The Most Important Aspect of Miko The Blackguard...

[Scorpion13]

Lets say that Miko's actions in 406 lead her to eventually becoming a Blackguard. I cant wait to see how the story progresses, but there is one thing that is very important to me, and I must see adressed.....

How do you pronounce Blackguard?

I pronounce it "blaggerd" like in old Errol Flynn movies, while all my friends insist its pronounced "black-guard".

How do you say it?

I personally have always stood by my belief that the former sounds way more cool.

[Guildorn Tanaleth]

According to my dictionary, the former is the only correct way.

[Gamerofthegame]

Black-guard, Cause thats how it is generally spelt.

[CardinalFang]

The Oxford English Dictionary gives the pertinent definitions and pronunciation as follows (I really hope those annoying pronunciation characters show up properly):

(http://dictionary.oed.com.proxy.library.cornell.edu:2048/graphics/parser/gifs/mb/sm.gifblæghttp://dictionary.oed.com.proxy.library.cornell.edu:2048/graphics/parser/gifs/mb/schwa.gifd) [lit. Black Guard, concerning the original application of which there is some doubt. It is possible that senses 1 and 2 began independently of each other; or the one may have originated in a play upon the other, black being taken with a different sense; it would be difficult to assign priority to either. It is even possible that there may have been a guard of soldiers at Westminster called the Black Guard, or that, as some suggest, the attendants or torch-bearers at a funeral, or the link-boys of the streets, may have had this name.]

A. n.

I. A body of persons.

http://dictionary.oed.com.proxy.library.cornell.edu:2048/graphics/parser/gifs/mb/dag.gif2. A guard of attendants, black in person, dress, or character; a following of ‘black’ villains. Obs.

1563 FOXE (http://dictionary.oed.com.proxy.library.cornell.edu:2048/help/bib/oed2-f2.html#foxe) A. & M. (1583) II. 801 The Blacke gard of the Dominike friers..were not all mute, but laide lustily from them. 1583 FULKE (http://dictionary.oed.com.proxy.library.cornell.edu:2048/help/bib/oed2-f2.html#fulke) Defence x. 386 Pelagius, Celestius, and other like heretics of the devils black guard. 1609 DEKKER (http://dictionary.oed.com.proxy.library.cornell.edu:2048/help/bib/oed2-d.html#dekker) Lanth. & Candle-Lt. Wks. 1884-5 III. 214 The great Lord of Limbo did therefore commaund all his Blacke Guard that stood about him, to bestirre them. 1676 HALE (http://dictionary.oed.com.proxy.library.cornell.edu:2048/help/bib/oed2-h.html#hale) Contempl. 97 An Apostle, one of the twelve, he it is that conducts this black Guard. 1705 HICKERINGILL (http://dictionary.oed.com.proxy.library.cornell.edu:2048/help/bib/oed2-h3.html#hickeringill) Priest-Cr. II. iii. 28 This Black-guard [Jaylors and Hangmen] is the only Life-guard of a High-flown, Persecuting..Ceremony-monger.


II. An individual.

http://dictionary.oed.com.proxy.library.cornell.edu:2048/graphics/parser/gifs/mb/dag.gif4. A guard or soldier black in person, dress, or character. Also fig. Cf. 2. Obs.

1563 R. BAKER in Hakluyt Voy. (1589) 133 The Captein now past charge of this brutish blacke gard. 1696 BROOKHOUSE Temple Open. 6 Satan..placed his Black Guards there. 1745 Lond. Mag. 391 He was oblig'd to set up his corps of Black-Guards to escorte him to and from the Senate.


So there you have it. The former pronunciation is correct. Although I have the feeling that the latter is acceptable in most cases, it IS technically wrong.

P.S. I apologize for the lack of links, but the OED actually requires a subscription, so you wouldn't be able to follow them anyway.

[Erk]

People who say "black-guard" in my campaigns get hit with a dictionary.

Fortunately I don't have blackguards in my campaigns, so this has never happened.

[Alfryd]

I personally have always stood by my belief that the former sounds way more cool
You are correct.