[Baztek]

I always used to read it as skill-vend-ee which is horrible. I prefer sill-ven-di way more, it's almost kind of beautiful.

[Wilshire]

Hmm I like the first way, its a lot harsher. The People are not beautiful.

[Francis Buck]

I also originally assumed Sill-vendi, having been under the impression that they were at least partially inspired by the Scythians.

[Meyna]

Like Skillvendi?

Precisely!

[Madness]

The People are not beautiful.

Amen. I believe.

Precisely!

It also makes the Hemscilvara sound like a band with balls.

[Quinthane]

There is a guide in the back, at least in The Thousandfold Thought, that has a pronunciation guide,

why does my copy of TTT not have this? i have an encyclopedic glossary, 3 maps and that's it.

[Wilshire]

There is some small guidance offered next to the names in the beginning.... I think? I'm not looking at it right now so I can't be sure, but I thought that in the back of all the books the major characters are listed with a brief description of who they are and a pronunciation guide.  I didn't mean to suggest that there is an extensive one anywhere.

[Madness]

Pronunciation guide is in the end of my copy of TDTCB.

[Wilshire]

Not particularly comfortable with these phonetic spelling things, but this is my best approximation. Anyone got something way different?

Dunyain - doon-Yain  (yain - like 'chain' but with a 'y')
Aioni - Ay-on-ee  (like Ion [charged particle] with a y)
Kian - Cain (like Cain and Able from the bible)
Dagliash - dag-lee-osh
Momemn - mo-mem-n, or Mah-mem-en ... I'm never sure what to do with the 'mn' at the end there.
Sranc - Sir-ah-nk  (though 'sir' is clipped, barey any 'i' sound).


I'll post more as I get to them, in case some kind verbal discussion ever ensues.

[Francis Buck]

Not particularly comfortable with these phonetic spelling things, but this is my best approximation. Anyone got something way different?

Dunyain - doon-Yain  (yain - like 'chain' but with a 'y')
Aioni - Ay-on-ee  (like Ion [charged particle] with a y)
Kian - Cain (like Cain and Able from the bible)
Dagliash - dag-lee-osh
Momemn - mo-mem-n, or Mah-mem-en ... I'm never sure what to do with the 'mn' at the end there.
Sranc - Sir-ah-nk  (though 'sir' is clipped, barey any 'i' sound).

I'll post more as I get to them, in case some kind verbal discussion ever ensues.

Dunyain, Dagliash, and Momemn are the same for me.

Aion is actually Ainon, but otherwise I agree.

Kian is Kee-ahn for me.

I always pronounced Sranc as if it rhymed with tank, but your way of saying it sounds way cooler so I'm officially stealing it.

[Wilshire]

Dunyain always sounds odd in my head but thats the best I came up with, I'm glad you agree.

btw which Momemn? There were two options

Aion is actually Ainon, but otherwise I agree.

My memory is so feeble... Guess I was thinking of the mmorpg called Aion, woops.

Kian is Kee-ahn for me.

I figured that one would be different for some. Probably makes mores sense that way.

I always pronounced Sranc as if it rhymed with tank, but your way of saying it sounds way cooler so I'm officially stealing it.

You're welcome

[Francis Buck]

Ah, I meant the first one for Momemn. And yeah, Dunyain isn't really a word that rolls off the tongue for me, but that is how it's pronounced according the guide (not that it matters in the end, even Bakker doesn't pronounce the damn names right),

[Duskweaver]

Cnaiur Urs Skiotha - 'naɪər 'ɜrz ski'oʊθə
Scylvendi - skɪl'vɛndi
Anasurimbor - 'ænæ'sœrɪmbɔr
Inchoroi - 'ɪnkɒrɔɪ
Cishaurim - kɪʃ'aʊərɪm
Cujara Cinmoi - ku'xɑrə 'kɪnmɔɪ
Dunyain - 'dʊnjaɪn
Ainon - 'aɪnɒn
Kian - 'kaɪæn
Dagliash - 'dæglij'æʃ
Momemn - 'moʊməm
Sranc - 'sræŋk

[Wilshire]

I appreciate that, but I'm going to be real honest with you, that is not the slightest bit helpful 

[Duskweaver]

And yet, it's the only way to avoid ambiguity. The IPA isn't that hard to learn, honestly, guys.