They're both pronounced ark to me.

Now this is how you are suppose to say it.

http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=arch-enemy&submit=Submit

The correct American pronounciation is found in an American dictionary but I'm British, not American, and we don't pronounce it the same as you.
Despite what Bill Gates may think American English isn't "World" English yet.

I don't think it really matters, It's just like how the american pronounce aeroplane as air plane. And jail is really spelt gaol.

Well, if your point is that you in perticular pronounce it in another way with an Australlian dialect, then yes, you are correct. However, the NPC's in the game should pronounce it as "arch"; as they are speaking US English. Even those Nords with a different accent should pronounce it "arch" as they are trying to speak a certain style of English that pronounces it in that way.

You mean like this?

http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=archenemy&submit=Submit

In Archenemy the "ch" is fricative, and in archangle the "ch" is velar.

Also, it appears that arch-enemy and archenemy are synonymous, both mean the same thing and both are correct.

http://www.imperial-library.info/content/redguard-forum-madness BO-mare.

The hell you talking 'bout limey? Everyone knows 'Merican English is real English! HOO-AHH!!

Seriously though, wasn't trying to make it that way, it's just my point of reference. I'm curious now though, does archmage show up in the British dictionary? Cause we don't have it...

It's probably an english way of pronouncing an american word. Like I said it doesn't really matter. But archmage should still be pronounced as arch and not arc.

Whatever way Nirya says it, I say it the other way.

I say arch as thats how its spelled and pronounced...drop the h and then it's arc (ark)

OP your topic title shows you pronounce it wrong because of the 2 choices you give, only 1 is how its spelled in game

A better way of saying it would be:"But archmage should still be pronounced as arch and not arc, in the game Skyrim." Or else it would mean that every time you spell the word 'armor' and 'color', you would be wrong according to some, and you should be corrected as such to write 'armour' and 'colour'.

its quite hilarious when people try to tell other with a different accent how to speak.

and the fact that people try to tell to speak 1 way will most likely make me to continue to do the opposite.

i say arch mage, and im proud of it.

If there's any constant to the english language, it's that there are exceptions to EVERY rule.

It's pronounced both ways in the game, so I conclude that either is acceptable.

So you made a claim as if it were true, yet you did not even bother to check the validity of it? So you would rather make up your own explanations based on what you "feel" might be somewhat accurate, rather than knowing it is actually true?

It's not in the Oxford or in the Canadian Oxford (yes, there is a Canadian Oxford), just like archimage is not in any French dictionary. It's a recent neologism. Who knows, it might make eventually. Maybe scholars will look to this thread for reference

Yes, because archive is totally spelled "arcive" and [censored] is totally spelled "dumass"

Same thing in French, and I assume in numerous languages.

Ah, that is truly the hope

See, that's what bugs me about this so much. If you want to know the American pronunciation of "archangel" all you have to do is look it up in the dictionary. This one, it's pretty much left up to speculation since there's no definitive frame of reference.

Also:
http://www.le-dictionnaire.com/definition.php?mot=archimage

Mages like angels only exist in the imagination but Bishops are real, ask Bishop Berkeley

Archmage (or arch-mage) as in archer seems to imply a sinister aspect, the word arch as in archer means (in one sense) knowing. In a bad way

Example "That was rather arch of you Claude... permit me to adjust your spectacles. Or nore probably cummerbund"

Arch as in archetype and archangel ought to be right, but ark-mage sounds inappropriate, I'm sticking with archmage as in Archie and the fitting, slightly sinister feeling of that word. They are a weird bunch after all

All the more so over the internet...

I guess at least somebody is approaching the whole "how to pronounce a fantastical term" issue correctly

issue?? this isnt an issue this is just bored people ranting over pointless topics.

But they're not though. Forget the nationality of the voice actor.

They're speaking Tamrelic. And within that Tamrelic language, multiple dialects.
So, how can there possibly be an incorrect pronunciation?

EDIT: before anyone says: "well, if you say as it is ment to be used, then how do you explain archangel, which is pronounced ark." Awnser: the word archangel is derived from an other language in its entirety. Not just as a prefix, then mounted to the word angel. Hence the pronounciation of the word traveled with it to English. It is not even an exception on the rule.


Hi Cueball, I only speak because I am interested in language, not to be difficult I promise

Archbishop and
Archangel

Arch (in one sense) means 'a level above' - we can all agree on this I think

Therefore arch IS a prefix to angel, same as the bishop case. Which comes up next week

But always- whatever sounds best to each individual person.

I am not disappointed when I hear someone say 'Ark-mage'. I know what they mean- and that is what matters

Someone earlier talked correctly about arch-enemy, and this is where the sinister feeling to 'arch' comes from

Canadian Oxford ew nyew

I'm not saying the word doesn't exist, clearly it does, but that site doesn't really qualify as an official source for the Académie fran?aise. Let's face it, only nerds and RPG players use archimage/archmage so it might take some time before dictionnaries like Oxford, Le Robert (in French), etc. put it in. It's all about usage. New words that are massively used make it quickly - words that are barely used take much more time, if they make it at all.

Interesting topic nonetheless. I have studied a bit of linguistics (but mostly with regards to French) and also History of the French language and History of the English language (closely related at some points) so it's interesting to me.

My Latin and Greek is a bit rusty but like someone mentionned it probably comes from the Greek Archon (ruler) or even Arche (the origin of something, the first thing, the dominant thing) which is why I mentionned "First Mage" earlier. It's pretty much the same thing as "Ruler of Mages".