Fantasy story, what do you call stuff?

[NuclearFairy]

So, when writing in a fantasy setting, that is at least pseudo medieval at which point do you try to use old terms for things, like a breast band instead of a sports bra, and at which point do you use a term that feels more authentic, verses one that was more authentic, like towel vs drying cloth?

Or are you the type to just say, "Fuck it! It's fantasy in an alternate reality, I call em what I want."

 

[ChuckWolf]

So far that's not been an issue for me in the faux-medieval story settings.

Closest anachronism I've come to was deciding whether or not to refer to the evil witch's latex catsuit as latex; instead I went with "a shiny and skin-tight leather-material".

And strap-ons would be composed of either polished wood, ivory or some magical energy.

 

[Britva415]

Things should be called things with no vowels, several apostrophes and mid-word capitalization in fantasy stories.

At least, you’d think so

 

[Jmanchu]

Depends on how far you wanna go back, and how much fantasy you go.

If it's supposed to be medieval historical setting that's well thought out, and you've got some very intricate setting with a place that's based very closely around, say, Germany, England, or Italy... and you've really, really studied up on your history to make that sort of feel, you'd probably want to stick to whatever they wore. Namely breast bands and gowns. Also, "bikini-like" tops were a thing for certain place, since a very long time, since Ancient Greece, etc.

But, usually women of those times, if I recall based on my research(fantasy writer aspirer here, so same boat as you), also wore undergarments like chemises (I mean the medieval smock-like dresses worn under, or as a nightgown, not like whatever modern chemises are... unless I'm wrong?), and similar.

BUT!!

If it's fantasy, pure fantasy, or just "welcome, adventurer! Take a load off in this inn with my lovely bar wench daughter" kind of fantasy, or completely invented, then it doesn't matter.

*Most people aren't that picky about their fantasy,* unless you go so overboard that you have every little detail to try to feel like authentic and realistic everything of those times, then things that are inaccurate might stick out.

Fantasy, it's magic and wizards, warriors and rangers, olden human times, adventure, elves and whatnot, or whatever you want it to be. That's all most people care when they want their fantasy fix. You can go with bikinis and breast bands, and push it with bodices and corsets too even if they're a bit past Middle Ages. Sports bra is reeeaaally pushing it though.

TLDR: Nobody really cares, just as long as you give em sexy, fun fantasy shenanigans.

 

[Jorunn]

I wrote a Viking age story and needed a measurement so I used millimeters. I got a nice comment that ‘fingers’ were more appropriate. I appreciated the comment. If you pick an historical setting, you may find that some readers are more well-versed than you.

If your world is a fantasy one, then you have more freedom to use your imagination, names, or events.

 

[StillStunned]

I wrote a Viking age story and needed a measurement so I used millimeters. I got a nice comment that ‘fingers’ were more appropriate. I appreciated the comment. If you pick an historical setting, you may find that some readers are more well-versed than you.

Yes, for anything pre-1800 the metric system feels particularly out of place.

If your world is a fantasy one, then you have more freedom to use your imagination, names, or events.

I generally use vague measurements like league, stone's throw, paces, spitting distance, half a day's ride, halfway to the horizon or the width of a princess's pube.

 

[ChuckWolf]

Another way to look at or present it, is that the characters in your fantasy world are speaking their own language(s), which are being translated to us as English (or another language) for the convenience of the reader.

 

[UsuallyPresent]

Whatever works for the story.

Frankowski's cross-time engineer or similar stories, mixing old and new terms is part of the theme, drawing attention to the differences & finding ways for the time/space traveller to reuse their knowledge in the new realm.

Lord of the Rings, only measurements I recall are organic - 'big as his head' - volume ("It comes in pints?!?") or long distances to travel. No metrics on Narsil, or how much the Silmaril weigh.

So I don't think there's any simpler way to say it. Use what enhances the tale, ignore/avoid things that tie up the tale in ratholes out of the main stream of narrative (unless that's part of your strategy!)

 

[StillStunned]

I once started reading a historical novel about barbarian invasions of the Roman Empire. I didn't make it beyond the first few pages. The author had decided to put metric measurements in brackets after every reference to distance, or height, or length.

"He had led his people a thousand miles (1,609km), and now stood on the banks of the great river. A hundred yards (91.44 metres) away, a watchtower rose 15 yards (13.72 metres). He turned his 6-foot (1.97 metres) frame and addressed his men..."

 

[TheLobster]

I once started reading a historical novel about barbarian invasions of the Roman Empire. I didn't make it beyond the first few pages. The author had decided to put metric measurements in brackets after every reference to distance, or height, or length.

"He had led his people a thousand miles (1,609km), and now stood on the banks of the great river. A hundred yards (91.44 metres) away, a watchtower rose 15 yards (13.72 metres). He turned his 6-foot (1.97 metres) frame and addressed his men..."

I'd be tempted to leave him an Amazon review in the vein of:

After reading through about five pages (six pages A5), I was irresistibly compelled to pick up this half-pound book (234 g) and hurl it approximately seven feet (2.1 m) against the nearby wall, where it left a thankfully removable mark about one inch wide (2.7 cm) and two inches long (5.3 cm). Cannot recommend.

 

[UsuallyPresent]

I once started reading a historical novel about barbarian invasions of the Roman Empire. I didn't make it beyond the first few pages. The author had decided to put metric measurements in brackets after every reference to distance, or height, or length.

"He had led his people a thousand miles (1,609km), and now stood on the banks of the great river. A hundred yards (91.44 metres) away, a watchtower rose 15 yards (13.72 metres). He turned his 6-foot (1.97 metres) frame and addressed his men..."

Something that jarring would be difficult to bring into a tale without disjointing the poor thing. A 'helper' that injects those thoughts into the protagonist's mind? A 'translation spell' that doesn't have settings? Ways to drive the protag barmy? That'd help reach those goals, especially if you don't maintain that PoV all the time - a reminder sporadically when looking out the protag's eyes, maybe.

 

[KittyOfSteele]

I'm the second type. The genre is called Fantasy. It's meant to be unrealistic.

Nevertheless I'm really tired of high fantasy stories set on very strict medieval settings, thus I always lean towards the Golden Age of Piracy for inspiration. There was a lot of cleavage during that era.

 

[UsuallyPresent]

I'm the second type. The genre is called Fantasy. It's meant to be unrealistic.

Nevertheless I'm really tired of high fantasy stories set on very strict medieval settings, thus I always lean towards the Golden Age of Piracy for inspiration. There was a lot of cleavage during that era.

Vast bounties a' fruit upon the table, aye. Mountainous mounds supported by strap an' cleverness. Public propriety and pubic prowess in private.

 

[ronde]

So, when writing in a fantasy setting, that is at least pseudo medieval at which point do you try to use old terms for things, like a breast band instead of a sports bra, and at which point do you use a term that feels more authentic, verses one that was more authentic, like towel vs drying cloth?

Or are you the type to just say, "Fuck it! It's fantasy in an alternate reality, I call em what I want."

It depends upon your definition of fantasy. While Literotica puts fantasy and sci-fi into the same genre, the main difference is believability. Sci-fi works need only be plausible given our knowledge today and would use common language with exceptions given for other civilizations that use different terms for things. Fantasy does not need to be plausible. It merely has to be believable in the context that in fantasy, anything is possible. If you're writing your own world, you can call things as you see fit.

The problem only arises when you're modeling your world after a time period and location that does or did exist. Readers will figure out what you're modeling and expect the language to fit.

It doesn't take much reading to find out the common language of a time period and location but you don't have to write your story in Chaucer's or Shakespeare's words. A few words sprinkled here and there will suffice and will keep your story both believable and readable. For the most part, the differences in wording between different time periods involves slang, innuendo, an euphemisms. Keep most of the wording to common English and spice it up with a few rods of the day.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I wrote a Viking age story and needed a measurement so I used millimeters. I got a nice comment that ‘fingers’ were more appropriate. I appreciated the comment. If you pick an historical setting, you may find that some readers are more well-versed than you.

If your world is a fantasy one, then you have more freedom to use your imagination, names, or events.

Well, it's your story and you can use old-Russian 1/10" 'lines' if you want, but I see their point; it is just a little bit jarring. TI common;y use 'fuzzy' measurements like 'fingerwidth' or 'handbreadth' for just that reason. Your call.

 

[Blake_Palafox]

Using non-modern terms is just a genre convention, as only a linguist would be able to consistently write in a particular time period's lexicon. I think the best thing to go by is, "Does this sound weird to you in this context?" If the answer is yes, use an archaic word.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

WRT the original question, any author has a couple of goals in this regard. The first is clarity; using a strange word ("That's a pretty snargurgle!") without explanation is only going to be confusing for the reader. The second it to set the tone or air of the place and society; women on an alien planet are not hippies and describing their garb using that image would fail.

I think much depends on how one is spinning the story. If it's a fantasy world, something out of Andre Norton, then using the term 'brassiere' (for instance) would be a bit odd. On the other hand, if the story had a character from Earth who sees an alien wearing such a supportive/decorative garment, then it is quite likely they would think of it as a 'bra'.

 

[AwkwardMD]

I'm the second type. The genre is called Fantasy. It's meant to be unrealistic.

You myopic manatee

 

[Pabiporffor]

It's worth looking up the etymology of such words as many have old English versions that a reader could guess if used in the right context

 

[Statius]

So, when writing in a fantasy setting, that is at least pseudo medieval at which point do you try to use old terms for things, like a breast band instead of a sports bra, and at which point do you use a term that feels more authentic, verses one that was more authentic, like towel vs drying cloth?

Or are you the type to just say, "Fuck it! It's fantasy in an alternate reality, I call em what I want."

My opinion? Keep to the 'flavor' of the world you're creating, and in character of the character speaking. My fantasy elf/ orc story is rustic; so brazzier wasn't going to work. I may have thrown the word bra, but can't remember. I stuck with bodice or the like. But I wasn't writing palace fantasy. Too many modern words will throw credibility, however too many archaic words and you're making your reader translate too much. Both will throw the reader off. I like chest bands, or leather/ cloth banded across her chest, that sort of thing.

Having said that I also don't world build quite like you do ( you're very good at it btw).

Peace.

 

[KittyOfSteele]

You myopic manatee

YES! Someone got it!

 

[AwkwardMD]

YES! Someone got it!

I was worried onlookers would think I was coming at you with unfounded aggression, so I went back and edited in the link after about 10 minutes of fear.

 

[StillStunned]

Something that jarring would be difficult to bring into a tale without disjointing the poor thing. A 'helper' that injects those thoughts into the protagonist's mind? A 'translation spell' that doesn't have settings? Ways to drive the protag barmy? That'd help reach those goals, especially if you don't maintain that PoV all the time - a reminder sporadically when looking out the protag's eyes, maybe.

It was jarring and unnecessary. If someone talks about a journey of a thousand miles, they're not talking about precisely 1,609 kilometres from start to end. A tower across the river - a hundred yards away - and the POV character can conveniently measure both its height and the width of the river to within a centimetre?

I just can't imagine what was going through the writer's head to decide to do that.

 

[AwkwardMD]

YES! Someone got it!

Two of my more famous stories, I got the titles from this one. I was researching the lines, liked how they sounded, and adapted ideas I was working on to fit the them.

 

[UsuallyPresent]

It was jarring and unnecessary. If someone talks about a journey of a thousand miles, they're not talking about precisely 1,609 kilometres from start to end. A tower across the river - a hundred yards away - and the POV character can conveniently measure both its height and the width of the river to within a centimetre?

I just can't imagine what was going through the writer's head to decide to do that.

Yah, generally jarring the reader is in bad form, but there certainly are exceptions out there. Everything from jumpscares to the oriental baddie in Raiders of the Lost Ark putting his coathanger together, to the slurping noises after "fava beans and a nice chianti", all are effective jolts that help build momentum (terror? humor? yes?) within their tales.