The English Language

[murquhart]

Pronounciation of Kuo-Toa and/or Sahuagin. Anybody? Maybe there isn't a pronounciation (like the Cthulhu mythos), I just thought some folks might have an opinion.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

OK, one small rant and I'll answer.

What is it with these fantasy names? Are people really supposed to pronounce them? And look at the humanoid races. If I can't prononce something, how is an illithid - a guy with a squid for a head - supposed to prounounce anything. Hey, here's an experiement you can try at home:

1) Turn your head into a squid.
2) Say the word "illithid"

I'll bet you can't do it.

Anyway ....

KOO-AH-TWO-AH and SAH-UH-JIN

or (more honestly):

"The fish guys who worship that naked crawdad chick" and "the shark guys"

 

[Desdichado]

KOO-oh TOE-ah and SAW-hwah-GEEN is how I say it. Then again, I don't really use either one much...

 

[Piratecat]

Joshua has it right; Biggus Geekus is a bit off.

All together now: "ixitachitl."

 

[enrious]

Anybody remember that cartoon in Dragon several years ago where two people are diving.

One person, holding a writing tablet, is obviously distressed and has written on the pad:

Ixita

Ixiac

Ixchat

BIG FISH!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JRRNeiklot]

Sa-hay-gen.

Ku-oh-toe-a.

 

[Ravellion]

KOO-oh TOE-ah and SAW-hwah-GEEN is how I say it. Then again, I don't really use either one much...

I'll support this pronunciation! Hurrah! (saves me the typing)

Rav

 

[Carnifex]

Well, my take is:

Koo-oh Toe-ah

and

Sa-wa-jin

I like sahuagin a lot

 

[Henry@home]

"KOO-oh-TOE-uh" and "sah-HWAH-gen", for me.

"IX-it-ZACH-it-uhl", or

"ig-zit-suh-CHIT-uhl."

Now for a fun one:

To properly pronounce "Cthulhu",

1. Poise the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth
2. Say the words, "KLUH-LUH", with a slight gargle in your voice. This according to letters with H.P. Lovecraft.


Of course, PCat possibly pronounces it slightly differently: "Yes, Dear."

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Even Lovecraft wasn't consistent with the pronunciation of Cthulhu. I've read that he pronounced it, at least at times, something like "kuh-TOO-uh-loo."

My pronunciations:

Kuo-Toa - "KOO-oh-TOE-uh"

Sahuagin - "SAW-wah-gin" (hard "G")

Ixitxachitl - "ICK-ZIT-zuh-kittle"