Core book reprintings - Pronunciation

[Jack Daniel]

It's pronounced "shimmer-a". Not... whatever that is that I quoted.

*SMACK*

 

[Beckett]

Re: Re: Re: Core book reprintings - Pronunciation

...because, personally, I'd like to see Gygax do something more productive with his time than answer questions like: "How do you pronounce drow?"

(snip)
(I do not. I can see some benefit for specific campaign settings, like FR - it's a specific world, thus should have a certain way of pronouncing things. But in general? There is no need.

I'm pretty sure Gygax would prefer to do something more productive as well, since he spent time on providing the pronunciations some years ago (or at least I think someone consulted him for the pronunciation guide published back in some double-digit Dragon). And it rhymed with "cow" back then, too.

As for why, well, I don't expect a rain of flaming brimstone if someone says "drow" so it rhymes with "crow" or "candle." But, personally I'm in favor of standards if for no other reason than facilitating communication. Sure, having one pronunciation everyone is expected to follow kills creativity, but doesn't having one spelling that everyone follows also kill creativity? I prefer my players using their creativity in backgrounds or during the adventure, and not while pronouncing words (although I have yet to squash the pronunciation of knight errant as "ER-Rahnt").

And, if nothing else, everyone following a single standard pronunciation does prevent situations at a con where five players turn to you and ask, "You're playing a what?"

 

[Dragongirl]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Core book reprintings - Pronunciation

As for why, well, I don't expect a rain of flaming brimstone if someone says "drow" so it rhymes with "crow" or "candle." But, personally I'm in favor of standards if for no other reason than facilitating communication. Sure, having one pronunciation everyone is expected to follow kills creativity, but doesn't having one spelling that everyone follows also kill creativity? I prefer my players using their creativity in backgrounds or during the adventure, and not while pronouncing words (although I have yet to squash the pronunciation of knight errant as "ER-Rahnt").

And, if nothing else, everyone following a single standard pronunciation does prevent situations at a con where five players turn to you and ask, "You're playing a what?"

Standardization of pronunciation is not total even now. We all have regional dialects. I see no problem with some people saying "drow" or "droe". I think it adds character.

 

[beta-ray]

Gnomeworks said:

How are you supposed to pronounce "Yrthak", anyway?

In the Yrthaki language, it's pronounced "timmy".

I understand where people should pronounce things as they want to and agree with it, but I think it would be cool if the MM were like a dictionary or some encyclopedia where there is a pronounciation next to the name. At least I would know what to reject... and it would cause enough furor on the boards.

Oh I use drow as in "crow, and not drow as in "clown".

 

[demiurge1138]

"Boo-lay", for some reason, makes me think that the landshark will be attacking the party with a loaf of bread while wearing an enormous beret.

C'mon, Tewligan. Everyone knows that things sound cooler when given a French pronunciation. What sounds better: "coo de gra" or "coupe de grace" with p's and c's intact. And French also sounds scary. If been capable of getting players to cringe in fear with French pronunciations.
Or maybe my French accent is just really bad.
Oh, and on topic, a pronunciation guide would be useful, but not the be all and end all on monster names. It's your world, after all.

Demiurge out.

 

[RangerWickett]

No no no, it's spelled "Raymond Luxury Yacht," but it's pronounced "Throat Warbler Mangrove."

 

[Alzrius]

I'm shocked that the FAQ says that "bulette" is pronounced "boo-LAY". Wasn't it just recently someone at WotC somewhere (it might have been in Dragon, but I know it was since the beginning of 3E, but I can't for the life of me remember where) said that it was undeed pronounced "bullet"? The "boo-LAY" pronounciation ruins that joke in a relatively recent HackMasters of Everknight joke about a magic "bulette-proof vest".

 

[BMF]

I'm shocked that the FAQ says that "bulette" is pronounced "boo-LAY". ...

The 2e MM has phonetic pronunciations of a lot of the monsters, including the the Bullette. However, even when I was 14, and playing 1e, I knew that "bullette" was pronounced "Boo-LAY." (Like a beret)

The 2e MM also says that "Ixitxachitl" should be pronounced "ish-it-SHACH-itl, though many refer to them as icks-it-ZACH-it-ul or even icks-it-zuh-chit-ul.

And, by the way, I'm for some sort of standardized pronunciation too.

And drow rhymes with pow, vow, row, plow, and disallow.

And, I think its cool that "Gygax" is on the pronunciation guide.

It's pronounced "shimmer-a". Not... whatever that is that I quoted.

Its greek. "Ky-MAIR-uh" is correct. I made that mistake myself for a long time.

 

[incognito]

In the Yrthaki language, it's pronounced "timmy".

no, no, no...it's "tim-MAY!"

 

[dcollins]

What sounds better: "coo de gra" or "coupe de grace" with p's and c's intact. And French also sounds scary...

As I point out above, if you pronounce it with the last "c" intact, only then does it sound like the French actually pronounce it (or an English dictionary, either).