How to talk like a dwarf.

[Nifft]

I never understood the Scottish associations some people have with Dwarves

Red beards, like to fight, love to drink? Tougher than dragon leather?

Likes gold?

Cheers, -- N

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

For some reason Dwarves always end up tinged with mixed Russian/Slavic/Scandinavian overtones when I run them.

 

[Clavis]

Red beards, like to fight, love to drink? Tougher than dragon leather?

Likes gold?

Cheers, -- N

Yeah, I guess I can see the Dwarves = Scotsmen connection.

I still hear them like AH-nold in my head though!

 

[Doug McCrae]

I never understood the Scottish associations some people have with Dwarves either. Maybe the engineering connection?

Short hairy dour avaricious aggressive alcoholics from a mountainous land.

 

[Griffith Dragonlake]

In the LoTR movie, Gimli is played by a Welshman, John Rhys-Davies whose Shakespearian trained voice booms through almost every role he's played (Sliders, Indiana Jones, Shogun, etc.).

Personally, I've always thought Dwarves spoke with a Yiddish accent.

 

[STARP_Social_Officer]

Why are dwarves Scottish? I don't think anybody knows. I think Warcraft might have started that, but now it seems everybody does it. I don't do it all the time, but some dwarves are definitely Scottish. I played a Scottish dwarf in Shadowrun once. Good times.
Mostly, when I voice dwarves, I tend to put on a gravelley voice. This means I can't voice them for long before getting terrible epiglottis strain. But that's OK. Most dwarves are monosyllabic.

 

[Dragonhelm]

Sometimes, ye be talking like this, lad. Be talkin' like a Scotsman or a pirate. Talk about hard work, stones, gems, and craftsmanship. Then feel free to learn How To Swear Like A Dwarf!

If ye be not gettin' this through yer thick noggin, ye be a stinking, elf-kissing stench kow!

 

[Aeric]

My first impression of dwarves being Scottish came from Warhammer. The ever-present troll slayer in that game is usually depicted with bright orange hair, a crazy beard, stripey Celtic pants, and similarly-Celtic tattoos on his face, chest, and arms. While I realize that Celtic does not necessarily equal Scottish, that was the only connection my brain could make. Apparently a lot of other people made that connection too.

Without the crazy Scotsman stereotype, I think dwarves would be mighty boring. They would be serious and dour all the time, no fun at all. I would play the standard dwarven NPCs like that, but the dwarven adventurer would have to be a little crazy to depart from the rigid and lawful dwarf society. After spending the past 100+ years being very proper and straight-laced, I'd cut loose like nobody's business too!

 

[Raylis]

Step 1: Get really really drunk.
Step 2: Talk.

that's awesome.

and so true

 

[DrunkonDuty]

Doug McCrae: I loved Taysiders In Space. Reminds of this pub I used to work in. Had a few Glaswegian regulars and when they'd get together and start chatting no-one could understand a word they were saying. And they'd all of them been living in London for 30 years +. That accent never goes. Actually one of said regulars was a Dougie McCrae.

Back on topic: I'm running a campaign where the Dwarves all speak with a Scandanavian accent. Although for most part it only comes out in the names. WHo can speak in an accent all night long? And I give Anglo-Saxon names to the Duergar. I like using a particular language for names, it's the easiest way to establish accents without having to use them through an entire session.