How to Say Rakshasa

Error message

Deprecated function: implode(): Passing glue string after array is deprecated. Swap the parameters in drupal_get_feeds() (line 394 of /var/www/pied-piper.ermarian.net/includes/common.inc).

Pages

AuthorTopic: How to Say Rakshasa
Off With Their Heads
Member # 4045
Profile Homepage #25
quote:
Originally written by Robin:
When I first saw the word back when I was about ten, my first impression was vah-HA-na-tee, so that's what I've been calling them ever since.
So THAT'S why no one can spell the word properly! People are inserting an A after the H! I could never figure out what was wrong.

I pronounce it VAH-nah-tie. In English, the letter combination "ai" never makes the long "ee" sound.

--------------------
Arancaytar: Every time you ask people to compare TM and Kel, you endanger the poor, fluffy kittens.

Kelandon's Pink and Pretty Page!!: the authorized location for all things by me
The Archive of all released BoE scenarios ever
Posts: 7968 | Registered: Saturday, February 28 2004 08:00
Infiltrator
Member # 4389
Profile Homepage #26
saem as kel yo

No, I don't see how anybody can prounounce the 'ai' ee. Name one single instance where it's used that way.

Uh. 3:20 PM here and I'm still not dressed. Christ, holidays are bad for you.

--------------------
fame fame fatal fame
it can play hideous tricks on the brain
Posts: 407 | Registered: Friday, May 14 2004 07:00
Law Bringer
Member # 335
Profile Homepage #27
For me, it's slith-zer-ih-KAI. The first syllable has a moderate stress, the last syllable is heavily stressed and rhymes with eye.

When the word vahnatai is used as an adjective, I pronounce it like Kel. When it's a noun, I stress the last syllable instead of the first. There is no good explanation.

—Alorael, who actually pronounces both words on a very infrequent occasion. Since he doesn't think in spoken sounds and rarely has to speak those words aloud, it's not an issue that has caused many sleepless nights.
Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00
Lifecrafter
Member # 4682
Profile #28
I pronounce vahnatai the way Kelandon does.

--------------------
If anyone ever asks you why you did something, say "Because I could".
Posts: 834 | Registered: Thursday, July 8 2004 07:00
Law Bringer
Member # 2984
Profile Homepage #29
Same for me, Alo. I also stress Vah-Nah-TIE on the last syllable.

I think it has something to do with them ending in a vowel, but I'm not sure.

Edit: Didn't read Alo's post that closely before, but it's exactly the way I do it. The VahnaTAI, but a VAHnatai town.

[ Friday, July 30, 2004 14:34: Message edited by: Arancaytar ]

--------------------
The Encyclopaedia Ermariana <-- Now a Wiki!
"Polaris leers down from the black vault, winking hideously like an insane watching eye which strives to convey some strange message, yet recalls nothing save that it once had a message to convey." --- HP Lovecraft.
"I single Aran out due to his nasty temperament, and his superior intellect." --- SupaNik
Posts: 8752 | Registered: Wednesday, May 14 2003 07:00
Guardian
Member # 2339
Profile #30
This is how I pronounce them:

Rohk-shaw-(suh)

Slith-zair-ih-(kye)

Vuh-noh-(tye) When I first saw it was "tee", not (tye) when I pronounced it, IIRC.

Italic words=pronounced quickly.

()=Slightly quieter than the rest of the syllables.

Bold words=Slightly louder than the rest of the syllables.

[ Friday, July 30, 2004 14:17: Message edited by: Zephyr Tempest ]

--------------------
*Blue screen error*
NONEXISTANT WINDOWS ERROR
Windows detects no current errors, so Windows has decided
to screw around with the files until one occurs.

If you never rise against your oppressor, then you've already lost.
-Zephyr Tempest, your personal entertainer
Posts: 1779 | Registered: Monday, December 9 2002 08:00
Bob's Big Date
Member # 3151
Profile Homepage #31
quote:
Originally written by Kelandon:

While we're talking about pronunciations of strange Exile/Avernum words, I was wondering where people put the stress on "slithzerikai." I put it on the second syllable, personally, sounding like slith-ZER-ih-kye.

I'm writing slith poems in iambic pentameter (don't ask), which is why it matters.

Slith -- like 'sith' only with an extra L
ZAIR -- like 'hair' only with a Z
ih -- like 'gibbon' only without all of the other letters
kai -- 'k' as in 'kill' and 'ai' as in 'ai yay yay', not as in 'hey' or 'eva'

Before you ask:

NEHF -- like 'left', only without the T and substitute N for L
ill -- like sickness
im -- like 'him' only without the h

VAH
nuh -- like 'vannah', the name, and NOT like 'ivana' or 'Vons'
tie -- like the thing you wear around your neck which is not a noose or a seabird

[ Friday, July 30, 2004 15:21: Message edited by: Ultimate Weapon Custer ]

--------------------
The biggest, the baddest, and the fattest.
Posts: 2367 | Registered: Friday, June 27 2003 07:00
Infiltrator
Member # 4592
Profile #32
Is there a reason for the "h" in Vahnatai, Ihrno, Mahr-Tel, etc?
Is that "h" in their names because the vowel before them has a different sound? Maybe shorter, longer, accented, etc?

--------------------
quote:

"I suffer from spiritual malaise," said Cugel meaningfully. "which manifest itself in outburst of vicious rage. I implore you to depart, lest, in an uncontrollable spasm, I cut you in three pieces with my sword, or worse, I invoke magic."
Random Jack Vance Quote Manual Generator Apparatus (Cugel's Saga)
Posts: 604 | Registered: Sunday, June 20 2004 07:00
Infiltrator
Member # 4389
Profile Homepage #33
It makes the sound softer and the vowel longer.

--------------------
fame fame fatal fame
it can play hideous tricks on the brain
Posts: 407 | Registered: Friday, May 14 2004 07:00
Law Bringer
Member # 335
Profile Homepage #34
Without an H, I would pronounce it like the A in cat. With an H, it comes out as the A in far.

—Alorael, who pronounces nephilim as the dictionary recommends. It's a real world word too, although you might need a Biblical Hebrew dictionary to find it.
Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00
Agent
Member # 1993
Profile #35
I don't pronounce them. I only push the mouse button. v_v

--------------------
^ö^ I was a cannibal for twenty-five years. For the rest I have been a vegetarian. George Bernard Shaw
Posts: 1420 | Registered: Wednesday, October 2 2002 07:00
Guardian
Member # 3521
Profile #36
quote:
Originally written by Lady Davida:

Rawk-SHAW-suh

EDIT: Or maybe you're right, Kel. But the accent is definitely in the middle.

Incorrect. The accent is on the first syllable. I should know- the term rakshasa applies to demons in Hindu mythology.

--------------------
Stughalf

"Delusion arises from anger. The mind is bewildered by delusion. Reasoning is destroyed when the mind is bewildered. One falls down when reasoning is destroyed."- The Bhagavad Gita.
Posts: 1798 | Registered: Sunday, October 5 2003 07:00
Law Bringer
Member # 2984
Profile Homepage #37
The term "copycats" gets a new meaning when you consider Jeff pulled *both* the Nephilim and the Rakshasa out of real world mythology. :P

--------------------
The Encyclopaedia Ermariana <-- Now a Wiki!
"Polaris leers down from the black vault, winking hideously like an insane watching eye which strives to convey some strange message, yet recalls nothing save that it once had a message to convey." --- HP Lovecraft.
"I single Aran out due to his nasty temperament, and his superior intellect." --- SupaNik
Posts: 8752 | Registered: Wednesday, May 14 2003 07:00
Agent
Member # 2820
Profile #38
The word Nephil does derive from something cat related.

But Jeff did say somewhere that he wanted to distance himself as far as possible away from Tolkienish and classic phantasy creations. You'd never find a bonified Dwarf in any of his games. I don't think there were elves at all, either.

The Vahnatai were somewhat original, although they are very similar to the greys and Zeta Reticula aliens that many people love to think about.

--------------------
What do I put here?
-Garrison
Posts: 1415 | Registered: Thursday, March 27 2003 08:00
Agent
Member # 1993
Profile #39
quote:
—Alorael, who pronounces nephilim as the dictionary recommends. It's a real world word too, although you might need a Biblical Hebrew dictionary to find it.
Keep, I don't think, Nephilims are cat related, I never found cats in the bible. They might be kind of avatars or fallen angels, more in human shape.

--------------------
^ö^ I was a cannibal for twenty-five years. For the rest I have been a vegetarian. George Bernard Shaw
Posts: 1420 | Registered: Wednesday, October 2 2002 07:00
Law Bringer
Member # 335
Profile Homepage #40
The Bible never really explains what they are. One common opinion is giants. Another is that they're just big, tough guys. Then there's the ever-popular theory that they're fallen angels or angels' offspring.

In fact, given the dearth of clear explanation, they could be nimble humanoid felines. Jeff is a prophet with an inside line to God!

—Alorael, who will drool and worship for a while now in a skribbane-fueled orgy of religious ecstasy.
Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00
Bob's Big Date
Member # 3151
Profile Homepage #41
quote:
Originally written by Wholly Halfhearted:

quote:
Originally written by Lady Davida:

Rawk-SHAW-suh

EDIT: Or maybe you're right, Kel. But the accent is definitely in the middle.

Incorrect. The accent is on the first syllable. I should know- the term rakshasa applies to demons in Hindu mythology.

How does 'Rakshasa' sound in its native language, then? I imagine the accent being on the second syllable because it's just more potent that way in english.

--------------------
The biggest, the baddest, and the fattest.
Posts: 2367 | Registered: Friday, June 27 2003 07:00
Warrior
Member # 37
Profile #42
I pronounce them:

Rhak' SHAH" suh,
Slith' ZEHR" eh kee,
Vah' NAH" tee.

There's my 2gp. Do carry on.

--------------------
{Tempus} jack thompson? ppl actually admire that freak?
{@Fanateeq72802} Not everyone disagrees with him.
{+iris} Someone should send him a few of the more steamy Japanese dating sim games. His head would explode.
{@Fanateeq72802} And I'd laugh. Hard.
{Tempus} im on it. brb
Posts: 179 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire!
Member # 919
Profile #43
Rahk-SHAH-suh

Slith-ZER-ih-kye

VAH-nah-tie (although I always misread it as Vah-HAWN-tee)

--------------------
And though the musicians would die, the music would live on in the imaginations of all who heard it.
-The Last Pendragon

Polaris = joy.

In case of emergency, break glass.
Posts: 3351 | Registered: Saturday, April 6 2002 08:00
Master
Member # 4614
Profile Homepage #44
slith-ZUR-key. A little different.

Either vah-NAT-ee or VAH-nah-tie. Depends on situation.

NEF-u-lum. Strange or not, I'm not sure.

--------------------
-ben4808

For those who love to spam:
CSM Forums
RIFQ
Posts: 3360 | Registered: Friday, June 25 2004 07:00
Infiltrator
Member # 1877
Profile #45
OMG!!11!one 42 people has voted!!11 That must be a sign11!!!1oneoneoneoneoneoneoneone

My pronouncing of Vanawkfkjeifhnigneg has raged from Vanatahi to Vanatai to Vatanai etc. Never really got it right...

--------------------
33111-CRUSADER-4849
Posts: 662 | Registered: Friday, September 13 2002 07:00
Shaper
Member # 73
Profile #46
quote:
Originally written by Alorael:

Since he doesn't think in spoken sounds and rarely has to speak those words aloud, it's not an issue that has caused many sleepless nights.
You don't think in spoken sounds? I thought everyone did. I do.
EDIT: Unless you mean thinking aloud, of course.

HAO DO U PRUNAONS ALIEN BEAST?!

[ Wednesday, August 11, 2004 05:10: Message edited by: The Almighty Doer of Stuff ]

--------------------
The Lyceum - The Headquarters of the Blades designing community
The Louvre - The Blades of Avernum graphics database
Alexandria - The Blades of Exile Scenario database
BoE Webring - Self explanatory
Polaris - Free porn here
Odd Todd - Fun for the unemployed (and everyone else too)
Famous Last Words - A local pop-punk band
They Might Be Giants - Four websites for one of the greatest bands in existance
--------------------
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Posts: 2957 | Registered: Thursday, October 4 2001 07:00
Master
Member # 1046
Profile Homepage #47
"I-serve-only-the-Wise-throne."

:P

--------------------
Polaris - Weather balloons, ninjas, and your big daddy Wise Man. What more could you want?
Undead Theories - Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Posts: 3323 | Registered: Thursday, April 25 2002 07:00
Agent
Member # 2820
Profile #48
I think it is time for an official verdict:

Rakshasa: 'Rok-shä-suh
Slithzerikai: 'Slith-zər-i-,kī
Vahnatai: 'Vah-nah-tī

Alien Beast: Ā-lēen Bēst

--------------------
What do I put here?
-Garrison
Posts: 1415 | Registered: Thursday, March 27 2003 08:00
Bob's Big Date
Member # 3151
Profile Homepage #49
Drakey is a silly bugger, but I feel I have to bring it up: when the hell in real life does "ai" make an "ee" sound?

The pronunciation he recommends for both Vahnatai and Slithzerikai is absurd and illogical, and annoying to boot. Have no truck with it.

--------------------
The biggest, the baddest, and the fattest.
Posts: 2367 | Registered: Friday, June 27 2003 07:00

Pages