Skellige jargon is the language used in Skellige. It's based on the Elder Speech of Aen Seidheelves but has undergone many changes to suit the Islanders. For example, questions are formed by adding "ell'ea" at the end of the sentence, in a manner considered impolite in classical Elder Speech.[1]
During the formative centuries, Skelligers had their own runes[2] but apparently adopted the modern alphabet or First Runes at some point later on.[3]
Crazy up the arse, a ghoul of [battle ?], a crazy mother... (meaning of "badraigh" is unknown; it may be based on an Old Norse "bardagi", word for battle or beating)
Aen me Glaeddyv, zvaere a'Bloedgeas, Ard Rhena, Lionors Aep Xintra!
By my sword, I swear Blood Oath, the Highest Queen, Lioness of Cintra!
Skugga! Svarm! Vattna halla! Blota himmel, blota mylla, braka och blixtar! Blota himmel! Blota mylla![2]
Shadow! Swarm! Water the frost! Wet sky, wet soil, crack and lighten! Wet sky! Wet soil!
Notes[]
Apart from using altered words of the Elder Speech, based mainly on Celtic languages, Andrzej Sapkowski's language of the Islanders draws heavily from Norwegian and Danish.
In Wiedźmin: Gra Wyobraźni, the language is said to be hard to distinguish from the Nilfgaardian language. This may allude to a minor Dutch influence as the Nilfgaardian is classically full of it.
After being asked by a fan, CD PROJEKT RED's narrative designer Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz confirmed Skelligan language used in their games references several different Scandinavian dialects.[6]