Eorzea's Accents

[YesGood]

Alright so I've had a little trouble with them accents. In WoW it was pretty straight forward... There weren't really a ton of accents, really.

 

In FFXIV I'm having some difficulty. I -know- there's an accent in Ul'dah, and I think there's one for Limsa Lominsa and honestly I'm having trouble telling between the two. I also know the Scions/Circle have their own British thing going on. Anyway, if you guys can identify the regional accents (I really don't think we should discuss whether -every- character in a region has an accent) and give an example of a sentence, I would greatly appreciate it.

[Rosekitten]

The limsa one seems to be more or less along the lines of sailor talk from what I've noticed (not sure the correct term for this.. so i'm sorry in advanced). Skipping over a few of the letters and such or leaving off g's 

 

Though some of the NPC's do seem to talk similar to the ones you find in Ul'dah as well. Could vary depending on background I suppose?

 

~just my five cents im no language or speech master that is for sure~ 

 

As far as a character with a accent I know I have a flair of the Limsa one in mine after he ended up living there nearly ten years as a young teen. I also know the captain of the FC I'm in has a heavy accept as far as that goes. I can't think of any other characters I've noticed with a accent yet or I'd point them your way so you can get more feedback.

 

edit for examples or slight research i did during the beta to get my own characters accent correct with the region. As I said.. not perfect but it's what I gathered from the npc's anyway so I'd assume it is lore correct to the region ^^;

an'

sweatin' , moanin', rollin' , dyin'

bloomin' , bleedin'

peddlin's

ain't

ye

out o'

ain't

'ere

'ave

'venturin'

ye'll

ye've

fer

aye

'em

'tis

s'not that eavy of an accent. jes a bit of edge to it eh?

stubborn sod

 

ye, instead of you. aye, instead of yes/yeah, and things that end in R end them in ah or eh instead

 

[Gharen]

Alright so I've had a little trouble with them accents. In WoW it was pretty straight forward... There weren't really a ton of accents, really.

 

In FFXIV I'm having some difficulty. I -know- there's an accent in Ul'dah, and I think there's one for Limsa Lominsa and honestly I'm having trouble telling between the two. I also know the Scions/Circle have their own British thing going on. Anyway, if you guys can identify the regional accents (I really don't think we should discuss whether -every- character in a region has an accent) and give an example of a sentence, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

As I'm sure you're aware, Gharen speaks with I would say a moderate to thick Scottish accent, which is something he almost did not have. I've seen a few NPC's here and there speak in a similar accent for instance the blacksmiths guild master in Limsa. I can't think of all of them but it's sprinkled through the game here and there. Ultimately I don't think that particular accent is region specific, though as I recall in the first cutscene regarding the Garlean empire a midlander claiming to be from Ala Mhigo was sporting one as well, just before he was offed. I could be wrong on that so please correct me if I am.

[Chisae]

Limsa accent makes me think of Boomhauer from King of the Hill when Baedron talks. lol

 

Gridania accent you could probly put an Irish accent and it would fit, or a American redneck accent (lol).

[DAISHI]

I'm almost sure Minfilia is forcing hers.

[Tobias Nightbringer]

The Hydaelyn voice (I think she would be considered 'Hydaelyn) when your character first goes on their acid trip is definitely some kind of European accent. Old English maybe?

 

Only other voice I've heard so far is Thancred. I THINK it was also some kind of Western European accent? Possibly British? I too was staring at his face rather than looking at his voice and thinking to myself, "Damn...why couldn't I have made such a Bishi-boy? xD"

[Chisae]

I listen to the cutscenes in Japanese. :3 As long as they don't speak in Yokohama area or Hokkaido dialects, I can understand some of what they say. lol

[Tobias Nightbringer]

I listen to the cutscenes in Japanese. :3 As long as they don't speak in Yokohama area or Hokkaido dialects, I can understand some of what they say. lol

 

Does it make me a horrible person whenever I tell my friends who talk about Asian culture and the like, "ARR RROOK/SOUND SAME!"?

 

Now I'm not saying I'm racist...but I am saying I'm racist

[YesGood]

I listen to the cutscenes in Japanese. :3 As long as they don't speak in Yokohama area or Hokkaido dialects, I can understand some of what they say. lol

 

Does it make me a horrible person whenever I tell my friends who talk about Asian culture and the like, "ARR RROOK/SOUND SAME!"?

 

Now I'm not saying I'm racist...but I am saying I'm racist

 

I discovered at a young age that the side of my family is faaaaaaaaaaaaaar more racist (particularly against other Asians) than the caucasian side. I find it... shall we say... hirarious?

 

I swear the Limsa and Ul'dah accents -do- sound a touch similar but the Limsa does sound a bit more 'pirate-y' and the Ul'dah sounds... I... er... uh... I 'unno. Feels like so long since I did a cutscene in Ul'dah that I have no idea.

 

And then there's the Sultana's tiny voice with the uber proper sound to it. *flails* My issue thus far is that Sio makes it a point to speak as 'properly' as she can. Very few to no contractions which gives her a somewhat impersonal feel (as is the intent). Once in a while when she gets super angry she dissolves into an accent that's a bit pirate-y. Even when speaking 'normally' she uses a lot of 'ye' 'aye' 'nay' 'naught' 'ought' etc.

[cuideag]

I've seen a few NPCs with kind of southernish American accents so I kind of ran with that... @____@

[Tobias Nightbringer]

 

 

 

I discovered at a young age that the side of my family is faaaaaaaaaaaaaar more racist (particularly against other Asians) than the caucasian side. I find it... shall we say... hirarious?

 

I swear the Limsa and Ul'dah accents -do- sound a touch similar but the Limsa does sound a bit more 'pirate-y' and the Ul'dah sounds... I... er... uh... I 'unno. Feels like so long since I did a cutscene in Ul'dah that I have no idea.

 

And then there's the Sultana's tiny voice with the uber proper sound to it. *flails* My issue thus far is that Sio makes it a point to speak as 'properly' as she can. Very few to no contractions which gives her a somewhat impersonal feel (as is the intent). Once in a while when she gets super angry she dissolves into an accent that's a bit pirate-y. Even when speaking 'normally' she uses a lot of 'ye' 'aye' 'nay' 'naught' 'ought' etc.

 

 

 

LOL, that is HIRRRARIOUS since when I was younger (many many moons ago ) my old generation of a family also had "old school/traditional" racism towards certain other Asians.

 

Now it is just mainly the older Japanese generation being HUGELY xenophobic. And my people performing the best sex changes the world literally has to offer  

 

TANGENT FTW!

 

Gaaah, and on another side note, we STILL need to have our characters meet >.<

 

I've seen a few NPCs with kind of southernish American accents so I kind of ran with that... @____@

 

Like is that what you imagined when you read their dialogue or are there actual cutscenes where Billy Bob Thorton comes slanging along? I want a Southern Belle!

[YesGood]

 

 

 

I discovered at a young age that the side of my family is faaaaaaaaaaaaaar more racist (particularly against other Asians) than the caucasian side. I find it... shall we say... hirarious?

 

I swear the Limsa and Ul'dah accents -do- sound a touch similar but the Limsa does sound a bit more 'pirate-y' and the Ul'dah sounds... I... er... uh... I 'unno. Feels like so long since I did a cutscene in Ul'dah that I have no idea.

 

And then there's the Sultana's tiny voice with the uber proper sound to it. *flails* My issue thus far is that Sio makes it a point to speak as 'properly' as she can. Very few to no contractions which gives her a somewhat impersonal feel (as is the intent). Once in a while when she gets super angry she dissolves into an accent that's a bit pirate-y. Even when speaking 'normally' she uses a lot of 'ye' 'aye' 'nay' 'naught' 'ought' etc.

 

 

 

 

LOL, that is HIRRRARIOUS since when I was younger (many many moons ago ) my old generation of a family also had "old school/traditional" racism towards certain other Asians.

 

Now it is just mainly the older Japanese generation being HUGELY xenophobic. And my people performing the best sex changes the world literally has to offer  

 

My heritage begs to diffah, good sir.

[Tobias Nightbringer]

My heritage begs to diffah, good sir.

 

 

Oh? Are we differing on the old school generation of Japanese (that STILL live in Japan. Those that do not are exempt from this rule) being xenophobic (also Tokyo is exempt from this!). Or that my heritage holds the title of having the best sex change operations?

[YesGood]

My heritage begs to diffah, good sir.

 

 

Oh? Are we differing on the old school generation of Japanese (that STILL live in Japan. Those that do not are exempt from this rule) being xenophobic (also Tokyo is exempt from this!). Or that my heritage holds the title of having the best sex change operations?

 

The second, unless you are Thai. Because Thais are recognized for their kathoey.

[Tobias Nightbringer]

Yes us Thai's are known for that, aren't we? ;P I'm not a Kathoey, but though admittedly I have been called pretty during the span of a few years...a lot >.>

ZCMxEkbPaPY

 

Thailand. HELL YEAH.

 

 

[YesGood]

Yes we are, aren't we? ;P Though admittedly I am NOT a Kathoey, but I have been called pretty during the span of a few years...a lot >.>

 

We have so much in common! Well... half of so much.

 

Okay SO, the 'pirate' accent as we know it supposedly...

 

"Stereotypical pirate accents tend to resemble accents either from Cornwall, South Devon or Bristol in South West England--"

 

So, there's that. And there's a 'southern'-American accent going on somewhere else? Gridania? Has anyone got any idea if there's a difference between Ul'dah people like Momodi and Limsa-folk?

[Arkghyom]

You could use these pointers to identify what kind of accent is he/she using. Also, you can determine their social class.

1. Occupation

2. Education

3. Salary (use your imagination, measure in wealth/abundance if the person is not getting paid for his/her services.)

4. Housing Locality

 

Trudgill (1974)

 

Example:

1. Fisherman

2. Fishermen's Guild, No formal Eorzean education.

3. 500-1,000 gil (?)

4. Limsa Lominsa

 

1~4= What kind of accent does he/she have? "He/she must be a Lominsian Fisherman (Lominsian Pirate accent,low class, low income, etc.)

 

I've been having my doubts about "Eorzean" accents, but I still have some questions:

 

1. What is "Eorzean"? What languages are involved?

2. Who speaks "Eorzean"?

3. Can we map it (Isoglossses)?

4. Where did it come from? What's the base language and what is the stratum?

 

PS It has flaws, but at least it's a small step.

[YesGood]

Those are some pretty good questions, most of which I have no answer for. I know that each race must have had their own language at some point and I wonder if maybe they only kept words and names? In a sense, Roegadyn are fairly easy compared to others, except maybe Hyur and Elezen (French) where you can put some words together using their naming conventions.

 

But Roegadyn don't seem to have any accents that would imply that their native tongue is heavy. So confused...

[Kismet]

I'm aiming for my Miqo'te to have an accent that is akin to that of Lyngsath (Culinarian GM, Roegadyn) and/or Pawah (Moon Keeper) from the Archer class quest line. She grew up in Limsa, and even used to be a part of the Maelstrom (and might have been a pirate at some point, I'm still trying to decide), but has been traveling nonstop for quite a few years now. I want her speech to be lazy and a bit rough yet very playful (like she is).

 

Not sure if this helps the OP, per se, but just thought I'd add my two cents (and these photos, so that others can get an idea of what's been discussed thus far in the thread).

 

 

 

 

 

[YesGood]

I'm aiming for my Miqo'te to have an accent that is akin to that of Lyngsath (Culinarian GM, Roegadyn) and/or Pawah (Moon Keeper) from the Archer class quest line. She grew up in Limsa, and even used to be a part of the Maelstrom (and might have been a pirate at some point, I'm still trying to decide), but has been traveling nonstop for quite a few years now. I want her speech to be lazy and a bit rough yet very playful (like she is).

 

Not sure if this helps the OP, per se, but just thought I'd add my two cents (and these photos, so that others can get an idea of what's been discussed thus far in the thread).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actually this is fantastic! It's just what I needed and didn't realize! Thank you so much. I just need to get Ul'dah accent Screenshots.

[Aysun]

Accents. Welp, I used the most obvious thing: vocal cut scenes. I consider most Eorzeans to have some sort of English accent, with an undertone of where they're from. Limsa is most obviously different, where as Gridania can seem more formal, and Ul'dah is somewhere in the middle.

 

Of course, education and social status have sooo much influence on this.

[Dravus]

On a side note if people do decide to give their character an accent please bear in mind the following:

 

- English is not the native tongue of many players, though even people who do boast it as their primary language can struggle to follow excessive use of accents which makes for a less than enjoyable experience for all those involved.

 

- Subtlety is best. A character who drops the last letter whenever 'ing' is the last part of a word is much more intriguing and realistic than a character who drops every other letter. 

 

- Work with the setting, not against it. If you're going to give your character an accent then you need to strive to ensure it's actually an accent that fits the setting and is ideally shown to exist within it. A foul mouthed 'piratey' accent is perfectly fine, a modern 'Paris Hilton' with excessive modern slang is going to stick out like a sore thumb.

[Sil'tel Ferima]

Regarding the accents I've encountered in Thanalan and the greater Ul'dah areas, I have observed a lot of them, and the one trait they all seem to share is a sense of false regality. With the one exception of Thancred, I can't help but read all the lines in the voice of a people who like to put on the mask of prosperity and nobility, while taking great pains to cover up a more rural way of speaking. This is perhaps a mirror to their society. A prosperous nation built on the backs of the miners and gatherers and honest, hard-working labourers of the land. They may be experiencing a time of plenty, and have a palace and aristocracy of great acclaim, but their lineage is rough-natured and down with the people who raised the riches from the dirt to begin with.

 

Momodi is a great example of your street-talking Lalafel. I get a very strong modern-day english flavour. Lazy with her speech, but spritely and chipper like a fast-tongued brooding mother. But it has been mentioned that many of the NPCs around Ul'dah could provide a more Irish appeal, and I will in no way contest this. I can't pull any names out of my head, but there were several characters whose accents had unmistakable Irish traits. I've yet to see any overtly Scottish accents, but it would not suprise me to know that some were written in to smaller variances.

 

My gut instinct is to treat Ul'dah as though it was the British Isles. To this effect, my own character, being from Ul'dah herself, has a pronounced faux-aristocratic accent which is easily lost to more urban traits when riled or brought out of her comfort zone.

[Gideon Aryeh]

Amaare speaks with the Limsan pirate accent for sure. Personally I love the accent differences. Though Thancred doesn't sound so Brit to me as he does sound more high American (aka we've been rich since George Washington). Same goes for the twins.

[Swift Nightclaw]

The Hydaelyn voice (I think she would be considered 'Hydaelyn) when your character first goes on their acid trip is definitely some kind of European accent. Old English maybe?

 

 

Hydaelyn's voice isn't an Old English/European accent.  It's Giladrielian.  I swear the voice actress was doing a Cate Blanchett Galadriel for the role.  Same inflection and intonation, same pacing to the speech.