This is more specific for Oblivion (hence this thread's location). One thing that has always pestered me as a played Oblivion was my inability to identify the accent of the Argonians. I can't say why, I guess unidentifiable accents are my pet peeve. Searches were unsuccessful, and I felt defeated. But recently a random brain synapse allowed me to somehow make a connection. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44GKZrErSFQ is a clip of Othello (1995). If you skip to about 2:45 You can hear the voice of whom I believe is the Duke of Venice. IMO It's quite similar to the male Argonians (Female Argonians drew no leads, I can only assume they got Patty & Selma Simpson for that). So what are your thoughts? Has this been revealed before, or perhaps you have a better theory?

Better theory- the link you've seen was a coincidence. The various races are no doubt unfluenced by real-world cultures (with the Nords=Norse being the most obvious.) However, the Argonian culture is completely alien to us. Think about it- they're nameless until their coming-of-age ceremony, individuals born under a certain constellation are immedately given to a guild of assassins (who must hold significant sway in their homeland for that to be as common as Ocheeva and her brother implies), and they believe that they are decended from sentient trees whose sap they drink/lick as part of their coming-of-age. Their names are by no means traditional (Hides-his-eyes, Travelling-new-woman, Gold-Heart, etc. when translated.) Granted most names do have a meaning behind them, but most are effectively meaningless within their own language without having to look at it's roots.

While other races have semi-alien cultures, we can draw at least some parallels between their culture and our own. But those lizard-men? If there's a link between them and real-world cultures, it's to one that's either long-dead, largely cut-off from the rest of the world, or are by complete coincidence. Thus, any accent to help link them to a real-world culture or place will not be there. It's actually telling that Bethesda has put a LOT of thought if they had the Argonian voice actors make up their own accent.

I think you're missing the point. All the dialogue was spoken by real-world voice actors, so they pretty much have to have real-world accents. Obviously, the voice actor for Argonians altered their voice and all to sound more alien. I think the OP is trying to find out what accent the actual voice actor has, not what the Argonian accent is trying to sound like, but if I'm wrong and he is, then I agree.

I'd also like to point out to the OP that the female voice actor for Argonians also voices female Khajiits, and the male voice actor for Argonians also did male Khajiits, Nords, and Orcs.

Thank you, that was my intention. I did enjoy reading Marss' anolysis regardless. But I'm still unsure if I'm on the right track.