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Language & Symbols

Aspect	Details
Primary Language	Cogspeak - a rapid, staccato language rich in onomatopoeia mimicking gear sounds (tikk, rratch, whirr). Written form uses a runic alphabet called Gear-Script, where each letter resembles a stylized cog tooth.
Trade Language	Common Landoryan for inter-racial communication; most Gnomes are bilingual by age 40.
Specialized Languages	Arcane-Tongue (borrowed from Elvish) for enchantment notation; Forge-Cant (shared with Dwarves) for metallurgical terminology.
Dialects	Each Cog-Borough has a local dialect - e.g., Ironspine Gnomes speak with a clipped, percussive rhythm, while Crystal-Glen residents incorporate melodic Elvish loanwords.

Gear-Script: 36 characters arranged in a circular layout (reflecting the cog motif). Inscribed left-to-right on flat surfaces, but spirally on cylindrical objects. Official documents are engraved on Verdict Discs (thin bronze plates).
Click-Code: A binary communication system transmitted via the Gear-Net. Each click pattern represents a syllable of Cogspeak, enabling rapid text messaging across the city.
Maker's Mark: Every certified Artificer possesses a unique gear-stamp, legally registered in the Grand Registry of Marks. Counterfeiting a Mark is punishable by Cog-Shackling.

Symbol	Meaning
Interlocking Cogs (three)	Unity, community, the Clockwork Assembly
Flaming Gear	Innovation, breakthrough, the Ember Rift memorial
Crystal-Toothed Cog	Arcane-tech integration, the Balance Codex
Clock-Owl Silhouette	Wisdom, communication, the Grand Library
Single Golden Gear	The Prime Gear, authority, leadership