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Is It Fair to say that all Dwarves speak with a Scottish acsent?
Tearsnsorrow
Member Posts: 48
Ok This is a light hearted point, but is anyone else bored that all Dwarves in RPGs and MMORPGs seem to be Scottish?
EG. WOW, LOTRO and The Witcher to name but three.
Does anyone know of any "In Game" dwarves who don't have a Scottish acsent.
PS Nothing against the Scotts by the way!
Comments
ya, I think its ridiculous too. I always thought ogres had the scottish accents?
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a robot foot stomping on a human face -- forever."
When I picture dwarves I always think of little fat pissed off german guys personally...
D.
A good dwarf is a dead dwarf... No I think youre right.. wondered about it myself... But I think it kinda suits them... just like Gimli in the LotR movies... I think it suits him
Lol, i never really even thought about it, i just always took it for granted that was how they always sounded ;x
my dwarf speaks with an irish accent! Unless I'm using voice chat then he speaks red neck.
I don't claim to be right, I'm just posting.
Its only true in games where elves are snobbish and super-stylish and gnomes are technologically inclined (and probably Irish).
It comes down to the following:
Why are all dwarves drunks?
Why are all Elves snobbish and uptight?
Why do all gnomes like mechanical things?
Why do all "lizards" talk with a lissssssp?
Why does everything taste like chicken?
You can blame Tolkien for alot of these stereotypes, since he started alot of it
Thats why I made a dex based Dwarf in Shadowbane and a Str based elf. Just to be different
Raquelis in various games
Played: Everything
Playing: Nioh 2, Civ6
Wants: The World
Anticipating: Everquest Next Crowfall, Pantheon, Elden Ring
Polish probably.
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Retired from: Neocron, Everquest, Everquest 2, Guild Wars, RF Online and Final Fantasy VII
Currently Playing : EvE Online.
There are no gnomes in Tolkein (technically they are mentioned once, but never seen).
Some things just kind of catch on and become the standard and people even seem to forget where or why. The mechanized gnome thing is the easiest one to track down. Many gnome names and the mechanical bent of them you can thank Amrgaet Weiss and Tracy Hickman for.
I don't recall many gnomes having names like Fizzlewhip or whatever before that. I'm just surprised we don't see more Kender.
Ok, then
What if dwarves were uptight, noble and snobbish?
What if elves were drunks, violent, and brutish?
What if gnomes were cunnnig, vicious, and dastardly?
And lizards talk with the lisssssp because of their snake-like tongues...
but What if lizards spoke in perfectly accented French? Without a lisp?
People would say "OK, this is very strange."
I agree, it would be interesting... but some of the standard fantasy conventions are that way so that people can relate to them, be comfortable with them, and at least have some sort of understanding about them before they encounter then.
Is it any different in real life?
Nope, seems pretty spot on to me Heero. Seems people will associate X race with Y accent because it has been considered the norm for many years now. I mean, look at the human race, we have tons of languages and accents ourselves, so why not other races as well?
But even with humans...why are all bad guys European? All down to earth hero types from New York? All sages of wisdon Oriental? etc etc etc.
Just stereotypes...like someone else said, we are so used to it that it's now just the norm.
Notice: The views expressed in this post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the reviews of MMORPG.com or its management.
Neil Thompson
Staff Writer
MMORPG.com
I have to say I am really getting tired of the street wise down to earth guys being New Yorkers. Its like I walk up to one and I say "Uh oh this is gonna be a New Yorker in a world with no New York isn't he?" And then he does and I wince at the the brainles rote stereotype slapping me in the face.
I say all streetwise people should now talk like Minnesotans from Fargo and all farmers should talk like New Yorkers from the streets.
which reminds me a of a futurama quote:
Network President: "Greetings, gentlemen. You already know my execubots. Executive Alpha, programmed to like things it has seen before."
Executive Alpha: "Hey, hey, hey!"
Network President: "Executive Beta, programmed to roll dice to determine the fall schedule."
Executive Beta: *rolls dice* "More reality shows!"
Network President: "And Executive Gamma, programmed to underestimate middle America."
Executive Gamma: "It's funny, but is it going to get them off their tractors?"
Why are all humans stupid, ignortant and closed-minded?
.....Wait, were not talking about real life?
Hooray for English villains! They give Hollywood movies class, style and menace. They are also a shy acknowledgement that the UK is still the one nation that the US secretly fears - I mean, what other nation breeds people tough enough to take on Bruce, Sly and Arnie? The Belgians?
Here is a short list of the best of them:
Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs.Basil Rathbone in Anna Karenina, David Copperfield, Son of Frankenstein and The Mark of Zorro
Ben Kingsley in Sneakers.
Betty Lou Gerson as the definitive villainess, Cruella DeVille in 101 Dalmations (see also American actress Glenn Close playing the same role for the live-action remake).
Charles Dance in Last Action Hero.
Christopher Lee in (among many others) Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
Claude Rains in Notorious
David Bowie in Labyrinth and The Last Temptation of Christ (in which all the non-Roman biblical characters are played by Americans).
Dougray Scott in Mission: Impossible 2.
George Sanders in Rebecca and Walt Disney's The Jungle Book.
James Mason in North by Northwest , Salem's Lot and The Verdict.
Jeremy Irons in Die Hard With a Vengeance (where again, it's an English actor playing a Germanic character), The Lion King and The Time Machine.
John Lithgow in Cliffhanger and Shrek (American actor hamming as British, though Lithgow has also played his fair share of homegrown villains, too).
Jonathan Hyde in Jumanji
Joss Ackland in Lethal Weapon 2 (British actor, South African accent!)
Pam Ferris in Matilda
Patrick Stewart in Conspiracy Theory
Peter Cushing in Star Wars (an example of the Imperialism being used as short-hand to differentiate between the old order (Jedis and the Empire) and the new (the Rebellion Alliance).
Pierce Brosnan in Mrs Doubtfire
Ray Milland in Dial M for Murder.
Richard Attenborough in Jurassic Park (although his character in the film version was much more benign and unconsciously dangerous than in the books).
Sir Ian McKellen in X-Men
Steven Berkoff in Beverly Hills Cop.
Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (alongside Richard O'Brien and Patricia Quinn, both sporting East-European accents).
Timothy Dalton in The Shadow.
Tom Wilkinson in Rush Hour.
Donald Pleasance in You Only Live Twice
Herbert Marshall in Foreign Correspondent
That twittish nobody in the tricorne hat in the last Pirates of the Carribean movie.
Hooray for English villains! They give Hollywood movies class, style and menace. They are also a shy acknowledgement that the UK is still the one nation that the US secretly fears - I mean, what other nation breeds people tough enough to take on Bruce, Sly and Arnie? The Belgians?
Here is a short list of the best of them:
Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs.Basil Rathbone in Anna Karenina, David Copperfield, Son of Frankenstein and The Mark of Zorro
Ben Kingsley in Sneakers.
Betty Lou Gerson as the definitive villainess, Cruella DeVille in 101 Dalmations (see also American actress Glenn Close playing the same role for the live-action remake).
Charles Dance in Last Action Hero.
Christopher Lee in (among many others) Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
Claude Rains in Notorious
David Bowie in Labyrinth and The Last Temptation of Christ (in which all the non-Roman biblical characters are played by Americans).
Dougray Scott in Mission: Impossible 2.
George Sanders in Rebecca and Walt Disney's The Jungle Book.
James Mason in North by Northwest , Salem's Lot and The Verdict.
Jeremy Irons in Die Hard With a Vengeance (where again, it's an English actor playing a Germanic character), The Lion King and The Time Machine.
John Lithgow in Cliffhanger and Shrek (American actor hamming as British, though Lithgow has also played his fair share of homegrown villains, too).
Jonathan Hyde in Jumanji
Joss Ackland in Lethal Weapon 2 (British actor, South African accent!)
Pam Ferris in Matilda
Patrick Stewart in Conspiracy Theory
Peter Cushing in Star Wars (an example of the Imperialism being used as short-hand to differentiate between the old order (Jedis and the Empire) and the new (the Rebellion Alliance).
Pierce Brosnan in Mrs Doubtfire
Ray Milland in Dial M for Murder.
Richard Attenborough in Jurassic Park (although his character in the film version was much more benign and unconsciously dangerous than in the books).
Sir Ian McKellen in X-Men
Steven Berkoff in Beverly Hills Cop.
Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (alongside Richard O'Brien and Patricia Quinn, both sporting East-European accents).
Timothy Dalton in The Shadow.
Tom Wilkinson in Rush Hour.
Donald Pleasance in You Only Live Twice
Herbert Marshall in Foreign Correspondent
That twittish nobody in the tricorne hat in the last Pirates of the Carribean movie.
Poirot is belgian and kicks some major ass. I am sure he could gut someone with his mustache.I think Van damme is belgian, but he is a foofy ballet dancer.
Hooray for English villains! They give Hollywood movies class, style and menace. They are also a shy acknowledgement that the UK is still the one nation that the US secretly fears - I mean, what other nation breeds people tough enough to take on Bruce, Sly and Arnie? The Belgians?
Here is a short list of the best of them:
Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs.Basil Rathbone in Anna Karenina, David Copperfield, Son of Frankenstein and The Mark of Zorro
Ben Kingsley in Sneakers.
Betty Lou Gerson as the definitive villainess, Cruella DeVille in 101 Dalmations (see also American actress Glenn Close playing the same role for the live-action remake).
Charles Dance in Last Action Hero.
Christopher Lee in (among many others) Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
Claude Rains in Notorious
David Bowie in Labyrinth and The Last Temptation of Christ (in which all the non-Roman biblical characters are played by Americans).
Dougray Scott in Mission: Impossible 2.
George Sanders in Rebecca and Walt Disney's The Jungle Book.
James Mason in North by Northwest , Salem's Lot and The Verdict.
Jeremy Irons in Die Hard With a Vengeance (where again, it's an English actor playing a Germanic character), The Lion King and The Time Machine.
John Lithgow in Cliffhanger and Shrek (American actor hamming as British, though Lithgow has also played his fair share of homegrown villains, too).
Jonathan Hyde in Jumanji
Joss Ackland in Lethal Weapon 2 (British actor, South African accent!)
Pam Ferris in Matilda
Patrick Stewart in Conspiracy Theory
Peter Cushing in Star Wars (an example of the Imperialism being used as short-hand to differentiate between the old order (Jedis and the Empire) and the new (the Rebellion Alliance).
Pierce Brosnan in Mrs Doubtfire
Ray Milland in Dial M for Murder.
Richard Attenborough in Jurassic Park (although his character in the film version was much more benign and unconsciously dangerous than in the books).
Sir Ian McKellen in X-Men
Steven Berkoff in Beverly Hills Cop.
Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (alongside Richard O'Brien and Patricia Quinn, both sporting East-European accents).
Timothy Dalton in The Shadow.
Tom Wilkinson in Rush Hour.
Donald Pleasance in You Only Live Twice
Herbert Marshall in Foreign Correspondent
That twittish nobody in the tricorne hat in the last Pirates of the Carribean movie.
Poirot is belgian and kicks some major ass. I am sure he could gut someone with his mustache.I think Van damme is belgian, but he is a foofy ballet dancer.
Poirot is a hero, not a villain - and so, despite much evidence to the contrary, is van Damme.
I bet Hanible Lecture makes good after dinner conversation
So yea English peeps make good bad guys.
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Retired from: Neocron, Everquest, Everquest 2, Guild Wars, RF Online and Final Fantasy VII
Currently Playing : EvE Online.
Best English guy to play a bad guy is Alan Rickman:
Severus Snape ~ Harry Potter
Sheriff of Nottingham ~ Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.
Die Hard ~ Hans Gruber
I think that in the context of accents for creatures alot comes from the Authors image of them from so long ago, Such as Tolkien and Robert E. Howard, different races in the fictional world line up with the real world accents.
Best English guy to play a bad guy is Alan Rickman:
Severus Snape ~ Harry Potter
Sheriff of Nottingham ~ Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.
Die Hard ~ Hans Gruber
I think that in the context of accents for creatures alot comes from the Authors image of them from so long ago, Such as Tolkien and Robert E. Howard, different races in the fictional world line up with the real world accents.
That is a good bad Guy, but my problem with him is that my Mum has the hots for him. Its a bit hard to feel his evilness when my mum goes WOO WOO WOO I LOVE IT WHEN YOUR STERN.She aparently finds his stern schoolmaster act very stirring
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Retired from: Neocron, Everquest, Everquest 2, Guild Wars, RF Online and Final Fantasy VII
Currently Playing : EvE Online.
Are you kidding, Rickman is nothing beside the greatest villain-actor of all time:
Dracula, Saruman, Sommerisle, Scaramanga, Rasputin, Count Dooku, Fu Manchu...
...Christopher Lee, of course.
Best English guy to play a bad guy is Alan Rickman:
Severus Snape ~ Harry Potter
Sheriff of Nottingham ~ Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.
Die Hard ~ Hans Gruber
I think that in the context of accents for creatures alot comes from the Authors image of them from so long ago, Such as Tolkien and Robert E. Howard, different races in the fictional world line up with the real world accents.
Conan was a Cimmerian. Hyborean Cimmerians are meant to be proto-celts. When has conan had a Celtic accent?Austrian are not Celts
As for Tolkein he had a languages for each race, that he made up and spoke. Apparently he taught his sons Orcish and would speak it with them. So in other words, for Tolkien specifically, each race would have its own unique accent based on the sounds in their native language.
I do not believe that dwarvish is based on any Celtic languages.
However they do both share certain harsh guttural sounds(ie. compare Khazad to Cuchulain).
So Tolkien dwarves sounding scottish is perhaps not so bad. But Khazdul sounds much more like Hebrew than Scotch Gaelic. So probably dwarves would sound more like that
However the various Irish type spellings and pronunciations are more like Irish for the elves. Compare Cuchulain to Cirufinwe or Carcharoth. So really maybe Tolkien elves should should Irish. And indeed Tolkein designed sindarin to be Welsh like in sound and since Welsh is Brythonic and Irish is part of the Gaelic split I suppose a Welsh accent would be the closest.
So in other words the accents really are not based on Tolkien.
No it isn't fair to say that all "dwarves" speak with a Scottish accent, but stereotyping is the way of this world ain't it.
If it ain't Scottish, it's crap.
And that children is why Dwarves speak with a scottish accent.
The Stranger: It's what people know about themselves inside that makes 'em afraid.