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Accents & Language

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
fjorynn
Jul 25, 2009 19:52:08 This question is based more in the Forgotten Realms setting. I have a human Wizard level 5, he is a member of the "Illuskan" Ethnic group. I want to continue delving into this peoples culture and language if there is any information floating around.

I could just call it a day and say "Illuskan, they live in the north, they are mostly barbarians and they respect strength, there are Burial mounds and I heard there are longships. There vikings DONE!" I want to see if I can do any more research if I can before I finally make the call what the Illuskan language and the accent spoken with it sounds like.

So far I narrowed it down to:

The Illuskan language might sound like the following languages: Old Norse, Celtic, German, Dutch, or any of the Scandinavian languages
The Accent that the Illuskan Language Might be spoken in: Any of the Scandinavian languages, Irish, Scottish, Dutch, German, British?
#2
lord_karsus
Aug 03, 2009 11:47:21 -I've always imagined them sounding Norse.
#3
aumvor
Aug 03, 2009 12:09:12
-I've always imagined them sounding Norse.

How does "Norse" sound?;)
#4
lord_karsus
Aug 03, 2009 12:13:13
How does "Norse" sound?;)

-Something like this. :P
#5
aumvor
Aug 03, 2009 12:29:37
-Something like this. :P

Haha, fair enough.
#6
BadCatMan
Aug 03, 2009 19:46:43 The old Dragon Annual 4 had the "Speaking In Tongues" article, which had a linguistic tree of all the human languages, dialects, pidgins, argots, etc, etc. For Illuskans, there is:

Group: Illuski (a la Germanic, Old Norse, Danish, Norwegian) [similar real world group and examples of real languages]
Subgroup: Illuski [no separate subgroups]
Languages:
Truskan [Dead or ancient language]
Illuskan (Moonshae, Ruathen, True [Luskan], Northern, Tarnian)
Bothii (Uthgardt, Hartsvaler)
Reghedjic

Most of these would just come under the "Illuskan" language, the others would be considered local dialects, regional accents, or different languages understandable to a greater or lesser degree.
#7
1_ton_ghost
Aug 04, 2009 13:38:24 Good thread, nj btw.
I wish more of these would pop up as it gives a DM a much better place to hip shoot, NPCs specifically. That is, the slightest change in narration, ie) an accent for example, can totally change the flavor of the delivery. It's such a small consideration/source of innovation & immersion w/ such a huge payoff. I wish more DMs would do that rather than yet another dry-as-Ben Stein delivery monologue from another cardboard cut out villain...

Little changes (that require like zero effort) make a world of difference.

As per Illuskan, I imagine it to be largely Scandanavian, pseudo Celt given all the activity in the North (Faerun's, not our's). Like a cross between Swedish, Lapp, Gaelic & Old/Mid English. Hard to say. There's plenty of material to work w/, but the culture is pretty telling.

I've NPC'ed plenty of Illuskans that come off sounding like everything from "Sguisgar" (Metalocalypse) to the "Swedish Chef" (Muppets) to "Beowulf" (film). Decent @ quick improv, so it helps DM'ing I guess.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 fjorynn Jul 25, 2009 19:52:08	This question is based more in the Forgotten Realms setting. I have a human Wizard level 5, he is a member of the "Illuskan" Ethnic group. I want to continue delving into this peoples culture and language if there is any information floating around. I could just call it a day and say "Illuskan, they live in the north, they are mostly barbarians and they respect strength, there are Burial mounds and I heard there are longships. There vikings DONE!" I want to see if I can do any more research if I can before I finally make the call what the Illuskan language and the accent spoken with it sounds like. So far I narrowed it down to: The Illuskan language might sound like the following languages: Old Norse, Celtic, German, Dutch, or any of the Scandinavian languages The Accent that the Illuskan Language Might be spoken in: Any of the Scandinavian languages, Irish, Scottish, Dutch, German, British?
#2 lord_karsus Aug 03, 2009 11:47:21	-I've always imagined them sounding Norse.
#3 aumvor Aug 03, 2009 12:09:12	-I've always imagined them sounding Norse. How does "Norse" sound?;)
#4 lord_karsus Aug 03, 2009 12:13:13	How does "Norse" sound?;) -Something like this. :P
#5 aumvor Aug 03, 2009 12:29:37	-Something like this. :P Haha, fair enough.
#6 BadCatMan Aug 03, 2009 19:46:43	The old Dragon Annual 4 had the "Speaking In Tongues" article, which had a linguistic tree of all the human languages, dialects, pidgins, argots, etc, etc. For Illuskans, there is: Group: Illuski (a la Germanic, Old Norse, Danish, Norwegian) [similar real world group and examples of real languages] Subgroup: Illuski [no separate subgroups] Languages: Truskan [Dead or ancient language] Illuskan (Moonshae, Ruathen, True [Luskan], Northern, Tarnian) Bothii (Uthgardt, Hartsvaler) Reghedjic Most of these would just come under the "Illuskan" language, the others would be considered local dialects, regional accents, or different languages understandable to a greater or lesser degree.
#7 1_ton_ghost Aug 04, 2009 13:38:24	Good thread, nj btw. I wish more of these would pop up as it gives a DM a much better place to hip shoot, NPCs specifically. That is, the slightest change in narration, ie) an accent for example, can totally change the flavor of the delivery. It's such a small consideration/source of innovation & immersion w/ such a huge payoff. I wish more DMs would do that rather than yet another dry-as-Ben Stein delivery monologue from another cardboard cut out villain... Little changes (that require like zero effort) make a world of difference. As per Illuskan, I imagine it to be largely Scandanavian, pseudo Celt given all the activity in the North (Faerun's, not our's). Like a cross between Swedish, Lapp, Gaelic & Old/Mid English. Hard to say. There's plenty of material to work w/, but the culture is pretty telling. I've NPC'ed plenty of Illuskans that come off sounding like everything from "Sguisgar" (Metalocalypse) to the "Swedish Chef" (Muppets) to "Beowulf" (film). Decent @ quick improv, so it helps DM'ing I guess.