Fantasy rednecks

Ancient city-sized dragon that is eons older that any surviving historical text or man-made structures in the world, speaking to the dwarf that stands bravely before her: "Well ain't chu just the most precious lil' thang I ever did lay eyes on! Wut's yer name, sugah?"
- Yer here ta kill me? Oh, honey, bless yer heart!
  
  My papy were what you would call an elder dragon, so unless you got the fire power to take down Mrs. Tiamat you don't stand a chance against me, sugah.
  So why don't you just cool your heels, I'll go make us some tea, and you can tell me about what's going on in the world these days.

No one decided that, if you’re looking at Tolkien based fantasy then of course it’s British because it’s British fantasy
All of the Asian fantasy I’ve seen has been populated by people of their respective country.
Everyone knows the Grim Reaper is Jamaican
This post is stupid, just write your desired fantasy
- He doesn't sound very Jamaican to me
  
  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KUV92xAxVk4&pp=ygUMQmVhdCBvZiBncmlt
  
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  He doesn't sound very Jamaican to me
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  Yesh. This is so cringe.
- Not to mention the history and lore of such things are immense in well-documented European and Asian history. The majority of that fantasy stuff comes from ancient cultures and societies peppered around those geographical areas. I'm sure that would be much the same everywhere if it weren't for the lack of it being so heavily documented.

I don't want none of them there dragons yonder.
- Got daym goblins stole mah moonshine.
  
  I tell you what them there walking skeletons ain't right.
  
  This gave me an idea for a fantasy dramedy about hobbit moonshiners. Unfortunately, I'm not a writer so if anyone wants to take my four word pitch and run with it please do
- Hey! We don't take kindly to dragons 'round here!

What better way to break immersion than have your quest giver start screaming GO ON GIT
- You meet a bedraggled old paladin who beseeches you to just and righteous action by the following words...
  
  This is some Bollywood shit
  
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- It would be funny we had a fantasy world where twang accents are considered posh while British accents are considered casual like just imagine a knight saying "I'ma gonna go kill dis here dragon".

Why so much room for activities on this image?
- cropping hard
- It's free real-estate.

American accents sound too 'modern' because American English wasn't a thing until the Medieval period had long passed, and most fantasy is medieval or medieval-adjacent.
I'm all for broadening the use, though. I love that the Witcher games gave Geralt and the other Witchers of the School of the Wolf American accents. And Dragon Age (back when it was good) giving the dwarves American accents.
- New England accent is actually closest to English of the Middle Ages.
  
  I heard it was Southern English which was closest to Elizabethan English.
  In any case, reality doesn't matter. Perceptions matter. Britain is an old country, and America is a new country - so in 'translating' an accent to a past period, we tend to see the accent of the 'old country' as more appropriate.
  
  Pahk the caht.
  
  I wonder how they measure such a thing
- American English wasn’t a thing until the Medieval period had long passed
  Nor was modern British English. One of the defining features of modern British English is the lack of rhoticity (dropping the "r" sound), but that's very modern, only happening in the 19th century. They have managed to recreate how English sounded in Shakespeare's time by looking at words that were supposed to rhyme, and their meter. To me, it sounds like "pirate English".
  https://youtu.be/uQc5ZpAoU4c?t=299
  Whether modern American English is closer to Shakespeare's English is a matter for debate. I'd say it's closer than RP, but not as close as some rural British accents.
  
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- That may be true for regional us dialects, but the core of American pronunciation is older than Received Pronunciation
- Actually, modern American English apparently is closer to the English from old days than modern day British English is. Always found that to be an interesting tidbit.
  
  Shakespeare apparently rhymes better in American accents than British ones, since it was written before the Great Vowel Shift. I'm not cultured enough to notice but I like this piece of trivia.
  
  Same with the Quebec French
  
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- This is actually a misconception. The modern English accents are a result of fashionable language of London. This developed after the United States of America was formed. So after the Middle ages. It's more likely English speakers in the middle ages sounded more American than English.
- Xenoblade 2 had a nice use of the various English accents, generally each nation/group in the game used a particular accent (eg Mor Ardain = Scottish, villain group Torna spoke American English). One unique character (a blade) had a southern grew-up-on-a-farm accent.
- American accents sound too ‘modern’ because American English wasn’t a thing until the Medieval period had long passed, and most fantasy is medieval or medieval-adjacent.
  OP mentions Australia, which wasn't even established as a penal colony until 5 years after the US was recognized as an independent nation under the Treaty of Paris.

Because its fantasy no ones fantasising about American accents.
- I feel like the existence of Matthew McConaughey disproves this
  
  Alright, alright, alright.
  
  The rule says that no one is fantasizing about American accents, but I see a lot of lawbreakers up in this house
  
  He would make a good Gandalf in the future versions of the franchise
- Why not? American culture and linguistics are extremely popular around the world.
  Maybe since modern America is so young, people dont associate it to fantasy?
  Alternatively, Native American accents aren't uncommon in fantasy I feel like
  
  I imagine it's because Americans use foreign accents to make the fantasy more foreign itself. If the wizard who cast a spell to alter the passage of time starts talking like the dude that runs the gas station on the corner, maybe it takes away some of the magic.
  
  Good point, Avatar is basically US Marines in spaaaaace vs. spaaaace Pocahontas sci-fi/fantasy.
  
  Yeah sure buddy, "American Culture" is extremely popular. It isn't that you people just try to appropriate the culture of the migrants lol

Orc: "Y'all lil fellers in the wrong gotdam place I reckon. You boys jus' git on up in them rocks and take them panties right off."
- https://youtu.be/aNyjtqlpJH4
  
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Pretty sure because the “original” fantasy was written as a false history for England (LoTR was this). So it makes sense that the people would bear an English accent
- I hope one day we can have a (respectful) mainstream fantasy world for Native America, It could be so cool.
  
  Not exactly what you're looking for, but most characters in A Wizard of Earthsea resemble Native Americans.
- @WoodenBleachers But his sources were Norse, primarily, so by extension the argument can be made that the characters should all have Scandinavian accents.
  @FlyingSquid
  
  That’s cool. I wouldn’t mind fantasy characters having accents (it’s fantasy after all) just providing context for why it’s predominantly English
- Do the books have accents?
  
  I'll admit I haven't read them, but I imagine the original version was British English with all the extra U's and such.
- No, only folks that never read what Tolkien said about LotR think it is a fake History for England.
  
  I read the Silmarillion, he was sad about the fact that England had no real “mythology” so he made his own

Fantasy is based upon the middle ages.
During the middle ages the US did not exist.
- Iroquois Confederacy would like a word....
  
  The middle ages ended in 1453 with the fall of Constantinople, which coincided with the birth of the Renaissance in Italy having already taken place.
  The Iroquois Confederacy was founded (most likely) in the 1500s, with the earliest record of the first capital being in 1609.
  The United States itself was founded in the 1700s.
  Their comment was correct, the Iroquois Confederacy was founded during the age of the Renaissance and our modern conception of America came much later

- Because both are proud and mountanious nations?
- Apparently, Tolkien's dwarven language just naturally works well with a Scottish accent. Earlier radio, tv, readings leant into this and other writings including fantasy dwarves followed suit.
- It just sounds right.
- Dwarves have American accents in Dragon Age!
- Because they save money on the makeup budget
  
  I lol'd.
- You can't pick a Scottish accent for your character in Baldurs Gate 3 and now my Dwarf just sounds British. It sounds, well... off

Because New Zealand is a fantasy hence why it doesn't exist on many world maps.

Let's see.
Dwarves: Billy-Bob Thornton's accent from Sling Blade.
Elves: Transatlantic accent. Used by stars in the 1930s/1940s.
Hobbits: Cajun. Makes sense, they love food, live a rural life, etc.
Orcs: NYC accent
Goblins: Chicago Accent
Or, if you wanted to go international.
Dwarves: Gotta go with the classic. Glasgow.
Elves: South African. I think it can sound smart but foreign-influenced, as elves should.
Hobbits: Aussie
Orcs: NYC accent again
Goblins: Newfoundland accent
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  Sling Blade
  Transatlantic accent
  Cajun
  NYC accent
  Chicago Accent
  Glasgow
  South African.
  Aussie
  NYC accent
  Newfoundland accent
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- Transatlantic for the elves is a stroke of fucking genius
  Edit: I’d also like to advocate for southern Appalachian for hobbits, prohibition era gangsters for orcs, and Midwestern for Tom Bombadil specifically

Most have Eurocentric accents because those are the areas the various legends and stories originated.
Various depictions of leprechauns make them pretty much Irish rednecks. I love Mad Sweeney's depiction in American Gods.

We do, they just tend to be the Orcs or Goblins lol

- They're also from the other side of the ocean. Descendents of people who sailed of to another land.
  
  Just like real Americans! I swear everything in that book is a direct copy of real life, with a fantasy skin slapped on top.

I would like to take this moment recommend Not Another D&D Podcast solely because of the Crick Elves
- Seconded, for the Russian frost Dwarves.
  
  Fuck you, I love you, eat a rat

Tolkien, the father of modern fantasy based Middle Earth a lot on old Britain and the affects industrialisation was having.
I'd love to see more fantasy based on Native American mythology for sure.
- I absolutely despise how 99% of native American fantasy representation in media is some variation of a wendigo.
- Native American culture is slept on, fr.
  
  Aztec sacrificing intensifies in the background unnoticed

Geralt has an American accent in the games.
- In Polish?
  
  Well. No, probably not, but I haven't checked.

Because for fantasy we think of middle ages, and middle ages america is full of natives, not a single English speaker in sight

In Dragon Age, the dwarves speak with an American accent, which was pretty unique during the time.
- But Shale has an American accent! Ohhhhhh...

Yes we collectively decided it. We all had a big vote, but you weren't invited.
- I know you are making fun and all, but things like this are indeed reproduced.
  Basicly it's a process of cultural and collective copy and pasting, where media and indivulas reproduce a concept by either activly using it (or not) or passives acepting it.
  It's a bit more complex than that, but you probably get the idea.
  
  Thanks for educating me 🙏🙏🙏

Modern fantasy is heavily based on ancient European fairytales and folklore
- So the characters should sound like Scandinavian or Germanic people? English didn't even exist in its modern form until the 1600s.
  Also, you know... Latin and Ancient Greek.
  
  It's not like Germanic or Scandinavian languages haven't changed during that time

I mean go and watch true blood or read the books ots based off of ?
- Ironically the main actress is a New Zealander.
  Also wasn't aware aussie/kiwi accents were a fantasy trope, especially as those countries didn't really participate in the medieval period.
  
  There is a popular lit rpg series that is all kiwi
- True Blood is amazing, and it's deeply enhanced by the hick accents and the protagonist being named Sookie Stackhouse. It's well worth a watch!
- The first few seasons, anyways

Good lord no. Here in the US I hear plenty of that. It's the last thing I want to hear in a fantasy.
- If you watch Critical Role I like Imogen's accent.
  
  And Fjord
- Why?
  
  It's by and large the dialect of the uneducated and the impoverished right leaning southerners and widwesterners that are hurting themselves and others by supporting the GOP and spreading hate and discrimination. Fully aware that is a stereotype, but I see enough of it in real life that for me that accent just has a negative connotation.

A great example of this is Not Another D&D Podcast, a comedy D&D podcast. The first campaign has a player character who sounds like she’s from Appalachia!
- And she has one of the best Possum familiars ever!
  
  Yes! (Also, hi fellow NADDpole! There’s at least two of us here! Lol)

The German translation of Baldur's Gate decided for some reason that elves spoke in an east-German accent. Imagine Legolas sounding like he was from Texas.
- YEE-HAW, I'm the FASTEST BOW IN THESE HERE WOODS
- [This comment has been deleted by an automated system]
  
  I'm a bit torn on this. On the one hand: you're completely right. On the other: It sounded goofy as fuck.
  But missing variety in dialects in German dubs is something I really dislike. Everyone in German dubs sounds like they're from Hannover.
- Oh god, which East German? Sachsen? Berlin-Brandenburg?
  
  I think it was Sachsen.

I did a dnd campaign once where it had a Louisiana bayou theme. Rednecks? Southern belles, and swamp gnomes with Cajun French accents. Was a lot of fun!

"y'all want some fairy dust?"

I give you Tex of the Black Pants Legion talking about playing D&D in rural Texas. We gonna praise Palor up in hyaugh!
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There's a DnD podcast called "Not Another DnD Podcast", where one of the characters is a redneck elf. That one's played by Emily Axford, who's also part of D20: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GcTIDkgnB9wP6CmUyOSqa?si=2FX7y8bcTfitOVluc7pVcw

Because English speaking viewers don't want to read subtitles
- Do you know where Tennessee is?
  
  Yes. Subtitles would still be required

The Seanchan would like a slowly drawled word.
- Imperial conquerors from across the sea with slave sorceresses and Texan accents.
  Wheel of Time is top tier.

Fantasy species are supposed to be ancient.
America is a toddler of a nation, in age and behavior.
- But back then they just called fantasy speech sprech.
- A lot of them learned the value of society.
  We, on the other hand, are a collection of rugged individuals at each other's throats as a culture.
  
  Typically it's adults who go to war yeah

Careful what you wish for. I believe it’s in the first book* of Wheel of Time that suddenly there's a group of "darkfriends"** (basically worshippers of the ultimate evil) who all speak in a dialect that sounds like they're from rural Georgia.
Even with Rosamund Pike doing a fantastic job reading the audio book, that was immersion breaking as fuck 😂
*Second book
** not all darkfriends, see reply below
- the seanchan are described as having a drawl, but you're not introduced to them until book2 and they're not uniformly darkfriends.
  
  Sorry, my ADHD memory lol. I'm currently at book 3 and knew for sure that it was one of the previous ones 😁
- there’s a group of “darkfriends” ... who all speak in a dialect that sounds like they’re from rural Georgia
  Not sure how you got that impression from reading a book. It's not like he references rural Georgia.
  
  By listening to the audio book version. The point about Rosamund Pike reading should have been a clue for you

Theres not enough guns in Fantasy stories to warrant a redneck accent
- I know of one.

Monsters, Inc. Fairy trailer trash with a southern accent. You're welcome.

Ever been to Tennessee? You really don't want that lol

Definitely listen to the audible book The Hum and the Shiver it has fairies in the Appalachian mountains and definitely has red-neck voiced fairies.

Has nobody here seen The Wizard of Oz?

So you want Neil Stephen's American gods? got it
- Neil Gaiman

British Scottish Welsh (Irish is complicated)?
I have English being conflated with British but never the other way round.
I have no idea how I feel about this
- Irish isn't complicated - we're a separate island from Britain.
  
  Wrong.
  Northern Ireland is brittish. Hence the cimplicated
  Also https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Isles_naming

Dwarves in the Dragon Age universe have an US-American accent.

guess they missed True Blood

An elf with a heavy Southern California accent.
- Valley Girl Elf. Actually, I think I've seen that done somewhere... 🤔

Because Tolkien.

Aye reckon

They made at least one "southern fantasy" show, it was called Man in the High Castle based on work by American fantasy writer Phillip K Dick.
- .....that would be science fiction. Dick was a sci-fi writer.

Two hick PCs in the current Critical Role cast.

My last character was an orphan (or course), taken in by a dwarf clan, where he worked alongside them in the mines. So, naturally, he was Appalachian
- You're doing God's work - an Appalachian
  
  As a Undying Warlock/Death Cleric, he was definitely doing someone's work lol

I'm imaginig everyone just speaking erasmus english

And I thought there was a remark about the suspiciously missing foreign accents in there... I was disappointed
- I mean... there are a couple of them that try to do mine and, honestly? Nah, just stick to what you know.