---
title: "Linguist"
noteType: ":sticky-note:"
aliases: "Linguist"
foundryId: Compendium.pf2e.journals.JournalEntry.vx5FGEG34AxI2dow.JournalEntryPage.mtc5frNxUHORGscz
tags:
  - JournalEntryPage
---

# Linguist
Whether you study to further your own ambitions or simply out of fascination with the intricacies of language, your way with words is unparalleled.

## [[Linguist Dedication]] Feat 2

**Prerequisites** You speak at least three languages.

* * *

You have studied languages and their development. You become trained in Society; if you were already trained in Society, you instead become an expert in Society. You gain the Multilingual skill feat twice.

**Special** You can't select another dedication feat until you have gained two other feats from the Linguist archetype.

## [[Multilingual Cipher]] Feat 4

**Prerequisites** Linguist Dedication, expert in Society

* * *

You use multiple languages to create and break codes. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Decipher Writing. If another creature attempts to Decipher Writing you encoded, they take a -2 circumstance penalty unless they speak all the languages you used when you created the writing.

## [[Phonetic Training]] Feat 4

**Prerequisites** Linguist Dedication, expert in Society

* * *

You can pronounce and repeat words with near-perfect accuracy even if you don't understand their meaning, and you can write them down in a phonetic script that allows you or another creature with Phonetic Training to read it later. Even if the words are in a language with sound you can't pronounce, you can faithfully transcribe them. Memorizing long sequences of words remains just as difficult as it is normally.

## [[Spot Translate]] Feat 4

**Prerequisites** Linguist Dedication

**Trigger** Another creature within 60 feet uses a linguistic effect in a language you understand.

* * *

You interpret a creature's words, repeating their message in a different language that you know. If the triggering effect's targets speak either the original language or the one you translated into, they are affected.

## [[Analyze Idiolect]] Feat 6

**Prerequisites** Linguist Dedication, expert in Deception and Society

* * *

You break down a specific individual's idiolect, memorizing their speech mannerisms and habits. If you interact with someone for at least 10 minutes, when you later attempt to Impersonate that individual, you gain a +4 circumstance bonus to your Deception checks and DCs. Due to the intense character study required, you can't remember more than one idiolect at a time.

## [[Read Shibboleths]] Feat 7

**Prerequisites** Linguist Dedication, master in Society

* * *

All communication is filled with slight tells and signals. If you interact with someone for at least 10 minutes, their regional words, pronunciation changes, and nonverbal cues provide you with a minor fact about their social environment, such as their hometown or certain groups they might belong to. If a target of this ability is being deceptive about their social environment, such as a commoner pretending to be a noble, they must attempt a Deception, Society, or appropriate Lore check against your Society DC, providing you a false minor fact consistent with their assumed identity on a success.

Once you've gleaned one or more true minor facts about a person, you can then incorporate these mannerisms into your speech to present yourself in a way that they find familiar. This grants you a +1 circumstance bonus to your Diplomacy and Deception checks with them.

## [[Crude Communication]] Feat 8

**Prerequisites** Linguist Dedication

* * *

Even if you don't speak a creature's language, you can rely on inflection, root words, and body language to infer rudimentary meaning. If you interact with a creature for at least 10 minutes and that creature can speak a language, the GM rolls a secret Society check with a DC appropriate for the language's rarity. On a success, you understand the gist of the meaning and can communicate basic concepts back to the creature; on a failure, you are mistaken or communicate incorrect concepts. If you're legendary in Society, you can communicate instantly without needing to attempt a Society check; even if you didn't know the medium of communication the creature uses (speech, sign language, and so on), you intuit this information as soon as they try to communicate.