oliphaunt/dialect

Bombadillo · 06-04-2003, 08:44 AM

I'm from New Jersey, and there actually isn't any Jersey accent, unless you mean Jersey City accent, which is really a New York accent with less taxis and therefore slightly less yelling. Either way, I'll try to spell this out, I say 'oliphaunt' 'awlifawnt.'

I think this is because of my not being from England as Tolkien is. If your English, how do you say it? Or how does everybody say it; try to spell it out the best you can.

Mods: I wasn't sure if this would stray off topic enough to be put in GM. I think this is the right forum.

Coney · 06-04-2003, 08:49 AM

In the north of England it would be pronounced Olliefant.

Gwaimir Windgem · 06-04-2003, 10:32 AM

I'm pretty sure I actually have a sound recording, in which Tolkien says the word "Oliphaunt".

Lady of Rohan · 06-04-2003, 04:59 PM

Oli-font is how I pronounce it, but don't go by me for pronunciation.

If anyone would know it would be Tolkine, which Gwaimir has pointed out.

Gwaimir Windgem · 06-04-2003, 06:30 PM

From the sound file, it seems that the accurate pronunciation is "Ollie" (as in the name) plus "phawnt", with "aw" like in "lawn".

Sheeana · 06-04-2003, 07:37 PM

You know, I don't think he's asking how Tolkien pronounced it - he's asking how we pronounce it in our OWN accents.

I pronounce it Ollie-phauwnt with no real distinction between Ollie and phauwnt - I run them together in typical kiwi fashion. There's no emphasis on the second syllable 'lie', and it almost disappears in my pronounciation. I place the most emphasis on the last syllable. Okay, you can all wake up now!

Gwaimir Windgem · 06-04-2003, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bombadillo
I think this is because of my not being from England as Tolkien is. [/SIZE]

Sounds to me like he was talking about Tolkien. I could certainly be wrong though, as we all know.

Sheeana · 06-04-2003, 07:58 PM

Ah yes, but he *did* put "dialect" in there, so there.

gimli7410 · 06-05-2003, 12:23 AM

i say i oley phaunt. the oli osrt of sounds a bit french but i barely speak it

ArwenEvenstar · 06-05-2003, 10:10 AM

I usually say "olip haunt" or "ollie-faunt" depending on the day

Lalaith · 06-05-2003, 10:19 AM

I don't think that I will give it a try. My pronunciation explanations are very weird.

Linaewen · 06-05-2003, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sheeana
You know, I don't think he's asking how Tolkien pronounced it - he's asking how we pronounce it in our OWN accents. I pronounce it Ollie-phauwnt with no real distinction between Ollie and phauwnt - I run them together in typical kiwi fashion. There's no emphasis on the second syllable 'lie', and it almost disappears in my pronounciation. I place the most emphasis on the last syllable. Okay, you can all wake up now!

Yeah, you kiwis and your weird accents. Essentially ours, but with a few weird variations. You guys get all your vowels mixed up!
'i' turns to 'ir' (or Swedish ö), 'e' turns to 'a' and Eru knows what else!

On topic, I pronounce it 'Olli-phawnt".

Bombadillo · 06-05-2003, 04:19 PM

Whoa. Sorry I couldn't clear things up a little earlier. My computer's been pretty 'fouled up' as of late. (My first post wasn't too understandable either.)

Yeah I meant How do you pronounce it? And I was refering to Tolkien's being from England, so he'd speak with an Englsih dialect. I think he literally wrote it down his pronunciation of "elephant" sound by sound. But it wouldn't look right to me, being from NJ and thus having a different dialect.

For me, "elephant" is pronounced: EL-uh-fint but I slur the T so it sounds more like a D

Sheeana · 06-05-2003, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Linaewen
Yeah, you kiwis and your weird accents.

Shuddap, Leeenaweeeen.

See, I told you so, Gwai. Pllllrrrrrrt.

Gwaimir Windgem · 06-05-2003, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bombadillo
I think he literally wrote it down his pronunciation of "elephant" sound by sound. But it wouldn't look right to me, being from NJ and thus having a different dialect.

I doubt it. I've never heard of the English pronouncing "e" like "o". Besides, didn't he also say that Oliphaunts were larger than the elephants of modern day?

Right back at you, Sheeana. Plllrrrrrrrt.

Anglorfin · 06-06-2003, 11:23 PM

In my mind it's "Ollefawnt".

Radagast The Brown · 06-07-2003, 09:45 AM

because it's translated as 'Olli - fant' that's how I pronounce it.

katya · 07-26-2003, 12:17 AM

I say oh-li-faunt. or something. with a long "o" anyway. come to think of it i guess i don't "say" it much at all. i mean i don't read out loud or anything.

cee2lee2 · 07-26-2003, 12:24 AM

I pronounce it like Katya does.

Tanoliel · 08-03-2003, 12:42 AM

OH-lee-faunt. More or less.

And they are different from elephants...because varied and strange as british accents are, I've never heard one that could mistake "oliphaunt" for "elepant".

tano

06-04-2003, 08:44 AM	#1
Bombadillo "The Bomb" Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: all over the place Posts: 1,601	oliphaunt/dialect I'm from New Jersey, and there actually isn't any Jersey accent, unless you mean Jersey City accent, which is really a New York accent with less taxis and therefore slightly less yelling. Either way, I'll try to spell this out, I say 'oliphaunt' 'awlifawnt.' I think this is because of my not being from England as Tolkien is. If your English, how do you say it? Or how does everybody say it; try to spell it out the best you can. Mods: I wasn't sure if this would stray off topic enough to be put in GM. I think this is the right forum. __________________ Could it be that one path to enlightenment leads through insanity?

06-04-2003, 08:49 AM	#2
Coney The Buddy Rabbit Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Trapped in the headlights.. Posts: 3,372	In the north of England it would be pronounced Olliefant. __________________ Blessed are the cracked, they let the light in Beatallica

06-04-2003, 10:32 AM	#3
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	I'm pretty sure I actually have a sound recording, in which Tolkien says the word "Oliphaunt". __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

06-04-2003, 04:59 PM	#4
Lady of Rohan Doughy Elf Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 1,006	Oli-font is how I pronounce it, but don't go by me for pronunciation. If anyone would know it would be Tolkine, which Gwaimir has pointed out. Last edited by Lady of Rohan : 06-04-2003 at 05:00 PM.

06-04-2003, 06:30 PM	#5
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	From the sound file, it seems that the accurate pronunciation is "Ollie" (as in the name) plus "phawnt", with "aw" like in "lawn". __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

06-04-2003, 07:37 PM	#6
Sheeana Lord of the Pants Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,382	You know, I don't think he's asking how Tolkien pronounced it - he's asking how we pronounce it in our OWN accents. I pronounce it Ollie-phauwnt with no real distinction between Ollie and phauwnt - I run them together in typical kiwi fashion. There's no emphasis on the second syllable 'lie', and it almost disappears in my pronounciation. I place the most emphasis on the last syllable. Okay, you can all wake up now!

06-04-2003, 07:58 PM	#8
Sheeana Lord of the Pants Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,382	Ah yes, but he did put "dialect" in there, so there.

06-05-2003, 12:23 AM	#9
gimli7410 the dumb stoner canuck Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: canada Posts: 2,542	i say i oley phaunt. the oli osrt of sounds a bit french but i barely speak it __________________ -"Down with the system"-Serj tankian of system of a down -“Humans have been on the earth for millions of years, yet we don’t believe man began thinking until he started building walls. And what good have these walls ever done us?”-Serj tankian of soad -"stupid people do stupid things"-Serj tankian of soad "Trying is the first step to failure" Homer Simpson "It isn't going to be easy"-jerseydevil "only the good die young" I AM CANADIAN If the people lead, the leaders will follow.

06-05-2003, 10:10 AM	#10
ArwenEvenstar Elf Lord Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: and why do YOU want to know? Posts: 685	I usually say "olip haunt" or "ollie-faunt" depending on the day __________________ The only thing active about me is my imagination!

06-05-2003, 10:19 AM	#11
Lalaith The Elvish Temptress Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 3,055	I don't think that I will give it a try. My pronunciation explanations are very weird. __________________ What I am and what I would are as secret as maidenhead.

06-05-2003, 04:19 PM	#13
Bombadillo "The Bomb" Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: all over the place Posts: 1,601	Whoa. Sorry I couldn't clear things up a little earlier. My computer's been pretty 'fouled up' as of late. (My first post wasn't too understandable either.) Yeah I meant How do you pronounce it? And I was refering to Tolkien's being from England, so he'd speak with an Englsih dialect. I think he literally wrote it down his pronunciation of "elephant" sound by sound. But it wouldn't look right to me, being from NJ and thus having a different dialect. For me, "elephant" is pronounced: EL-uh-fint but I slur the T so it sounds more like a D __________________ Could it be that one path to enlightenment leads through insanity? Last edited by Bombadillo : 06-05-2003 at 06:34 PM.

06-06-2003, 11:23 PM	#16
Anglorfin Alasailon Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: college Posts: 861	In my mind it's "Ollefawnt". __________________ "and then this hobbit was walking, and then this elf jumped out of a bush and totally flipped out on him while wailing on his guitar." "Anglorfin was tall and straight; his hair was of shining gold, his face fair and young and fearless and full of anger; his eyes were bright and keen, and his voice like music; on his brow sat wisdom, and in his hand was great skill."

06-07-2003, 09:45 AM	#17
Radagast The Brown Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Israel Posts: 6,975	because it's translated as 'Olli - fant' that's how I pronounce it. __________________ Lalala... poof! AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide

07-26-2003, 12:17 AM	#18
katya Elven Maiden Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 3,309	I say oh-li-faunt. or something. with a long "o" anyway. come to think of it i guess i don't "say" it much at all. i mean i don't read out loud or anything.

07-26-2003, 12:24 AM	#19
cee2lee2 Elf Lord Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: 2nd star to the left..... Posts: 566	I pronounce it like Katya does.

08-03-2003, 12:42 AM	#20
Tanoliel Eccentric Chocolate Crow Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The Emerald City--Seattle, WA Posts: 1,861	OH-lee-faunt. More or less. And they are different from elephants...because varied and strange as british accents are, I've never heard one that could mistake "oliphaunt" for "elepant". tano __________________ Wisdom for Short Attention Spans...Ozy and Millie. It rocks. Food Of The Gods: 3,7-dihydro-3,7-dimethyl-1H-purine-2,6-dione Feed Me.... Another Online Dwelling Place... "All right, I confess. It is my intention to comandeer a ship, pick up a crew in Tortuga, to rape, pillage, plunder and otherwise pilfer my weasely black guts out." -Captain Jack Sparrow "The trouble with unknown enemies is that they are so difficult to identify." -Amelia Peabody Emerson "Most people obey the orders of someone who is pointing a gun at their head." -A.P. Emerson