ToA: Aaracokra linguistic details - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

ToA: Aaracokra linguistic details

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Sonja
Mar 23, 2004 3:39:04 ToA says that Aaracokra don't have lips, therefore they can't pronounce bilabial or labiodental consonants.

It says they pronounce f's and v's as th sounds.

Based on this information, as a linguist, I can tell you that this would happen to p, b, m (which they also can't pronounce):

p would be realized as t
b as d
m as n

So palm would be taln, phantom would be thanton, vibrate would be thidrate, etc.

Also, the semivowel sound "w" and the vowel sounds "u" ("oo") and "o", would sound a bit strange (like having an accent), because these sounds require lip rounding in English. For example, if you pronounce "u" without lip rounding (or without lips at all!), it would sound more or less like a Japanese u.
#2
Kamelion
Mar 23, 2004 3:49:40 And I suppose that bilabial fricatives are right out...;)

(Cheers for this - very cool insight. I have a player who has an aarakocra and will go nutty for this kind of detail. Nice one.)
#3
Grummore
Mar 23, 2004 7:22:31 There isnt just the Aaracrokra which probably as problem to pronounce some letters (sounds) what about the Pterrans?
#4
jon_oracle_of_athas
Mar 23, 2004 7:29:24 My players whacked the aarakocra in Whispers of the Storm just so they wouldn't have to hear his voice. They hate that squawking bird's voice I put on when acting out aarakocra. :D
#5
jon_oracle_of_athas
Mar 23, 2004 7:38:38 So, if I were to name all the aarakocra in my campaign Kenny, they wouldn't have any 'speech impediments' except spears stuck through their throats, right?
#6
zombiegleemax
Mar 23, 2004 15:29:39 I try not to 'squak' too much with aarakocra, I end up grating my own nerves when I do, but I don't let them pronounce b, f, m, p, or v sounds, replacing them with a whisp vowel or just nixing them alltogether (much easier then actual replacements when speaking ad lib).

As for pterrans, I let them speak normally, but a little slower than humans (I play them as reptiles, lethargic and lazy until they absolutely need to be active).
#7
zombiegleemax
Mar 23, 2004 17:02:59 Tersonally, I don't really see where everyone is coning thron with all the distaragenent toward aarakocra steech... It seens terthectly natural to ne. Anyone else?

*Spear lands in throat*

*gurgle... gurgle... sqwaak...*

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Sonja Mar 23, 2004 3:39:04	ToA says that Aaracokra don't have lips, therefore they can't pronounce bilabial or labiodental consonants. It says they pronounce f's and v's as th sounds. Based on this information, as a linguist, I can tell you that this would happen to p, b, m (which they also can't pronounce): p would be realized as t b as d m as n So palm would be taln, phantom would be thanton, vibrate would be thidrate, etc. Also, the semivowel sound "w" and the vowel sounds "u" ("oo") and "o", would sound a bit strange (like having an accent), because these sounds require lip rounding in English. For example, if you pronounce "u" without lip rounding (or without lips at all!), it would sound more or less like a Japanese u.
#2 Kamelion Mar 23, 2004 3:49:40	And I suppose that bilabial fricatives are right out...;) (Cheers for this - very cool insight. I have a player who has an aarakocra and will go nutty for this kind of detail. Nice one.)
#3 Grummore Mar 23, 2004 7:22:31	There isnt just the Aaracrokra which probably as problem to pronounce some letters (sounds) what about the Pterrans?
#4 jon_oracle_of_athas Mar 23, 2004 7:29:24	My players whacked the aarakocra in Whispers of the Storm just so they wouldn't have to hear his voice. They hate that squawking bird's voice I put on when acting out aarakocra. :D
#5 jon_oracle_of_athas Mar 23, 2004 7:38:38	So, if I were to name all the aarakocra in my campaign Kenny, they wouldn't have any 'speech impediments' except spears stuck through their throats, right?
#6 zombiegleemax Mar 23, 2004 15:29:39	I try not to 'squak' too much with aarakocra, I end up grating my own nerves when I do, but I don't let them pronounce b, f, m, p, or v sounds, replacing them with a whisp vowel or just nixing them alltogether (much easier then actual replacements when speaking ad lib). As for pterrans, I let them speak normally, but a little slower than humans (I play them as reptiles, lethargic and lazy until they absolutely need to be active).
#7 zombiegleemax Mar 23, 2004 17:02:59	Tersonally, I don't really see where everyone is coning thron with all the distaragenent toward aarakocra steech... It seens terthectly natural to ne. Anyone else? Spear lands in throat gurgle... gurgle... sqwaak...