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language and filed teeth

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
dokesa
Aug 14, 2008 10:22:02 I'm creating phonology and vocabulary for the ten languages and I need help for draconic. Dragons have pointy teeth. How does this affect what sounds they can make? If anyone knows anyone who has teeth filed to a point (or even lots of missing front teeth), what sounds are difficult to make and what sounds are easier?
#2
danmarlok
Aug 14, 2008 11:47:01 Teeth arent all that important to the sounds we make, it's the shape of the mouth especially the upper surface, the tounge, the vocal cords etc. My grandmother didn't have a problem talking without her teeth in (dentures) so I can't imagine simply filing them would make a difference.
#3
morandir62
Aug 14, 2008 15:17:31 This was recommended to me by DRAGONFLAME in my post on languages http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?p=16568245.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Others/Home-Education/LangMaker.shtml

It looks pretty good if you want to build languages.

Instead of building languages I used real world equivalants of script and spoken languages. If I want to give them a hand out in the foreign text i just download the font and type it up. I don't really expect them to talk it, though if they are told what language they are hearing they can relate it to their real world experiences.
#4
Rogue_Elendae
Aug 15, 2008 6:41:06 Don't know if this is helpful at all, but as far as linguistic sounds, I always likened dragons more to horses in how their pronunciations might sound, even (heck, especially) when speaking Common. I always figured it was less the pointy teeth, more the long, narrow muzzle that would have an effect on the sound. Therefore, a lot of sounds that are similar to a snort or a higher, almost trilling noise--like a whinny, or even a squeal--are plausible. Also, I'd figure on a vague sort of sibilance to their general speaking quality, as well as to their language in general, due to the likelihood of a slender, serpentine tongue.

For instance, one of the big features I consider common to how dragons sound (in my campaign setting, at least) is a sort of heavy nasal exhalation on certain sounds, like "k" or similar sounds...it'd add a sort of huffing quality, turning a sharp sound like a "k" sound into more of a "kh" (if that makes sense). This same sort of nasal quality can also lend a sort of rolling or chuffing quality to certain sounds, mostly vowel sounds (again, taking from equine sounds, such as a whicker)...though I'm not quite sure how to effectively describe it. One example would be that a short "u" sound would be more of a "huf" sound...again, if that makes sense.

I find that I tend to describe and try to emulate dragons speaking as putting the sibilant quality on an inhale...a sort of hiss just before certain letters (an "s", "z", or a sibilant "c"), so that there's a sort of sucking-in quality to it...again, kind of awkward to explain...

I don't know if this helps...like I said, I've just always figured it'd be less the pointy teeth, more the long muzzle that'd make dragon speech sound different, and might therefore have some distinct effects on how draconic language evolved. And I find the animal with the most comparable face structure in the real world to be a horse, so I borrowed a few things based on them and added in the rest.

So you're seriously trying to work up actual concepts of what the languages are like for your own campaign setting (or just in general)? Gutsy undertaking, and I hope you show the final product somewhere. It'd be interesting to see. Hope this helps some.
#5
angorath
Aug 15, 2008 22:12:13 If you don't already know this website, have a look at http://www.zompist.com/kit.html. It's my favourite conlang website. If you look at Types of Consonants under Sounds, it shows that 'th' (both kinds) are the main dental consonants in English, so these are the ones most likely to be affected by the dragon's teeth. However, there is also a short bit about alien mouths which might be of interest to you.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dokesa Aug 14, 2008 10:22:02	I'm creating phonology and vocabulary for the ten languages and I need help for draconic. Dragons have pointy teeth. How does this affect what sounds they can make? If anyone knows anyone who has teeth filed to a point (or even lots of missing front teeth), what sounds are difficult to make and what sounds are easier?
#2 danmarlok Aug 14, 2008 11:47:01	Teeth arent all that important to the sounds we make, it's the shape of the mouth especially the upper surface, the tounge, the vocal cords etc. My grandmother didn't have a problem talking without her teeth in (dentures) so I can't imagine simply filing them would make a difference.
#3 morandir62 Aug 14, 2008 15:17:31	This was recommended to me by DRAGONFLAME in my post on languages http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?p=16568245. http://www.softpedia.com/get/Others/Home-Education/LangMaker.shtml It looks pretty good if you want to build languages. Instead of building languages I used real world equivalants of script and spoken languages. If I want to give them a hand out in the foreign text i just download the font and type it up. I don't really expect them to talk it, though if they are told what language they are hearing they can relate it to their real world experiences.
#4 Rogue_Elendae Aug 15, 2008 6:41:06	Don't know if this is helpful at all, but as far as linguistic sounds, I always likened dragons more to horses in how their pronunciations might sound, even (heck, especially) when speaking Common. I always figured it was less the pointy teeth, more the long, narrow muzzle that would have an effect on the sound. Therefore, a lot of sounds that are similar to a snort or a higher, almost trilling noise--like a whinny, or even a squeal--are plausible. Also, I'd figure on a vague sort of sibilance to their general speaking quality, as well as to their language in general, due to the likelihood of a slender, serpentine tongue. For instance, one of the big features I consider common to how dragons sound (in my campaign setting, at least) is a sort of heavy nasal exhalation on certain sounds, like "k" or similar sounds...it'd add a sort of huffing quality, turning a sharp sound like a "k" sound into more of a "kh" (if that makes sense). This same sort of nasal quality can also lend a sort of rolling or chuffing quality to certain sounds, mostly vowel sounds (again, taking from equine sounds, such as a whicker)...though I'm not quite sure how to effectively describe it. One example would be that a short "u" sound would be more of a "huf" sound...again, if that makes sense. I find that I tend to describe and try to emulate dragons speaking as putting the sibilant quality on an inhale...a sort of hiss just before certain letters (an "s", "z", or a sibilant "c"), so that there's a sort of sucking-in quality to it...again, kind of awkward to explain... I don't know if this helps...like I said, I've just always figured it'd be less the pointy teeth, more the long muzzle that'd make dragon speech sound different, and might therefore have some distinct effects on how draconic language evolved. And I find the animal with the most comparable face structure in the real world to be a horse, so I borrowed a few things based on them and added in the rest. So you're seriously trying to work up actual concepts of what the languages are like for your own campaign setting (or just in general)? Gutsy undertaking, and I hope you show the final product somewhere. It'd be interesting to see. Hope this helps some.
#5 angorath Aug 15, 2008 22:12:13	If you don't already know this website, have a look at http://www.zompist.com/kit.html. It's my favourite conlang website. If you look at Types of Consonants under Sounds, it shows that 'th' (both kinds) are the main dental consonants in English, so these are the ones most likely to be affected by the dragon's teeth. However, there is also a short bit about alien mouths which might be of interest to you.