The High Inquisitor: Why Are Dwarves Drunken, Scottish Miners?
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pixiestixy on Friday, October 2, 2009 - 22 Comments Tags: Lore, black dwarf, brewfest, caricature, drunk, dwarf, dwarves, fantasy, folklore, high inquisitor, lord of the rings, lotr, mine, mythology, norse, norse mythology, scottish, sterotypes, type-cast
pixiestixy on Friday, October 2, 2009 - 22 Comments Tags: Lore, black dwarf, brewfest, caricature, drunk, dwarf, dwarves, fantasy, folklore, high inquisitor, lord of the rings, lotr, mine, mythology, norse, norse mythology, scottish, sterotypes, type-cast 
The High Inquisitor is a new regular column at Project Lore that seeks answers to the greatest mysteries of Azeroth. Each week, the inquisitor will attack a previously unanswered question and attempt to explain the unknown. But she won't rest until all plausible explanations are explored. The best, most probable comment(s) will be highlighted with the next edition's inquisition.
They're the drunken, boorish, muscular, axe-wielding, long-bearded, mining, vertically-challenged characters of Azeroth. And did I mention that their accent suggests they're Scottish? Yup, I'm clearly talking about dwarves. And my question is simple - why?
Just when did dwarves become such a type-casted caricature? Not just in World of Warcraft, but dwarves in a multitude of modern pop culture references seem to share a few key elements: beer, rocks and a hardy, bearded musculature.
If you want to blame someone, let's go directly to the source - Norse mythology. The dvergar, as they were called, were significant nature spirits associated with rocks and the earth. Although they weren't described as short beings until much later, the dwarves even in this rendition are master crafters, especially in the sculpting of metals. Somewhat ironically, when exposed to sunlight, the Norse dwarves would turn to stone and die.
The pop-culture version of the dwarf took a drastic turn thanks to JRR Tolkien and his iconic The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogy. The stocky, touchy, easy to anger incarnation this time also explained dwarves as merrymen miners who loved a good drink and would willingly take on someone much larger than them in a fight. We see this version of the character commonly referenced in the modern fantasy genre, including in WoW (especially recently in Brewfest). And this certainly wouldn't be the last time that LOTR may have been used as inspiration for WoW.
In the Warcraft lore, dwarves originated from the Earthen, who are guardians of living stone. After the implosion of the Well of Eternity, the shocked earthen went into a state of hibernation within the titan cities of Uldum, Uldaman and Ulduar. Nearly 8,000 years later, they awoke with softened skin and diminished powers
over stone. Some migrated to Dun Morogh and built Ironforge.So, that's that. But there's still the remaining question of the Scottish accent. In the Lord of the Rings books, the dwarves were described as having a language that would more closely resemble African tongues. On the other hand, the LOTR movies adopted the Scottish convention, solidifying it into all of our minds as the proper language for dwarves.
Perhaps one explanation for the accent could come from English folklore surrounding Duergar. These short, trouser- and hat-wearing tricksters would appear bearing torches at night to lead travelers astray into bogs. This story originated in Northern England, along the border with - ding ding - Scotland. Or, perhaps, someone just decided to portray a dwarf with a Scottish accent, and it stuck.
So, perhaps it's the accent that's the biggest mystery of all. But WoW dwarves just wouldn't be the same if they didn't proclaim, while rolling those RRRs and charming the listener, "I don't have a drinking problem. I drink. I get drunk. I fall down. No problem!"
So here's where you guys come in. What do you think of the accepted portrait of dwarves - does it work for you? Or would you rather see more originality instead of stereotyped characters? Oh, and don't forget to find me a good reason why dwarves are Scottish. The best answer(s) will be featured in the next edition. 3...2...1... GO!
Reader Comments (22)
First!... Nah, Kidding. SCREW YOU FIRSTERS! Got'cha
Btw, you are not really answearing any question here, just asking the readers the same questen you want to know, and we ask ourself.
First off, the WoW dwarven Scottish accents are terrible. More like Fat B*stard in the Austin Powers movies. I've always wondered why Blizz didn't just hire a Scot to do the voiceovers. Aside from that, I love the bumbly yet fierce good nature of WoW dwarves. For me, the Scottish thing is just a plus. I personally think the image was ripped from Gimli in Lord of the Rings. However, there is a possible connection to the Norse dwarves and the stereotyped Scottish variety as there are many Scots who are descendant of raiding vikings, especially in the north of Scotland. How that translated into the modern fantasy genre is unknown to me as I am not aware of any Scottish folklore relating to modern dwarves as we see them. Interesting topic!
I think I may have an answer (or at least a suggestion) about it. In both Irish and Scottish lore there is a type of fae, something between a leprechaun and what we think of as a dwarf, that wears red clothes, is heavily bearded, and often likes to trick humans in taverns and inns by drinking unattended ale. Given the demographics and of course the penchant for drinking these creatures were eventually molded in with dwarves. Plus, if you recall, the dwarves in Snow White didn't have Scottish accents (the ones that talked anyway). I guess it all depends on who's making the story up.
I don't have an answer for your question...however I do have something else to discuss. WHY DON'T THE GNOMES or ALLIANCE TAKE BACK GNOMER!?
I like Azurienatei's answer. BTW from what I have read the dwarves from snow white are closer to the original image of the dwarf then what is called our "modern dwarf".
I like WoW's dwarves. Seems to fit perfectly.
I believe the LotR movie used Scottish because either Dwarves had already been associated with Scottish accents or they didn't want to use an African accent.
I'm also not sure whether Dwarves were ginger to begin with, but loud, drunken, gingers, sounds like a stereotypical Scott to me.
I think Phanttas may be on to something.
In modern society everyone is very careful about not offending other cultures so that might be the reason they didn't use African accent in the LotR movies. Then I guess they just experimented with different accents to find one that would fit the dwarven profile (loud, drunk, always ready for a fight), and Scottish fits perfectly in to that profile. Irish might have worked as well I think.
As for their "gingerness" I'd say it comes from what pixiestixy said about them turning to stone when exposed to sunlight. Even tho they obviously mutated they still must have pretty bad skin pigment.
I think Blizz knida had to use the steriotype so that using dwarves and gnomes together wouldn't seem redundant.
As a Scotsman I find this all racist and I will fight anyone who says otherwise.
Also as a Scotsman, i love the fact dwarves have been generally associated with a Scots accent, it's the best accent in the world.
And i also will get drunk and/or have a fight with anyone who agrees/disagrees! :D
I like the dwarf/bearded/Scottish accent stereotype. It just seems to work well. Because when you get rid of a dwarf's beard and his muscularity...what do you get? A Gnome or a Hobbit.
In the LOTR books, Gimli really enjoyed his brew and his pipe even if the elf could drink him under the table 3 times in one go. I never thot they were scottish, i thot they were Irish which goes with the drinking. Of course back to LOTR Gimli was one part pint sized tank and 4 parts comic reilief and small drunk people who talk funny are always funny
Hey I'm a blending of Scottish, Irish, English, German and even Native American, but in regards to the Scottish/Irish stereotypes, ever culture has them. You can't avoid them. Besides, I think that the suggestion of making the WoW dwarves Scott-accented is a way of telling the difference between them and the gnomes.
^Gnomes are short and useless. Dwarfs on the other hand.....are bad ass. How can one EVER confuse them.
Also: Not sure who 'invented' the dwarf, but they have been generally the same throughout literary history. They loved treasure, they were short, and almost always wielded axes. Oh and they love the pint.......
I love Dwarves. I think the stereotype fits them, and I wouldn't have it changed for anything :)
~~ Artica (female) Dwarf Hunter ~~
I'm scottish and I can't play the WoW dwarves on the basis of the accent. It's such a bad rendition of a Scottish accent. It's a weird mix of Irish, Welsh, Scottish and American. It's like most scottish accents done by Americans (or australians, Mel Gibson I'm looking at you, Destroyer of History), they're rubbish.
Actually the flesh curse turned the dwarf like the machian gnomes fleshie and if you run Uldaman at the end theres a quest The Platinum Discs speak with stone watcher he'll tell you all about it troggs, dwarfs and the creators alittle
I would much prefer the Dwarves to be NOT Scottish, to be honest. All the rest of their design - buildings, decorations, and such - seems to point toward a more Norse influence if ANYTHING. I'm not saying they need to have Bad Viking Accents, but something not Scottish would be nice.
Well, giving them a normal accent like the rest of us would be a bit biring dont u think? gnomes get a high-pitch voice, humans get the normal English accent, and dwarves are scottish. all makes sense. i think they have scottish accents to make them...fun, or funny, just to make the interesting.
World of Warcraft hasn't really strayed for the modern models of fantasy characters all that much. the only exception I can think of is the inclusion of steampunk elements. Other than that, Warcraft is pretty stock fantasy. I don't really see they straying from what's been established by countless other games, novels, and moves.
If you read any of the D&D books that were written long before WoW was here, the dwarves talk with a Scottish sounding accent. Check out Salvatore's Drizzt books. There's a big deal about how Cattiebrie (raised among dwarves) has a dwarvish accent but when she gets among humans she tries to speak more properly.