diff --git a/code/__HELPERS/text.dm b/code/__HELPERS/text.dm
index 69e187a9d67..4afc24c3965 100644
--- a/code/__HELPERS/text.dm
+++ b/code/__HELPERS/text.dm
@@ -1028,7 +1028,11 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(binary, list("0","1"))
 
 	return corrupted_text
 
-#define is_alpha(X) ((text2ascii(X) <= 122) && (text2ascii(X) >= 97))
+/// Checks if the char is lowercase
+#define is_lowercase_character(X) ((text2ascii(X) <= 122) && (text2ascii(X) >= 97))
+/// Checks if the char is uppercase
+#define is_uppercase_character(X) ((text2ascii(X) <= 90) && (text2ascii(X) >= 65))
+/// Checks if the char is a digit
 #define is_digit(X) ((length(X) == 1) && (length(text2num(X)) == 1))
 
 //json decode that will return null on parse error instead of runtiming.
@@ -1233,3 +1237,38 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(binary, list("0","1"))
 	for(var/iteration in 1 to length_char(text))
 		grawlix += pick("@", "$", "?", "!", "#", "§", "*", "£", "%", "☠", "★", "☆", "¿", "⚡")
 	return grawlix
+
+/// All punctuation that can be stripped in strip_outer_punctuation()
+#define STRIPPED_PUNCTUATION (REGEX_QUOTE("!?.~;:,|+_`-"))
+
+/// Removes all punctuation sequences from the beginning and the end of the input string.
+/// Includes emphasis (|, +, _) and whitespace.
+/// Anything punctuation in the middle of the input will be maintained.
+/proc/strip_outer_punctuation(input)
+	var/static/regex/pre_word_regex = new("^(?:\[[STRIPPED_PUNCTUATION]\]{0,3})(.*)", "m")
+	if(pre_word_regex.Find(input))
+		input = pre_word_regex.group[1]
+
+	var/static/regex/post_word_regex = new("^(.*?)(?:\[[STRIPPED_PUNCTUATION]\]{0,3})$", "m")
+	if(post_word_regex.Find(input))
+		return trim(post_word_regex.group[1])
+
+	return trim(input)
+
+#undef STRIPPED_PUNCTUATION
+
+/// Find what punctuation is at the end of the input, returns it.
+/// Ignores emphasis (|, +, _)
+/proc/find_last_punctuation(input)
+	var/static/regex/punctuation_regex = new(@"([!?.~;:,-]{1,3})[|+_\s]*$", "m")
+	if(punctuation_regex.Find(input))
+		return punctuation_regex.group[1]
+
+	return ""
+
+/// Checks if the passed string is all uppercase, ignoring punctuation and numbers and symbols
+/proc/is_uppercase(input)
+	var/static/regex/lowercase_regex = new(@"[a-z]", "g")
+	if(lowercase_regex.Find(input))
+		return FALSE
+	return TRUE
diff --git a/code/_globalvars/lists/flavor_misc.dm b/code/_globalvars/lists/flavor_misc.dm
index eca55a94b41..13fbd4a80a0 100644
--- a/code/_globalvars/lists/flavor_misc.dm
+++ b/code/_globalvars/lists/flavor_misc.dm
@@ -271,3 +271,14 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(status_display_state_pictures, list(
 ))
 
 GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(fishing_tips, world.file2list("strings/fishing_tips.txt"))
+
+/// 1000 element long list containing the 1000 most common words in the English language.
+/// Indexed by word, value is the rank of the word in the list. So accessing it is fasta.
+GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(most_common_words, init_common_words())
+
+/proc/init_common_words()
+	. = list()
+	var/i = 1
+	for(var/word in world.file2list("strings/1000_most_common.txt"))
+		.[word] = i
+		i += 1
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/discord.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/discord.dm
index 802b95b2341..2e7936f17e3 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/discord.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/discord.dm
@@ -43,9 +43,6 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(discord)
 	/// People who have tried to verify this round already
 	var/list/reverify_cache
 
-	/// Common words list, used to generate one time tokens
-	var/list/common_words
-
 	/// The file where notification status is saved
 	var/notify_file = file("data/notify.json")
 
@@ -53,7 +50,6 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(discord)
 	var/enabled = FALSE
 
 /datum/controller/subsystem/discord/Initialize()
-	common_words = world.file2list("strings/1000_most_common.txt")
 	reverify_cache = list()
 	// Check for if we are using TGS, otherwise return and disables firing
 	if(world.TgsAvailable())
@@ -158,7 +154,7 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(discord)
 	// While there's a collision in the token, generate a new one (should rarely happen)
 	while(not_unique)
 		//Column is varchar 100, so we trim just in case someone does us the dirty later
-		one_time_token = trim("[pick(common_words)]-[pick(common_words)]-[pick(common_words)]-[pick(common_words)]-[pick(common_words)]-[pick(common_words)]", 100)
+		one_time_token = trim("[pick(GLOB.most_common_words)]-[pick(GLOB.most_common_words)]-[pick(GLOB.most_common_words)]-[pick(GLOB.most_common_words)]-[pick(GLOB.most_common_words)]-[pick(GLOB.most_common_words)]", 100)
 
 		not_unique = find_discord_link_by_token(one_time_token, timebound = TRUE)
 
@@ -300,4 +296,3 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(discord)
 	if (length(discord_mention_extraction_regex.group) == 1)
 		return discord_mention_extraction_regex.group[1]
 	return null
-
diff --git a/code/datums/brain_damage/mild.dm b/code/datums/brain_damage/mild.dm
index f4dc1f60cc4..ffdabc0adf7 100644
--- a/code/datums/brain_damage/mild.dm
+++ b/code/datums/brain_damage/mild.dm
@@ -198,8 +198,6 @@
 	gain_text = span_warning("You lose your grasp on complex words.")
 	lose_text = span_notice("You feel your vocabulary returning to normal again.")
 
-	var/static/list/common_words = world.file2list("strings/1000_most_common.txt")
-
 /datum/brain_trauma/mild/expressive_aphasia/handle_speech(datum/source, list/speech_args)
 	var/message = speech_args[SPEECH_MESSAGE]
 	if(message)
@@ -219,7 +217,7 @@
 				word = copytext(word, 1, suffix_foundon)
 			word = html_decode(word)
 
-			if(LOWER_TEXT(word) in common_words)
+			if(GLOB.most_common_words[LOWER_TEXT(word)])
 				new_message += word + suffix
 			else
 				if(prob(30) && message_split.len > 2)
diff --git a/code/datums/quirks/positive_quirks/bilingual.dm b/code/datums/quirks/positive_quirks/bilingual.dm
index 20123dbe87a..b5fc8a75f37 100644
--- a/code/datums/quirks/positive_quirks/bilingual.dm
+++ b/code/datums/quirks/positive_quirks/bilingual.dm
@@ -10,19 +10,37 @@
 
 /datum/quirk_constant_data/bilingual
 	associated_typepath = /datum/quirk/bilingual
-	customization_options = list(/datum/preference/choiced/language)
+	customization_options = list(
+		/datum/preference/choiced/language,
+		/datum/preference/toggle/language_speakable,
+		/datum/preference/choiced/language_skill,
+	)
 
 /datum/quirk/bilingual/add(client/client_source)
 	var/wanted_language = client_source?.prefs.read_preference(/datum/preference/choiced/language)
 	var/datum/language/language_type
 	if(wanted_language == "Random")
 		language_type = pick(GLOB.uncommon_roundstart_languages)
-	else
+	else if(wanted_language)
 		language_type = GLOB.language_types_by_name[wanted_language]
-	if(quirk_holder.has_language(language_type))
+	if(!language_type || quirk_holder.has_language(language_type))
 		language_type = /datum/language/uncommon
 		if(quirk_holder.has_language(language_type))
 			to_chat(quirk_holder, span_boldnotice("You are already familiar with the quirk in your preferences, so you did not learn one."))
 			return
 		to_chat(quirk_holder, span_boldnotice("You are already familiar with the quirk in your preferences, so you learned Galactic Uncommon instead."))
-	quirk_holder.grant_language(language_type, source = LANGUAGE_QUIRK)
+
+	var/speakable = client_source?.prefs.read_preference(/datum/preference/toggle/language_speakable)
+	var/language_skill = client_source?.prefs.read_preference(/datum/preference/choiced/language_skill) || "100%"
+	if(isnull(speakable) || speakable)
+		quirk_holder.grant_language(language_type, SPOKEN_LANGUAGE|UNDERSTOOD_LANGUAGE, source = LANGUAGE_QUIRK)
+	else if(language_skill == "100%")
+		quirk_holder.grant_language(language_type, UNDERSTOOD_LANGUAGE, source = LANGUAGE_QUIRK)
+	else
+		quirk_holder.grant_partial_language(language_type, text2num(language_skill), source = LANGUAGE_QUIRK)
+
+/datum/quirk/bilingual/remove()
+	if(QDELING(quirk_holder))
+		return
+	quirk_holder.remove_all_languages(source = LANGUAGE_QUIRK)
+	quirk_holder.remove_all_partial_languages(source = LANGUAGE_QUIRK)
diff --git a/code/game/atoms_movable.dm b/code/game/atoms_movable.dm
index 6c490e422c6..18d00e9966d 100644
--- a/code/game/atoms_movable.dm
+++ b/code/game/atoms_movable.dm
@@ -1570,6 +1570,10 @@
 /atom/movable/proc/grant_all_languages(language_flags = ALL, grant_omnitongue = TRUE, source = LANGUAGE_MIND)
 	return get_language_holder().grant_all_languages(language_flags, grant_omnitongue, source)
 
+/// Grants partial understanding of a language.
+/atom/movable/proc/grant_partial_language(language, amount = 50, source = LANGUAGE_ATOM)
+	return get_language_holder().grant_partial_language(language, amount, source)
+
 /// Removes a single language.
 /atom/movable/proc/remove_language(language, language_flags = ALL, source = LANGUAGE_ALL)
 	return get_language_holder().remove_language(language, language_flags, source)
@@ -1578,6 +1582,14 @@
 /atom/movable/proc/remove_all_languages(source = LANGUAGE_ALL, remove_omnitongue = FALSE)
 	return get_language_holder().remove_all_languages(source, remove_omnitongue)
 
+/// Removes partial understanding of a language.
+/atom/movable/proc/remove_partial_language(language, source = LANGUAGE_ALL)
+	return get_language_holder().remove_partial_language(language, source)
+
+/// Removes all partial languages.
+/atom/movable/proc/remove_all_partial_languages(source = LANGUAGE_ALL)
+	return get_language_holder().remove_all_partial_languages(source)
+
 /// Adds a language to the blocked language list. Use this over remove_language in cases where you will give languages back later.
 /atom/movable/proc/add_blocked_language(language, source = LANGUAGE_ATOM)
 	return get_language_holder().add_blocked_language(language, source)
@@ -1606,6 +1618,10 @@
 /atom/movable/proc/get_random_understood_language()
 	return get_language_holder().get_random_understood_language()
 
+/// Gets a lazylist of all mutually understood languages.
+/atom/movable/proc/get_partially_understood_languages()
+	return get_language_holder().best_mutual_languages
+
 /// Gets a random spoken language, useful for forced speech and such.
 /atom/movable/proc/get_random_spoken_language()
 	return get_language_holder().get_random_spoken_language()
diff --git a/code/game/machinery/telecomms/computers/logbrowser.dm b/code/game/machinery/telecomms/computers/logbrowser.dm
index 22a41a6ada6..5a9c3d6daac 100644
--- a/code/game/machinery/telecomms/computers/logbrowser.dm
+++ b/code/game/machinery/telecomms/computers/logbrowser.dm
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
 					message_out = "\"[message_in]\""
 				else if(!user.has_language(language))
 					// Language unknown: scramble
-					message_out = "\"[language_instance.scramble(message_in)]\""
+					message_out = "\"[language_instance.scramble_sentence(message_in, user.get_partially_understood_languages())]\""
 				else
 					message_out = "(Unintelligible)"
 				packet_out["message"] = message_out
diff --git a/code/game/objects/items/crayons.dm b/code/game/objects/items/crayons.dm
index 7396fbb59ca..ecc06ee8e25 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items/crayons.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items/crayons.dm
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@
 
 	var/temp = "rune"
 	var/ascii = (length(drawing) == 1)
-	if(ascii && is_alpha(drawing))
+	if(ascii && is_lowercase_character(drawing))
 		temp = "letter"
 	else if(ascii && is_digit(drawing))
 		temp = "number"
diff --git a/code/game/objects/items/devices/radio/encryptionkey.dm b/code/game/objects/items/devices/radio/encryptionkey.dm
index 41ff2d379ff..d8d51697954 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items/devices/radio/encryptionkey.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items/devices/radio/encryptionkey.dm
@@ -10,23 +10,42 @@
 	var/list/channels = list()
 	/// Flags for which "special" radio networks should be accessible
 	var/special_channels = NONE
-	var/datum/language/translated_language
+	/// Assoc list of language to how well understood it is. 0 is invalid, 100 is perfect.
+	var/list/language_data
+
 	greyscale_config = /datum/greyscale_config/encryptionkey_basic
 	greyscale_colors = "#820a16#3758c4"
 
 /obj/item/encryptionkey/examine(mob/user)
 	. = ..()
-	if(LAZYLEN(channels) || special_channels & RADIO_SPECIAL_BINARY)
-		var/list/examine_text_list = list()
-		for(var/i in channels)
-			examine_text_list += "[GLOB.channel_tokens[i]] - [LOWER_TEXT(i)]"
-
-		if(special_channels & RADIO_SPECIAL_BINARY)
-			examine_text_list += "[GLOB.channel_tokens[MODE_BINARY]] - [MODE_BINARY]"
-
-		. += span_notice("It can access the following channels; [jointext(examine_text_list, ", ")].")
-	else
+	if(!LAZYLEN(channels) && !(special_channels & RADIO_SPECIAL_BINARY) && !LAZYLEN(language_data))
 		. += span_warning("Has no special codes in it. You should probably tell a coder!")
+		return
+
+	var/list/examine_text_list = list()
+	for(var/i in channels)
+		examine_text_list += "[GLOB.channel_tokens[i]] - [LOWER_TEXT(i)]"
+
+	if(special_channels & RADIO_SPECIAL_BINARY)
+		examine_text_list += "[GLOB.channel_tokens[MODE_BINARY]] - [MODE_BINARY]"
+
+	if(length(examine_text_list))
+		. += span_notice("It can access the following channels; [jointext(examine_text_list, ", ")].")
+
+	var/list/language_text_list = list()
+	for(var/lang in language_data)
+		var/langstring = "[GLOB.language_datum_instances[lang].name]"
+		switch(language_data[lang])
+			if(25 to 50)
+				langstring += " (poor)"
+			if(50 to 75)
+				langstring += " (average)"
+			if(75 to 100)
+				langstring += " (good)"
+		language_text_list += langstring
+
+	if(length(language_text_list))
+		. += span_notice("It can translate the following languages; [jointext(language_text_list, ", ")].")
 
 /obj/item/encryptionkey/syndicate
 	name = "syndicate encryption key"
@@ -40,7 +59,9 @@
 	name = "binary translator key"
 	icon_state = "cypherkey_basic"
 	special_channels = RADIO_SPECIAL_BINARY
-	translated_language = /datum/language/machine
+	language_data = list(
+		/datum/language/machine = 100,
+	)
 	greyscale_config = /datum/greyscale_config/encryptionkey_basic
 	greyscale_colors = "#24a157#3758c4"
 
@@ -219,7 +240,9 @@
 		RADIO_CHANNEL_ENTERTAINMENT = 1,
 	)
 	special_channels = RADIO_SPECIAL_BINARY
-	translated_language = /datum/language/machine
+	language_data = list(
+		/datum/language/machine = 100,
+	)
 
 /obj/item/encryptionkey/ai/evil //ported from NT, this goes 'inside' the AI.
 	name = "syndicate binary encryption key"
diff --git a/code/game/objects/items/devices/radio/headset.dm b/code/game/objects/items/devices/radio/headset.dm
index d8ee05d26b5..65f58d603a0 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items/devices/radio/headset.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items/devices/radio/headset.dm
@@ -41,8 +41,6 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(channel_tokens, list(
 	drop_sound = 'sound/items/handling/headset/headset_drop1.ogg'
 	sound_vary = TRUE
 	var/obj/item/encryptionkey/keyslot2 = null
-	/// A list of all languages that this headset allows the user to understand. Populated by language encryption keys.
-	var/list/language_list
 
 	// headset is too small to display overlays
 	overlay_speaker_idle = null
@@ -117,8 +115,32 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(channel_tokens, list(
 
 /// Grants all the languages this headset allows the mob to understand via installed chips.
 /obj/item/radio/headset/proc/grant_headset_languages(mob/grant_to)
+	var/list/language_list = keyslot?.language_data?.Copy()
+
+	if(keyslot2)
+		if(length(language_list))
+			for(var/language in keyslot2.language_data)
+				if(language_list[language] < keyslot2.language_data[language])
+					language_list[language] = keyslot2.language_data[language]
+					continue
+				language_list[language] = keyslot2.language_data[language]
+
+		else
+			language_list = keyslot2.language_data?.Copy()
+
 	for(var/language in language_list)
-		grant_to.grant_language(language, language_flags = UNDERSTOOD_LANGUAGE, source = LANGUAGE_RADIOKEY)
+		var/amount_understood = language_list[language]
+		if(amount_understood >= 100)
+			grant_to.grant_language(language, language_flags = UNDERSTOOD_LANGUAGE, source = LANGUAGE_RADIOKEY)
+		else
+			grant_to.grant_partial_language(language, amount = amount_understood, source = LANGUAGE_RADIOKEY)
+
+/// Clears all radio related languages from the mob.
+/obj/item/radio/headset/proc/remove_headset_languages(mob/remove_from)
+	if(QDELETED(remove_from)) //This can be called as a part of destroy
+		return
+	remove_from.remove_all_languages(source = LANGUAGE_RADIOKEY)
+	remove_from.remove_all_partial_languages(source = LANGUAGE_RADIOKEY)
 
 /obj/item/radio/headset/equipped(mob/user, slot, initial)
 	. = ..()
@@ -129,10 +151,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(channel_tokens, list(
 
 /obj/item/radio/headset/dropped(mob/user, silent)
 	. = ..()
-	if(QDELETED(src)) //This can be called as a part of destroy
-		return
-	for(var/language in language_list)
-		user.remove_language(language, language_flags = UNDERSTOOD_LANGUAGE, source = LANGUAGE_RADIOKEY)
+	remove_headset_languages(user)
 
 // Headsets do not become hearing sensitive as broadcasting instead controls their talk_into capabilities
 /obj/item/radio/headset/set_broadcasting(new_broadcasting, actual_setting = TRUE)
@@ -488,22 +507,10 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(channel_tokens, list(
 		for(var/ch_name in channels)
 			secure_radio_connections[ch_name] = add_radio(src, GLOB.radiochannels[ch_name])
 
-	var/list/old_language_list = language_list?.Copy()
-	language_list = list()
-	if(keyslot?.translated_language)
-		language_list += keyslot.translated_language
-	if(keyslot2?.translated_language)
-		language_list += keyslot2.translated_language
-
-	// If we're equipped on a mob, we should make sure all the languages
-	// learned from our installed key chips are all still accurate
+	// Updates radio languages entirely for the mob wearing the headset
 	var/mob/mob_loc = loc
 	if(istype(mob_loc) && mob_loc.get_item_by_slot(slot_flags) == src)
-		// Remove all the languages we may not be able to know anymore
-		for(var/language in old_language_list)
-			mob_loc.remove_language(language, language_flags = UNDERSTOOD_LANGUAGE, source = LANGUAGE_RADIOKEY)
-
-		// And grant all the languages we definitely should know now
+		remove_headset_languages(mob_loc)
 		grant_headset_languages(mob_loc)
 
 /obj/item/radio/headset/click_alt(mob/living/user)
diff --git a/code/game/objects/structures/lavaland/ore_vent.dm b/code/game/objects/structures/lavaland/ore_vent.dm
index dc9318ca740..8a2e30d95a7 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/structures/lavaland/ore_vent.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/structures/lavaland/ore_vent.dm
@@ -587,7 +587,7 @@
 	RegisterSignal(boss, COMSIG_LIVING_DEATH, PROC_REF(handle_wave_conclusion))
 	SSblackbox.record_feedback("tally", "ore_vent_mobs_spawned", 1, summoned_boss)
 	COOLDOWN_START(src, wave_cooldown, INFINITY) //Basically forever
-	boss.say(boss.summon_line) //Pull their specific summon line to say. Default is meme text so make sure that they have theirs set already.
+	boss.say(boss.summon_line, language = /datum/language/common, forced = "summon line") //Pull their specific summon line to say. Default is meme text so make sure that they have theirs set already.
 
 /obj/structure/ore_vent/boss/handle_wave_conclusion()
 	node = new /mob/living/basic/node_drone(loc) //We're spawning the vent after the boss dies, so the player can just focus on the boss.
diff --git a/code/game/say.dm b/code/game/say.dm
index 380ed4accca..cae3fa31e4c 100644
--- a/code/game/say.dm
+++ b/code/game/say.dm
@@ -66,8 +66,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(freqtospan, list(
 	if(!message || message == "")
 		return
 	spans |= speech_span
-	if(!language)
-		language = get_selected_language()
+	language ||= get_selected_language()
 	message_mods[SAY_MOD_VERB] = say_mod(message, message_mods)
 	send_speech(message, message_range, src, bubble_type, spans, language, message_mods, forced = forced)
 
@@ -274,7 +273,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(freqtospan, list(
 
 	if(!has_language(language))
 		var/datum/language/dialect = GLOB.language_datum_instances[language]
-		raw_message = dialect.scramble(raw_message)
+		raw_message = dialect.scramble_sentence(raw_message, get_partially_understood_languages())
 
 	return raw_message
 
diff --git a/code/modules/atmospherics/machinery/components/fusion/hfr_procs.dm b/code/modules/atmospherics/machinery/components/fusion/hfr_procs.dm
index 2c77ac829b7..16d21bf3c43 100644
--- a/code/modules/atmospherics/machinery/components/fusion/hfr_procs.dm
+++ b/code/modules/atmospherics/machinery/components/fusion/hfr_procs.dm
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@
 		priority_announce("WARNING - The explosion will likely cover a big part of the station and the coming EMP will wipe out most of the electronics. \
 				Get as far away as possible from the reactor or find a way to shut it down.", "Alert", 'sound/announcer/notice/notice3.ogg')
 	var/speaking = "[emergency_alert] The Hypertorus fusion reactor has reached critical integrity failure. Emergency magnetic dampeners online."
-	radio.talk_into(src, speaking, common_channel, language = get_selected_language())
+	radio.talk_into(src, speaking, common_channel)
 
 	notify_ghosts(
 		"The [src] has begun melting down!",
diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences/language.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences/language.dm
index dbe4c700a31..4e142f1be54 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences/language.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences/language.dm
@@ -2,15 +2,27 @@
 	category = PREFERENCE_CATEGORY_MANUALLY_RENDERED
 	savefile_key = "language"
 	savefile_identifier = PREFERENCE_CHARACTER
+	should_generate_icons = TRUE
 
 /datum/preference/choiced/language/create_default_value()
 	return "Random"
 
 /datum/preference/choiced/language/is_accessible(datum/preferences/preferences)
-	if (!..(preferences))
+	if (!..())
 		return FALSE
 
-	return "Bilingual" in preferences.all_quirks
+	return /datum/quirk/bilingual::name in preferences.all_quirks
+
+/datum/preference/choiced/language/icon_for(value)
+	var/datum/language/lang = GLOB.language_types_by_name[value]
+	if(lang)
+		var/datum/universal_icon/lang_icon = uni_icon(lang.icon, lang.icon_state)
+		lang_icon.scale(32, 32)
+		return lang_icon
+
+	var/datum/universal_icon/unknown = uni_icon('icons/ui/chat/language.dmi', "unknown")
+	unknown.scale(32, 32)
+	return unknown
 
 /datum/preference/choiced/language/init_possible_values()
 	var/list/values = list()
@@ -19,11 +31,9 @@
 		generate_selectable_species_and_languages()
 
 	values += "Random"
-
 	//we add uncommon as it's foreigner-only.
-	var/datum/language/uncommon/uncommon_language = /datum/language/uncommon
-	values += initial(uncommon_language.name)
 	values += /datum/language/common::name // SKYRAT EDIT ADDITION START - Let's you select common
+	values += /datum/language/uncommon::name
 
 	for(var/datum/language/language_type as anything in GLOB.uncommon_roundstart_languages)
 		if(initial(language_type.name) in values)
@@ -34,3 +44,42 @@
 
 /datum/preference/choiced/language/apply_to_human(mob/living/carbon/human/target, value)
 	return
+
+/datum/preference/toggle/language_speakable
+	category = PREFERENCE_CATEGORY_MANUALLY_RENDERED
+	savefile_key = "language_speakable"
+	savefile_identifier = PREFERENCE_CHARACTER
+	default_value = TRUE
+	can_randomize = FALSE
+
+/datum/preference/toggle/language_speakable/is_accessible(datum/preferences/preferences)
+	if(!..())
+		return FALSE
+
+	return /datum/quirk/bilingual::name in preferences.all_quirks
+
+/datum/preference/toggle/language_speakable/apply_to_human(mob/living/carbon/human/target, value)
+	return
+
+/datum/preference/choiced/language_skill
+	category = PREFERENCE_CATEGORY_MANUALLY_RENDERED
+	savefile_key = "language_skill"
+	savefile_identifier = PREFERENCE_CHARACTER
+	can_randomize = FALSE
+
+/datum/preference/choiced/language_skill/create_default_value()
+	return "100%"
+
+/datum/preference/choiced/language_skill/is_accessible(datum/preferences/preferences)
+	if(!..())
+		return FALSE
+	if(preferences.read_preference(/datum/preference/toggle/language_speakable))
+		return FALSE
+
+	return /datum/quirk/bilingual::name in preferences.all_quirks
+
+/datum/preference/choiced/language_skill/init_possible_values()
+	return list("100%", "75%", "50%", "33%", "25%", "10%")
+
+/datum/preference/choiced/language_skill/apply_to_human(mob/living/carbon/human/target, value)
+	return
diff --git a/code/modules/language/_language.dm b/code/modules/language/_language.dm
index 53b4cbdb44e..4dd2e58f98e 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/_language.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/_language.dm
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
-/// maximum of 50 specific scrambled lines per language
+/// Last 50 spoken (uncommon) words will be cached before we start cycling them out (re-randomizing them)
 #define SCRAMBLE_CACHE_LEN 50
+/// Last 20 spoken sentences will be cached before we start cycling them out (re-randomizing them)
+#define SENTENCE_CACHE_LEN 20
 
 /// Datum based languages. Easily editable and modular.
 /datum/language
@@ -16,15 +18,52 @@
 	var/list/syllables
 	/// List of characters that will randomly be inserted between syllables.
 	var/list/special_characters
+
+	// These modify how syllables are combined.
 	/// Likelihood of making a new sentence after each syllable.
-	var/sentence_chance = 5
-	/// Likelihood of getting a space in the random scramble string
-	var/space_chance = 55
+	var/sentence_chance = 2
+	/// Likelihood of making a new sentence after each word.
+	var/between_word_sentence_chance = 0
+	/// Likelihood of adding a space between syllables.
+	var/space_chance = 20
+	/// Likelyhood of adding a space between words.
+	var/between_word_space_chance = 100
+	/// Scramble word interprets the word as this much longer than it really is (low end)
+	/// You can set this to an arbitarily large negative number to make all words only one syllable.
+	var/additional_syllable_low = -1
+	/// Scramble word interprets the word as this much longer than it really is (high end)
+	/// You can set this to an arbitarily large negative number to make all words only one syllable.
+	var/additional_syllable_high = 3
+
 	/// Spans to apply from this language
 	var/list/spans
-	/// Cache of recently scrambled text
-	/// This allows commonly reused words to not require a full re-scramble every time.
-	var/list/scramble_cache = list()
+	/**
+	 * Cache of recently scrambled text
+	 * This allows commonly reused words to not require a full re-scramble every time.
+	 * Is limited to the last SCRAMBLE_CACHE_LEN words spoken. After surpassing this limit,
+	 * the oldest word will be removed from the cache and rescrambled if spoken again.
+	 *
+	 * Case insensitive, punctuation insensitive.
+	 */
+	VAR_PRIVATE/list/scramble_cache = list()
+	/**
+	 * Scramble cache, but for the 1000 most common words in the English language.
+	 * These are never rescrambled, so they will consistently be the same thing.
+	 *
+	 * Case insensitive, punctuation insensitive.
+	 */
+	VAR_PRIVATE/list/most_common_cache = list()
+	/**
+	 * Cache of recently spoken sentences
+	 * So if one person speaks over the radio, everyone hears the same thing.
+	 *
+	 * This is an assoc list [sentence] = [key, scrambled_text]
+	 * Where key is a string that is used to determine context about the listener (like what languages they know)
+	 *
+	 * Case sensitive, punctuation sensitive.
+	 */
+	VAR_PRIVATE/list/last_sentence_cache = list()
+
 	/// The language that an atom knows with the highest "default_priority" is selected by default.
 	var/default_priority = 0
 	/// If TRUE, when generating names, we will always use the default human namelist, even if we have syllables set.
@@ -34,7 +73,7 @@
 	/// if you are seeing someone speak popcorn language, then something is wrong.
 	var/icon = 'icons/ui/chat/language.dmi'
 	/// Icon state displayed in the chat window when speaking this language.
-	var/icon_state = "popcorn"
+	var/icon_state = "unknown"
 
 	/// By default, random names picks this many names
 	var/default_name_count = 2
@@ -45,6 +84,32 @@
 	/// What char to place in between randomly generated names
 	var/random_name_spacer = " "
 
+	/**
+	 * Assoc Lazylist of other language types that would have a degree of mutual understanding with this language.
+	 * For example, you could do `list(/datum/language/common = 50)` to say that this language has a 50% chance to understand common words
+	 * And yeah if you give a 100% chance, they can basically just understand the language.
+	 * Not sure why you would do that though.
+	 */
+	var/list/mutual_understanding
+
+// Primarily for debugging, allows for easy iteration and testing of languages.
+/datum/language/vv_edit_var(var_name, var_value)
+	. = ..()
+	var/list/delete_cache = list(
+		NAMEOF(src, additional_syllable_high),
+		NAMEOF(src, additional_syllable_low),
+		NAMEOF(src, between_word_sentence_chance),
+		NAMEOF(src, between_word_space_chance),
+		NAMEOF(src, sentence_chance),
+		NAMEOF(src, space_chance),
+		NAMEOF(src, special_characters),
+		NAMEOF(src, syllables),
+	)
+	if(var_name in delete_cache)
+		scramble_cache.Cut()
+		most_common_cache.Cut()
+		last_sentence_cache.Cut()
+
 /// Checks whether we should display the language icon to the passed hearer.
 /datum/language/proc/display_icon(atom/movable/hearer)
 	var/understands = hearer.has_language(src.type)
@@ -109,56 +174,138 @@
 
 	return result
 
-/datum/language/proc/check_cache(input)
-	var/lookup = scramble_cache[input]
-	if(lookup)
-		scramble_cache -= input
-		scramble_cache[input] = lookup
-	. = lookup
+/// Checks the word cache for a word
+/datum/language/proc/read_word_cache(input)
+	SHOULD_NOT_OVERRIDE(TRUE)
+	// we generally want "The" and "the" to translate to the same thing.
+	// so we lowercase everything, making it case insensitive.
+	var/lowertext_input = LOWER_TEXT(input)
+	if(most_common_cache[lowertext_input])
+		return most_common_cache[lowertext_input]
 
-/datum/language/proc/add_to_cache(input, scrambled_text)
+	. = scramble_cache[lowertext_input]
+	if(. && scramble_cache[1] != lowertext_input)
+		// bumps it to the top of the cache
+		scramble_cache -= lowertext_input
+		scramble_cache[lowertext_input] = .
+	return .
+
+/// Adds a word to the cache
+/datum/language/proc/write_word_cache(input, scrambled_text)
+	SHOULD_NOT_OVERRIDE(TRUE)
+	var/lowertext_input = LOWER_TEXT(input)
+	// The most common words are always cached
+	if(GLOB.most_common_words[lowertext_input])
+		most_common_cache[lowertext_input] = scrambled_text
+		return
 	// Add it to cache, cutting old entries if the list is too long
-	scramble_cache[input] = scrambled_text
-	if(scramble_cache.len > SCRAMBLE_CACHE_LEN)
-		scramble_cache.Cut(1, 2)
+	scramble_cache[lowertext_input] = scrambled_text
+	if(length(scramble_cache) > SCRAMBLE_CACHE_LEN)
+		scramble_cache.Cut(1, scramble_cache.len - SCRAMBLE_CACHE_LEN + 1)
 
-/datum/language/proc/scramble(input)
+/// Checks the sentence cache for a sentence
+/datum/language/proc/read_sentence_cache(input)
+	SHOULD_NOT_OVERRIDE(TRUE)
+	// the only handling we do is capitalizing the first word, as say auto-capitalizes the first word anyway
+	// the actual structure of the sentence is otherwise case sensitive so it's preserved
+	var/input_capitalized = capitalize(input)
+	. = last_sentence_cache[input_capitalized]
+	if(. && last_sentence_cache[1] != input_capitalized)
+		// bumps it to the top of the cache (don't anticipate this happening often)
+		last_sentence_cache -= input_capitalized
+		last_sentence_cache[input_capitalized] = .
+	return .
+
+/// Adds a sentence to the cache, though the sentence should be modified with a key
+/datum/language/proc/write_sentence_cache(input, key, result_scramble)
+	SHOULD_NOT_OVERRIDE(TRUE)
+	var/input_capitalized = capitalize(input)
+	// Add to the cache (the cache being an assoc list of assoc lists), cutting old entries if the list is too long
+	LAZYSET(last_sentence_cache[input_capitalized], key, result_scramble)
+	if(length(last_sentence_cache) > SENTENCE_CACHE_LEN)
+		last_sentence_cache.Cut(1, last_sentence_cache.len - SENTENCE_CACHE_LEN + 1)
+
+/**
+ * Scrambles a sentence in this language.
+ *
+ * Takes into account any languages the hearer knows that has mutual understanding with this language.
+ */
+/datum/language/proc/scramble_sentence(input, list/mutual_languages)
+	var/cache_key = "[mutual_languages?[type] || 0]-understanding"
+	var/list/cache = read_sentence_cache(cache_key)
+	if(cache?[cache_key])
+		return cache[cache_key]
+
+	var/list/real_words = splittext(input, " ")
+	var/list/scrambled_words = list()
+	for(var/word in real_words)
+		var/translate_prob = mutual_languages?[type] || 0
+		var/base_word = strip_outer_punctuation(word)
+		if(translate_prob > 0)
+			// the probability of managing to understand a word is based on how common it is
+			// 1000 words in the list, so words outside the list are just treated as "the 1500th most common word"
+			var/commonness = GLOB.most_common_words[LOWER_TEXT(base_word)] || 1500
+			translate_prob += (translate_prob * 0.2 * (1 - (min(commonness, 1500) / 500)))
+			if(prob(translate_prob))
+				scrambled_words += base_word
+				continue
+
+		scrambled_words += scramble_word(base_word)
+
+	// start building the new sentence. first word is capitalized and otherwise untouched
+	var/sentence = capitalize(popleft(scrambled_words))
+	for(var/word in scrambled_words)
+		if(prob(between_word_sentence_chance))
+			sentence += ". "
+			word = capitalize(word)
+		else if(prob(between_word_space_chance))
+			sentence += " "
+
+		sentence += word
+
+	// scrambling the words will drop punctuation, so re-add it at the end
+	sentence += find_last_punctuation(input)
+
+	write_sentence_cache(input, cache_key, sentence)
+
+	return sentence
+
+/**
+ * Scrambles a single word in this language.
+ */
+/datum/language/proc/scramble_word(input)
+	// If the input is cached already, move it to the end of the cache and return it
+	var/word = read_word_cache(input)
+	if(word)
+		return (is_uppercase(input) && length_char(input) >= 2) ? uppertext(word) : word
 
 	if(!length(syllables))
-		return stars(input)
+		word = stars(input)
 
-	// If the input is cached already, move it to the end of the cache and return it
-	var/lookup = check_cache(input)
-	if(lookup)
-		return lookup
+	else
+		var/input_size = max(length_char(input) + rand(additional_syllable_low, additional_syllable_high), 1)
+		var/add_space = FALSE
+		var/add_period = FALSE
+		word = ""
+		while(length_char(word) < input_size)
+			// add in the last syllable's period or space first
+			if(add_period)
+				word += ". "
+			else if(add_space)
+				word += " "
+			// insert special chars if we're not at the start of the word
+			else if(word && prob(1) && length(special_characters))
+				word += pick(special_characters)
+			// generate the next syllable (capitalize if we just added a period)
+			var/next = pick_weight_recursive(syllables)
+			word += add_period ? capitalize(next) : next
+			// determine if the next syllable gets a period or space
+			add_period = prob(sentence_chance)
+			add_space = prob(space_chance)
 
-	var/input_size = length_char(input)
-	var/scrambled_text = ""
-	var/capitalize = TRUE
+	write_word_cache(input, word)
 
-	while(length_char(scrambled_text) < input_size)
-		var/next = (length(scrambled_text) && length(special_characters) && prob(1)) ? pick(special_characters) : pick_weight_recursive(syllables)
-		if(capitalize)
-			next = capitalize(next)
-			capitalize = FALSE
-		scrambled_text += next
-		var/chance = rand(100)
-		if(chance <= sentence_chance)
-			scrambled_text += ". "
-			capitalize = TRUE
-		else if(chance > sentence_chance && chance <= space_chance)
-			scrambled_text += " "
-
-	scrambled_text = trim(scrambled_text)
-	var/ending = copytext_char(scrambled_text, -1)
-	if(ending == ".")
-		scrambled_text = copytext_char(scrambled_text, 1, -2)
-	var/input_ending = copytext_char(input, -1)
-	if(input_ending in list("!","?","."))
-		scrambled_text += input_ending
-
-	add_to_cache(input, scrambled_text)
-
-	return scrambled_text
+	// If they're shouting, we're shouting
+	return (is_uppercase(input) && length_char(input) >= 2) ? uppertext(word) : word
 
 #undef SCRAMBLE_CACHE_LEN
diff --git a/code/modules/language/_language_holder.dm b/code/modules/language/_language_holder.dm
index b43684747b6..cb8cf2b39a1 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/_language_holder.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/_language_holder.dm
@@ -47,11 +47,17 @@ Key procs
 	/// If true, overrides tongue aforementioned limitations.
 	var/omnitongue = FALSE
 	/// Handles displaying the language menu UI.
-	var/datum/language_menu/language_menu
+	VAR_FINAL/datum/language_menu/language_menu
 	/// Currently spoken language
 	var/selected_language
 	/// Tracks the entity that owns the holder.
-	var/atom/movable/owner
+	VAR_FINAL/atom/movable/owner
+	/// Lazyassoclist of all mutual understanding this holder has
+	/// You generally don't want to access this, you want [best_mutual_languages] instead
+	/// Format: list(language_type = list(source = % of understanding))
+	VAR_PROTECTED/list/mutual_understanding
+	/// Cached form of the mutual language list which only contains the best understanding available to each language
+	VAR_FINAL/list/best_mutual_languages
 
 /// Initializes, and copies in the languages from the current atom if available.
 /datum/language_holder/New(atom/new_owner)
@@ -66,16 +72,48 @@ Key procs
 	// If we have an owner, we'll set a default selected language
 	if(owner)
 		get_selected_language()
+	// Normally this is applied in grant_language, which we bypass
+	for(var/language in understood_languages)
+		gain_partial_understanding_from_language(language)
 
 /datum/language_holder/Destroy()
 	QDEL_NULL(language_menu)
 	owner = null
 	return ..()
 
+/// Helper to get all the partial understanding from the passed language
+/// Does effectively nothing if given a language already understood
+/datum/language_holder/proc/gain_partial_understanding_from_language(language)
+	PRIVATE_PROC(TRUE)
+
+	var/datum/language/prototype = GLOB.language_datum_instances[language]
+	for(var/other_language in prototype.mutual_understanding)
+		grant_partial_language(other_language, prototype.mutual_understanding[other_language], language)
+
+/// Helper to remove all the partial understanding from the passed language
+/datum/language_holder/proc/lose_partial_understanding_from_language(language)
+	PRIVATE_PROC(TRUE)
+
+	var/datum/language/prototype = GLOB.language_datum_instances[language]
+	for(var/other_language in prototype.mutual_understanding)
+		remove_partial_language(other_language, language)
+
+/// Calculates the "best mutual language list"
+/datum/language_holder/proc/calculate_best_mutual_language()
+	best_mutual_languages = list()
+	for(var/language in mutual_understanding)
+		for(var/source in mutual_understanding[language])
+			// if this mutual understanding comes from a language, and that language is blocked, skip it
+			if(LAZYACCESS(blocked_languages, source))
+				continue
+			if(!best_mutual_languages[language] || best_mutual_languages[language] < mutual_understanding[language][source])
+				best_mutual_languages[language] = mutual_understanding[language][source]
+
 /// Grants the supplied language.
 /datum/language_holder/proc/grant_language(language, language_flags = ALL, source = LANGUAGE_MIND)
 	if(language_flags & UNDERSTOOD_LANGUAGE)
 		LAZYORASSOCLIST(understood_languages, language, source)
+		gain_partial_understanding_from_language(language)
 		. = TRUE
 	if(language_flags & SPOKEN_LANGUAGE)
 		LAZYORASSOCLIST(spoken_languages, language, source)
@@ -91,6 +129,14 @@ Key procs
 		omnitongue = TRUE
 	return TRUE
 
+/// Grants partial understanding of the passed language.
+/// Giving 100 understanding is basically equivalent to knowning the language, just with butchered punctuation.
+/datum/language_holder/proc/grant_partial_language(language, amount = 50, source = LANGUAGE_MIND)
+	LAZYINITLIST(mutual_understanding)
+	LAZYSET(mutual_understanding[language], source, amount)
+	calculate_best_mutual_language()
+	return TRUE
+
 /// Removes a single language or source, removing all sources returns the pre-removal state of the language.
 /datum/language_holder/proc/remove_language(language, language_flags = ALL, source = LANGUAGE_ALL)
 	if(language_flags & UNDERSTOOD_LANGUAGE)
@@ -98,6 +144,8 @@ Key procs
 			LAZYREMOVE(understood_languages, language)
 		else
 			LAZYREMOVEASSOC(understood_languages, language, source)
+		if(!LAZYACCESS(understood_languages, language))
+			lose_partial_understanding_from_language(language)
 		. = TRUE
 
 	if(language_flags & SPOKEN_LANGUAGE)
@@ -117,6 +165,30 @@ Key procs
 		omnitongue = FALSE
 	return TRUE
 
+/// Removes partial understanding of the passed language.
+/datum/language_holder/proc/remove_partial_language(language, source = LANGUAGE_MIND)
+	. = FALSE
+	if(source == LANGUAGE_ALL)
+		for(var/other_source in mutual_understanding[language])
+			if(ispath(other_source, /datum/language))
+				continue
+			. = remove_partial_language(language, other_source) || .
+	else if(LAZYACCESSASSOC(mutual_understanding, language, source))
+		LAZYREMOVE(mutual_understanding[language], source)
+		ASSOC_UNSETEMPTY(mutual_understanding, language)
+		UNSETEMPTY(mutual_understanding)
+		. = TRUE
+
+	if(.)
+		calculate_best_mutual_language()
+	return .
+
+/// Removes all partial understandings of all languages.
+/datum/language_holder/proc/remove_all_partial_languages(source = LANGUAGE_MIND)
+	for(var/language in mutual_understanding)
+		remove_partial_language(language, source)
+	return TRUE
+
 /// Adds a single language or list of languages to the blocked language list.
 /datum/language_holder/proc/add_blocked_language(languages, source = LANGUAGE_MIND)
 	if(!islist(languages))
@@ -124,6 +196,7 @@ Key procs
 
 	for(var/language in languages)
 		LAZYORASSOCLIST(blocked_languages, language, source)
+	calculate_best_mutual_language()
 	return TRUE
 
 /// Removes a single language or list of languages from the blocked language list.
@@ -136,7 +209,7 @@ Key procs
 			LAZYREMOVE(blocked_languages, language)
 		else
 			LAZYREMOVEASSOC(blocked_languages, language, source)
-
+	calculate_best_mutual_language()
 	return TRUE
 
 /// Checks if you have the language passed.
@@ -229,6 +302,11 @@ Key procs
 		if(LANGUAGE_MIND in blocked_languages[language])
 			remove_blocked_language(language, LANGUAGE_MIND)
 			to_holder.add_blocked_language(language, LANGUAGE_MIND)
+	for(var/language in mutual_understanding)
+		var/mind_understanding = mutual_understanding[language][LANGUAGE_MIND]
+		if(mind_understanding > 0)
+			remove_partial_language(language, LANGUAGE_MIND)
+			to_holder.grant_partial_language(language, mind_understanding, LANGUAGE_MIND)
 
 	if(owner)
 		get_selected_language()
diff --git a/code/modules/language/_language_menu.dm b/code/modules/language/_language_menu.dm
index 487c0e67be1..b9ffa4fab58 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/_language_menu.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/_language_menu.dm
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 	var/list/data = list()
 
 	var/atom/movable/speaker = language_holder.owner
+	var/list/partial_languages = speaker?.get_partially_understood_languages()
 	data["languages"] = list()
 	for(var/datum/language/language as anything in GLOB.all_languages)
 		var/list/lang_data = list()
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@
 			lang_data["can_speak"] = !!speaker.has_language(language, SPOKEN_LANGUAGE)
 			lang_data["could_speak"] = !!(language_holder.omnitongue || speaker.could_speak_language(language))
 			lang_data["can_understand"] = !!speaker.has_language(language, UNDERSTOOD_LANGUAGE)
+			lang_data["partial_understanding"] = partial_languages?[language] || 0
 
 		UNTYPED_LIST_ADD(data["languages"], lang_data)
 
diff --git a/code/modules/language/aphasia.dm b/code/modules/language/aphasia.dm
index 2d82b79892e..4ee2b9b5eae 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/aphasia.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/aphasia.dm
@@ -4,7 +4,12 @@
 	flags = LANGUAGE_HIDE_ICON_IF_NOT_UNDERSTOOD
 	key = "i"
 	syllables = list("m","n","gh","h","l","s","r","a","e","i","o","u")
-	space_chance = 20
+	space_chance = 0
+	sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_space_chance = 75
+	additional_syllable_low = 0
+	additional_syllable_high = 0
 	default_priority = 10
 	icon_state = "aphasia"
 	always_use_default_namelist = TRUE // Shouldn't generate names for this anyways
diff --git a/code/modules/language/beachbum.dm b/code/modules/language/beachbum.dm
index bd319e717ff..213aa096891 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/beachbum.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/beachbum.dm
@@ -2,7 +2,12 @@
 	name = "Beachtongue"
 	desc = "An ancient language from the distant Beach Planet. People magically learn to speak it under the influence of space drugs."
 	key = "u"
-	space_chance = 85
+	space_chance = 80
+	sentence_chance = 5
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_space_chance = 100
+	additional_syllable_low = -2
+	additional_syllable_high = -1
 	default_priority = 90
 	syllables = list(
 		"cowabunga", "rad", "radical", "dudes", "bogus", "weeed", "every",
@@ -19,3 +24,8 @@
 	)
 	icon_state = "beach"
 	always_use_default_namelist = TRUE
+
+	mutual_understanding = list(
+		/datum/language/common = 50,
+		/datum/language/uncommon = 33,
+	)
diff --git a/code/modules/language/buzzwords.dm b/code/modules/language/buzzwords.dm
index 2ed033bca34..0a9a1828c44 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/buzzwords.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/buzzwords.dm
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@
 	desc = "A common language to all insects, made by the rhythmic beating of wings."
 	key = "z"
 	space_chance = 0
+	sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 5
+	between_word_space_chance = 0
+	additional_syllable_low = 0
+	additional_syllable_high = 0
 	syllables = list(
 		"bzz","zzz","z","bz","bzzz","zzzz", "bzzzz", "b", "zz", "zzzzz"
 	)
diff --git a/code/modules/language/calcic.dm b/code/modules/language/calcic.dm
index 477e442203b..2aaf57a83ff 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/calcic.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/calcic.dm
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@
 	desc = "The disjointed and staccato language of plasmamen. Also understood by skeletons."
 	key = "b"
 	space_chance = 10
+	sentence_chance = 2
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_space_chance = 75
+	additional_syllable_low = 0
+	additional_syllable_high = 1
 	syllables = list(
 		"k", "ck", "ack", "ick", "cl", "tk", "sk", "isk", "tak",
 		"kl", "hs", "ss", "ks", "lk", "dk", "gk", "ka", "ska", "la", "pk",
diff --git a/code/modules/language/carptongue.dm b/code/modules/language/carptongue.dm
index 34ef4c4b5cd..f3a376287ec 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/carptongue.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/carptongue.dm
@@ -5,7 +5,11 @@
 	icon_state = "fish"
 	flags = NO_STUTTER|TONGUELESS_SPEECH
 	sentence_chance = 0
-	space_chance = 75
+	space_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_space_chance = 75
+	additional_syllable_low = -2
+	additional_syllable_high = -1
 	syllables = list("glub", "blub", "bloop")
 	default_priority = 25
 	default_name_syllable_min = 1
diff --git a/code/modules/language/codespeak.dm b/code/modules/language/codespeak.dm
index 242095b3bb7..8cc8c1c460a 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/codespeak.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/codespeak.dm
@@ -7,26 +7,21 @@
 	icon_state = "codespeak"
 	always_use_default_namelist = TRUE // No syllables anyways
 
-/datum/language/codespeak/scramble(input)
-	var/lookup = check_cache(input)
-	if(lookup)
-		return lookup
+/datum/language/codespeak/scramble_sentence(input, list/mutual_languages)
+	var/sentence = read_word_cache(input)
+	if(sentence)
+		return sentence
 
-	. = ""
+	sentence = ""
 	var/list/words = list()
-	while(length_char(.) < length_char(input))
+	while(length_char(sentence) < length_char(input))
 		words += generate_code_phrase(return_list=TRUE)
-		. = jointext(words, ", ")
+		sentence = jointext(words, ", ")
 
-	. = capitalize(.)
+	sentence = capitalize(sentence)
 
-	var/input_ending = copytext_char(input, -1)
+	sentence += find_last_punctuation(input)
 
-	var/static/list/endings
-	if(!endings)
-		endings = list("!", "?", ".")
+	write_word_cache(input, sentence)
 
-	if(input_ending in endings)
-		. += input_ending
-
-	add_to_cache(input, .)
+	return sentence
diff --git a/code/modules/language/common.dm b/code/modules/language/common.dm
index 6bad808fef2..bf015a04e2f 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/common.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/common.dm
@@ -5,6 +5,12 @@
 	key = "0"
 	flags = TONGUELESS_SPEECH | LANGUAGE_HIDE_ICON_IF_UNDERSTOOD
 	default_priority = 100
+	space_chance = 20
+	sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_space_chance = 75
+	additional_syllable_low = 0
+	additional_syllable_high = 0
 
 	icon_state = "galcom"
 	// Default namelist is the human namelist, and common is the human language, so might as well.
@@ -55,3 +61,8 @@
 			"his", "ing", "ion", "ith", "not", "ome", "oul", "our", "sho", "ted", "ter", "tha", "the", "thi",
 		),
 	)
+
+	mutual_understanding = list(
+		/datum/language/beachbum = 33,
+		/datum/language/uncommon = 20,
+	)
diff --git a/code/modules/language/draconic.dm b/code/modules/language/draconic.dm
index f61bbef009e..76cc7350f60 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/draconic.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/draconic.dm
@@ -3,7 +3,12 @@
 	desc = "The common language of lizard-people, composed of sibilant hisses and rattles."
 	key = "o"
 	flags = TONGUELESS_SPEECH
-	space_chance = 40
+	space_chance = 12
+	sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_space_chance = 75
+	additional_syllable_low = 0
+	additional_syllable_high = 3
 	syllables = list(
 		"za", "az", "ze", "ez", "zi", "iz", "zo", "oz", "zu", "uz", "zs", "sz",
 		"ha", "ah", "he", "eh", "hi", "ih", "ho", "oh", "hu", "uh", "hs", "sh",
diff --git a/code/modules/language/drone.dm b/code/modules/language/drone.dm
index 09fb6546e4a..373f504a135 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/drone.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/drone.dm
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@
 	// ...|..||.||||.|.||.|.|.|||.|||
 	space_chance = 0
 	sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_space_chance = 0
+	additional_syllable_low = 0
+	additional_syllable_high = 0
 	default_priority = 20
 
 	icon_state = "drone"
diff --git a/code/modules/language/machine.dm b/code/modules/language/machine.dm
index 4be282a5e28..63bec30c6f8 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/machine.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/machine.dm
@@ -9,7 +9,12 @@
 		"bop", "bop", "dee", "dee", "doo", "doo", "hiss", "hss", "buzz",
 		"buzz", "bzz", "ksssh", "keey", "wurr", "wahh", "tzzz",
 	)
-	space_chance = 10
+	space_chance = 0
+	sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_space_chance = 10
+	additional_syllable_low = 0
+	additional_syllable_high = 0
 	default_priority = 90
 
 	icon_state = "eal"
diff --git a/code/modules/language/moffic.dm b/code/modules/language/moffic.dm
index fb8dea63dcc..2e90b5cd168 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/moffic.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/moffic.dm
@@ -2,7 +2,12 @@
 	name = "Moffic"
 	desc = "The language of the Mothpeople borders on complete unintelligibility."
 	key = "m"
-	space_chance = 10
+	space_chance = 5
+	sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_space_chance = 25
+	additional_syllable_low = 0
+	additional_syllable_high = 0
 	syllables = list(
 		"år", "i", "går", "sek", "mo", "ff", "ok", "gj", "ø", "gå", "la", "le",
 		"lit", "ygg", "van", "dår", "næ", "møt", "idd", "hvo", "ja", "på", "han",
diff --git a/code/modules/language/monkey.dm b/code/modules/language/monkey.dm
index 423e94f22bd..bb6b4ac1a71 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/monkey.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/monkey.dm
@@ -2,7 +2,12 @@
 	name = "Chimpanzee"
 	desc = "Ook ook ook."
 	key = "1"
-	space_chance = 100
+	space_chance = 0
+	sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_space_chance = 75
+	additional_syllable_low = 0
+	additional_syllable_high = 0
 	syllables = list("oop", "aak", "chee", "eek")
 	default_priority = 80
 
diff --git a/code/modules/language/mushroom.dm b/code/modules/language/mushroom.dm
index 910489fd6dd..95562600d21 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/mushroom.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/mushroom.dm
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@
 	desc = "A language that consists of the sound of periodic gusts of spore-filled air being released."
 	key = "y"
 	sentence_chance = 0
+	sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_space_chance = 75
+	additional_syllable_low = -4
+	additional_syllable_high = -2
 	default_priority = 80
 	syllables = list("poof", "pff", "pFfF", "piff", "puff", "pooof", "pfffff", "piffpiff", "puffpuff", "poofpoof", "pifpafpofpuf")
 	default_name_syllable_min = 1
diff --git a/code/modules/language/narsian.dm b/code/modules/language/narsian.dm
index 4e8402128a0..0fc96da674d 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/narsian.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/narsian.dm
@@ -2,8 +2,12 @@
 	name = "Nar'Sian"
 	desc = "The ancient, blood-soaked, impossibly complex language of Nar'Sian cultists."
 	key = "n"
-	sentence_chance = 8
-	space_chance = 95 //very high due to the potential length of each syllable
+	space_chance = 75 //very high due to the potential length of each syllable
+	sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 5
+	between_word_space_chance = 95
+	additional_syllable_low = -1
+	additional_syllable_high = 0
 	var/static/list/base_syllables = list(
 		"h", "v", "c", "e", "g", "d", "r", "n", "h", "o", "p",
 		"ra", "so", "at", "il", "ta", "gh", "sh", "ya", "te", "sh", "ol", "ma", "om", "ig", "ni", "in",
diff --git a/code/modules/language/nekomimetic.dm b/code/modules/language/nekomimetic.dm
index c947c185f23..2551b15eceb 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/nekomimetic.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/nekomimetic.dm
@@ -2,7 +2,12 @@
 	name = "Nekomimetic"
 	desc = "To the casual observer, this language is an incomprehensible mess of broken Japanese. To the felinids, it's somehow comprehensible."
 	key = "f"
-	space_chance = 70
+	space_chance = 15
+	sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_space_chance = 75
+	additional_syllable_low = -1
+	additional_syllable_high = 1
 	syllables = list(
 		"neko", "nyan", "mimi", "moe", "mofu", "fuwa", "kyaa", "kawaii", "poka", "munya",
 		"puni", "munyu", "ufufu", "uhuhu", "icha", "doki", "kyun", "kusu", "nya", "nyaa",
diff --git a/code/modules/language/piratespeak.dm b/code/modules/language/piratespeak.dm
index a2faddb544f..d4db6b082a2 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/piratespeak.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/piratespeak.dm
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@
 	desc = "The language of space pirates."
 	key = "p"
 	space_chance = 100
+	sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_space_chance = 75
+	additional_syllable_low = -2
+	additional_syllable_high = -1
 	default_priority = 90
 	syllables = list(
 		"arr", "ahoy", "rum", "aye", "blimey", "booty", "bucko", "grog", "treasure",
diff --git a/code/modules/language/shadowtongue.dm b/code/modules/language/shadowtongue.dm
index 35158939385..f0519f6590c 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/shadowtongue.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/shadowtongue.dm
@@ -4,7 +4,12 @@
 	name = "Shadowtongue"
 	desc = "What a grand and intoxicating innocence."
 	key = "x"
-	space_chance = 50
+	space_chance = 40
+	sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_space_chance = 75
+	additional_syllable_low = 0
+	additional_syllable_high = 1
 	syllables = list(
 		"er", "sint", "en", "et", "nor", "bahr", "sint", "un", "ku'elm", "lakor", "eri",
 		"noj", "dashilu", "as", "ot", "lih", "morh", "ghinu", "kin", "sha", "marik", "jibu",
diff --git a/code/modules/language/spinwarder.dm b/code/modules/language/spinwarder.dm
index 22d4546f1b9..8c3877f38c0 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/spinwarder.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/spinwarder.dm
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@
 	name = "Spinwarder"
 	desc = "The official language of the Spinward Stellar Coalition, as inherited from the Third Soviet Union."
 	key = "s"
+	space_chance = 20
+	sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_space_chance = 75
+	additional_syllable_low = 0
+	additional_syllable_high = 0
 	flags = TONGUELESS_SPEECH
 	syllables = list(
 		"v", "od", "noy", "ned", "ele", "dn", "ey", "da", "ny", "et", "mes", "yat",
diff --git a/code/modules/language/sylvan.dm b/code/modules/language/sylvan.dm
index 4f66fb5931c..e2d9facf4f4 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/sylvan.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/sylvan.dm
@@ -3,7 +3,12 @@
 	name = "Sylvan"
 	desc = "A complicated, ancient language spoken by sentient plants."
 	key = "h"
-	space_chance = 20
+	space_chance = 10
+	sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_space_chance = 50
+	additional_syllable_low = 1
+	additional_syllable_high = 2
 	syllables = list(
 		"fii", "sii", "rii", "rel", "maa", "ala", "san", "tol", "tok", "dia", "eres",
 		"fal", "tis", "bis", "qel", "aras", "losk", "rasa", "eob", "hil", "tanl", "aere",
diff --git a/code/modules/language/terrum.dm b/code/modules/language/terrum.dm
index 63b527202f4..8715a44f209 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/terrum.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/terrum.dm
@@ -2,7 +2,12 @@
 	name = "Terrum"
 	desc = "The language of the golems. Sounds similar to old-earth Hebrew."
 	key = "g"
-	space_chance = 40
+	space_chance = 20
+	sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_space_chance = 75
+	additional_syllable_low = 1
+	additional_syllable_high = 2
 	syllables = list(
 		"sha", "vu", "nah", "ha", "yom", "ma", "cha", "ar", "et", "mol", "lua",
 		"ch", "na", "sh", "ni", "yah", "bes", "ol", "hish", "ev", "la", "ot", "la",
diff --git a/code/modules/language/uncommon.dm b/code/modules/language/uncommon.dm
index 117ed1c76fd..43b878e8341 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/uncommon.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/uncommon.dm
@@ -3,7 +3,12 @@
 	desc = "The second-most spoken Human language."
 	key = "!"
 	flags = TONGUELESS_SPEECH
-	space_chance = 50
+	space_chance = 20
+	sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_space_chance = 75
+	additional_syllable_low = 0
+	additional_syllable_high = 0
 	syllables = list(
 		"ba", "be", "bo", "ca", "ce", "co", "da", "de", "do",
 		"fa", "fe", "fo", "ga", "ge", "go", "ha", "he", "ho",
@@ -14,3 +19,8 @@
 	)
 	icon_state = "galuncom"
 	default_priority = 90
+
+	mutual_understanding = list(
+		/datum/language/common = 20,
+		/datum/language/beachbum = 20,
+	)
diff --git a/code/modules/language/voltaic.dm b/code/modules/language/voltaic.dm
index 90ab90dbe48..97c52da23f6 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/voltaic.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/voltaic.dm
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@
 	desc = "A sparky language made by manipulating electrical discharge."
 	key = "v"
 	space_chance = 20
+	sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 10
+	between_word_space_chance = 75
+	additional_syllable_low = 0
+	additional_syllable_high = 1
 	syllables = list(
 		"bzzt", "skrrt", "zzp", "mmm", "hzz", "tk", "shz", "k", "z",
 		"bzt", "zzt", "skzt", "skzz", "hmmt", "zrrt", "hzzt", "hz",
diff --git a/code/modules/language/xenocommon.dm b/code/modules/language/xenocommon.dm
index f4949b7d73c..b8ce823268f 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/xenocommon.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/xenocommon.dm
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@
 	key = "4"
 	syllables = list("sss","sSs","SSS")
 	default_priority = 50
-
+	space_chance = 0
+	sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_sentence_chance = 0
+	between_word_space_chance = 50
+	additional_syllable_low = 0
+	additional_syllable_high = 0
 	icon_state = "xeno"
 	always_use_default_namelist = TRUE // Sssss Ssss?
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/living_say.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/living_say.dm
index eb8143ad4b9..9b3f6544890 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/living_say.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/living_say.dm
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(message_modes_stat_limits, list(
 	if(!try_speak(original_message, ignore_spam, forced, filterproof))
 		return
 
-	language = message_mods[LANGUAGE_EXTENSION] || get_selected_language()
+	language ||= message_mods[LANGUAGE_EXTENSION] || get_selected_language()
 
 	var/succumbed = FALSE
 
diff --git a/code/modules/unit_tests/_unit_tests.dm b/code/modules/unit_tests/_unit_tests.dm
index d0d502b42c0..0d48bdc699b 100644
--- a/code/modules/unit_tests/_unit_tests.dm
+++ b/code/modules/unit_tests/_unit_tests.dm
@@ -302,6 +302,7 @@
 #include "syringe_gun.dm"
 #include "tail_wag.dm"
 #include "teleporters.dm"
+#include "text.dm"
 #include "tgui_create_message.dm"
 #include "timer_sanity.dm"
 #include "trait_addition_and_removal.dm"
diff --git a/code/modules/unit_tests/text.dm b/code/modules/unit_tests/text.dm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..80965391cd2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/modules/unit_tests/text.dm
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/// Tests strip_outer_punctuation()
+/datum/unit_test/strip_outer_punctuation
+
+/datum/unit_test/strip_outer_punctuation/Run()
+	var/list/sample_to_expected = list(
+		"Hello, world!" = "Hello, world",
+		"|Who are you?|" = "Who are you",
+		"Oh wow..." = "Oh wow",
+		"My name is E.T, the alien!" = "My name is E.T, the alien",
+		"I'm +YELLING+ at you!" = "I'm +YELLING+ at you",
+		"+I'm REALLY yelling!+" = "I'm REALLY yelling",
+	)
+
+	for(var/sample in sample_to_expected)
+		TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL(strip_outer_punctuation(sample), sample_to_expected[sample], "Strip punctuation failed for sample text: [sample]")
+
+/// Tests find_last_punctuation()
+/datum/unit_test/find_last_punctuation
+
+/datum/unit_test/find_last_punctuation/Run()
+	var/list/sample_to_expected = list(
+		"Hello, world!" = "!",
+		"|Who are you?|" = "?",
+		"Really, |WHO are you|?" = "?",
+		"Oh wow..." = "...",
+		"My name is E.T, the alien!" = "!",
+	)
+
+	for(var/sample in sample_to_expected)
+		TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL(find_last_punctuation(sample), sample_to_expected[sample], "Find punctuation failed for sample text: [sample]")
diff --git a/icons/ui/chat/language.dmi b/icons/ui/chat/language.dmi
index 7250a26e085..c45b61b1041 100644
Binary files a/icons/ui/chat/language.dmi and b/icons/ui/chat/language.dmi differ
diff --git a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/LanguageMenu.tsx b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/LanguageMenu.tsx
index d134000ddd5..8a119f61aae 100644
--- a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/LanguageMenu.tsx
+++ b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/LanguageMenu.tsx
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ type Language = {
   can_speak: BooleanLike; // mentally, we know how to speak it
   could_speak: BooleanLike; // physically, we are capable of speaking it
   can_understand: BooleanLike; // we can understand it regardless
+  partial_understanding: number; // how much of the language we understand
   icon: string;
   icon_state: string;
 };
@@ -61,6 +62,20 @@ const LangSpeakIcon = (props: LanguagePropsPassRest) => {
 
 const LangUnderstandIcon = (props: LanguageProps) => {
   const { language } = props;
+  if (!language.can_understand && language.partial_understanding > 0) {
+    return (
+      <Tooltip content={`You can only partially understand ${language.name}.`}>
+        <Box
+          inline
+          style={{
+            borderBottom: '2px dotted rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8)',
+          }}
+        >
+          {language.partial_understanding}%
+        </Box>
+      </Tooltip>
+    );
+  }
   return <Icon name="brain" color={language.can_understand ? 'good' : 'bad'} />;
 };
 
@@ -202,7 +217,11 @@ export const LanguageMenu = (props) => {
   // also, push all languages we can speak to the top, then all languagse we can only understand, then alphabetize
   const shown_languages = languages
     .filter(
-      (language) => admin_mode || language.can_speak || language.can_understand,
+      (language) =>
+        admin_mode ||
+        language.can_speak ||
+        language.can_understand ||
+        language.partial_understanding > 0,
     )
     .sort(
       (a, b) =>
diff --git a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/PreferencesMenu/preferences/features/character_preferences/language.tsx b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/PreferencesMenu/preferences/features/character_preferences/language.tsx
index 39c48ae40d6..836a600a724 100644
--- a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/PreferencesMenu/preferences/features/character_preferences/language.tsx
+++ b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/PreferencesMenu/preferences/features/character_preferences/language.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,23 @@
-import { FeatureChoiced } from '../base';
-import { FeatureDropdownInput } from '../dropdowns';
+import { CheckboxInput, FeatureChoiced, FeatureToggle } from '../base';
+import {
+  FeatureDropdownInput,
+  FeatureIconnedDropdownInput,
+} from '../dropdowns';
 
 export const language: FeatureChoiced = {
   name: 'Language',
+  component: FeatureIconnedDropdownInput,
+};
+
+export const language_speakable: FeatureToggle = {
+  name: 'Language Speakable',
+  description: `If unchecked, you'll only be able to understand the language,
+    but not speak it.`,
+  component: CheckboxInput,
+};
+
+export const language_skill: FeatureChoiced = {
+  name: 'Language Skill',
+  description: 'The percentage of the language you can understand.',
   component: FeatureDropdownInput,
 };