Name pronunciation thread 2

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Making a video playthrough of Baldur's Gate has made me wonder how a lot of names are pronounced, especially given that English is not phonetic and not my first language. I made a similar thread a while ago for Icewind Dale 2, here's one for Baldur's Gate (1 and 2 combined).

Viconia - I usually say Vic-OH-nee-ah (as in Victoria), but in BG2 I heard Edwin say Vike-OH-nee-ah, so either he's wrong or that's the way you're supposed to say it.
Adalon - ADD-uhl-on
Firkraag - FUR-crag (could it be Fire-crag?)
Gaelan Bayle - GALE-uhn-BALE
Melissan - MEH-lee-ssahn
Phaere - Fair
Sendai - SEN-d-aye
Solaufein - SOL-uf-ein
Aerie - AIR-ee
Mazzy - MAH-tzee
Nalia - NAH-lee-ah
Haer'Dalis - Hair-DALE-iss
Hakaeshar - HAH-kesh-ar
De'Arnise - Deh- Ar- neese
Githyanki - Gith-YAWN-key
Sahuagin - Sah-who-AHG-inn
Balor - BAH-ler or BALE-er?

That'll be it for now, I'll probably be back with more at some point. Thanks!

 

My take on those.

Viconia - Vye-koh-knee-ah
Adalon - Ah-da-lon
Firkraag - Fir-kray-ag (although I never pronounce it right [the way I think is right anywya] even in my head)
Gaelan Bayle - Gay-lan Bale
Melissan - MEH-lih-ssahn
Phaere - Fey-ear
Sendai - Sen-die
Solaufein - So-lao-fein
Aerie - Air-ee
Mazzy - May-zee (although I know that to be wrong from ingame dialogue, should be Mah-zee according to that I think).
Nalia - Nah-lee-ah
Haer'Dalis - Hair-Da-Lease
Hakaeshar - Hah-kay-shar
De'Arnise - Deh-Ar-Knees
Githyanki - Gith-yank-ee
Sahuagin - Sa-hua-gin (Sounds stupid but I don't know how else to read it)
Balor - Bale-or

 

Viconia - Jansen and Edwin both pronounce her name as Vye-CONE-yah. I prefer Vee-CON-yah (as in VicTORia, spoken quickly).
Adalon - ADD-uhl-on. "Avalon", swap D for V
Firkraag - I use both FEER-crag and Fire-crag, though the way he himself pronounces it (the official pronunciation, I guess) is Fire-crag.
Gaelan Bayle - also GALE-uhn-BALE. I sometimes go with GEH-lan, when I don't feel like pronouncing the "ay".
Melissan - also MEH-lee-ssahn
Phaere - Fair or Fairy
Sendai - sen-DIE. Officially though I think it's SEN-die.
Solaufein - SOL-uhwo-fin. No idea how it's supposed to sound officially.
Aerie - both AIR-ee and AY-ree
Mazzy - MAH-zee
Nalia - also NAH-lee-ah
Haer'Dalis - Hair-DA-lis (like you would say "the" in "the world" except with a D)
Hakaeshar - Hah-KAY-shar
De'Arnise - Dee- Ar- NEESE or Day- Ar- NEESE
Githyanki - Gith-YUHN-key
Sahuagin - Sah-HOG-in (lazy I know, appropriate imo)
Balor - BAH-ler and BAY-lor

 

Do you not play with the sound on? Most of those are said several times.

Adalon, the drow and the hakeashar probably being the exceptions.

From other drow names I'd say Phaere was more like "fairer" but the ai a slightly more ay syllable. Solaufein as "sol-ow-fein" fein rhyming with vein.

Adalon I say as is typed, same with hakeashar breaking syllables at the shortest point.

 

Viconia - va-Va-VA-VOOM
Adalon - oh-my-gawd
Firkraag - F*CK-ME!
Gaelan Bayle - Ga-ma-gold Bag
Melissan - Mel-is-not-sane
Phaere - da-ick-teez
Sendai - Does-int-she-die-ever
Solaufein - Sac-ri-fice
Aerie - AIR-head
Mazzy - Dam-wha-a-voice
Nalia - Whi-nee-ah
Haer'Dalis - Hair-ee-ass
Hakaeshar - Hak-a-shaft
De'Arnise - Duh-plane
Githyanki - Go-ahead-and-yank-me
Sahuagin - Sue-shi
Balor - What-the-hell-is-that

 

^

 

I think it's ok when these names are not pronounced exactly the way they are in the English versions of the game.
It wouldn't make this much of a difference since a light accent is always present when not speaking in your native tongue (if you haven't grown up bilingual that is).

By the way I don't think Firkraag mentions his name vocally, if I'm not mistaken.
I'd spell it fi:rkra:k. Symbols approximately as in IPA, ':' means long vowel, 'i:' means 'ee' as in 'bee'.

@T2Bruno
why 'me'? I'd rather say 'you', at least if you encounter him as a first time player .

 

He does in human form

 

then it's as Paracelsi said, I never noticed it.
Meh, I prefer my version ^^.

 

...me -- said when you suddenly realize you're in way too deep (as in "I'm really screwed").

 

I do agree that most are spoken in-game, so there shouldn't be much question on the pronunciation.

The only one I seem to differ on is Phaere - I always thought it was similar to the word fairy.

 

I always thought the human representations were more endowed than the elven or half-elven ones.

Also, I thought Gaelan Bayle was pronounced as: Didn't-I-kill-you-already?

 

Drow stature is slightly different from typical elves, they're shorter and more curved, hence weighing more than surface elves too.

As for didn't I kill you already - Bridge district - Bubbles and her suitors, anyone?

 

Actually, I may have mistaken Gaelan for Saemon. Same sentiment, really.

 

A number of these are pronounced in the game. If you don't recall them from previous playthroughs, keep your ears peeled for them. Here are the ones that I'm pretty certain are pronounced in game.

Adalon - I had thought this was pronounced at least once or twice.
Firkraag - Lord Jierdan introduces himself in the Copper Coronet, stating his full name.
Gaelan Bayle - His name is said by the narrator when you start chapter 1.
Melissan - Her name is said plenty. Gromnir says it a lot, for example.
Solaufein - I believe the female drow say it once or twice.
Mazzy - She introduces herself when you first meet her.
Nalia - Her name is said many times. Isaea Roe'nall says it a few times. I recall that certain companions will say it.
Haer'Dalis - His name is spoken a few times. I know Raelis Shai (sp?) says it during the quest to free him.
De'Arnise - I think this is said at least once or twice
Githyanki - The main Githyanki searching for the silver sword LOVES to say what his race is called.

I only mention this as sometimes there's no substitute for actually hearing these names spoken.