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Old 9th August 2007, 02:49 PM   #6 (permalink)
Peter Graham
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 418
Re: Original, pronounceable names.

Hello Fatimus

Quote:
I was reading [insert contemporary fantasy book] today and realized that a lot of the stuff in it was taken straight from Arda and given a different name, usually terrible difficult-to-pronounce names. So I set myself a goal: I'm going to write a fantasy book that breaks convention by.
Excellent idea. I wholeheartedly support you!

Quote:
a) Not including 'Dwarves' 'Ogres' 'Orcs' 'Elves' or any other overused mythological creature and
Make sure that you don't end up with dwarves etc by a different name. It would be a bit of a damp squib if Gnovegar's were diminuitive, bearded tunnellers with a liking for gold and strong ale and a distrust of the fey, harp-playing, pointy-eared forest children that are the Selvadok.....

Quote:
b) Using easy to say, original proper nouns.
Also excellent. Remember that names are actually very easy to pronounce and are frequently shortened (Bill for William and so on), even if they look a bit of a mouthful when spelt out (Mhairi is much easier to say than to read).


Quote:
Gnovegar
Sounds a bit like gnome. Make sure these aren't the little tunnellers.....

Quote:
Urkar
Sounds like Uruk and Orc combined. Don't let these be the bad guys!

Regards and good luck!

Peter
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