Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-11276487-20130728170148/@comment-13446185-20131016194541

71.184.197.178 wrote: Dovahsebrom wrote: I'd say the biggest flaw of the Nords is that very few of them use thu'um. All Nords have an inborn talent to use the Thu'um but for some reason most of them value an axe over the power to shout down walls. Not really, all inteligent races can master the thu'um, but only after years of work and meditation. Nords hold the ability in high standing in their culture, while other cultures know little about the thu'um. Hence, only nords seem interested in the usage of the Thu'um. But considering that a sword or axe can be mastered much quicker, they tend to be the main weapon. "Nords consider themselves to be the children of the sky, and the breath and the voice of a Nord is his vital essence."

"Through the use of the Voice, the vital power of a Nord can be articulated into a thu'um, or shout."

-Pocket Guide to the Empire, First Edition: Skyrim

Obviously every race has the ability to learn the Thu'um, the Nords just have an inborn talent for of it.