
So, you want to understand Greyloch, eh? Well if you're here, then you do. Unless for some reason you want to read this anyways! Well, let's get started. This isn't very hard at all, it's just for those people who need a quick guide to understand what Greyloch is saying, and why.
I guess I'll start with the 'why' first. Short and sweet. Simply, Greyloch speaks my world's equivalent to english with a Scottish accent. While his accent isn't called Scottish, that's how one would describe it, if they heard it.
Now on to what he's saying. Granted, when Scots write, they don't leave out the first letters of words beginning with 'H', or write other words to look like how they are pronounced. However, I choose this method because it conveys Greylochs personality better, and gives him a different feel than with Jythrim, who speaks with the equivalent of a New England accent (Boston excluded).
On to specific examples of Greyloch's speech, and what it means:
Almost any word which begins with the letter 'h' will be written with an apostraphe to replace the h.
e.g. Instead of 'How did he happen to have the horses' saddle?'
It would be ' 'Ow did 'e 'appen ta have tha 'orses' saddle?'
*The only exceptions to this standard are words with silent h's at the beginning, such as hour.
The term 'Ach' (or 'Och' depending on the dialect) is a term usually used for frustration, very similar to our ugh's, bah's, and D'oh!'s. The 'ch' in Ach is not pronounced like in 'chair'. It's more of a throat sound. Imagine trying to get a popcorn shell out of your throat. That's the sound. :)
Various words are written to sound like Greyloch pronounces. The following are not typos:
the = tha
today = taday
to = ta
you = ye
for = fer
can = kin
get = git
I = Ah
(I'll add more as I think of them)
In most cases, words that end with ing will end with in'.
e.g. Getting / Gettin' Fighting / Fightin'
The pronunciation of the combination of words 'Can not' and 'Do not' normally result in Can't and Don't. However, Greyloch pronounces each respectively, as Cannae and Dunnae.
I think this explains most of Greyloch's dialect. If you have any other questions, just let me know! Now go on and read 'Rogues', and understand Greyloch.
~Brendan
Back to the Rogues homepage.
**All artistic material and the name 'Greyloch' is Copyright Brendan Setaro 2001**