Getting character's voices true is very difficult-- I know, for example, that my Spike suffers because he gets more like my voice and less like his own show voice. And I also know (another example from this fic) that the Draco in my head would never say "off of"-- it's entirely too plebian-- but this author thinks differently.
I seen you without your clothes on before. Never thought I'd see you naked.
Mal ,'Trash'
Fan Fiction: Writers, Readers, and Enablers
This thread is for fanfic recs, links, and discussion, but not for actual posting of fanfic.
Am-Chau Yarkona - Oct 14, 2003 10:45:03 am PDT #6368 of 10000
I bop to Wittgenstein. -- Nutty
Nutty - Oct 14, 2003 1:11:41 pm PDT #6369 of 10000
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."
Huh. Well, the fact is, language moves and changes. I don't use jumper to mean sweater, but I would use flat to mean apartment (and do). Unless it's actually confusing or really stands out (as with a man in a pregnant-looking dress), I shouldn't think it's that big an issue.
Or, I suppose, there's an absolute threshold below which dialect and variant vocabulary are not noticeable to me, and then above that threshold it's a game of "cosmopolitan, ignorant, or trying too hard?"
Whereas more than 2-3 words in a foreign language automatically qualify as "trying too hard", for me, and that goes double on TV, and that goes triple when the TV actors don't actually speak that language. (Bad Firefly! Alias gets a pass only because (a) Vaughn is French and (b) they sometimes use subtitles.) Foreign words with translation -- trying too hard but at least concerned about the reader; foreign words without translation -- probably the author is being snotty. Heaven knows, I have been snotty, but that does nto stop me from hating it in other people.
Beverly - Oct 14, 2003 1:25:46 pm PDT #6370 of 10000
Days shrink and grow cold, sunlight through leaves is my song. Winter is long.
I shouldn't think it's that big an issue.
'Scuse me for being way OT, but I just really need to kiss Nutty's feet here. Not "that big of an issue." No, precious, "that big an issue." Thank you!
Rebecca Lizard - Oct 14, 2003 2:12:54 pm PDT #6371 of 10000
You sip / say it's your crazy / straw say it's you're crazy / as you bicycle your soul / with beauty in your basket
Connie Neil - Oct 14, 2003 6:02:33 pm PDT #6372 of 10000
brillig
So the Brits say "mobile" instead of "cell phone"? This is important because Ethan is yelling at Giles for not having modern communications equipment.
erikaj - Oct 14, 2003 6:05:35 pm PDT #6373 of 10000
Always Anti-fascist!
Yeah...but you might want that confirmed by actual UKers...so I'll just find an elsewhere to be.
Connie Neil - Oct 14, 2003 6:06:48 pm PDT #6374 of 10000
brillig
I bet all the UKers are in bed by now. Piffle, I want to finish this tonight.
P.M. Marc - Oct 14, 2003 6:12:13 pm PDT #6375 of 10000
So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear
Connie, just Google it.
Connie Neil - Oct 14, 2003 6:14:07 pm PDT #6376 of 10000
brillig
What would be the search string?
And now I'm channelling Michael Jackson
"Just Google it! Google it!"
Connie Neil - Oct 14, 2003 6:30:21 pm PDT #6377 of 10000
brillig
The American/British-British/American Dictionary.
Ethan would be yelling about Giles not having a mobile.