How do you pronounce Dorje? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How do you pronounce Dorje? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Orenmir
04-16-08, 10:20 AM Just a simple question... How do you pronounce Dorje? And, what's the source of your pronunciation?
forsaken1111
04-16-08, 10:57 AM Pronounced: Door-shay or Door-jay

Source: I made it up, sounds good, looks right to me. And 'Doorge' sounded stupid. (Like George, but with a D sound at the beginning)
Eerongal
04-16-08, 11:07 AM me, and everyone i know (who uses psionics, that is) have always said "door-jay". No idea if it's right. Just what we've always said.
InkBlot
04-16-08, 11:25 AM As far as I know, it's "dor-jay," emphasis on the "ay."

Dorje is a Tibetan word. Dorje are used by in certain Hindu, Buddhist, and Jainist rituals. As far as I know, the dorje is just held in the right hand of a meditating monk. The word "dorje" translates roughly to "noble stone," and represents the "thunderbolt of enlightenment."

Here's a picture of a dorje:
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x149/Gnomick/Motivators/bp-dorje.jpg

Dorje is also a common men's name in Tibet.

A dorje is also called a vajra.
forsaken1111
04-16-08, 11:28 AM It's dorjé, accent on the e. Dorje is a Tibetan word. Dorje are used by in certain Hindu, Buddhist, and Jainist rituals. As far as I know, the dorje is just held in the right hand of a meditating monk. The word "dorje" translates roughly to "noble stone," and represents the "thunderbolt of enlightenment."

Here's a picture of a dorje:
http://www.clicksitebuilder.com/home2/ts/thaiexotictreasures.com/images/b/bp-dorje.jpg

Thats interesting, but he asked for the pronunciation of the word, not the etymology.
InkBlot
04-16-08, 11:33 AM I gave him the pronunciation in the first sentece.
Eerongal
04-16-08, 11:56 AM according to dictionary.com it's dawr-juh
BloodSpill
04-16-08, 12:05 PM I gave him the pronunciation in the first sentece.

Look, forsaken1111 doesn't know the difference between é and e, so explain it.
Orenmir
04-16-08, 12:10 PM It's dorjé, accent on the e.

Curious... What is the source of your pronunciation? It is different than dictionary.com. Of course, it is possible that there are several accepted pronunciations. I'm now curious to which is the most common.
forsaken1111
04-16-08, 12:11 PM I gave him the pronunciation in the first sentece.

No, you just spelled the word again and pointed out that the accent is over the e. A lot of people have no idea what that accent mark means, or what sound it signifies.

Look, forsaken1111 doesn't know the difference between é and e, so explain it.

Yes I do, but many people don't. This isn't the first "How do I say Dorje?" thread.
Orenmir
04-16-08, 12:13 PM This isn't the first "How do I say Dorje?" thread.

Rats -- I even searched before I posted, but couldn't find any. Give me a link, if you can -- thanks.

I didn't even think to check dictionary.com because I thought it was a made up word!
InkBlot
04-16-08, 12:15 PM The source of my pronunciation is the english narrator of a show I saw on the History channel a while back. I've never heard it from a native Tibetan speaker, so maybe I am mispronouncing it.

At any rate, what's wrong with giving a little extra information? It wasn't very long. You don't have to read it if you don't want to.
The_Mess
04-16-08, 12:19 PM Dictionary.com gives the pronunciation as "dawr-juh".
Orenmir
04-16-08, 12:20 PM At any rate, what's wrong with giving a little extra information? It wasn't very long. You don't have to read it if you don't want to.

Absolutely nothing! Actually, I appreciate the background. Had I known it was an actual word, I would have done the research myself. Thanks for the pic too!
Ananvilhurtz
04-16-08, 12:24 PM I've always pronounced it Dee-joor-A.

Even though spelling immediately contradicts me.
Orenmir
04-16-08, 12:28 PM I've always pronounced it Dee-joor-A.

Djore?

Even though spelling immediately contradicts me.

Spelling doesn't always help with pronunciation. Just ask Brett Favre. ;)
The_Mess
04-16-08, 12:32 PM I note in passing:

In English, the diacritic marks aren't really used consistently. We only use them on words borrowed from other languages, which means that the marks mean whatever-the-mark-means-in-that-other-language. In other words, no consistency at all.

In words borrowed from French (which is most of the time we use it), the é gives an "-ay" pronunciation:

Fiancé: Fee-on-say, not Fi-ance
Touché: Two-shay, not Touchy

But note that ée is different from é:

Fiancée: Fee-on-see

Notice that none of the vowels are really given standard english pronunciations. The diacritic generally just means, "give the whole word a funny foreign sound." : - )

Resumé is spelled "résumé" in French, but English drops the first diacritic because we don't know what they're for and only the final letter needs highlighted to suggest the correct pronunciation: Re-su-may, not Re-zoom.

And that's just the beginning of the confusion.

ë is more consistent and can usually be safely read, "Read aloud what would normally be a silent vowel."

Zoë: Zoh-e, not Zoh

é can be used the same way, though.

On the whole, the best reading for any diacritic mark is, "I should look up this pronunciation if I don't know it." : - )

As always, see Wikipedia for more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diacritic
Mercurius
04-16-08, 01:01 PM Huh. I've always just pronounced it "Dor-hey." Gonna take some getting used to trying to pronounce it differently.

Of course, a lot of words are commonly mispronounced. I remember looking up Chimera in the dictionary to see how it was pronounced, and I don't think I've ever heard it pronounced the way the dictionary specified (except by myself).
M-bark
04-16-08, 01:10 PM I always pronounced it as "Dhor-zjuh", based on what it originally was/is (see InkBlot's post). It might be a little bit off, but I think that's about right.
InkBlot
04-16-08, 01:16 PM Dictionary.com has audio samples to go along with it's pronunciation key. Check it out! (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dorje) They pronounce it "door juh." Rhymes with Georgia. Looks like I was a little off after all.

Also, they pronounce chimera (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=chimera) the same way I've always heard it. Except, often people skip over the first vowel sound, so it sometimes comes out more like "kuh meer ah" instead of "kim meer ah."
AntiDjinn
04-16-08, 01:42 PM Vajra (Devanagari: वज्र) is a Sanskrit word meaning both thunderbolt and diamond and is a ritual tool or spiritual implement which is symbolically used by Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. It is particularly important in Buddhism. In Jainism , it is the symbol or mark for one of the Thirthankars namely Dharmanatha.

The equivalent word in Tibetan is dorje (Wylie: rdo-rje; ZWPY: dojê), which is also a common male name in Tibet and Bhutan. Dorje can also refer to a small sceptre held in the right hand by Tibetan lamas during religious ceremonies.

Any word in such common use is bound to have multiple pronunciations and to have a complex etymology. Add up all the Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains, plus all the other people well-traveled or well-read enough to be familiar with the word, and it will be well over a billion people. The Sanskrit word "vajra" is probably the older version, but in both cases the spelling is simply a rendering of a word into Roman script. You could always go through the Tibetan phone book until you find someone with that name, call him up and ask him how he pronounces it.

By the way, if you look at Buddhist and Hindu idols with dorjes, they hold them like a scepter or rod rather than point them like a gun.
Ananvilhurtz
04-16-08, 02:44 PM Djore?

Precisely.
Phaenix
04-16-08, 03:53 PM Ooh! Language! Yay!
In English, the diacritic marks aren't really used consistently. We only use them on words borrowed from other languages, which means that the marks mean whatever-the-mark-means-in-that-other-language. In other words, no consistency at all.

I agree wholeheartedly! That's what make English so great and so frustrating at the same time.
In words borrowed from French (which is most of the time we use it), the é gives an "-ay" pronunciation:

Fiancé: Fee-on-say, not Fi-ance
Touché: Two-shay, not Touchy

But note that ée is different from é:

Fiancée: Fee-on-see

This doesn't jive with the French I've learned. As far as I know, "Fiancé" and "Fiancée" are pronounced identically, both in French and in English. That said, there may be regional differences in English pronunciations of the latter.

EDIT:
So as to not be off-topic, I've always pronounced it "Door-jee," but I have no excuse for that pronunciation.
forsaken1111
04-16-08, 03:58 PM This doesn't jive with the French I've learned. As far as I know, "Fiancé" and "Fiancée" are pronounced identically, both in French and in English. That said, there may be regional differences in English pronunciations of the latter.

I have never before seen the word "Fiancée" and refuse to believe it is real.

That said, if asked to pronounce it I would indeed say it as described above, not the same as Fiancé.
Phaenix
04-16-08, 04:46 PM I have never before seen the word "Fiancée" and refuse to believe it is real.

That said, if asked to pronounce it I would indeed say it as described above, not the same as Fiancé.

Well, that would be a faux pas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faux_pas)!

A man who is engaged to be married is called his partner's fiancé; a woman similarly engaged is called her partner's fiancée. These words are pronounced identically in English; the separate feminine form exists because of the inflectional morphology of grammatical gender in French, where the term originated. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiancee)

OK, "inflectional morphology" is a little too haute, even for me (hint: pronounce that one "haughty"). I think you are absolutely right to disbelieve it.

--end threadjack---

I'm the only psionics player in my current group, and my DM and fellow players still refer to "manifesting" as "casting," so I think from now on, I'll just call Dorjes "Psionic Wands."
forsaken1111
04-16-08, 04:51 PM OK, "inflectional morphology" is a little too haute, even for me (hint: pronounce that one "haughty"). I think you are absolutely right to disbelieve it.
Woot, I was correct.
I'm the only psionics player in my current group, and my DM and fellow players still refer to "manifesting" as "casting," so I think from now on, I'll just call Dorjes "Psionic Wands."
I always called em "My little crystal sticks of death." in character... and everyone scooted away from me as I giggled.

Did I mention my psion was nutty as a peanut farm?
Phaenix
04-16-08, 04:58 PM I always called em "My little crystal sticks of death." in character... and everyone scooted away from me as I giggled.

Did I mention my psion was nutty as a peanut farm?

Wouldn't that make him legume-y?

Oy, enough with the me being literal.

On a related note, my fellow gamers pronounce "Terrasque" Terr-ah-SKEW. My inclination would be to pronounce it Terr-ASK. Anyone got any input on the big guy's name? Anyone got any other pronouncements?
forsaken1111
04-16-08, 05:04 PM Wouldn't that make him legume-y?

Oy, enough with the me being literal.

On a related note, my fellow gamers pronounce "Terrasque" Terr-ah-SKEW. My inclination would be to pronounce it Terr-ASK. Anyone got any input on the big guy's name? Anyone got any other pronouncements?

My group is torn on that. Some say it one way, some the other.
InkBlot
04-16-08, 05:20 PM On a related note, my fellow gamers pronounce "Terrasque" Terr-ah-SKEW. My inclination would be to pronounce it Terr-ASK. Anyone got any input on the big guy's name? Anyone got any other pronouncements?

It's French (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarasque). So pronounce the "que" as much as you pronounce it with other French-esque words. I pronounce it "terr-ASK," and so does everybody else I know (though some in my D&D group tell horror stories of those who pronounce it "tear-askew."
Phaenix
04-16-08, 06:03 PM It's French (tarrasque). So pronounce the "que" as much as you pronounce it with other French-esque words. I pronounce it "terr-ASK," and so does everybody else I know (though some in my D&D group tell horror stories of those who pronounce it "tear-askew."

"French-esque" Love it!

Yep, that's why I pronounce it that way. I'm not sure there are too many other francophiles here in Tejas, however. I don't think it makes too much of a difference one way or the other, as long as nobody gets too worked up about it.

Here's another one: Drow. How do you pronounce the Dark Elves' name? I have the feeling that most people pronounce it so that it rhymes with "cow." However, it's derived from the same word as "troll," so it can also be pronounced "Droh." I rhyme it with the sound one makes when one is hurt, because I read the Drizzt books long before I knew of the other pronunciation. How about you guys?

PS: InkBlot, your link doesn't go anywhere for me.
calronmoonflower
04-16-08, 06:16 PM I pronounce it da-shjore (like in fruit dasjore (misspelled I'm sure)).
I believe that isn't the way that it is meant, but sounds better to me.
Orenmir
04-16-08, 06:20 PM I pronounce it da-shjore (like in fruit dasjore (misspelled I'm sure)).
I believe that isn't the way that it is meant, but sounds better to me.

Man, that's worse than Djore. Or Favre! :P
InkBlot
04-16-08, 06:39 PM Here's another one: Drow. How do you pronounce the Dark Elves' name? I have the feeling that most people pronounce it so that it rhymes with "cow." However, it's derived from the same word as "troll," so it can also be pronounced "Droh." I rhyme it with the sound one makes when one is hurt, because I read the Drizzt books long before I knew of the other pronunciation. How about you guys?

PS: InkBlot, your link doesn't go anywhere for me.

Rhymes with "cow."

And I fixed the link. It goes to the wikipedia page on the Tarrasque (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarasque). The Tarrasque float that they parade through Tarascon every year in France looks remarkably like Bowser (http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/bowser.html). Which is great, because Giga Bowser (http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/bowser.html#3rd) looks remarkably like the Tarrasque from D&D.
Phaenix
04-16-08, 06:54 PM The Tarrasque float that they parade through Tarascon every year in France looks remarkably like Bowser (http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/bowser.html). Which is great, because Giga Bowser (http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/bowser.html#3rd) looks remarkably like the Tarrasque from D&D.

Cool. I love learning the real-world mythology that inspires all the cool D&D monsters. Thanks!
The_Mess
04-16-08, 11:38 PM I'm... wrong...?

No! It cannot be! The French must be corrected to match my pronunciation of fiancée!
MnemonicSV
04-17-08, 04:48 AM I've always pronounced it: Door-jay. I looked it up years ago, but admittedly I can't remember what the source was (somewhere online, probably nothing definitive).

Tarrasque has never been a problem for my group; Bulette was the questionable one. For years (way back into 2e) we pronounced it bool-AY for some bizarre reason (maybe as though it were french... we're Canadian after all), then someone new to the group started pronouncing it BULL-ette or sometimes bull-ETTE. We never did get an answer on that one. "Land shark" works fine for me. ;)
hogarth
04-17-08, 07:01 AM Huh. I always pronounced it as one syllable, rhyming with "George".
Slagger the Chuul
04-17-08, 10:27 AM And I fixed the link. It goes to the wikipedia page on the Tarrasque (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarasque). The Tarrasque float that they parade through Tarascon every year in France looks remarkably like Bowser (http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/bowser.html). Which is great, because Giga Bowser (http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/bowser.html#3rd) looks remarkably like the Tarrasque from D&D.

The first time I heard of a tarrasque was in a Piers Anthony book (I think it was called Crewel Lye), where it appeared almost identical to the mythological form. It was only about the size of one of those floats, however.

I usually pronouced "dorje" as doorj-shay (not much of the "s", but it's hard to describe the transition between the sounds) and "drow" as rhyming with cow. "Tarrasque" I pronounce as Tar-ask (the first "tar" rhymes with "bar" as in "barracks").
Racinante
04-17-08, 10:41 AM My two cents....

Drow rhymes with crow and grow, not brow and prow.
Dorje is pronounced wand....
Phaenix
04-18-08, 05:12 PM "Tarrasque" I pronounce as Tar-ask (the first "tar" rhymes with "bar" as in "barracks").

D'oh. I see T-vowel-R-R, and my mind puts an E in there. That's why I said Terr-Ask. But you're right - that is an A in there. I'm going to start pronouncing it this way.
AlterFrom
04-18-08, 05:51 PM Dorje: "DOOR-hay", because it sounded cooler than a roughly phonetic version of "door-JAY" or "door-ZHAY". As phonetic as English can be, that is.

Tarrasque: "ter-RASK". 'Cuz I'm too lazy to pronounce mah letters right.

Bulette: "boo-LET". Just 'cuz.

Drow: Some one the CharOp boards says it rhymes with the word "bow". I agree with them.
Orenmir
04-18-08, 11:08 PM Drow: Some one the CharOp boards says it rhymes with the word "bow". I agree with them.

"Bow" as in what you do at the end of a performance? Or "bow" as in something that fires arrows?
AlterFrom
04-18-08, 11:10 PM "Bow" as in what you do at the end of a performance? Or "bow" as in something that fires arrows?

Yes. :P (:rimshot:)
Kuros81
04-18-08, 11:16 PM 'Wand'
turalisj
04-19-08, 03:51 PM I've always pronounced it Dee-joor-A.

Even though spelling immediately contradicts me.

I always pronounced it as door-j
Stado
04-20-08, 04:33 AM Similar to the poster above me, I always just pronounced it the way it's spelt, and that is "dor·j". Soft 'j' (with an almost 'sh' sound), silent 'e'. Kind'a like the third syllable in fabriche [egg], only, without the -ey part. And, quite frankly, I prefer it to the actual pronunciation.
Joni-san
04-23-08, 07:45 PM I speak it as written.

Then again I'm Finnish and do so with almost all languages. English being the very messed up exception.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8135/avatar398725sl1.png
-Joni
Xavon
04-23-08, 09:31 PM answers without reading, to preserve validity.

Rhymes with George.

---------------

Also, drow rhymes with cow, and bullete rhymes with frappe, and Tarrasque rhymes with picturesque.
protosswarrior
04-23-08, 09:53 PM I usually use door-yay (rhymes with ray or lay)...
InkBlot
04-23-08, 10:05 PM For people who haven't bothered to look at the 1st page of this thread:

Dorje is pronounced "door juh." Rhymes with Georgia. Dictionary.com has audio samples to go along with it's pronunciation key. Check it out! (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dorje)

Dorje is a Tibetan word. Dorje are used in certain Hindu, Buddhist, and Jainist rituals. The word "dorje" translates roughly to "noble stone," and represents the "thunderbolt of enlightenment."

Here's a picture of a dorje:
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x149/Gnomick/Motivators/bp-dorje.jpg

Dorje is also a common men's name in Tibet.

Vajra is another word for dorje.
Xeraph
04-25-08, 04:55 AM On the account of Drow. I believe it is pronunciated like "crow". Simply because it comes from the word troll or trold (the danish/scandinavian word for troll) which is much closer to "crow" than "mraauw *kaboom*".

Also check these threads:
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=854835
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drow
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/drow

Gary Gygax and R.A Salavtore along with Neverwinternights have repeatedly pronunciated it like "cow" though. But since the word isn't invented by DND I would say, they hold no sway. Good day.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Orenmir 04-16-08, 10:20 AM	Just a simple question... How do you pronounce Dorje? And, what's the source of your pronunciation?
forsaken1111 04-16-08, 10:57 AM	Pronounced: Door-shay or Door-jay Source: I made it up, sounds good, looks right to me. And 'Doorge' sounded stupid. (Like George, but with a D sound at the beginning)
Eerongal 04-16-08, 11:07 AM	me, and everyone i know (who uses psionics, that is) have always said "door-jay". No idea if it's right. Just what we've always said.
InkBlot 04-16-08, 11:25 AM	As far as I know, it's "dor-jay," emphasis on the "ay." Dorje is a Tibetan word. Dorje are used by in certain Hindu, Buddhist, and Jainist rituals. As far as I know, the dorje is just held in the right hand of a meditating monk. The word "dorje" translates roughly to "noble stone," and represents the "thunderbolt of enlightenment." Here's a picture of a dorje: http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x149/Gnomick/Motivators/bp-dorje.jpg Dorje is also a common men's name in Tibet. A dorje is also called a vajra.
forsaken1111 04-16-08, 11:28 AM	It's dorjé, accent on the e. Dorje is a Tibetan word. Dorje are used by in certain Hindu, Buddhist, and Jainist rituals. As far as I know, the dorje is just held in the right hand of a meditating monk. The word "dorje" translates roughly to "noble stone," and represents the "thunderbolt of enlightenment." Here's a picture of a dorje: http://www.clicksitebuilder.com/home2/ts/thaiexotictreasures.com/images/b/bp-dorje.jpg Thats interesting, but he asked for the pronunciation of the word, not the etymology.
InkBlot 04-16-08, 11:33 AM	I gave him the pronunciation in the first sentece.
Eerongal 04-16-08, 11:56 AM	according to dictionary.com it's dawr-juh
BloodSpill 04-16-08, 12:05 PM	I gave him the pronunciation in the first sentece. Look, forsaken1111 doesn't know the difference between é and e, so explain it.
Orenmir 04-16-08, 12:10 PM	It's dorjé, accent on the e. Curious... What is the source of your pronunciation? It is different than dictionary.com. Of course, it is possible that there are several accepted pronunciations. I'm now curious to which is the most common.
forsaken1111 04-16-08, 12:11 PM	I gave him the pronunciation in the first sentece. No, you just spelled the word again and pointed out that the accent is over the e. A lot of people have no idea what that accent mark means, or what sound it signifies. Look, forsaken1111 doesn't know the difference between é and e, so explain it. Yes I do, but many people don't. This isn't the first "How do I say Dorje?" thread.
Orenmir 04-16-08, 12:13 PM	This isn't the first "How do I say Dorje?" thread. Rats -- I even searched before I posted, but couldn't find any. Give me a link, if you can -- thanks. I didn't even think to check dictionary.com because I thought it was a made up word!
InkBlot 04-16-08, 12:15 PM	The source of my pronunciation is the english narrator of a show I saw on the History channel a while back. I've never heard it from a native Tibetan speaker, so maybe I am mispronouncing it. At any rate, what's wrong with giving a little extra information? It wasn't very long. You don't have to read it if you don't want to.
The_Mess 04-16-08, 12:19 PM	Dictionary.com gives the pronunciation as "dawr-juh".
Orenmir 04-16-08, 12:20 PM	At any rate, what's wrong with giving a little extra information? It wasn't very long. You don't have to read it if you don't want to. Absolutely nothing! Actually, I appreciate the background. Had I known it was an actual word, I would have done the research myself. Thanks for the pic too!
Ananvilhurtz 04-16-08, 12:24 PM	I've always pronounced it Dee-joor-A. Even though spelling immediately contradicts me.
Orenmir 04-16-08, 12:28 PM	I've always pronounced it Dee-joor-A. Djore? Even though spelling immediately contradicts me. Spelling doesn't always help with pronunciation. Just ask Brett Favre. ;)
The_Mess 04-16-08, 12:32 PM	I note in passing: In English, the diacritic marks aren't really used consistently. We only use them on words borrowed from other languages, which means that the marks mean whatever-the-mark-means-in-that-other-language. In other words, no consistency at all. In words borrowed from French (which is most of the time we use it), the é gives an "-ay" pronunciation: Fiancé: Fee-on-say, not Fi-ance Touché: Two-shay, not Touchy But note that ée is different from é: Fiancée: Fee-on-see Notice that none of the vowels are really given standard english pronunciations. The diacritic generally just means, "give the whole word a funny foreign sound." : - ) Resumé is spelled "résumé" in French, but English drops the first diacritic because we don't know what they're for and only the final letter needs highlighted to suggest the correct pronunciation: Re-su-may, not Re-zoom. And that's just the beginning of the confusion. ë is more consistent and can usually be safely read, "Read aloud what would normally be a silent vowel." Zoë: Zoh-e, not Zoh é can be used the same way, though. On the whole, the best reading for any diacritic mark is, "I should look up this pronunciation if I don't know it." : - ) As always, see Wikipedia for more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diacritic
Mercurius 04-16-08, 01:01 PM	Huh. I've always just pronounced it "Dor-hey." Gonna take some getting used to trying to pronounce it differently. Of course, a lot of words are commonly mispronounced. I remember looking up Chimera in the dictionary to see how it was pronounced, and I don't think I've ever heard it pronounced the way the dictionary specified (except by myself).
M-bark 04-16-08, 01:10 PM	I always pronounced it as "Dhor-zjuh", based on what it originally was/is (see InkBlot's post). It might be a little bit off, but I think that's about right.
InkBlot 04-16-08, 01:16 PM	Dictionary.com has audio samples to go along with it's pronunciation key. Check it out! (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dorje) They pronounce it "door juh." Rhymes with Georgia. Looks like I was a little off after all. Also, they pronounce chimera (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=chimera) the same way I've always heard it. Except, often people skip over the first vowel sound, so it sometimes comes out more like "kuh meer ah" instead of "kim meer ah."
AntiDjinn 04-16-08, 01:42 PM	Vajra (Devanagari: वज्र) is a Sanskrit word meaning both thunderbolt and diamond and is a ritual tool or spiritual implement which is symbolically used by Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. It is particularly important in Buddhism. In Jainism , it is the symbol or mark for one of the Thirthankars namely Dharmanatha. The equivalent word in Tibetan is dorje (Wylie: rdo-rje; ZWPY: dojê), which is also a common male name in Tibet and Bhutan. Dorje can also refer to a small sceptre held in the right hand by Tibetan lamas during religious ceremonies. Any word in such common use is bound to have multiple pronunciations and to have a complex etymology. Add up all the Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains, plus all the other people well-traveled or well-read enough to be familiar with the word, and it will be well over a billion people. The Sanskrit word "vajra" is probably the older version, but in both cases the spelling is simply a rendering of a word into Roman script. You could always go through the Tibetan phone book until you find someone with that name, call him up and ask him how he pronounces it. By the way, if you look at Buddhist and Hindu idols with dorjes, they hold them like a scepter or rod rather than point them like a gun.
Ananvilhurtz 04-16-08, 02:44 PM	Djore? Precisely.
Phaenix 04-16-08, 03:53 PM	Ooh! Language! Yay! In English, the diacritic marks aren't really used consistently. We only use them on words borrowed from other languages, which means that the marks mean whatever-the-mark-means-in-that-other-language. In other words, no consistency at all. I agree wholeheartedly! That's what make English so great and so frustrating at the same time. In words borrowed from French (which is most of the time we use it), the é gives an "-ay" pronunciation: Fiancé: Fee-on-say, not Fi-ance Touché: Two-shay, not Touchy But note that ée is different from é: Fiancée: Fee-on-see This doesn't jive with the French I've learned. As far as I know, "Fiancé" and "Fiancée" are pronounced identically, both in French and in English. That said, there may be regional differences in English pronunciations of the latter. EDIT: So as to not be off-topic, I've always pronounced it "Door-jee," but I have no excuse for that pronunciation.
forsaken1111 04-16-08, 03:58 PM	This doesn't jive with the French I've learned. As far as I know, "Fiancé" and "Fiancée" are pronounced identically, both in French and in English. That said, there may be regional differences in English pronunciations of the latter. I have never before seen the word "Fiancée" and refuse to believe it is real. That said, if asked to pronounce it I would indeed say it as described above, not the same as Fiancé.
Phaenix 04-16-08, 04:46 PM	I have never before seen the word "Fiancée" and refuse to believe it is real. That said, if asked to pronounce it I would indeed say it as described above, not the same as Fiancé. Well, that would be a faux pas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faux_pas)! A man who is engaged to be married is called his partner's fiancé; a woman similarly engaged is called her partner's fiancée. These words are pronounced identically in English; the separate feminine form exists because of the inflectional morphology of grammatical gender in French, where the term originated. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiancee) OK, "inflectional morphology" is a little too haute, even for me (hint: pronounce that one "haughty"). I think you are absolutely right to disbelieve it. --end threadjack--- I'm the only psionics player in my current group, and my DM and fellow players still refer to "manifesting" as "casting," so I think from now on, I'll just call Dorjes "Psionic Wands."
forsaken1111 04-16-08, 04:51 PM	OK, "inflectional morphology" is a little too haute, even for me (hint: pronounce that one "haughty"). I think you are absolutely right to disbelieve it. Woot, I was correct. I'm the only psionics player in my current group, and my DM and fellow players still refer to "manifesting" as "casting," so I think from now on, I'll just call Dorjes "Psionic Wands." I always called em "My little crystal sticks of death." in character... and everyone scooted away from me as I giggled. Did I mention my psion was nutty as a peanut farm?
Phaenix 04-16-08, 04:58 PM	I always called em "My little crystal sticks of death." in character... and everyone scooted away from me as I giggled. Did I mention my psion was nutty as a peanut farm? Wouldn't that make him legume-y? Oy, enough with the me being literal. On a related note, my fellow gamers pronounce "Terrasque" Terr-ah-SKEW. My inclination would be to pronounce it Terr-ASK. Anyone got any input on the big guy's name? Anyone got any other pronouncements?
forsaken1111 04-16-08, 05:04 PM	Wouldn't that make him legume-y? Oy, enough with the me being literal. On a related note, my fellow gamers pronounce "Terrasque" Terr-ah-SKEW. My inclination would be to pronounce it Terr-ASK. Anyone got any input on the big guy's name? Anyone got any other pronouncements? My group is torn on that. Some say it one way, some the other.
InkBlot 04-16-08, 05:20 PM	On a related note, my fellow gamers pronounce "Terrasque" Terr-ah-SKEW. My inclination would be to pronounce it Terr-ASK. Anyone got any input on the big guy's name? Anyone got any other pronouncements? It's French (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarasque). So pronounce the "que" as much as you pronounce it with other French-esque words. I pronounce it "terr-ASK," and so does everybody else I know (though some in my D&D group tell horror stories of those who pronounce it "tear-askew."
Phaenix 04-16-08, 06:03 PM	It's French (tarrasque). So pronounce the "que" as much as you pronounce it with other French-esque words. I pronounce it "terr-ASK," and so does everybody else I know (though some in my D&D group tell horror stories of those who pronounce it "tear-askew." "French-esque" Love it! Yep, that's why I pronounce it that way. I'm not sure there are too many other francophiles here in Tejas, however. I don't think it makes too much of a difference one way or the other, as long as nobody gets too worked up about it. Here's another one: Drow. How do you pronounce the Dark Elves' name? I have the feeling that most people pronounce it so that it rhymes with "cow." However, it's derived from the same word as "troll," so it can also be pronounced "Droh." I rhyme it with the sound one makes when one is hurt, because I read the Drizzt books long before I knew of the other pronunciation. How about you guys? PS: InkBlot, your link doesn't go anywhere for me.
calronmoonflower 04-16-08, 06:16 PM	I pronounce it da-shjore (like in fruit dasjore (misspelled I'm sure)). I believe that isn't the way that it is meant, but sounds better to me.
Orenmir 04-16-08, 06:20 PM	I pronounce it da-shjore (like in fruit dasjore (misspelled I'm sure)). I believe that isn't the way that it is meant, but sounds better to me. Man, that's worse than Djore. Or Favre! :P
InkBlot 04-16-08, 06:39 PM	Here's another one: Drow. How do you pronounce the Dark Elves' name? I have the feeling that most people pronounce it so that it rhymes with "cow." However, it's derived from the same word as "troll," so it can also be pronounced "Droh." I rhyme it with the sound one makes when one is hurt, because I read the Drizzt books long before I knew of the other pronunciation. How about you guys? PS: InkBlot, your link doesn't go anywhere for me. Rhymes with "cow." And I fixed the link. It goes to the wikipedia page on the Tarrasque (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarasque). The Tarrasque float that they parade through Tarascon every year in France looks remarkably like Bowser (http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/bowser.html). Which is great, because Giga Bowser (http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/bowser.html#3rd) looks remarkably like the Tarrasque from D&D.
Phaenix 04-16-08, 06:54 PM	The Tarrasque float that they parade through Tarascon every year in France looks remarkably like Bowser (http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/bowser.html). Which is great, because Giga Bowser (http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/bowser.html#3rd) looks remarkably like the Tarrasque from D&D. Cool. I love learning the real-world mythology that inspires all the cool D&D monsters. Thanks!
The_Mess 04-16-08, 11:38 PM	I'm... wrong...? No! It cannot be! The French must be corrected to match my pronunciation of fiancée!
MnemonicSV 04-17-08, 04:48 AM	I've always pronounced it: Door-jay. I looked it up years ago, but admittedly I can't remember what the source was (somewhere online, probably nothing definitive). Tarrasque has never been a problem for my group; Bulette was the questionable one. For years (way back into 2e) we pronounced it bool-AY for some bizarre reason (maybe as though it were french... we're Canadian after all), then someone new to the group started pronouncing it BULL-ette or sometimes bull-ETTE. We never did get an answer on that one. "Land shark" works fine for me. ;)
hogarth 04-17-08, 07:01 AM	Huh. I always pronounced it as one syllable, rhyming with "George".
Slagger the Chuul 04-17-08, 10:27 AM	And I fixed the link. It goes to the wikipedia page on the Tarrasque (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarasque). The Tarrasque float that they parade through Tarascon every year in France looks remarkably like Bowser (http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/bowser.html). Which is great, because Giga Bowser (http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/bowser.html#3rd) looks remarkably like the Tarrasque from D&D. The first time I heard of a tarrasque was in a Piers Anthony book (I think it was called Crewel Lye), where it appeared almost identical to the mythological form. It was only about the size of one of those floats, however. I usually pronouced "dorje" as doorj-shay (not much of the "s", but it's hard to describe the transition between the sounds) and "drow" as rhyming with cow. "Tarrasque" I pronounce as Tar-ask (the first "tar" rhymes with "bar" as in "barracks").
Racinante 04-17-08, 10:41 AM	My two cents.... Drow rhymes with crow and grow, not brow and prow. Dorje is pronounced wand....
Phaenix 04-18-08, 05:12 PM	"Tarrasque" I pronounce as Tar-ask (the first "tar" rhymes with "bar" as in "barracks"). D'oh. I see T-vowel-R-R, and my mind puts an E in there. That's why I said Terr-Ask. But you're right - that is an A in there. I'm going to start pronouncing it this way.
AlterFrom 04-18-08, 05:51 PM	Dorje: "DOOR-hay", because it sounded cooler than a roughly phonetic version of "door-JAY" or "door-ZHAY". As phonetic as English can be, that is. Tarrasque: "ter-RASK". 'Cuz I'm too lazy to pronounce mah letters right. Bulette: "boo-LET". Just 'cuz. Drow: Some one the CharOp boards says it rhymes with the word "bow". I agree with them.
Orenmir 04-18-08, 11:08 PM	Drow: Some one the CharOp boards says it rhymes with the word "bow". I agree with them. "Bow" as in what you do at the end of a performance? Or "bow" as in something that fires arrows?
AlterFrom 04-18-08, 11:10 PM	"Bow" as in what you do at the end of a performance? Or "bow" as in something that fires arrows? Yes. :P (:rimshot:)
Kuros81 04-18-08, 11:16 PM	'Wand'
turalisj 04-19-08, 03:51 PM	I've always pronounced it Dee-joor-A. Even though spelling immediately contradicts me. I always pronounced it as door-j
Stado 04-20-08, 04:33 AM	Similar to the poster above me, I always just pronounced it the way it's spelt, and that is "dor·j". Soft 'j' (with an almost 'sh' sound), silent 'e'. Kind'a like the third syllable in fabriche [egg], only, without the -ey part. And, quite frankly, I prefer it to the actual pronunciation.
Joni-san 04-23-08, 07:45 PM	I speak it as written. Then again I'm Finnish and do so with almost all languages. English being the very messed up exception. http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8135/avatar398725sl1.png -Joni
Xavon 04-23-08, 09:31 PM	answers without reading, to preserve validity. Rhymes with George. --------------- Also, drow rhymes with cow, and bullete rhymes with frappe, and Tarrasque rhymes with picturesque.
protosswarrior 04-23-08, 09:53 PM	I usually use door-yay (rhymes with ray or lay)...
InkBlot 04-23-08, 10:05 PM	For people who haven't bothered to look at the 1st page of this thread: Dorje is pronounced "door juh." Rhymes with Georgia. Dictionary.com has audio samples to go along with it's pronunciation key. Check it out! (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dorje) Dorje is a Tibetan word. Dorje are used in certain Hindu, Buddhist, and Jainist rituals. The word "dorje" translates roughly to "noble stone," and represents the "thunderbolt of enlightenment." Here's a picture of a dorje: http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x149/Gnomick/Motivators/bp-dorje.jpg Dorje is also a common men's name in Tibet. Vajra is another word for dorje.
Xeraph 04-25-08, 04:55 AM	On the account of Drow. I believe it is pronunciated like "crow". Simply because it comes from the word troll or trold (the danish/scandinavian word for troll) which is much closer to "crow" than "mraauw kaboom". Also check these threads: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=854835 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drow http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/drow Gary Gygax and R.A Salavtore along with Neverwinternights have repeatedly pronunciated it like "cow" though. But since the word isn't invented by DND I would say, they hold no sway. Good day.