Bwaps speaking Galanglic - accents???

[SpaceBadger]

I was just writing some dialog for a Bwap character, and realized that I was hearing (and writing) it the way a Nemoidian (the head guys of the Star Wars Trade Federation) would say it.

No No No! :nonono:

I went back and rewrote it as plain old Galanglic with no accent.

But on the other hand, I do kind of like different speech patterns for other species speaking Human languages. They help show difference without banging the reader over the head repeatedly with "this is a space alien". Maybe a quirk of grammar, maybe a lisp or other speech difficulty (although that can get old real fast!), maybe that gravelly Vargr growl.

So what are some distinctive ways that y'all think a Bwap might speak Galanglic, taking into account that they have been part of Vilani civilization for at least a couple of millennia by the time of this setting (just past midway in the Long Night)???

 

[rancke]

So what are some distinctive ways that y'all think a Bwap might speak Galanglic, taking into account that they have been part of Vilani civilization for at least a couple of millennia by the time of this setting (just past midway in the Long Night)???

Select a couple of consonants and establish that Bwaps can't pronounce them; substitute something they can pronounce. There's a Bwap word generator on p. 35 of AR4. A quick browse show that there is no 'g', 'h', 'j', 'l', 'm', or 'n'.

EDIT: One Bwap NPC that I've used spoke very elaborately. Here's a quote: "Greetings. My name is Owapefab. I'm employed by the Imperial Starport Authority as Third Deputy Superintendent in the Office of Berthing, Ship Services Department, Regina Imperial Starport, Orbital Component. Allow me to suggest that you accede to the young woman's request and depart forthwith, not forgetting to put down her purse first."


Hans

 

[SpaceBadger]

Select a couple of consonants and establish that Bwaps can't pronounce them; substitute something they can pronounce. There's a Bwap word generator on p. 35 of AR4. A quick browse show that there is no 'g', 'h', 'j', 'l', 'm', or 'n'.

EDIT: One Bwap NPC that I've used spoke very elaborately. Here's a quote: "Greetings. My name is Owapefab. I'm employed by the Imperial Starport Authority as Third Deputy Superintendent in the Office of Berthing, Ship Services Department, Regina Imperial Starport, Orbital Component. Allow me to suggest that you accede to the young woman's request and depart forthwith, not forgetting to put down her purse first."

Thnks, Hans. That sounds very Bwappish. I had not thought of matching the missing sounds to ones naturally missing from Bwap language - actually forgot we had a Bwap language-maker.

 

[Nathan Brazil]

It is an interesting thing to note that the missing sounds. It is possibly an implication of how their voicebox/throat and mouth work. Like "g"

if they cannot say "gas" it may mean their swallow reflex is below their voicebox (or non-existent)

If they cannot say "George" or "jungle" (similar sounds) their is something up possible with their tongue/teeth combination

Stuff like that...

 

[Highorbit_drifter]

Sorry to resurrect this, but I just saw it and was something occured to me. If the Bwaps have several sounds they don't use, or can't use, the quote given would be difficult for Bwap to say. Dropping the forbidden letters gives a possible transcription as:

'Salute. I is Owapefab. I epwoyed by the I'perial Starport Authority as Third Deputy Superi'tedet in the Office of Berthing, Ship Services Depart't, Rekeeda I'perial Starport, Orbital Section. Allow I to offer that you accede to the she-youth's request and depart forthwith, recall to put down her purse first."

Letters were replaced where possible, some words with too many forbidden sounds were swapped out entirely. "Regina" itself is a very problematic word for Bwap. Spoken out loud it is very nasal (or its my headcold), and sounds like the Impressive Clergyman from Princess Bride.

I've always pictured Bwaps with rubbery, froglike lips. M and N sounds should be easy, so if they can't make those sounds they have more of a beak and possibily no front teeth to push a tongue against. Then again they can make a "p" sound, so maybe that is made with a tongue motion, and would sound more like a spitting than a puff of air?

Its probably better to just ignore those sound patterns and just give them some sort of mild accent and use florid prose, as has been suggested. Galanglic wouldn't sound much like English anyway. Or any other current language for that matter.

 

[rancke]

Sorry to resurrect this, but I just saw it and was something occured to me. If the Bwaps have several sounds they don't use, or can't use, the quote given would be difficult for Bwap to say.

Sure, but I didn't present it as an example of Bwap speech without various letters, I presented it as a suggestion for another sort of speech distinction. When I wrote up that quote, I didn't think about unpronounceable sounds.


Hans

 

[Highorbit_drifter]

I didn't mean the post as pointing out a flaw, but rather as the better way to go. Trying to talk like a bwap would be annoying at best, unless you are a fan of nasal tones, and would likely detract from the game. Then again if you're group doesn't mind the occasional silly character, its a good way to A) break up a serious section of play, and B) get them to underestimate a bwap character that could be your villain.

 

[SpaceBadger]

I didn't mean the post as pointing out a flaw, but rather as the better way to go. Trying to talk like a bwap would be annoying at best, unless you are a fan of nasal tones, and would likely detract from the game. Then again if you're group doesn't mind the occasional silly character, its a good way to A) break up a serious section of play, and B) get them to underestimate a bwap character that could be your villain.

I agree that actually hearing it continually in a regular tabletop game could get very old, but my reason for starting this thread was for written speech for a Bwap character in my SBRD play-by-post campaign. I'm still not completely happy with how I'm writing his speech so far; I think I need to play with how it sounds spoken a bit more, maybe reduce the number of altered consonents. Make it noticeable but not annoying.

 

[rancke]

I agree that actually hearing it continually in a regular tabletop game could get very old, but my reason for starting this thread was for written speech for a Bwap character in my SBRD play-by-post campaign. I'm still not completely happy with how I'm writing his speech so far; I think I need to play with how it sounds spoken a bit more, maybe reduce the number of altered consonents. Make it noticeable but not annoying.

Keep in mind that just because a language lacks a particular sound doesn't mean that the speaker of said language is physically incapable of making that sound. Witness countless human languages where speakers of one have difficulty pronouncing one sound whereas speakers of another language have no problem doing so.

I wouldn't advocate making Bwaps incapable of pronouncing all the letters that are missing from <the main Bwap language>. Just one or two.


Hans

 

[SpaceBadger]

Keep in mind that just because a language lacks a particular sound doesn't mean that the speaker of said language is physically incapable of making that sound. Witness countless human languages where speakers of one have difficulty pronouncing one sound whereas speakers of another language have no problem doing so.

I wouldn't advocate making Bwaps incapable of pronouncing all the letters that are missing from <the main Bwap language>. Just one or two.

Agreed. That is what I have in mind, just need to work it out the next time I have a scene where Wewepaba speaks.



EDIT: Or he could just die; that would muddy up some plot issues a bit... :devil:


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