I often wonder this when I’m writing with other people: what does their character sound like? What do they think mine sounds like?
I’ve only been asked about it once, from Stranger, I think, who asked me to describe one of my PC’s voices. I didn’t really know how to go about explaining what I heard in my head versus what someone else may imagine when they sit down and read my writing, and it really got me thinking, and I think I’ve been intrigued ever since.
Furthermore, do you think certain areas of the world have different accents? This isn’t a question of whether they actually do or not (let’s face it, I’m sure a Zeltivan and a Lhavitian sound different, even when they’re speaking the same language), I’m just curious as to what everyone else thinks. This is all pertaining to Common, as a reference point—because Common is the English of the fantasy world!
Starting with my main PC and Lhavitians on the whole, I tend to describe it with words like “airy”, and “polite”; Seven’s voice is not especially deep, but it isn’t effeminate, either. Seven and Lhavitians, in my head, often speak politely and formally, and could easily come off as a tad pretentious. I often joke that Seven speaks Engrish because I watch too many movies, and he no doubt bastardizes his Symenos with some horrible, half-assed accent in an Engrish style.
Moving on to Symenos, it’s been openly described as Russian-esque and I can only ever think of those sultry, somewhat gruff Russian spies you see in 80’s action movies. Again, with the movies. Think Natasha Fatale from Rocky and Bullwinkle. Good analogy, fearless leader.
Lysander’s probably picked up bits of a Denvali accent by now. I can’t help but think of that accent as Acadian French or Creole; it’s probably nearly unrecognizable as the Common language to foreigners. I’m probably way off, but this is about what you think people sound like, not what they actually sound like.
To me, Syliras seems like it would be the logical hub for “proper” Common, where people have lovely BBC English accents and it sort of deviates from there. That’s what I’ve got; I haven’t given the rest of the world a ton of thought.
Care to share your character’s voice? Thoughts on other character’s voices?