It's really up to DM interpretation whether you keep your languages or not, as it doesn't specifically say you do.
What it does say is this:
Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast, but you retain your alignment, personality, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature.
None of these things are languages. Your game statistics include your languages, and these are replaced by the beasts. However, it does go on to state:
You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so.
This alludes to you keeping your languages, but doesn't outright say it. This line actually contradicts the previous one of "your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast," so it's not very clear. We know for sure that you don't keep your statistics such as Size, Speed, etc. which are replaced by that of the beasts, and Languages are under the same category as these things, so it's a mixed bag whether the evidence points towards you losing them or not.
I certainly don't have my druid players lose their languages, but the RAW - while contradictory - seems to imply that they would.
And you're using a humanoid child being able to write as proof that a dog should? Ooookay then. I'm not saying they couldn't do it no matter what, but it's gonna be very messy, take some time, and require you to likely carry around a lot of ink/paint and a big sheet of canvas. Doable, sure, but less practical than telepathy or speak with animals, so you shouldn't dismiss these idea's because "they can just write."
But "your ability to speak or take any action that requires hands is limited to the capabilities of your beast form."
I've always took this to mean that druids in wildshape can understand langauges that druid understands, but can't speak them because the stat block doesn't include the ability to speak.
I'd let a druid wildshaped into a parrot or raven speak, but with an accent.
Languages are a racial feature, so they are retained while in Wildshape.
So are your Size and Speed, which clearly aren't retained. Darkvision is as well, but you only get to keep it if your wildshape form has it already. The two lines in wild shape which you can read in my last post are contradictory to one another; one implies you would lose your languages, the other implies you would keep them. So, ultimately, it's up to DM interpretation.
I don't interpret it as you losing them, and I don't know of any DM who would, but even still it isn't that straightforward.
Languages are a racial feature, so they are retained while in Wildshape.
So are your Size and Speed, which clearly aren't retained. Darkvision is as well, but you only get to keep it if your wildshape form has it already. The two lines in wild shape which you can read in my last post are contradictory to one another; one implies you would lose your languages, the other implies you would keep them. So, ultimately, it's up to DM interpretation.
I don't interpret it as you losing them, and I don't know of any DM who would, but even still it isn't that straightforward.
They're not contradictory except in the way they're intended to be. The line about what you retain is an explicit exception to the idea that all your statistics are replaced. You're only able to use the racial features you retain if your new form is physiologically capable of doing so. Obviously, a tiny creature isn't physiologically capable of being medium. A tiny creature is physiologically capable of writing in the sand.
I mean if we're going to get technical, a tiny creature isn't physiologically capable of understanding and communicating with any language in its entirety.
But this is magical nonsense that allows you to keep your intelligence despite your brain becoming 1/100th of the size, so moot point.
But I really like to role play trying to communicate in my animal form. As a rat I have a code: one squeak for halt, two for follow me. As a giant spider, I weave a trail of web for my party to follow, or even weave a web in the shape of a single word. As a bird I hop up and down excitedly.
I was even thinking if OTHER party members could cast spells on the druid perhaps? I see Telepathy, but that's an 8th level spell!! Could be worth the casting...but very situational.
Speak with Animals seems pretty fair if your DM will allow it, and it's level 1.
The elementals from Elemental wild shape can speak a language of their plane. So a moon druid could possibly speak their racial language if they wild shape into an elemental.
You retain your intelligence
You retain your racial features (including language, otherwise you wouldn't be able to understand speech either)
Your ability to speak is only limited by the form you take.
Only issue would be if you rule that the ability to speak those languages translates to also having the ability to speak other more typical languages. If those languages were limited to clicking noises or something, then you might be out of luck. I was able to find a website that listed descriptions of those languages from 3rd edition.
The native language of the Elemental Plane of Air is Auran, a breathy, leisurely tongue that sounds like a long, slow exhalation.
The native tongue of the Elemental Plane of Earth is Terran, a deep rumbling tongue that vibrates through the listener like a tremor.
The native language of most inhabitants of the Elemental Plane of Fire is Ignan, a sharp, hissing and clicking language.
Natives of the Elemental Plane of Water speak Aquan, a flowing, subtle language filled with double meanings and hidden puns.
Subjective, I guess. I might allow speaking brief messages as an elemental with a dexterity or wisdom check to see how clearly the message comes across. Maybe DC 15. You could have some fun situations with a bad roll where the message gets all mixed up.
Also, if your DM allows it, a parrot can make the sound of words. It's not officially listed in the monster manual, but most DM's will allow you to become CR 0 creatures of whatever flavor you want. I would allow it. I would actually have the druid pick a few words to learn at first and then expand as they level up or practice with down time. Sounds pretty fun actually.
It's really up to DM interpretation whether you keep your languages or not, as it doesn't specifically say you do.
What it does say is this:
Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast, but you retain your alignment, personality, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature.
None of these things are languages. Your game statistics include your languages, and these are replaced by the beasts. However, it does go on to state:
You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so.
This alludes to you keeping your languages, but doesn't outright say it. This line actually contradicts the previous one of "your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast," so it's not very clear. We know for sure that you don't keep your statistics such as Size, Speed, etc. which are replaced by that of the beasts, and Languages are under the same category as these things, so it's a mixed bag whether the evidence points towards you losing them or not.
I certainly don't have my druid players lose their languages, but the RAW - while contradictory - seems to imply that they would.
And you're using a humanoid child being able to write as proof that a dog should? Ooookay then.
I'm not saying they couldn't do it no matter what, but it's gonna be very messy, take some time, and require you to likely carry around a lot of ink/paint and a big sheet of canvas. Doable, sure, but less practical than telepathy or speak with animals, so you shouldn't dismiss these idea's because "they can just write."
Languages are a racial feature, so they are retained while in Wildshape.
But "your ability to speak or take any action that requires hands is limited to the capabilities of your beast form."
I've always took this to mean that druids in wildshape can understand langauges that druid understands, but can't speak them because the stat block doesn't include the ability to speak.
I'd let a druid wildshaped into a parrot or raven speak, but with an accent.
So are your Size and Speed, which clearly aren't retained. Darkvision is as well, but you only get to keep it if your wildshape form has it already. The two lines in wild shape which you can read in my last post are contradictory to one another; one implies you would lose your languages, the other implies you would keep them. So, ultimately, it's up to DM interpretation.
I don't interpret it as you losing them, and I don't know of any DM who would, but even still it isn't that straightforward.
They're not contradictory except in the way they're intended to be. The line about what you retain is an explicit exception to the idea that all your statistics are replaced. You're only able to use the racial features you retain if your new form is physiologically capable of doing so. Obviously, a tiny creature isn't physiologically capable of being medium. A tiny creature is physiologically capable of writing in the sand.
I mean if we're going to get technical, a tiny creature isn't physiologically capable of understanding and communicating with any language in its entirety.
But this is magical nonsense that allows you to keep your intelligence despite your brain becoming 1/100th of the size, so moot point.
Telepathy.
But I really like to role play trying to communicate in my animal form. As a rat I have a code: one squeak for halt, two for follow me. As a giant spider, I weave a trail of web for my party to follow, or even weave a web in the shape of a single word. As a bird I hop up and down excitedly.
Speak with Animals seems pretty fair if your DM will allow it, and it's level 1.
The elementals from Elemental wild shape can speak a language of their plane. So a moon druid could possibly speak their racial language if they wild shape into an elemental.
Only issue would be if you rule that the ability to speak those languages translates to also having the ability to speak other more typical languages. If those languages were limited to clicking noises or something, then you might be out of luck. I was able to find a website that listed descriptions of those languages from 3rd edition.
Subjective, I guess. I might allow speaking brief messages as an elemental with a dexterity or wisdom check to see how clearly the message comes across. Maybe DC 15. You could have some fun situations with a bad roll where the message gets all mixed up.
Also, if your DM allows it, a parrot can make the sound of words. It's not officially listed in the monster manual, but most DM's will allow you to become CR 0 creatures of whatever flavor you want. I would allow it. I would actually have the druid pick a few words to learn at first and then expand as they level up or practice with down time. Sounds pretty fun actually.