Correct Pronunciation

[Ammanas]

So I have listened to the original audiobook of Elantris by Jack Garrett and am now on Arcanum Unbounded's Hope of Elantris, narrated by Krammer, and have noticed they have different ideas on pronouncing names. Has Brandon clarified the correct way between the options below? The first is Garrett the second is Krammer.

Raoden: Ray-o-den or Raw (rhymes with wow)-den

Shaod: Shay-ode or Shawd (rhymes with shroud).

 

Edited December 6, 2016 by Ammanas

[Argent he/him]

There is no correct pronunciation, as far as Brandon is concerned (and this applies to all of his books). There are pronunciations that are correct in-world, but even Brandon doesn't always use those - so whatever sounds right in your head is correct.

This being said, Arelon has a very specific (in-world) way of pronouncing names - the first two vowels are always stressed and open. So Raoden would be something like RAY-OH-den and Shaod would be SHAY-ODE. Which unfortunately means Elantris would be EE-LAYN-tris, but nobody says it that way

There was a very old blog that explained all that, you may be able to find it on the website somewhere.

[BlackYeti he/him]

This should help. 

[Ammanas]

Thanks everyone! It looks like the Krammer pronunciation is incorrect...I'm surprised someone in Brandons team didn't forward the above pronunciation guide for Arcanum Unbounded. 

[WeiryWriter he/him]

9 hours ago, Argent said:

Which unfortunately means Elantris would be EE-LAYN-tris, but nobody says it that way

Oh so I'm a nobody am I? In all seriousness, Elantris isn't so hard to pronounce the way they do in-world. it's Elantrian that is the tricky one.

[Spoolofwhool]

2 hours ago, Ookla the Indefinite said:

Oh so I'm a nobody am I? In all seriousness, Elantris isn't so hard to pronounce the way they do in-world. it's Elantrian that is the tricky one.

EE-LAYN-trian? That does roll of the tongue a bit sideways.

[ParadoxicalZen he/him]

I thought I saw an old WoB read it as E-LAWN-tris....weird

[Argent he/him]

12 hours ago, Ookla the Indefinite said:

Oh so I'm a nobody am I? In all seriousness, Elantris isn't so hard to pronounce the way they do in-world. it's Elantrian that is the tricky one.

You're weird.

7 hours ago, AnanasSpren said:

I thought I saw an old WoB read it as E-LAWN-tris....weird

I don't think I've heard it pronounced quite like that. 

[PennySludt she/her]

On 12/6/2016 at 6:51 PM, Ammanas said:

Thanks everyone! It looks like the Krammer pronunciation is incorrect...I'm surprised someone in Brandons team didn't forward the above pronunciation guide for Arcanum Unbounded. 

Having listened painfully to several clips of Krammer reading these beautiful books, I am not surprised he has some strange pronunciations. He is one of the worst audiobook readers I've come across in a long time . I started making my own so I'd have something I could actually listen to without going Hoed

[Detroit442 he/him]

I love Krammer. I think he's one of the finest narrators working today. I discovered him when listening to the WoT series. 

[The Sovereign]

On 12/6/2016 at 9:41 PM, WeiryWriter said:

Oh so I'm a nobody am I? In all seriousness, Elantris isn't so hard to pronounce the way they do in-world. it's Elantrian that is the tricky one.

@WeiryWriter, I've always pronounced it like this too. Apparently We are nobody. Not sure if that puts you in good company or not but there you go.

As for the Michael Kramer love/hatred, meh he's fine. Kate Redding on the other hand is a delight.

[Knghtstlker he/him]

Having just finished Elantris on Audio book. I the whole time was wondering just how much of the pronunciations are correct between all the Books I have listened to Mostly of Michael Kramer, at the end of Way of Kings narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading, Kate pronounces Sadeas, (Suh Day Us) while the whole entire book, Michael was saying what I assume to be the more common Sadeas (Sad Ee Us), while she joined Michael in the pronunciation in the 2nd book, they still were not united on all the words. Palanquin, was the word I most commonly heard between Palan *Quinn* and Palan *Keen*, I know it's slightly off topic from Elantris. But I believe it holds weight. I believe if any has a WoB on how to pronounce names for certain it would be greatly appreciated.

[Mutantspicy]

Given the nature of Stormlight I've always felt the varying annunciations are appropriate given the amount of cultural variation in that realm. I mean who am I to judge.  I like Kramer, and I love Reading, But I found myself missing Garrett in the reading of Hope of Elantris. To me it will Ho-eed not hode. It will be Shay ode, not showd.