LanguagesFollow

It is one of the many things that makes EverQuest what it is. There are so many things that has made EQ so rich with things to do. As for things they are used for. Some quest can only be done in an uncommon language. Also some spell research requires knowing different languages if I remember right. There is also a charm you can get somewhere in the LoY zones that gets better the more languages you master.

For me it is just something to do while I was sitting in the EC tunnle looking for gear for my Rogue or Pally.

I agree, though, in principle. It would be fun if the language you use could influence your faction temporarily; for instance, if you could speak Elder Dragon to some of the First Brood they'd stop trying to eat you and give you a quest to raise your favor, or at least give you a running start. Or a dwarven merchant would ignore you until he heard you speaking in the beloved cadence of dear old Kaladim.

It's the only reason I can think of for some of the languages like Orc and Faerie. I can't imagine the devs didn't consider it, early on. Must have been too hard to implement.