The upcoming return to 64-bit Hyrule has us discussing Ocarina of Time reminiscences, chatting about our favorite characters and managers, and usually wanting wistfully into the center distance with a smile on our faces, questioning how all these individuals and locations will look in reimagined type on Swap 2.
In the middle of these chats, nonetheless, we have discovered that we do not all say these individuals’s names in fairly the identical approach. We have investigated Pokémon and extra basic Nintendo-related phrases earlier than, however not Ocarina particularly. There’s just one strategy to say ‘Ocarina’, proper?
Fallacious. So include us as we hit ‘X’ to leap and dive proper in…
Earlier than we start, a observe. As we have talked about earlier than, if somebody says a phrase in a different way from you, it does not imply they’re essentially flawed! MARRY-oh, MAR-ree-oh, YOSH-ee, YO-shee – it is all good.
Even when there’s an official mannequin or we have heard it spoken in-game, regional accents will at all times range how these phrases are spoken aloud. There is not any 100% incorrect strategy to say these, except you are being intentionally obtuse (eg. ‘Hyperlink’ is rarely pronounced ‘Panbrush von Doofenstink’).
One different factor: The IPA (Worldwide Phonetic Alphabet) could be very helpful to anybody who is aware of it…however not-so-much to those that do not, which I think about is most readers. For that purpose, I’ve typically prevented it beneath and used capitalised approximations that almost all can hopefully parse extra simply.
‘Ocarina’
Let’s kick off with the pronunciation query that sparked this whole article: How do you say ‘ocarina’?
A few weeks in the past, John Ricciardi of 8-4 fame (Tokyo-based localisation studio and purveyor of wonderful podcasts for anybody involved in Japan, video games, or Japanese video games) highlighted on Bluesky a current interview with former NOA producer John Wornell revealed by Hyrule Interviews, which raised the subject of OCK-arina or OH-karina.
Leaving apart for a second regional accent variations (the extra British-sounding OCK /ɒk/ versus the US-like ARK /ɑːk/), the true query is dependent upon whether or not you veer in direction of a Japanese ‘oh’ vowel sound initially or not.
So, OC-topus or Oh-my-god?
‘Navi’
We’re again to the MARRY-oh / MAR-ree-oh with this one, though I ponder if the recognition of Avatar and the Na’vi imply that new gamers will lean in direction of NAR-vee as of late.
‘Saria’
Similar deal right here – SARRYa or SAR-ree-ya?
‘Kaepora Gaebora’
Your pronunciation of OoT’s sagely owl is dependent upon the way you interpret these ‘ae’s. Hey or Hello?
Alternatively, you may have some enjoyable in case you stress the primary syllables and hyperlink the 2 phrases in a sing-song trend.
Alternatively alternatively, some may separate out the ‘a’ and ‘e’ in these diphthongs into separate, distinct vowel sounds, which shifts issues up from three to 4 syllables a-piece. Every to their very own.
‘Talon’ / ‘Malon’
I say MAY-lon, you say MA-lon,
I say TAY-lon, you say TA-lon,
MAY-lon, MA-lon, TAY-lon, TA-lon,
Let’s…keep on with the ballot format for now, as a result of we have got six extra of those to go.
A minimum of Ingo is straightforward, eh? Except there’s somebody on the market saying ‘Ingo’ with out the onerous ‘g’, or mistaking the uppercase ‘I’ for a lowercase ‘L’. However let’s not go there.
‘Epona’
Ah, a straightforward one! Or is it? This all is dependent upon which syllable you stress, first or second.
What about stressing the third syllable, you ask? Hmm, you keep in mind that observe up prime the place I mentioned there was no flawed strategy to say these? I lied.
Having lately launched my children to one of many web’s best movies (see above), on this family we wail her title to the tune of day-TOE-Naaaaaaa every time humanly potential. That is the right reply.
‘Sheik’ / ‘Sheikah’
The mysterious harp-wielding stranger who Hyperlink encounters later in his journey, and Impa’s historic tribe sworn to guard Hyrule’s royal household.
Your pronunciation right here might align with the way you say the Arabic phrase ‘sheikh’ – are you shake, stylish, or one thing else totally?
I’ll assume you pronounce each the individual and the tribe equally – if not, properly, that is what the feedback are for.
‘Koume’
With regards to the witch sisters, the variety of syllables is up for debate – three, two, or one.
Combining the ‘o’ and ‘u’ into one thing like KOO-may might really feel pure in English, though in Japanese koh-OO-may may sound extra correct.
Likewise, you possibly can be forgiven for combining every part right into a single KOOM.
‘Kotake’
koh-TAH-kay sounds affordable, positive, but when English audio system are mashing up these vowel sounds for ‘Koume’, koh-TAKE (rhymes with ‘pretend’) is not off the desk. There are additionally syllable and stress choices right here.
‘Volvagia’
It is the ‘g’ that has a few of us wanting round for affirmation after saying this fiery boss’s title out loud and realising it sounds a little bit anatomical. Whether or not you are taking the primary two syllables or the final two, it is greater than sufficient to fluster a reserved Brit.
So, is it Volvag– with a tough ‘g’ (like bag) or Volvadge- with a /dʒ/ (as in badge)?
‘Cucco’
We wrap issues up with one that may appear apparent, however in case you say it just like the real-life chook of area and clock fame, why is not it spelt the identical? Absolutely you want one other ‘o’ on the tip if it is ‘cuckoo’, no?
It seems extra like ‘stucco’, the fabric you utilize for rendering the skin partitions of your home, which is pronounced STUK-oh. So, KUK-oh? KOOK-oh? KOO-koh?
Chickens. That is what they’re referred to as. Hit the hen!
And there you will have it. Hopefully you have had enjoyable some potential variations of acquainted figures’ names. Maybe you have modified the way you say one thing through the years? Tell us beneath.
