122 réponses à ce sujet

[Neuro]

Greetings! I was wondering if anyone else is fascinated by the accents in the Dragon Age universe-- I searched around and there didn't seem to be a big single thread on the topic, so thought I might start one (apologies if there's already one out there that I missed).  There's a great Gawker piece on the accents in Game of Thrones, and I loved the discussion of it all.  

 

I think what interests me is what the accents reveal about the characters (social class, attitude, education, etc.), the relationship between an accent and a region, etc.

 

I'm a grad student and have studied a bit of linguistics (though not my main area of study), but, as an American, I expect that there are some accents that I simply won't be able to place-- most Americans are just so clueless, so I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable, state-side .    

 

Some preliminary thoughts:

- The Avvar (esp. after I played Jaws of Hakkon) all seem to have predominantly Northern English accents, though not Northern to Scottish.  

 

- Dalish (as has been discussed at length in other threads) *mostly* seem to have variations on Irish accents, though occasionally some sound somewhat Welsh, too.  I found Briala's accent to be particularly interesting-- there were certain lines she delivered where she sounded specifically Northern Irish (see her greeting to the Inquisitor in the Servants Quarters when you're chasing the Harlequin).  

 

- Male Inquisitor is strictly Received Pronounciation, as far as I can tell, though a bit of a different RP than Dorian's RP.  This fits really well as both are supposed to be relative nobility, and received top education, etc.  

 

- Sera's accent (as discussed in her thread) is apparently a spot-on Derbyshire accent (which I did not know-- another forum member pointed it out).  I love her accent.  

 

- Blackwall has an interesting accent too-- besides it being a bit Southern English, I can't place a specific location, anyone have any thoughts?  Given his character's history, I found his accent to be interesting too (he's from the Free Marches, like male human inquisitor, but not nobility, so it works).  

 

- Cullen's accent is pretty standard, though every once in a while I hear a bit of Yorkshire accent in his voice.  Thoughts?  

 

If anyone wants to discuss the Orlesian/Nevarran/Antivan accents, I'm down too, but didn't wanna start off with too much.  

Cheers all!

 

[The Baconer]

I just with there was more of a... rhyme or reason to their application. Why does Cassandra sound nothing like fellow Nevarran Viuus Anaxas? How does an Ostwick accent differ from Kirkwall, or other Marcher states (as per Varric's comments)? Why is the Vint dialect just RP? Why does Gatt speak with such a vigorous Dalish accent when he's either not Dalish or has spent the majority of his life around non-Dalish people?

[raging_monkey]

I love how dwarven accents go it like a bit of mid west

[barkspawnVEVO]

I wonder that does everyone in Starkhaven speak with Scottish accent or is it just Sebastian? That would certainly differ quite greatly from Kirkwall accent while still being one of the accents in Free Marches, and still Varric says that he thinks Trevelyan as a Marcher because of their accent.

[Neuro]

I just with there was more of a... rhyme or reason to their application. Why does Cassandra sound nothing like fellow Nevarran Viuus Anaxas? How does an Ostwick accent differ from Kirkwall, or other Marcher states (as per Varric's comments)? Why is the Vint dialect just RP? Why does Gatt speak with such a vigorous Dalish accent when he's either not Dalish or has spent the majority of his life around non-Dalish people?

This point-- particlarly Gatt's strong Dalish accent-- is one I think of as well.  I like to imagine / believe there is some internal logic to it, but sometimes I am puzzled by it, however.  I think for the most part the game is consistent with it, but every once in a while we have Outliers.  Viuus Anaxas is the Necromancer specialty guy, yeah?  I didn't speak with him (KE all the way haha) enough to hear his accent, but it's nothing like Cassandra's?  Hmm.  

I love how dwarven accents go it like a bit of mid west

 

Yeah haha, I get a kick out of this as well.  They even make a tiny metafictional joke about it when you enter Val Royeaux for the first time, IIRC 

[AresKeith]

I just with there was more of a... rhyme or reason to their application. Why does Cassandra sound nothing like fellow Nevarran Viuus Anaxas? How does an Ostwick accent differ from Kirkwall, or other Marcher states (as per Varric's comments)? Why is the Vint dialect just RP? Why does Gatt speak with such a vigorous Dalish accent when he's either not Dalish or has spent the majority of his life around non-Dalish people?

 

Maybe her VA wasn't able to teach them the accent in time

[The Baconer]

This point-- particlarly Gatt's strong Dalish accent-- is one I think of as well.  I like to imagine / believe there is some internal logic to it, but sometimes I am puzzled by it, however.  I think for the most part the game is consistent with it, but every once in a while we have Outliers.  Viuus Anaxas is the Necromancer specialty guy, yeah?  I didn't speak with him (KE ALL THE WAY haha) enough to hear his accent, but it's nothing like Cassandra's?  Hmm.  

 

Check it:

 

https://youtu.be/5N2L19p_Hy8?t=3m2s

[Neuro]

I wonder that does everyone in Starkhaven speak with Scottish accent or is it just Sebastian? That would certainly differ quite greatly from Kirkwall accent while still being one of the accents in Free Marches, and still Varric says that he thinks Trevelyan as a Marcher because of their accent.

 

Awesome point-- yeah, if you listen to Captain Rhylen (former Templar who joins you at the Fort in the Western Approach), and get his backstory, he also has the "Starkhaven accent,"  and is from Starkhaven.  It's def a bit Scottish, a bit Northern Irish, too (those two accents themselves can sound similar/overlap sometimes).  

[Oswin]

I wonder that does everyone in Starkhaven speak with Scottish accent or is it just Sebastian? That would certainly differ quite greatly from Kirkwall accent while still being one of the accents in Free Marches, and still Varric says that he thinks Trevelyan as a Marcher because of their accent.

 

I think they all do. Prof Kenric from JoH is from Starkhaven and has a Scottish accent as well.

 

I noticed the locals of Crestwood (minus the Mayor) have my local accent. Good old West Country (England). 

[Potato Cat]

I think Blackwall has a Yorkshire accent. It does sound occasionally off though to my northern ears, but if Alastair Parker went to drama school, they probably taught him to speak like a southerner there which could explain it I suppose.

Oh and similar situation with Cullen though in reverse. I think that's Greg's natural Wigan(?) accent slipping through.

[Lady Artifice]

I wonder that does everyone in Starkhaven speak with Scottish accent or is it just Sebastian? That would certainly differ quite greatly from Kirkwall accent while still being one of the accents in Free Marches, and still Varric says that he thinks Trevelyan as a Marcher because of their accent.

Belinda Darrow, the sweetest Templar in Thedas, from the MP is from a Starkhaven noble house and has the same accent. There's also Professor Kenric, as mentioned above.

[S.W.]

I spot a bit of Yorkshire in Blackwall too - well disguised, though.

 

I love the politics and history of regional accents in the UK and I like how they're applying it - and sometimes misapplying it! - to DA. For instance, the conflation of welsh and Irish accents amongst the Dalish is annoying, given that Gaelic and Welsh are entirely separate but closely related languages. If they'd stuck to Irish then Solas's Welsh accent would be as distinctive as it supposedly is.

 

The Scottish accents in Starkhaven are kind of weird - although Kenric's is really slight. Makes me wonder if Starkhaven is culturally quite distinctive or different from the rest of the Free Marches (which, judging from Kirkwall, are just 'more Ferelden with some Tevinter history').

 

Gatt, from memory, has a northern accent of some kind - not welsh or irish. Unexpected given that he's from Tevinter, which I'd expect different European accents - southern or eastern - to work more for, given its closeness to the Byzantine Empire. Kind of disappointed Tevinter uses RP (i know RP has lots of class connotations, which is why, but still). It may just be 'he's a ben-hassrath and thus travels about' thing though.

 

I love Sera's accent . I excepting maybe a few nobles, I imagine Fereldens have different kinds of working-class english regional accents - would love to see some proper South London from Denerim, for instance, or East Anglia in the surrounding countryside.

[YourFunnyUncle]

For instance, the conflation of welsh and Irish accents amongst the Dalish is annoying, given that Gaelic and Welsh are entirely separate but closely related languages. If they'd stuck to Irish then Solas's Welsh accent would be as distinctive as it supposedly is.

It makes sense in that the Dalish are a diaspora and both Welsh and Irish are Celtic languages (and the names they give to elves are often Celtic sounding too.) What makes less sense in the light of that is the Starkhaven accent being Scottish. There should be some Dalish with Scottish (and maybe Cornish) accents, too...

[Potato Cat]

It makes sense in that the Dalish are a diaspora and both Welsh and Irish are Celtic languages (and the names they give to elves are often Celtic sounding too.) What makes less sense in the light of that is the Starkhaven accent being Scottish. There should be some Dalish with Scottish (and maybe Cornish) accents, too...

I think the reason they're avoiding Scottish accents with elves is because they're often typically associated with dwarves in fantasy settings. Also, Scots do generally have more gruffer voices which wouldn't really suit waifish elves. And I have seen a lot of fantasy settings link elves and Welsh accents, language and culture. The fact only Merrill and Solas have been Welsh so far is probably due to the scarcity of Welsh VAs. I mean, their VAs are even most famous from the same show. Irish accents more or less fill that vaguely magical, familiar-but-still-exotic-to-Americans slot, and I've seen a lot of people not even notice the difference.

[Serelir]

Did you notice that the hunters in Hissing Wastes have Scottish accents? I was wondering about that.

 

I know there's been tons of debate about the French accents, with accusations flying about Parisian vs. French Canadian and so on (in DAO especially as regards Connor's mother). As an English speaker with a smattering of French, I absolutely love them, one of the male voices in particular  - he does the Bailiff and Ser Frederic. I always want them to talk more so that I can listen.

 

I thought city elves had Irish accents and Dalish/other elves had Welsh, but it might not be consistent.

 

Blackwall - Devon? West Country burr? Not sure about that.

 

Is the female Inquisitor's British accent anything in particular?

 

What do people think of Vivienne's accent? It doesn't actually sound posh to me.

[YourFunnyUncle]

Did you notice that the hunters in Hissing Wastes have Scottish accents? I was wondering about that.

 

I know there's been tons of debate about the French accents, with accusations flying about Parisian vs. French Canadian and so on (in DAO especially as regards Connor's mother). As an English speaker with a smattering of French, I absolutely love them, one of the male voices in particular  - he does the Bailiff and Ser Frederic. I always want them to talk more so that I can listen.

 

I thought city elves had Irish accents and Dalish/other elves had Welsh, but it might not be consistent.

 

Is the female Inquisitor's British accent anything in particular?

 

What do people think of Vivienne's accent? It doesn't actually sound posh to me.

I find the Orlesian accents inconsistent and many sound like English actors "giving their best French." Mother Giselle in particular... I don't know who the VA is but I'd put money on her not being a native French speaker.

 

Alix Wilton Regan (British Inquisitor) and Indira Varma (Vivienne) are both using variations on RP (Received Pronunciation), so some would call them "posh" but they're not full-on aristocracy/royalty posh...

[Caddius]

Maybe her VA wasn't able to teach them the accent in time

Apparently Cassandra's voice actress created her own blend of an accent to fit Nevarra and Cassandra, which is pretty great.

I'm guessing a lot of fantasy settings tend to give elves a Celtic flavor because, well, it fits. Along with Nordic Mythology, the Fair Folk traditions in Celtic myth provide a lot of of the pool for elfiness, the language certainly sounds pretty enough, and the Celts are seen as a 'more in touch with nature' forest dwellers that were driven out by cosmopolitan, imperialist forces like Rome or Tevinter. (All a lot more complex than that, certainly.) 

The Witcher in particular has the Elder Speech, which is apparently Welsh with a few letters shifted around, but changing the meaning. The author loved Arthurian mythology. Tolkien used a variety of languages, including Finnish, as a source to draw upon for language, because why not. 

The guy that voices Frederic of Serault and formerly Riordan is one of the few Orlesians that doesn't grate on my nerves a little bit. Lovely actor.  

Starkhaven having Scottish accents just feels right to me.

I appreciate the dwarves not being Scottish for once. They're Americans. 

I wonder what an Anders accent sounds like. I doubt Anders himself would be an example.

Apparently a lot of people criticized Corinne Kempa (Leliana) for her terribly unrealistic French accent back in Origins, only to be informed that she was born and raised in Paris. 

[YourFunnyUncle]

 

Apparently a lot of people criticized Corinne Kempa (Leliana) for her terribly unrealistic French accent back in Origins, only to be informed that she was born and raised in Paris. 

 

That was laughable. She sounds exactly like what she is; A French woman who lives in London and so has a few British elements to her pronunciation, which fits Leliana's mixed Orlesian/Ferelden heritage perfectly. Anyone who thought she didn't sound French clearly didn't know many real French people. Very few are incapable of toning down their French accent at least a little when they speak English, although some (Like Antoine de Caunes or Jean-Paul Gaultier) clearly dial it up on purpose for comic effect.

[Serelir]

I find the Orlesian accents inconsistent and many sound like English actors "giving their best French." Mother Giselle in particular... I don't know who the VA is but I'd put money on her not being a native French speaker.

 

Alix Wilton Regan (British Inquisitor) and Indira Varma (Vivienne) are both using variations on RP (Received Pronunciation), so some would call them "posh" but they're not full-on aristocracy/royalty posh...

The Orlesian accents do sound caricatured, but I like them anyway. They're like Orlesians - full of silliness! I do prefer the male to the female ones though. 

 

The Inquisitor and Vivienne sound completely different to me. Maybe it's just their tone - Vivienne's voice grates on me, while the Inquisitor's sounds sweet. It could be that my loathing for Vivienne is coloring everything I hear her say.

 

Did you know that there's a real language called Elfdalian?

[YourFunnyUncle]

The Inquisitor and Vivienne sound completely different to me. Maybe it's just their tone - Vivienne's voice completely grates on me, while the Inquisitor's sounds sweet. It could be that my loathing for Vivienne is coloring everything I hear her say.

Well there are differences in tone, speech patterns and level of condescension. Vivienne sounds like a preening socialite and the inquisitor sounds more normal, but the underlying accent is RP in both cases.

It's all in the delivery, dear.

[Serelir]

It's all in the delivery, dear.

*gives you the side-eye*

 

Here's a happier topic: Master Dennet - 'Stralian?

[BansheeOwnage]

Everyone seems to forget that the elves in DA:O had north american accents. Not that it's odd; I would imagine each clan varies.

[Ninna]

I'm not a fan of Antivan accents because they remind me of my own way to pronounce English words, despite my best efforts. I'm a native speaker of Spanish.

Antivan accent sounds too soft to be Spanish from Spain to me, but it definitely sounds like a mixture of different types of Spanish/Italian accents, as they intended.

[S.W.]

One of my bugbears about the female VAs is that the English accents are always reaaally RP Hawke's in particular was alarmingly posh for a woman who was supposedly brought up travelling Ferelden's backwater villages. I mean I understand that classism tied to local English accents means that RP sounds authoritative, appealing, and almost-regal, but I just want to sound more... down-to-earth? common? normal?

 

Especially if they end up putting in a human commoner/city elf origin in next game, I'd demand a more ordinary English accent. Like even mild Estuary English would do.

 

I think the reason they're avoiding Scottish accents with elves is because they're often typically associated with dwarves in fantasy settings. Also, Scots do generally have more gruffer voices which wouldn't really suit waifish elves. And I have seen a lot of fantasy settings link elves and Welsh accents, language and culture. The fact only Merrill and Solas have been Welsh so far is probably due to the scarcity of Welsh VAs. I mean, their VAs are even most famous from the same show. Irish accents more or less fill that vaguely magical, familiar-but-still-exotic-to-Americans slot, and I've seen a lot of people not even notice the difference.

 

Entirely depends on which Scottish accent. Glaswegian sounds completely different to highlander accents - which are really sweet and soothing (like, you can feel the Scottish Gaelic radiating from them).

 

And Welsh VAs wouldn't be too hard to find if you did a casting call in Cardiff. There are enough Welsh people in the world

 

Do find the Torchwood association amusing though.

[Jedi Master of Orion]

Elves haven't even managed to have a consistent accent from any one game to another. I suspect it's just what is supposed to sound "right" for any one character.