gimme an epithet!

[Stella_Omega]

I just submitted the first two parts of a novel... Sarabande features several interracial relationships.
When my black characters are hanging out together, they use the "n" word among themselves. If I were to publish, I would leave it that way. But- for lit purposes, I think I'd like to chicken out, and give them another word to use, just to remove a source of troll bait, anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I just submitted the first two parts of a novel... Sarabande features several interracial relationships.
When my black characters are hanging out together, they use the "n" word among themselves. If I were to publish, I would leave it that way. But- for lit purposes, I think I'd like to chicken out, and give them another word to use, just to remove a source of troll bait, anyone have any suggestions?

If they are southerners Dawg is pretty popular among guys reguardless of ethnicity.

 

[Stella_Omega]

If they are southerners Dawg is pretty popular among guys reguardless of ethnicity.

Yeah, "Dawg" gets used, and "Bro" and "Cuz"(since two of the guys are actually cousins) But I need something stronger, for when feelings are running high.
Maybe I should spell it niggaz?

 

[Selena_Kitt]

if they're urban perhaps you will find something here:

Urban Dictionary

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

Ninja is bad word? When did this happen? I'm so confused.

As one once called "so white you are damn near casper!" I'll not show my ignorance and remain silent for epithets.


Ninja please.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Yeah, "Dawg" gets used, and "Bro" and "Cuz"(since two of the guys are actually cousins) But I need something stronger, for when feelings are running high.
Maybe I should spell it niggaz?

If you are comfortable enough with street english, I would say stay with what you know is most accurate. Modifying what you write to avoid trolls isn't likely to avoid them. they'll find something if they are dedicated anyway.

 

[R. Richard]

Yeah, "Dawg" gets used, and "Bro" and "Cuz"(since two of the guys are actually cousins) But I need something stronger, for when feelings are running high.
Maybe I should spell it niggaz?

"Niggaz" is, of course, the plural. "Niggah" is the phonetic singular. "Cuz" should probably be avoided, since this is how Crips gang members refer to each other.

JMHO.

 

[Stella_Omega]

if they're urban perhaps you will find something here:

Urban Dictionary

wow, what a groovy link!
I'm bookmarking that one, thanks Kitty!

... sez there, people are acutally using "n-word; "'sup, n-word?"
That is too funny, I love that!

 

[Stella_Omega]

If you are comfortable enough with street english, I would say stay with what you know is most accurate. Modifying what you write to avoid trolls isn't likely to avoid them. they'll find something if they are dedicated anyway.

yep. You are so right. Anyway, one white guy winces when the word gets used, so it helps with character development.

 

[Boota]

I wouldn't change anything to avoid trolls. When I think about trolls I just look at it like it says in the bible. "Fuck 'em!" (It's in there somewhere. Around Deuteronomy, I think.) You shouldn't compromise the integrity of your characters in order to placate anyone. If the character would say "nigger" or "nigga" let him say it. Anything else isn't being true to the character and the work.

An issue on language that I've had is in a similar vein. I read The Oath by Frank Peretti, an author of Christian horror. He tells a good story and all, but his use of language took me out of the story at several points. I understand it is the audience he is writing for that demands the softening of the language, but softening the language of the purely evil bastard in charge doesn't work. He should have used the proper words to convey the idea and support the identity of the character. I see your situation in much the same way. His villain, while ordering the systematic murder of a whole town, said things like, "Baloney! Get in their and kill those sons of guns!" Someone who is ordering the deaths of hundreds of people is not going to be saying "baloney" and "sons of guns" when "bullshit" and "sons of bitches" is what they mean. Same thing with "nigger/nigga".

 

[Stella_Omega]

I heart you, Boota! LOL


I take it, you don't think this evil character's soft language was really part of him? I can imagine someone being mincing about his words while being horrible about his actions. Hell, I've seen it!

 

[Bridget69]

How about "brotha"?

 

[Boota]

The softened language just didn't read as "real". It wasn't only the villain, but all the characters. I think my issue is with the childish approach of using replacement words for swearing, like, "What the fudge are you talking about?" You can use "What are you talking about?" and it works perfectly and doesn't appear softened. Adding the replacement words where the cussing would go just doesn't look right to me and it makes the characters ring untrue. The author is trying to capture the verbal strength of a good curse word without having to commit to actually using the word, and I think that makes the entire work suffer.

I could see where a character could have that kind of language as a part of the character, and then I think it would work. There would be other elements in the story establishing his personality and it would come off as a quirk instead of an author censoring the reality from his work.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

The softened language just didn't read as "real". It wasn't only the villain, but all the characters. I think my issue is with the childish approach of using replacement words for swearing, like, "What the fudge are you talking about?" You can use "What are you talking about?" and it works perfectly and doesn't appear softened. Adding the replacement words where the cussing would go just doesn't look right to me and it makes the characters ring untrue. The author is trying to capture the verbal strength of a good curse word without having to commit to actually using the word, and I think that makes the entire work suffer.

I could see where a character could have that kind of language as a part of the character, and then I think it would work. There would be other elements in the story establishing his personality and it would come off as a quirk instead of an author censoring the reality from his work.

I read a story once wwhere the main villian was an ex clergyman. He never cursed, softened everyting he said, had bland euphemisms for every sordid deed. But as you said, his character was established early. Evil, but hiding it behind a very bland facade.

Your average villian is going to cuss. If he dosen't, you have to explain why he dosent.

 

[Just-Legal]

Totally irrelevant to current issue at hand, but I discovered the word "asshat" recently, and it's been getting a lot of use

 

[Stella_Omega]

The softened language just didn't read as "real". It wasn't only the villain, but all the characters. I think my issue is with the childish approach of using replacement words for swearing, like, "What the fudge are you talking about?" You can use "What are you talking about?" and it works perfectly and doesn't appear softened. Adding the replacement words where the cussing would go just doesn't look right to me and it makes the characters ring untrue. The author is trying to capture the verbal strength of a good curse word without having to commit to actually using the word, and I think that makes the entire work suffer.

I could see where a character could have that kind of language as a part of the character, and then I think it would work. There would be other elements in the story establishing his personality and it would come off as a quirk instead of an author censoring the reality from his work.

Terry Pratchett used this to good effect in "Reaper Man" when Death... died. Life force was building up, and causing odd things to come to life, including swear words. "Damn" became a sort of stinging goblin... The forceful personality of Ridcully was very miserable trying to substitute words like "sugar" "darn" and "poot". They didn't relieve his emotions one bit. Meanwhile, the ever-growing crowd of swearwords he'd generated- clustered on his shoulders and flew around his hat....

can you tell I don't want to buckle down to work?