Halser

Also called “Alser”, it was a language developed by the traveling trade caravans of the nomadic Halser people. Outside their community it is rarely spoken in anything but trade transactions, and only then in cities that lie on the major trade routes. Many people know a little Halser, but fluency is rare outside the merchant and traveling class. The language is unique in that it combines both vocal sounds and signing simultaneously.

Low Halser refers to the hand signaling part of the language. It is very basic, and is what most merchants use to communicate for trade deals. This also makes it very easy to learn, however, so most travelers soon learn Low Halser in a matter of weeks without even realizing it. The signs are designed off the Halser written language, which also means Low Halser speakers have the literacy needed to keep basic accounting records. The language contains enough of a vocabulary to be useful in everyday communication but not so much as to have synonyms or other unnecessary linguistic fluff (which could hamper portability and ease of learning).

High Halser is the term for the more advanced hand signals and the entirety of the spoken Halser language. It is used primarily by ethnic Halser that travel the world's trade routes in search of adventure and profit. Those who only know Low Halser may readily communicate with those who know High Halser, and in general those who speak High Halser are more than happy to “drop” into Low Halser for the sake of the communication.