Famous Wizards' Names

[thegreatbuddha]

Connecticut is not an English word, so it makes sense that it does not follow archetypal English pronunciation.

As to my shot at pronouncing the names, here goes:

Tenser "TEN sir"
Nystul "NIS tul" (rhymes with pistol)
Tasha "TA -sha" (vowel sound same as "stop" for both syllables)
Melf "MELF" (rhymes with elf)
Leomund "LEE o mund" (like Sea boat under)
Evard "i vard" (like in dark)
Otiluke "O ti luke" (can't think of a good phonetic aid there, sorry)
Rary "RARE EE"
Mordenkainen MORE den KIGH NEN (like more then high end)
Bigby BIG bee
Drawmij Draw midge (like draw fridge)

I hope that helped, and if my attempt to aid your enunciation with common English words didn't help in and of itself, you can at least run them through an online dictionary to guide yourself to the proper enunciation.

 

[Mahali]

Couldn't resist.

If you're not a native English speaker good luck with these.

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does strange things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong for us to wind the sail.
18) After a number of injections my jaw got number.
19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

 

[Tom Cashel]

No problem

Tenser=TEEN-ser
Nystul=NYGHT-stool
Melf=MEE-elf
Tasha=Tuh-SHAH
Leomund=LUND (silent "eom")
Evard=EEV-a-rid
Otiluke=OH-til-YOOKUH
Rary=RARE-eye
Mordenkainen=Mor-DEN-kuh-nin
Bigby=Big-BYE
Drawmij=DRAW-mee-ih-jay

I sure hope that helps.

 

[0-hr]

Re: Couldn't resist.

If you're not a native English speaker good luck with these.

What I find really interesting is how, as a native english speaker, I could instantly get the correct pronunciation even before completing the sentence. It's amazing what context can do for you.

But anyway, with regards to "often", the American Heritage online dictionary (http://www.bartleby.com/61/) lists the t as optional in pronunciation and has an extra note on the matter:

During the 15th century English experienced a widespread loss of certain consonant sounds within consonant clusters, as the (d) in handsome and handkerchief, the (p) in consumption and raspberry, and the (t) in chestnut and often. In this way the consonant clusters were simplified and made easier to articulate. With the rise of public education and literacy and, consequently, people's awareness of spelling in the 19th century, sounds that had become silent sometimes were restored, as is the case with the t in often, which is now frequently pronounced. In other similar words, such as soften and listen, the t generally remains silent.

 

[GuardianLurker]

Re: Why Japanese people want to know the pronunciation

So without knowing pronunciation of one's name, we cannot writ it down and show it to other Japanese people.

Anyway, thank you guys for giving me information.

And, please continue to write down more if you know any other information about this topic.

Digging back to my Linguistics 101 course....

In American, there is a strong preference for "short" vowels, especially interior vowels. Though beware dipthongs like the 'io' in 'interior'.

Actually, in American, two vowels together are usually a dipthong.

If you have a standard American dictionary, it should include a phonetic pronounication guide with the word's definition, with a description of the symbols up front.

 

[Tyrrell]

Hrm. People that pronounce the 'f' in 'fifth' are being pretentious. Much like those that pronounce the 't' in 'often'.

I have a dificult time pronouncing the word "fifth without the second f. I'm of the opinion that people who pronounce the second f in the word are using the standard pronunciation that they learned as a child, while people who do not are engaging in typical adolescent behaivior by trying to show how apathetic (and thus for some reason "cool") they are.

12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

I would have prounced row the same in both instances. How do you thinbk it should be pronounced?

 

[Tyrrell]

Hrm. People that pronounce the 'f' in 'fifth' are being pretentious. Much like those that pronounce the 't' in 'often'.

I have a dificult time pronouncing the word "fifth without the second f. I'm of the opinion that people who pronounce the second f in the word are using the standard pronunciation that they learned as a child, while people who do not are engaging in adolescent behaivior by trying to show how apathetic (and thus for some reason "cool") they are, or posess such an incredible abundance of lazyness and indeifference to being understood that they couldn't be bothered to move their lower lip1/2 a centimeter to be understood. (Your milage may vary but that's how you'd sound to me. a Minnesotan)

12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

I would have prounced row the same in both instances. How do you thinbk it should be pronounced?

 

[Berk]

18) After a number of injections my jaw got number.

according to american heritage, websters, word net, and a few other dictionaries that I have, can't remember the names of them cuz their covers are completely ripped apart, the way you used the second number is incorrect. Number just means number as you would think it would mean, ie. the number 1. It doesn't mean to become more numb. Now I'm not an english major or teacher or anything like that and personally I think the english language is one of the worst ever, specially since we americans got our hands on it =op, but I could be wrong. I just haven't ever seen number used like that before in all of my life living in an english speaking country.

 

[Mahali]

I would have prounced row the same in both instances. How do you thinbk it should be pronounced?

The first "row" is pronounced like rau (wow with an R in front).

 

[jgbrowning]

i'd pronounce the wizard's names any damn way you want to. English is your language too. Mangle it like the rest of us do!

joe b.