Pronunciation question

[Brian G Turner]

I'm just curious how members might pronounce the following mediaeval fantasy character name:

Rodrigan

Do you think to pronounce it with a short middle syllable like "Rod-driggan" or a long middle syllable more like "Rod-dree-gan" - or something else?

The aim was to have something that sounded a little Spanish, but I'm not sure that comes through without context.

 

[Hugh]

Rod-driggan

 

[Astro Pen]

I would, unguided, read it straight with no stretching or accenting. Like Flanagan.
To be honest it sounds more Cornish or Irish to my ear. It needs an O to sound Spanish, but Rodrigano is pushing the syllable count to an ungainly level. Rogano perhaps?

 

[Brian G Turner]

I had been thinking of Rodrigeuz.

I did actually have an original name for a long time, and only changed it to Rdorigan at the last minute to try and give it a more diverse flavour. If that's not working might be better if I simply renamed the character back, to keep things simple and avoid confusion.

 

[The Judge]

I'd have said "Rod-ree-gan" with the emphasis on the middle syllable, but even with that nod towards "Rodriguez" it wouldn't have suggested a Spanish name to me.

It's a perfectly good invented name, though, so no need to ditch it.

 

[Wayne Mack]

I'm in the "Rod-ree-gan" camp. I wouldn't have identified the name as Spanish, but it does feel a little bit exotic. I dislike unpronounceable names, so I would recommend against Rdorigan.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Row (as in your boat) - dree - gon

but you know my accent. I can be safely ignored

personally I thought it was Celtic due to the gan

 

[HareBrain]

Short i for me too. I also has an instinct it was Celtic, maybe because the look of the name reminded me of both Padraig and Korrigan.

 

[Fiberglass Cyborg]

ROD-driggan for me. Not too fussed when I find out I've been pronouncing a fictional name wrong, though.

 

[Brian G Turner]

ROD-driggan for me. Not too fussed when I find out I've been pronouncing a fictional name wrong, though.

If the name looks Celtic in any way to some people, then that's great with me - easily fits within my world building regardless.

 

[Yozh]

I would stress the first syllable and use a long “o”

 

[mosaix]

Rodreegan for me.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Rod-ri-gan. And I definitely wouldn't have associated with Spain.

May be worth considering using an accent/diacritics, or have him with a longer name mentioned early on (eg Rodrìgan Cortez de Vàsquez) then only refer to him as Rodrìgan later.

As an aside I originally read Sauron as Sore-on until I read JRR T's notes and realised it should have been Sour-on. After that I always read it as Sour-on.

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

As above, wouldn't read Spanish unless prompted.
<possible thread derailment>
I want to use the name Hari Seldon for a bit player in a chapter I'm working on. Just as a nod to one of the classics, but otherwise unrelated in every detail. I know TJ gave an excellent and thorough instructional on this on the podcast so I'm being lazy ...but, is it robbery?

 

[The Judge]

No. Not even breach of copyright. Whether someone has now trademarked the name, though, in view of the TV series, I've no idea.

(I didn't do a precis for The Toolbox as I didn't think it was needed. Looks like I was wrong...)

 

[Ursa major]

For me, it would have been Ro-dri-gan (with the O pronounced as in hot, and the A sounding as if it were a schwa).

Oh, and the lack of a U after the G persuaded me, rightly or wrongly (I have no real idea how Spanish spelling and pronunciation work together), that it wouldn't be a Spanish name.

 

[Pyan]

Rod-ri-gan.

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

No. Not even breach of copyright. Whether someone has now trademarked the name, though, in view of the TV series, I've no idea.

(I didn't do a precis for The Toolbox as I didn't think it was needed. Looks like I was wrong...)

Thanks, figured it'd be okay as it has nothing to do with the series -no prob changing it if someone complains and most likely will never be seen by anyone likely to, but good to keep things as professional as possible.
Can't see a trademark but someone has applied for one according to USPTO. I can't make head nor tail of the application though, might be someone doing it for an elaborate in-joke.

 

[JimC]

Southern American pronunciation
Row'-dree-gawn

 

[Toby Frost]

Rodreegan.