using Teyvat and then the next generation began to lose proficiency in their own native language. With the addition of the limited access to the said language education, it became fully replaced by the universal language over time. And that’s unfortunate in Aether’s opinion; because based of all the Mondstadian poem and rhyme Venti recited to them, and all the songs and verses the bard sang, Mondstadt is a beautiful language. Even though the version Venti used is leaning into the more ancient, old Mondstadt, it carries the same soft tone and clear prosody in their speech.
There is also other language existed in Mondstadt but not in usage rate, such as the Hilichurlian Language that the Musk Family is studying, (Aether has this suspicion that Venti -or most likely all the original archons- is actually capable of understanding hilichurl language, but so far, he has no proof of this) and the foreign language Kaeya spoke during that one-time Aether overheard him mumbling to himself. Aether had trouble trying to tell Paimon about the said language that Kaeya spoke (he can’t exactly pronounce the words and there’s no written words for that) so until this point, he still had no idea what language does the Cavalry Captain used at that time.
In Liyue, people talk in both Teyvat and their local language. Villagers at outskirt area such as Qingce Village and Qiaoying village, communicate mostly using Liyuean, but all of them are also fluent in Teyvat. Though the people at the harbor use Teyvat most of the time since Liyue Harbor is the heart of the trading affairs and there is a variety of people living there, they are still fluent in their own native language.
Zhongli once showed them the many differences of Liyuean dialect and geographical accent. For example, the people from Qingce Village speaks in slow pace, using lots of idiom and expression in their sentence. Meanwhile, the people at the harbour have more straight-forward tone and -you can say- a little harsh and blunt in their speech pattern, especially the intonation and stressing of vowels and consonants. They reside at a city flourished in business and contract, after all.
Zhongli himself speaks normal Liyuean and Teyvat during his time parading as the Wangshen Funeral Parlour consultant, but he switched to Old Liyuean when talking to the adeptus (excluding Madam Ping and Ganyu, if they met inside the city). All adeptus, including Xiao, speak Old Liyuean. Shenhe originally only speak Old Liyue, but after the time she spent in the city, she also picks up normal Liyue.
Things started to get complicated when they step foot at Inazuma.
Inazuma is the starting point of where language becomes a problem for Aether. It’s because during their visit there, Inazuma is on an unfolding civil-war. During this time, they are strictly using their own respective native language; people of Narukami Island and People of Watatsumi Island spoke different languages. Narukami people use their standard Inazuman local language, while Watatsumi people use their own regional language. Also given the then situation, with the border shutdown during Sakoku Decree, not many people are fluent in Teyvat. The foreigners in Ritou speak it, but even there the outlanders try to use Inazuman rather than Teyvat. Outside that, Inazuma people mostly understand what Aether (who’s using Teyvat) is talking about and also have good understanding in written-Teyvat, but they will have difficulties in spoken-Teyvat.
Later on, Kokomi told them that the language spoken in Watatsumi Island originated from their ancestor, who was raised to the surface from Enkanomiya by their guardian deity, the Watatsumi Omikami. The ancient language then evolved to adept with the current timeline into the regional Watatsumi Island language.
In Narukami Island, there is a caste or social accent. People from the Tri-Commissions clan (The Kujou-Kamisato-Hiiragi clan) speaks in formal version of Inazuman language, it’s more sophisticated and they also have different -more formal- term for several things, while normal people use the default Inazuman. It’s interesting to see how Ayaka switched around languages between Formal Inazuma when talking to Ayato, to normal Inazuma when talking to other people, and then to Teyvat when talking to Aether and Paimon.
Raiden Shogun use the Formal Inazuma, but when Aether confronted her inside the Plane of Euthymia, Raiden Ei use the Old Inazuma. Same case with Yae Miko, she uses Formal Inazuma, but switched to Old Inazuma when talking to Ei.
And now, in Sumeru, even Paimon is challenged with linguistic problem.
Sumeru people is strictly using their local language. But the thing is, they have a lot of regional language. Some able to speak normal Sumerian (in which Paimon is fluent of), but some does not, let alone speak Teyvat. Only Tighnari, Collei, and a few limited forest rangers speak Teyvat in Gandharva ville. Gandharva Ville and Vimara Village have different dialect. And while Paimon could easily pick up the local dialect and accent in no time (Aether sometimes wonder how Paimon can be so smart and yet no-brainer at the same time), Aether is having -an understatement of the year- troubles at keeping up.
They found people who speak Teyvat mostly in Sumeru City and Port Ormos, even with heavy accent (but in which Paimon somehow find no troubles understanding at all). They vary between fluent speakers (mostly scholars), and basic Teyvat (mostly merchant and mercenaries). Aside that, they are all speak Sumerian.
Then comes Cyno and Al-Haitham, who are fluent in both Teyvat and all version of Sumerian local languages. Cyno has this distinguished accent while speaking Teyvat, and it turns out it is because he is a desert-born. Cue to Aether finding out the discrimination and education opportunity difference between the desert-dweller and the city-dweller. People from the dessert hardly understand Teyvat at all, only a few limited people at Aaru village (mostly the Village Keepers and The Eremites who works outside the wall) are able to speak Teyvat.
The Desert-dwellers also has their own regional languages, in which Paimon study in just 3 days under Al-Haitham tutelage (the only time where the Scribe shows genuine bewilderment at how fast Paimon can absorb the language). The Haravatat member is fluent in more than 20 languages, so he said, and Paimon even threw sudden quiz at him using Liyuean and even old Monstadt to test him out and true to his claims, the man passes with flying colours.
The surprise is where they encounter the people of the forest, Aranara. They are all speak in jumbled language at first, but then suddenly Aether is able to understand them. Turns out, the Dendro Archon familiar is using the very same ability as Aether and Lumine had, which is the All-Language. They can speak directly into one’s subconscious without having to speak their actual language. This make sense, because that’s also the reason why the children of Sumeru are able to understand the forest being at all, when the Aranara usually spoke in unique -borderline confusing- speech pattern.
What is surprising also, is the fact that Nahida uses normal Sumerian. That is also make sense because Nahida is a newly-born God after all. She didn’t use the ancient local language like the other 3 archons they’ve met so far. Besides, she also prefers to speak in Teyvat most of the times.
Aether sighed, for the umpteenth times that day. He just barely able to get the basic for Liyue and Inazuma, and now he has to study the basic for both Rainforest-Sumerian and Desert-Sumerian. Don’t get him wrong, Aether likes to study more and broaden his language knowledge -It’s his goal to travel across the Teyvat to search for his sister, after all- and communication is one of the most important things. How can he get any information if he didn’t communicate with the local people? What if the local people have information about his sister whereabout, but then they give them to him on a language that he is know nothing about? Language is important, Aether well aware of that fact.
But that doesn’t mean it is easy, though
Not to mention both Inazuman and Sumerian, Aether had to learn those two languages in such a not-optimal situation, he is technically pressured to learn the language as fast as his tired brain could comprehend. Aether groaned, dropping his head to hit the table surface with a soft thud. He remembered Paimon informed him that Fountaine and Natlan are mostly like Liyue, in which they are fluent in both Teyvat and local language (with additional information of Natlan also has lots of local languages, kinda similar situation with Sumeru), but Snezhnaya is leaning more to the strict local language like Inazuma, but is capable of speaking Teyvat. The numerous meetings they had with different Fatui Harbingers is enough proof of that.
Aether’s migraine is multiplied tenfold.
Not to mention their encounter with Dainsleif, who also speak in All-Language. And then they met Lumine, who magically had her power back! (Totally unfair) but refuse to go back with Aether and now in this greater scheme to probably destroy the current world order. Oh, and she also speak in All-language (which hurt Aether’s heart to no end, because she could have used their original, homeland language, but she chooses not to). And then there’s the Abyss Order, who speak a different kind of All-Language – maybe the abyss version? – but still a language that all could understand.
Language is hard.
"-ther... Aether!"
Aether’s thought is suddenly interrupted by a high-pitch voice calling out his name. He blinked his unfocused eyes, and there’s Paimon floating in front of him, waving her hand around like she’s trying to gain his attention. She looked annoyed first, but then her expression quickly become worried when Aether still gives her no response, “Aether?”
Aether shook his head, chasing away all the daydream (and totally not sleepiness, haha yeah no) and give Paimon and Collei, who’s sitting on the other side of the table they were currently in, helping him improving his Sumerian, a sheepish smile. "Uh. Sorry I spaced out." Feeling awkward of himself, Aether lamely bought his left hand to scratch the back of his neck. His right hand, Aether realized, had stopped writing whatever notes he write just before his minds started to drift away.
Paimon huffed, clearly unamused with his reasoning like a disappointed teacher would (oh, and just for your information that yeah, Paimon is kinda the teacher here), before floating away to return to her initial position in front of a small board on Collei’s room in Gandharva Ville, "Yeah we can cleaaarly see that."
Collei gave a soft chuckle before she turned her head to face him, "Is today material too difficult for you? We can take a break, you know?" Collei said, understanding. Maybe because the trainee forest ranger had spent time in Mondtstadt before, but Collei’s accent -both her Teyvat accent and Sumerian accent- is the easiest for Aether to understand; that’s why they asked for her help in the first place.
"No, it’s okay. I’m just kinda under the weather today.” Aether said after refusing the pita pocket Collei offered as a way to break the lesson. He slapped both of his hands to his cheek, trying to get himself together, “Let’s continue.”
Paimon give him a one look, and then she smiled, before slamming her tiny palm into the board in which- okay, since when there are SO much on the board??- have some Sumerian grammar pattern and two columns worth of 20 new vocabularies written all over it. “Okay! let’s get this over once again, shall we? So for this form, you have to-”
Yep. Language is hard.