im trying to figure out how to pronounce the names of some of these characters, because i dont want to mess up the names in the movie.
here's a list of names i need to know how to pronounce correctly (my guesses of what they are are next to them):
Crono: Krono?
Lucca: Lewka?
Marle: Mawrel?
Schala: Skawluh?
Ayla: Eielah?
Magus: Magis? (Not a "J" sound but "G")
Melchoir: Melkwire?
Nu: Is it New or Nee?
Belthasar: Belthazar?
Alright, I think I have discussed this a myriad of times in many different places. Some are open to interpretation, but others are real and the pronouciation is known.
Crono Common: I think most say this as KROE-no
Intended: Same as the common one.
Actual: This name comes from the Greek/Hellenic traditions. From this it might either be from Kronos (ie. Kappa, rho, omicron, nu, omicron, sigma)
the Titan who was the father of a number of the Olympian gods. This is pronounced roughly comparable to the English, save that the omicron is as the u in 'but', and the r is trilled, thus making it unlike any existant English word. However, the other posibility for the origin, which is more direct in connection, stems from the prefix for time (which, if truth be told, also comes from the aforementioned Titan), and is slightly different. This is most often spelled 'Chrono', in a slightly anglisized version. It is slighly misleading, however. Once again, the o's are omicrons, and thus pronounced more as the u in 'but' than a true o; likewise the r is trilled. Moreoever, the actual word is 'Chronos', thus exemplifying the changes made to English. Finally, when used as a name in the English game, it is rendered Crono. This again is slightly misleading its origin. The ch was, actually, not a k, as the word makes out. It is in truth a Greek chi (to our eyes, if spelled in Greek, it would appear as an X). The pronounciation of this letter is extremely difficult, as it is an aspirated k. It lies somewhere between a German ch (ie. in Bach, or Buch, and equivalent words, if that makes it clearer... certain not the ch as in Church!) and a true k. Seeing its difficulty in pronounciation for English speakers, it is not surprising it simply becomes a k. The same thing is apparent in the name Achilles. So in truth it would be a little different, but the common pronouncation is quite similar, anyway.
Personal: I say it as KROE-no, ie. the common way, save that I trill the r after the old fashion. I don't wager there's anyone else that does that, though.
LuccaCommon: LOO-kah, I believe. Some say it LUCK-ah, but I think they are in the minority.
Intended: I am uncertain here.
Actual: N/A
Personal: Same as the common.
MarleCommon: I am uncertain which group holds the higher ground in pronounciation here. Some say MAR-lay, some MAR-lee, and others simply MARL.
Intended: Likely MARL, as the name was Marl in Japanese.
Actual: N/A
Personal: I used to say it MAR-lee, but now say it more MAR-lay
SchalaCommon: Some say it SKA-la, but I think the vast and overnumbering majority use SHA-lah
Intended: I would wager SHA-lah, but I cannot be certain.
Actual: N/A
Personal: Same as the common.
AylaCommon: I am quite certain this is AY-lah.
Intended: Again, I think it is AY-lah.
Actual: N/A
Personal: Same as the common
MagusCommon: I think those who say MAY-gis are in the majority, though there are some that say MAY-jis, and MAH-guss, as well.
Intended: I think the intent was MAY-gis, which has become the colloquial pronounciation of the word.
Actual: Without doubt, the actual pronounciation is currently MAY-gus, but of old it was MAH-gus. It is the old Latin singular of Magi.
Personal: MAH-gus. I go with the ancient traditions.
(Just tossing in one of my own here that is often mispronounced)
JanusCommon: JAY-niss
Intended: JAY-niss
Actual: ee-AH-nus. This is the name of a Roman god, and the Latin speaking peoples had no J.
Personal: Same as the actual. Again, I prefer true pronounciations of such things. Plus it sounds far more ancient.
MelchiorCommon: MEL-key-or
Intended: MEL-key-or
Actual: Likely the same, although the r may be trilled. Moreoever, I am not sure on the precise pronounciation of the ch. It may be an aspirated sound but, as it is not Greek, I am uncertain. It comes from the ancient Near East, and other names are akin to it, such as Melchizedek. Considering Cherubim is actually Kerubim, it may well be that the k pronounciation for the ch is in fact aright.
Personal: As all these others.
NuCommon: NOO or NEW, I'm not sure.
Intended: I'm not certain.
Actual: N/A
Personal: NOO
BelthesarCommon: BEL-the (as in then)-sar
Intended: Likely the common
Actual: There are few different pronounciations of this name, I think, as there are a few different spellings. Sometimes it is Balthesar, and other times even Belthezar. I think in origin it was probably the latter of these. Thus the s would be a z, and Bel (being the name 'Lord' in Babylonian, and related to Baal). BEL-the-zar, then.
Personal: The latter of the actual.
