tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028602332732833042.post5356175350925373015..comments2024-02-16T05:30:02.319-05:00Comments on Jane's Ride: Regional DialectJane Kennedy Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519340747761460017noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028602332732833042.post-24409461111813019332009-10-03T01:29:57.921-04:002009-10-03T01:29:57.921-04:00I hope I can track down library copies of these bo...I hope I can track down library copies of these books, although I assume they'll be on the reference shelves. A writer could spend hours and hours procrastinating...Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028602332732833042.post-71485948319217256082009-09-29T13:43:15.908-04:002009-09-29T13:43:15.908-04:00This is a very interesting post, Jane. My WIP tak...This is a very interesting post, Jane. My WIP takes place in England about 70 years ago so that brings its own challenges.<br /><br />ElspethElspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028602332732833042.post-79406378690493493242009-09-28T20:40:40.088-04:002009-09-28T20:40:40.088-04:00Very interesting. It's true - words and manner...Very interesting. It's true - words and mannerisms can help define our characters. Trying to keep a genuine feel in the dialogue without cliche or overusage of phrases can absolutely give a regional depth to a character. I have to admit, most of these phrases were new to me though. Interesting thoughts, Jane!<br /><br /><a href="http://nasharpe.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow"> Nancy, from Realms of Thought…</a>N A Sharpehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535316802416841336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028602332732833042.post-71345940913114400572009-09-28T17:32:48.252-04:002009-09-28T17:32:48.252-04:00Good point, Helen, in saying that it's hard kn...Good point, Helen, in saying that it's hard know what is a regional thing since to those who use it, it seems normal. I've always liked pea-pickin' heart.<br /><br />True, Marvin. I've read books with a lot of slang and skipped over parts of the dialogue that made no sense to me.<br /><br />Cut the light is a new one for me, Elizabeth. I like the way it sounds though and it does make sense.<br /><br />Galen, I think your editor is right. Like I mentioned to Marvin, I skip over parts of dialogue when I don't understand what they're saying and I know I mis stuff that way. I think a bit of dialect is okay as long as the reader can easily figure out the meaning.<br /><br />Carole, I love hissy fit - it's fun to say.Jane Kennedy Suttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519340747761460017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028602332732833042.post-19987934373004564852009-09-28T17:13:10.977-04:002009-09-28T17:13:10.977-04:00Like Marvelous Marv, I try to use dialect that mos...Like Marvelous Marv, I try to use dialect that most people have heard of or that is clear enough in context. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. I once had a character talk about throwing a hissy fit, something most people in the South, anyway, have heard of.Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168273312704732896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028602332732833042.post-23453874463976027842009-09-28T15:51:53.917-04:002009-09-28T15:51:53.917-04:00Dialect has gotten me in big trouble in my current...Dialect has gotten me in big trouble in my current WIP. I have gangster that speak in ethnic dialect. My editor said, “Too much. Took me right out of the story. Had to go back and reread to figure out what the heck you we’re talking about.” So, now, I gotta figure out how to get that done. That equals, lots of revision and rewrite. Ugh.<br /><br />Best Regards, Galen<br /><br /><a href="http://www.galenkindley.com/blog.htm" rel="nofollow">Imagineering Fiction Blog</a>joe doaks-Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283066862112820202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028602332732833042.post-70018029596244798012009-09-28T11:07:23.694-04:002009-09-28T11:07:23.694-04:00I'd heard "doesn't know me from Adam&...I'd heard "doesn't know me from Adam's house-cat" in my part of the South.<br /><br />I do use regional expressions in my manuscripts. Frequently they're edited out. :) We say "cut on the light" and "buggy" instead of "shopping cart." Editors find these things confusing...<br />Elizabeth<br /><a href="http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Mystery Writing is Murder</a>Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028602332732833042.post-22233299030084735702009-09-28T09:50:42.438-04:002009-09-28T09:50:42.438-04:00I'd think using regional dialect, in order to ...I'd think using regional dialect, in order to have the mass appeal necessary for a wide readership, would have to be used sparingly and only those kinds of phrases/words that are well KNOWN to be from a certain area. Otherwise you'd be like - wtf? when reading them. I've used ghetto slang in my books, like "what's up, dog?" and "he's my homey," but there again, peeps who don't talk like that have at least HEARD those phrases and know it's inner city urban talk.<br /><br /><a href="http://theoldsilly.com" rel="nofollow">The Old Silly</a>Marvelous Marvhttp://theoldsilly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2028602332732833042.post-25633714893873482572009-09-28T08:36:18.388-04:002009-09-28T08:36:18.388-04:00I'm like you. I've heard "doesn't...I'm like you. I've heard "doesn't know me from Adam" but not with the ox part added. Gotta be a Biblical origin since we in the south don't mess with too many oxen. The others you listed are foreign to me. It's hard to say what is a regional thing since to those who use it, it seems normal and something anyone else would know. One that everyone probably associates with the south would be "Bless your pea-pickin' heart."<br /><br />Helen<br /><a href="http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Straight From Hel</a>Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.com