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Language and culture evolve such is the way things. So even with the elves being oppressed it’s very unlikely that their language and culture is completely gone.

It’s more likely that the information we have access to throughout the lore and codexes are seen through mostly human eyes. With exception of characters who have reason to know more aka Solas, Morrigan, Ablas and Fellasan to mention a few. And such the information regarding the elves is at best incomplete.

It makes sense that the Dalsih know a great deal more about their culture than humans an even Solas believe. After all he has (in game) not actually spent a lot of time with the Dalish only seen whatever remains spirits have picked up in the Fade.

And if we apply this theory to the games, one could imagine that Lavellan in particular would posses a good deal more knowledge than he (my Lavellan is male) lets on.

Something as simple as the glyphs in the exhalted plains. Lavellan get short burst of information from lighting them up. (This of course is probably true regarding every inquisitor no matter the race) but if we go on the in game information veilfire is elven magic. And so one would think one would need an elven mage to access them which I presume would be Solas with other races.

Although from a pure lore standpoint Solas claims he’s never seen veilfire only heard of it. Of course he could be lying but bear with me on a in game lore rant. Solas lived in a world where the Fade and Thedas was one. So the need for veil fire would be non existent. My guess is that the Dalish might use veil fire to write secret messages such as the way to Dirthramen’s temple or the location on an arthlahaven. And that the veil fire we find in the crossroads during Trespasser is purposely placed there by Solas to get Lavellan to follow the trail. Just a thought.

Another hint at this that I find interesting is the boy in the Exhalted plains that run away from his clan to impress the keeper. He found the location to Elandrias talisman but could not break the seal on his own and tries to summon a demon. How would he find the way without any information? Rumors might be a start but he would need something, say that there is a written account of Elandrias legend which would make sense. And that this is written in common tounge is unlikely. Why would the elves write down something so precious so a human could find it. No it would have been written in elven.

And there is more in the temple of Mythal Lavellan (going head cannon here) recognizes the language as ancient elven. He can’t translate but he does understand it’s elven. Which makes no sense unless he would know both how to read and write modern eleven and probably some ancient elven.

I’m Norwegian and interested in languages but I can tell you I would not be able to read Viking runes but because I’lve learned a little at school and through my own curiosity I can recognize that a text is indead written in Viking runes and not let’s say Latin or Celtic just for comparison. This would not be possible without pré knowledge. And I dare say that if you play a mage you are the keepers apprentice which mean he is very likely to have been thought a good deal of eleven even the ancient one. But he will say the same as a rouge. Which mean that at least the Lavellan clan know how to read and write elven and have been thought enough that they can recognize a language that is millennia old. I assure you the Norwegian I read and write now is nothing like what the Vikings used.

And from a pure evolutionary point of view. Language and culture evolve continuously and societies will have accounts a big one like Elvenan would have lots and no not all of it would be hidden in the crossroads or lost with Arlathan.

One does not stop speaking. So the elves that built Hamshiral, the emerald knights and last noble houses of Arlathan would have kept using their language.

If one think about it, speaking a language that no human in Thedas understand would have been an advantage they would have used.

When the dales fell the only elves who would benefit from not speaking elven would be the city elves.

And those who speak also write, messages, letters, lists and so on. Interesting fact there is a mosque in Istanbul that has a Viking rune carved in it. We’re talking 800 years ago some Viking dickhead with a knife carved Erik is awesome into a temple wall. So yeah. People leave traces. Not that I think the elves went around and carved dicks into chantry walls, but the plausibility is there.

The arrow stuck in the roof at Skyhold(just above the garden go check) has elven carved into it. Now someone at Skyhold would have translated that, highly likely someone went to Lavellan and asked.

Again people like marking there territory so to speak, the elves that fled the dales probably had quivers full of arrows saying things like “fendis shems”, or bags of herbs or food marked so one didn’t accidentally eat Raveshine which from what I understand is poisonous.

And they would have had beautifully carved weapons, cutlery, jewellery, books and other nick nacks. One does bring the most precious things.

Clothes as well, tack for their Halla. All of these things have as much impact on a culture as oral stories and legends.

The Dalish work to preserve what was, Bioware have chosen to focus on religion and how it evolves over time. But from a historical perspective religion is only a small part of what make our a culture. And a culture as powerful as the elven one are no small matter to erase.

So it makes no sense at all that all the Dalish are left with is a warped religion, useless tools and simple phrases.

But in a world like Thedas where the elves are hated and feared it makes more sense to hide.

The Dalish keep their cards close to their chest. What would make sense is that they speak elven amongst themselves and common tongue when needed. Coming from a minority language myself there are benefits to doing it that way.

And what we hear in the games might be as simple as that some words are difficult to use in any other language than elven.

In Norwegian “hæ” is a very oral way of saying “what” it’s so stuck in my speech pattern that even when I speak English I end up saying hæ. But I have lived on the British îles for such a long time I say Sorry instead of “unnskyld” And “au” which roughly translates to “ouch”.

Such is the way when one deal with several lanauges on a daily basis. I have a Belgian friend that grew up in Dublin and she can figure out using “pradon” and “great craig” in the same sentence.

I’m a handweaver I work on a loom that has not changed it’s design for 500 years or so. The loom itself is 10-15 years old, things that work move on. And things one always need like clothes, bowls and tools. A hammer might be made of steel instead to iron but it’s still a hammer.

My point is the Dalish elves have learned to adapt to stay alive, but when no one is looking they speak the same words sing the same songs and cook with the same things the elves of Arlathan did.

This is from the Hinterlands they have just talked to Mother Giselle. This Lavellan speaks very little common tongue. He’s scared and doesn’t want to give the Seeker any excuse to make him tranquil so he keeps things to himself even injuries. This little text is Casandra seeing our sleeping herald in a different light for the first time.

Cassandra stretch, it must have been nearly two hours now? It’s hard to to tell in the dark. She bitterly regret taking third guard shift. She prefers being first or last. But the Herald made it clear he wanted first shift. As much as he could make it anyway. His common tongue is awful, and littered with eleven. And it’s not always easy to understand him.

There is only two tents in this stupid camp just of Redclif farm, and she is not sharing with Varric, which means she got the Herald. Cassandra know nothing of the Dalish and she does not trust mages. So the less time she has to spend sleeping next to the knife ear the better. She would never call him that out loud of course. And although she has seen no proof of him killing the Divine. She can not bring herself to trust him. And why should she? He’s a mage and a en elf..

He’s everything she’s been taught to fear and hate. And he is not exactly trusting himself. All jumpy and wired his ears constantly moving and flicking like a scared dear. He clearly does not like humans much and Cassandra need to keep an eye out. She’s here to make sure he doesn’t run off at first opportunity or die closing a small rift, he’s a means to an end nothing more.

Light footsteps break her thoughts, it’s Solas who’s come to take his shift.

“All is well I hope?” He gives her a gentle smile.

She’s not sure she trusts Solas either but she trust him more than the Herald.

“Yes nothing to report”.

“Good get some rest Lady Seeker. And you needn’t worry our Dalish friend is asleep.”

Cassandra huffs and walk of. She holds the lantern high so she can see.

The light dance on the red Canvas and she can make out the shape of him on the left side. She sets the lantern just outside and get in, allowing her eyes to adjust to the dark. His head is away from the entrance, the cascade of read hair is everywhere, how can a man have this much hair? She wonders. He’s on his belly, face towards her.

She can se the white tattoo on his face. And she just now realises that his tattoo stretch under his jaw and along the neck where it fan out to his shoulders.

He’s not wearing a shirt, or much of anything she guess. The bed roll cover his back but not his legs which are bare as well.

Sweet Andraste elves do not value modesty.

She must admit to some curiosity however.

She has never seen what a knife ear actually look like. She can’t help herself and let her eyes wander the length of his body.

To her surprise he is well built at least from what she can see. Long lean muscles in his arms and legs, his pointed ears move slightly when he breathes. She guess that he relax the muscles in his ears when he sleeps.

His left hand stretched out above his head, even with his palm towards the earth she can still see the glow of the anchor. His arm is scattered with wounds; thin red lines zigzagging up to his elbow. It must be from the conclave.

His right arm is tucked underneath the pillow, Cassandra suddenly notice his right leg. There’s long deep wounds from his knee to his foot. A Sylvain, by the look of it.

Fresh as well, he must have gotten clawed when the fought the demon possessed wolfs. She taught she heard him cry out in pain.

And somehow he walked all this way without saying a word. He’s cleaned it up and left his leg out to give the wounds air, to avoid an infection.

He groans in his sleep and roll over to his back. Cassandra can feel her cheeks burn, but to her relief he is wearing his small clothes.

Not that she should be looking anyway. She is Cassandra Penthgast ;right hand of the Devine a Seeker of truth not some bar wench. And he is a knife ear ;a savage Dalish from across the sea. A tool to close the breach nothing more.

Still she sneaks a peek, solid muscles in his chest a long rib cage. A lot more ribs than humans she guess. And again the tattoo fans out just under his collarbone which are more slanted than a humans. And meet at his solaris plexus in the same pattern as his face. The white lines are a stark contrast to his tanned skin.

She won’t say it’s beautiful but it’s certainly eye catching.

She can se the stitches at the bottom of his rib cage this she know is from the conclave. Adan had to remove 4 ribs or like he said it “pick out pieces of crushed bone. It’s going to scar.

She let her eyes wander to his hips, and suck in air as to stop herself from looking anymore. His ears flicker and he looks at her. His elven eyes glow in the dark. The first time she saw it, was in Haven’s dungeon and she couldn’t stop herself from thinking demon. But according to Leliana elves can see in the dark like cats.

So now she’s more prepared, “Lady Seeker?”

His voice thick with sleep.

“Yes.” She responds, and lies down still in her shirt and trousers. She value her modesty even he does not.