215 réponses à ce sujet

[Darth Obvious]

I couldn't help but notice that most of not all the Ferelden humans in this game speak with a British accent (and presumably Orlais humans sound French like Leliana), and most if not all the elves seem to speak with an American accent (except Zevran, whose accent sounds eastern-European). Dwarves are mostly American-sounding, except for Bodahn who sounds Australian or something...

Thoughts? Comments?

In Star Wars, the British accent is tied mostly to the Empire, and the American accent is tied to the rebels. This is a corollary to the British Empire and the American Revolutionaries.

In DA, the British accent corresponds mostly to those belonging to the kingdom of Ferelden, and the American-sounding elves are like second-class citizens.

Coincidence?

[Iris562]

It could have just happened that way; I'm guessing they wanted to distinguish the differences between the two races, seeing as with "long hair" the female elves and humans look entirely the same bar a few pounds.

[Eisberg1977]

Given that Canada still pays some kind of homage to the Queen of England, perhaps that makes them feel like second class citizens?  :happy:

[adembroski11]

I doubt there was any nefarious plot involved here, they simply wanted to give the cultures some personality. I would have given the city elves Irish accents (which could be taken for a Ferelden ghetto speak) and the wild elves American accents, then given the dwarves their traditional Scottish accents. It seems strange to me that the elves and dwarves all hve the same accent.

Modifié par adembroski11, 11 janvier 2010 - 06:34 .

[Balek-Vriege]

Darth Obvious wrote...

I couldn't help but notice that most of not all the Ferelden humans in this game speak with a British accent (and presumably Orlais humans sound French like Leliana), and most if not all the elves seem to speak with an American accent (except Zevran, whose accent sounds eastern-European). Dwarves are mostly American-sounding, except for Bodahn who sounds Australian or something...

Thoughts? Comments?

In Star Wars, the British accent is tied mostly to the Empire, and the American accent is tied to the rebels. This is a corollary to the British Empire and the American Revolutionaries.

In DA, the British accent corresponds mostly to those belonging to the kingdom of Ferelden, and the American-sounding elves are like second-class citizens.

Coincidence?

I think not.
I also think by giving Elves North American accents symbolizes the fact that they're the true natives to the continent, while the Humans and their European accents are more the colonizers who have conquered their lands.

[Ryngard]

I think you are trying to find symbolism where non exists. Seriously, Humans are humans, elves are elves. Don't try to match it up or think on it too much.

[NDAv]

Disregarding the accents, I always thought the humans were like the European settlers in North America, and the current situation of the Elves seem to have a lot of parallels with the genocide of the aboriginals in the 20th century, especially in Canada and the US.

[Eleinehmm]

First of all, Zevran accent is clearly somewhat Spanish-like. People seem to have a very strange concept of Eastern-European accent, and I personally can’t understand how you can mistake Spanish-Italian with Polish-Russian.
As for elves being American – It is only true for Dalish elves – So it is more of a cultural thing, than racial one.

Modifié par Eleinehmm, 11 janvier 2010 - 06:41 .

[Sloth Of Doom]

Balek-Vriege wrote...

I think not.
I also think by giving Elves North American accents symbolizes the fact that they're the true natives to the continent, while the Humans and their European accents are more the colonizers who have conquered their lands.

How does that make any sense at all, considering that most North Americvans aren't the true natives of thier continent?


Let me go get my 'Jump to Conclusions' mat, so I can play too.

[Cybercat999]

They all sound *exotic* to me. I am Croatian.

[Darth Obvious]

Ryngard wrote...

I think you are trying to find symbolism where non exists. Seriously, Humans are humans, elves are elves. Don't try to match it up or think on it too much.

It wasn't meant to ruffle any feathers, guy. I just found it to be interesting on the developers' part, and that the choice of accent (however innocuous it may be) does indeed seem to have some thought behind it, that's all.

Modifié par Darth Obvious, 11 janvier 2010 - 06:44 .

[errant_knight]

Eisberg1977 wrote...

Given that Canada still pays some kind of homage to the Queen of England, perhaps that makes them feel like second class citizens?  :happy:

Nope. We're just being polite.

[iPwn_UK93]

Sloth Of Doom wrote...

Balek-Vriege wrote...

I think not.
I also think by giving Elves North American accents symbolizes the fact that they're the true natives to the continent, while the Humans and their European accents are more the colonizers who have conquered their lands.

How does that make any sense at all, considering that most North Americvans aren't the true natives of thier continent?


Let me go get my 'Jump to Conclusions' mat, so I can play too.

and the fact that if the Europeans didn't travel to America, then most people who say they are the 'Natives'  would not be there

But yes, i dont know why people tend to make such a fuss over these sorts of things

[Darth Obvious]

Eleinehmm wrote...

First of all, Zevran accent is clearly somewhat Spanish-like. People seem to have a very strange concept of Eastern-European accent, and I personally can’t understand how you can mistake Spanish-Italian with Polish-Russian.

Really? I'm around Spanish-speakers all the time (and a handful of Italians as well), and I don't think Zevran's accent sounds even remotely like them.

As for elves being American – It is only true for Dalish elves – So it is more of a cultural thing, than racial one.

Shianni and those city elves didn't speak with an American accent? I thought they did...

[Balek-Vriege]

Sloth Of Doom wrote...

Balek-Vriege wrote...

I think not.
I also think by giving Elves North American accents symbolizes the fact that they're the true natives to the continent, while the Humans and their European accents are more the colonizers who have conquered their lands.

How does that make any sense at all, considering that most North Americvans aren't the true natives of thier continent?


Let me go get my 'Jump to Conclusions' mat, so I can play too.

Not so much jumping to conclusions mat or making an exact historical links, just personal opinion...  I think I said I think didn't I? 

Actually I took out a paragraph because it didn't make sense to compare it directly, but I don't know any native american accents and what they were like back in the day.  It's just that giving "current" North American accents to Elves, combined with their culture and history hints at the continent's origin and history being based upon North America's.  Just like Ferelden seems to be Britain, Orlais France etc etc.  Things don't need to be exactly the same in order to compare them.  Not getting to far into it, you can't deny the plight of DA Elves seems similar to the historical events in the Americas.

Modifié par Balek-Vriege, 11 janvier 2010 - 06:57 .

[Eleinehmm]

Darth Obvious wrote...

Really? I'm around Spanish-speakers all the time (and a handful of Italians as well), and I don't think Zevran's accent sounds even remotely like them.

I work with both Spanish and Russian speakers - Believe me, Zevran  accent is much more Spanish like than Russian-like

Darth Obvious wrote..
Shianni and those city elves didn't speak with an American accent? I thought they did...

Can't remember for sure - I will check it out when I get the time

Modifié par Eleinehmm, 11 janvier 2010 - 07:02 .

[Sylvius the Mad]

Darth Obvious wrote...

Really? I'm around Spanish-speakers all the time (and a handful of Italians as well), and I don't think Zevran's accent sounds even remotely like them.

Spanish-speakers, or Spaniards?

Spaniards and Mexicans (and Cubans and Dominicans and Chileans and Peruvians and whatnot) have very different accents when speaking English.  I think Zevran sounds Spanish.

[Darth Obvious]

Funny, my Spanish-speaking friends who play this game don't think it sounds Spanish at all...

[FlintlockJazz]

Maviarab wrote...

*walks into thread*....

*Walks right back out shaking his head*.....

*Does the exact same thing*

[catofnine]

I do have to ask...what exactly is Bodahn's accent? Always found it strange that the dwarves sound American and he doesn't.

[SheffSteel]

no no no



elves are humans and teh humans ar cylons

[simo2003]

Interesting idea about the Elves' American accent and its symbolism.



I'm glad they used English accents for human Fereldans. The continent Ferelden is on seems to be 'Fantasy Europe' and I think Ferelden itself has a generally Dark Age Britain atmosphere. So the choice of accent makes sense, is what I'm trying to say.



I don't know why, I tend to dislike the use of American accents in fantasy (maybe because I'm British myself?). Most likely because the vast majority of fantasy fiction is set in Ye Olde Magick Britain. (Yes, I know it's fantasy, so the accents can actually be whatever the author decides). Besides, there's only so much Kevin Costner "Ah'm Rahbin Hood, y'all" that I can take!

[Darth Obvious]

catofnine wrote...

I do have to ask...what exactly is Bodahn's accent? Always found it strange that the dwarves sound American and he doesn't.

Yes!

I just love the way he says, "You and your friends are formidable folk, indeed."

It's Bodahtious!  

[Ambeth]

My take is

a) the devs wanted to use accent to indicate what 'group' any particular character was 'from'.



while one person CAN make up his or her own accent, getting OTHERS to speak with it is... problematic. Thus, the devs simply went with existing accents.



Makes sense to me.