SimonDoom
Kink Lord
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2015
- Posts
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I know there have been previous threads that have touched on this topic, but I thought it might be useful to start a new thread where authors from both sides of the pond (or Down Under) can contribute their thoughts or experiences regarding differences in usage they have noticed. This can be particularly useful where an author from one country writes a story with characters from another country, and cares about establishing authenticity.
For example, I recently read a story by a very good and experienced British Lit author who wrote a story set in California, with Americans. And he had one say "whilst" in dialogue. To my knowledge, no American ever says "whilst." We say "while."
He also had the character say "bleeding" as in "bleeding fool." I wouldn't go so far as to say that NO American talks this way, but using the phrase "bleeding" or "bloody" in this way is a good way to make your character sound more English than American.
This is a very big generalization (and therefore only partly right), but to my ear and eye the Brits are a bit more creative and take more liberties with the way they express things like criticisms and insults, and there's a little more variety in the words used. Brits are more apt to use metaphors. If you are a British author and you want your character to talk like an American, tone down some of the more creative word usage in dialogue and keep it simple.
Anybody else have thoughts or recommendations on the subject, going either way?
For example, I recently read a story by a very good and experienced British Lit author who wrote a story set in California, with Americans. And he had one say "whilst" in dialogue. To my knowledge, no American ever says "whilst." We say "while."
He also had the character say "bleeding" as in "bleeding fool." I wouldn't go so far as to say that NO American talks this way, but using the phrase "bleeding" or "bloody" in this way is a good way to make your character sound more English than American.
This is a very big generalization (and therefore only partly right), but to my ear and eye the Brits are a bit more creative and take more liberties with the way they express things like criticisms and insults, and there's a little more variety in the words used. Brits are more apt to use metaphors. If you are a British author and you want your character to talk like an American, tone down some of the more creative word usage in dialogue and keep it simple.
Anybody else have thoughts or recommendations on the subject, going either way?