Do you use modern slang in dialogue in medieval fantasy?

[JohnSm123]

When I was writing my medieval-fantasy story, my beta reader had also pointed out that it was anachronistic to use words such as "dude" and "asshole." Do you agree?

 

[ElectricBlue]

Yes. You might just as well set your story in 2023 in a Renaissance Fair or some thing like that.

If you're going to attempt some kind of historical or mythological setting, you should at least try to make the dialogue sound olde time, not what you'd hear in a shopping mall. You don't need to go over board, but "Yo, dude," is just going to read silly.

 

[StillStunned]

I was going to write something constructive, but then I realised I was wasting my time.

 

[Devinter]

I would stay far away from those types of words, indeed. You can include certain slang words - heck, sometimes even invent your own - but they should feel relevant to the time period and the group of characters that use them.

Furthermore, I think it's fairly important to highlight that the different social classes often tended to speak quite differently - and that they especially would communicate in certain ways with those 'above them'. Using titles like "sir" and "my lord" frequently to highlight that difference in social status feels quite important in a medieval story, for instance.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I spent time yesterday researching whether or not the term "dust bunnies" was used in 1945, so yeah, I'm with the beta reader.


p.s. It wasn't.

 

[countdowntolov3]

I know the OP is a troll account but I can't resist shouting out the movie A Knight's Tale. Which uses period appropriate words in a modern rhythm and sentence structure to great effect. The effect is largely comedic though.

 

[JaxRhapsody]

Eye roll

No, you're not supposed to. Not if you're trying to make it real period correct. You can check out YouTube channels like Shadeversity and Metatron for an idea on it. I however am not too concerned about it for mine, since it's more like an RPG or anime, where you might see/hear somebody say some modern words to a degree.

 

[AchtungNight]

Make it a parody if you must. Give Robin Hood a hip young black sidekick. Just make sure he also speaks with an English accent.

 

[StillStunned]

Make it a parody if you must. Give Robin Hood a hip young black sidekick. Just make sure he also speaks with an English accent.

"A black sheriff?"
"Why not? It worked in Blazing Saddles."

 

[SimonDoom]

I think it depends on the nature of the fantasy. If the setting is "medieval-ish" but not exactly like any particular historically accurate medieval setting, you can make the characters talk the way they want to. It's a fantasy, after all. Using terms like "dude" will tend to give it a jokey, humorous quality, whereas if you want the story to have a serious medieval tone, like, say Lord of the Rings, I'd advise steering clear of words like that.

 

[ronde]

I've written a lot of historical pieces and using the correct language of the time makes the story read as if it could be true in real life. The correct language also depends upon the social status and sex of the character doing the speaking as well as the time period and country. Using modern slang in a medieval story would make me back-click out of that story and go on to something else.

The other problem with using modern slang is it's damned hard to keep up with. It seems as if all it takes to coin a new word or phrase is one post on a social media site. It's not worth my time to go searching through some internet slang dictionary to figure out what the writer is trying to tell me.

 

[AG31]

When I was writing my medieval-fantasy story, my beta reader had also pointed out that it was anachronistic to use words such as "dude" and "asshole." Do you agree?

No. Yes.
I don't write about medieval times, but I surely wouldn't like to see modern slang in a story with a medieval setting.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Dust Bunnies has a 50s or 60s vibe to me.

I spent time yesterday researching whether or not the term "dust bunnies" was used in 1945, so yeah, I'm with the beta reader.


p.s. It wasn't.

 

[KeithD]

Depends on whether you want to put your reader into a medieval period and keep them there or whether you are writing a parody that purposely jerks them out of context for comedic effect.

 

[JaxRhapsody]

No. Yes.
I don't write about medieval times, but I surely wouldn't like to see modern slang in a story with a medieval setting.

If he writes that story, I'd be happy to see the maiden Daria Morgandorfer call Duke Joe Camel of Funkytownne a jive ass turkey because he be cappin' about getting bitches. I'll give it five stars for effort.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I know the OP is a troll account but I can't resist shouting out the movie A Knight's Tale. Which uses period appropriate words in a modern rhythm and sentence structure to great effect. The effect is largely comedic though.

A troll account: that would explain a lot. Not that I understand why anybody would find that a rewarding venture.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Dust Bunnies has a 50s or 60s vibe to me.

Yep. Earliest known usage was in 1952.

 

[Djmac1031]

I realize I'm replying to a troll, but it's actually an interesting discussion.

I haven't written anything "Midieval."

Closest I had was a character in a setting in the Middle East around 2,000 years ago.

I decided NOT to try writing the dialog with any period of time in mind, BUT avoided things like contractions (can't, I'm, etc) to make it read slightly more formal.

My characters weren't speaking English at the time, but of course English is all I know lol.

 

[Duleigh]

When I was writing my medieval-fantasy story, my beta reader had also pointed out that it was anachronistic to use words such as "dude" and "asshole." Do you agree?

Very much so, I try to find something from the time period but I also don't use their full jargon, because yea and varily, it doth wear upon the nerves

 

[Djmac1031]

Very much so, I try to find something from the time period but I also don't use their full jargon, because yea and varily, it doth wear upon the nerves

Reminds me of a Doctor Who episode where his companion Rose tries talking in Old Tyme style during a trip back in time, and the Doctor turns to her and says, "Don't. Just... don't. "

 

[JaxRhapsody]

I realize I'm replying to a troll, but it's actually an interesting discussion.

I haven't written anything "Midieval."

Closest I had was a character in a setting in the Middle East around 2,000 years ago.

I decided NOT to try writing the dialog with any period of time in mind, BUT avoided things like contractions (can't, I'm, etc) to make it read slightly more formal.

My characters weren't speaking English at the time, but of course English is all I know lol.

I'm starting to think about writing one here just to save my actual "medieval" novel from bad ideas.

 

[AchtungNight]

This thread reminds me of the time I worked security at a Renaissance Festival. Got hugged by a lovely wench named Judith who resembled Shannyn Sossamon, star of A Knight’s Tale. Cherished memories.

 

[Bramblethorn]

For the original question: this is a kind of "how long is a piece of string?" question.

Almost every medieval-setting story is written somewhere in between the authentic language of the setting and modern English. Very few people know medieval English well enough to do it perfectly, and even if they did, most readers wouldn't be able to follow the story. Even Shakespeare requires a lot of footnotes for modern readers. But modern slang, "asshole" etc., does sound jarring for a lot of readers. The trick is to find a sweet spot in between "this sounds too modern" and "I can't understand this".

Everybody has their own threshold. I was jarred early on in "Pirates of the Caribbean" where one of the characters says "okay". But many viewers probably wouldn't have had any issue with it. You won't be able to please everybody. So, try to find that sweet spot but don't get hung up on perfection. An imperfect story is still better than no story.

Very much so, I try to find something from the time period but I also don't use their full jargon, because yea and varily, it doth wear upon the nerves

I'd also say: if you're going to use oldey-timey language, do it right or not at all. I cringe every time I read something like this:

"Did the King give thou the ring?"

Some author will get the idea that "thou" is the old-fashioned "you", and just replace all their "you"s to make something like that sentence. But it's wrong in the same way as it would be to reply "Yes, he gave I the ring".

There are guides around, but for an author who doesn't have the time or inclination to figure out how to use these things, better to stick to modern language than to mangle the historical version.

 

[FeralSmile]

Dust Bunnies has a 50s or 60s vibe to me.

Yup.

OED's earliest evidence for dust bunny is from 1952, in the Newark Advocate and American Tribune (Newark, Ohio).​

 

[FeralSmile]

Yep. Earliest known usage was in 1952.

Bah, already replied then I saw this.