Tongues and Truespeech - written languages, too?


Rules Questions

Shadow Lodge

Quote:
Truespeech (Su): All agathions can speak with any creature that has a language, as though using a tongues spell (caster level equal to angel’s Hit Dice). This ability is always active.
Tongues wrote:
This spell grants the creature touched the ability to speak and understand the language of any intelligent creature, whether it is a racial tongue or a regional dialect. The subject can speak only one language at a time, although it may be able to understand several languages. Tongues does not enable the subject to speak with creatures who don't speak. The subject can make itself understood as far as its voice carries. This spell does not predispose any creature addressed toward the subject in any way.

Noticed that neither of these abilities actually states that you gain the ability to understand or produce written messages in any language, and in fact the use of the term "speak" seems to exclude writing. However, Comprehend Languages explicitly allows the user to understand written messages.

Comprehend Languages wrote:
You can understand the spoken words of creatures or read otherwise incomprehensible written messages. The ability to read does not necessarily impart insight into the material, merely its literal meaning. The spell enables you to understand or read an unknown language, not speak or write it.

Should I assume that the absence of written language from Truespeech and Tongues is an oversight, since the lesser spell Comprehend Languages allows understanding of written language as well as spoken? Or is this intentional, in which case Tongues grants no ability to understand or produce written messages?


hmm good point. From the looks of it, they do not get to read it. (Which kind of makes sense for Tongues)

I would rule that you don't get to read/write with Tongues or Truespeech. I think that it wasn't an over site.

Comprehend languages does not let you in any way communicate back. You can only understand written or spoken, you can't write or speak it in return.

Where as though you can't read it, you can communicate back with Tongues and Truespeech.


Kaelizar wrote:
hmm good point. From the looks of it, they do not get to read it. (Which kind of makes sense for Tongues)

Not really. The word 'tongues' doesn't actually imply spoken language. 'Tongue' is just another, old-fashioned, word for 'language'.

Kaelizar wrote:
I would rule that you don't get to read/write with Tongues or Truespeech. I think that it wasn't an over site.

Agreed. In case of doubt, it is safe to assume you should stick with a literal reading of the text. Never assume that there was an oversight, unless there are conflicting sources, which in this case, there aren't, as far as I know.

Kaelizar wrote:

Comprehend languages does not let you in any way communicate back. You can only understand written or spoken, you can't write or speak it in return.

Where as though you can't read it, you can communicate back with Tongues and Truespeech.

Which brings me to a new question: is there any way to impart the ability to write any language to someone?

Thanks in advance,
Kroisos.


share langauge

Basically, it allows the caster to transfer his ability to communicate in a specific language to another person.

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