And Conan should have a ??? accent?

[Huw]

So he speaks a Proto-Indo-European language?

Except that the Cimmerians were Caucasians, not Indo-Europeans.

Mind you, dialogue in PIE would be cool

 

[ColonelHardisson]

So he speaks a Proto-Indo-European language?

He speaks Cimmerian, as Howard said he did. The way Howard constructed Hyboria, it's tough to tell what accent he would have said Conan had.

 

[fusangite]

Except that the Cimmerians were Caucasians, not Indo-Europeans.

Since when were the Caucasians not Indo-European? And since when were the Cimmerians from Caucasia? The Cimmerians lived, according to Roman and Greek geographies, either (a) north of Scythia or (b) where present-day London is.

I think the way to go here is to figure out what accents the player does well and pick one of those. Cimmeria is a pretty irrecoverable historical phenomenon. Depending on where one thinks they may have lived, languages that have been in Europe a long time, before the major Celtic and Slavic migrations would be the best candidates. Anybody know how to do a Basque or Finnish accent?

As to Howard's world, Scots and Irish seem like good candidates. But Welsh seems even better -- just as close a correspondence to what Howard was going for but way funnier in the execution.

 

[Klaus]

Damn you, Claudio! I just shot Diet Coke out my nose!

My work here is done.

 

[Nyeshet]

Howard intended the Cimmerians to be the ancestors of the Celts, so an Irish, Welsh, or Scottish accent. But remember that Conan was away from Cimmeria for a long time, and speaks many languages. So whatever accent he had, it would be pretty faded.

That's actually a good point. Its been years since I read the books. Where did Conan grow up (as a slave, as I recall), and what accent would be expected of that land? Take that, add in a slight pinch of Irish or Scottish, and I think we have a winner.

It doesn't make a difference to me, as the Hyborian Age is, what, over 10,000 years ago? I doubt any accent from that long ago would sound like anything we know today.

Also a good point, which in effect rendors any selection on our part meaningless - perhaps.

 

[DM-Rocco]

Umm, Cimmerian?



Do I win a prize?

Hasta,
Flynn

BTW, seriously, having grown up on Schwarzenegger's Conan, I'd say Austrian.

I'm down with that, but as a side note, did you see the extended content for T3? They have a seen where they show Schwarzenegger on a tread mill and then he speaks with a heavy Texas accent. Schwarzenegger then explains how the new combat robots will look like him and then they then pan to the generals in the room and the lead general says, "I don't think I like that accent," to which another says in Schwarzenegger's regular voice, "we con fix Dat."

That cracked my up.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

If you ever wonder what it is like to Work at WOTC. Insert this conversation into the middle of a meeting about business strategy or in some other type office setting and you've got Wizards. Oh yeah and there should be at least one sword in the room.

Try it at your workplace and see what happens

BTW I think some Scotish/Irish/Welsh combo.

If someone says something everyone agrees with do you all get to growl and repeatedly pound your weapons on the table? Because that would be a real employment benefit.

 

[Gez]

Y'know, like Christopher Lambert.

Actually, Christophe (his real birth name) has a Swiss accent.

 

[grimslade]

Actually, Christophe (his real birth name) has a Swiss accent.

Hence the delicious delicious irony of Klaus' statement.

 

[robberbaron]

I would say Welsh. I have an easier time imagine the mighty-thewed, panther-like Conan speaking with a Welsh lilt than I can a Scottish brogue. I think Welsh is more musical.

Crwm! There's lovely, isn't it.

My vote goes for either Austrian (it's the only accent in which I've heard Conan speak) or a deep, husky Scottish (bit like Gimli, only taller and with more bass)