Shirren Voice

[Schoon]

This might sound like an odd question, but I'm considering what voice to give my Shirren character for in-character speech.

For some reason, an accent just doesn't seem right. (I'd never really considered an insect accent.)

Suggestions?

[Saros Palanthios]

I'd probably use a high reedy voice for a shirren.

[ENHenry]

When I was crafting a voice for my Thri-kreen character in a Dark Sun game, I thought about the idea that an insectile species would not have lips, so there would not likely be any "m"s, "p"s, "b"s or any other lip-based plosive sounds. Therefore, all words would be missing those, or replaced by phonemes(is that the right word I'm looking for?) that are similar. So "n"s for "m"s, "v"s for "b"s, "t"s for "p"s, etc.

Add a little raspiness to the voice, and you have a character that is alien as heck.

[Ventnor]

Use an incredibly deep voice and say that’s what your shirren’s telepathic ”voice” “sounds” like.

[Segovax]

When playing my shirren I make a point to speak on an inhale and more heavily emphasizing consonants. It makes for a very unnerving and alien when combined with a rasp and rattle from the throat.
It strains pretty badly, but I seldom use it as it only ever comes up when speaking over comms or out of telepathy range.
When speaking telepathically I just explain that the voice bwing projected is the as pleasant a voice as the recipient can imagine.

[I'm Hiding In Your Closet]

ENHenry wrote:

When I was crafting a voice for my Thri-kreen character in a Dark Sun game, I thought about the idea that an insectile species would not have lips, so there would not likely be any "m"s, "p"s, "b"s or any other lip-based plosive sounds. Therefore, all words would be missing those, or replaced by phonemes(is that the right word I'm looking for?) that are similar. So "n"s for "m"s, "v"s for "b"s, "t"s for "p"s, etc.

"Night you ve so good as to tlease tretare ne a teanut-vutter-and-vanana sandwich, nister vutler-terson?"

[Schoon]

Thanks for all the thoughtful ideas.

One thing that occurred to me while the forums were on the fritz: being a former hive mind, they might not have any personal pronouns, which would make for some unique speech patterns/grammar.

[Anonymous User 875]

I doubt this will help but for whatever reason ever since I read their racial description I imagine all of them being voiced by Robin Williams.

[ENHenry]

I'm Hiding In Your Closet wrote:

ENHenry wrote:

When I was crafting a voice for my Thri-kreen character in a Dark Sun game, I thought about the idea that an insectile species would not have lips, so there would not likely be any "m"s, "p"s, "b"s or any other lip-based plosive sounds. Therefore, all words would be missing those, or replaced by phonemes(is that the right word I'm looking for?) that are similar. So "n"s for "m"s, "v"s for "b"s, "t"s for "p"s, etc.

"Night you ve so good as to tlease tretare ne a teanut-vutter-and-vanana sandwich, nister vutler-terson?"

Now you know why they speak telepathically. :D

My Thri-kreen was more like, "You... You get vood for Tak'cha, yessss? Gooood... Oh, anything, ssso long azz it iz dead..."

[The Drunken Dragon]

This was basically impossible to replicate, but once while playing a game of Traveller, an old roommate of mine played an insectoid species very much like the Shirren, and they made the arbitrary decision of having that species speak only on the in-breath...

In my head-cannon, this is what all insectoid characters sound like now

[Nixitur]

For the telepathic voice, I just say that it sounds like a member of the conversation partner's race. Shirren are really good with Culture, after all.
I haven't had the need to speak non-telepathically yet, but speaking on the in-breath sounds fantastic, so I'll keep that in mind.