There's really no coverage of languages in the v4 rules at all, other than the Linguist specialty, which at one-per-language lets you attempt to pass as a native speaker.
For the default settings/campaigns I'd say ditching most language skills mechanics entirely works fine. Characters in my campaign are a mix of nationalities and backgrounds. But all of them have been surviving in Poland anywhere between their entire lives and 1-2 years. That's enough time that you'd have picked up a conversational level in the language. So the characters can all communicate with each other fine, and they can generally communicate with anyone they meet fine. It's only if they want to pass as someone else or communicate a very complex matter that it's an issue. Doesn't really need a rule; it needs good RP.
End up suddenly in a totally different place? Well, now maybe we don't have quite enough mechanical fidelity to handle this. However, language mechanics in games have always been essentially tedious and un-fun. If it's not contributing to a good story that you can't communicate with anyone, and it can't be solved, then what are you even doing?
|