What do you think Phyrexian sounds like?
Lore forum
Posted on May 12, 2014, 2:09 p.m. by meecht
At my local shop, a couple guys and myself were discussing how cool the Judge Promo Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite looks with the Phyrexian text. Then we got on the subject of how spoken Phyrexian sounds.
Due to the way the text looks, I argued that it probably sounds like clicks and chitters, almost insect-like. A buddy of mine thinks it's more like guttural screams and moans due to how Phyrexians are portrayed.
So, how have you imagined the sound of Phyrexian speech?
Insect-like hissing noises, not unlike (don't judge me) Parseltongue from Harry Potter.
May 12, 2014 2:37 p.m.
The Doctor says... #4
I personally think it'd sound like the reapers from Mass Effect.
May 12, 2014 3:26 p.m.
I think it's not so much "noises" or "clicks," but still an organized language that sounds mostly organic. To me, and probably most of you, Russian sounds like nonsense- but it still sounds like pronounced words. I imagine Phyrexian would be that same sort of still-words-but-what thing.
As for what it actually would sound like, I think it would use mostly hard consonants like K's and P's. Can you imagine an enraged Norn screaming at you? Shit fuck that would be scary as hell.
May 12, 2014 3:44 p.m.
MindAblaze says... #7
Yeah, google the New Phyrexia trailer. I was looking into this not long ago and according to Doug Beyer the language is close to what their intent was for pronunciation albeit a little off because our mouths and vocal cords can't produce some of the sounds. There was an attempt to transcribe it based on that Elesh Norn card but I think it fell mostly flat based on the fact there just wasn't enough text to make a true map.
May 12, 2014 5:21 p.m.
Stygiandreams says... #8
The trailer makes them sounds like Decepticons. In my head I always thought they'd sound like Predators.
May 12, 2014 11:02 p.m.
amishrambo says... #10
i picture they would sound like the prawns from district 9
May 13, 2014 6:47 a.m.
hungerwolf says... #12
I'd go with clicks and chitters as well, especially given how they are named- A lot of hard consonants. There may also be metallic creaking or moaning and also hissing, as they are apparently mechanical. This would also explain some of the softer sounds in names like Kirril, Croag and Belbe.
May 13, 2014 10:52 a.m.
KrosanTusker says... #15
meecht Like the Calvin and Hobbes "gecko incident", I guess it's more effective if each person imagines it themselves. Still, I quite like the grindy, gnashing sounds. It fits their whole "flesh and metal" thing.
May 14, 2014 7:41 a.m.
have any of you played Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. In that version we have those weird black bug creatures each time i need to think of Phyrexian i think of those.
Servo_Token says... #2
I would have to agree with you, I imagine them to be a chittering colony of freaks. The script would imply that it is organized to some degree, and guttural screams would make me think that they are of lesser intelligence than most beings of the multiverse, which they clearly are not.
May 12, 2014 2:12 p.m.