Writing Stack Exchange
Writing Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [language]

Incorporating foreign languages, slang, dialect, and so on into a work.

Questions about using words from a language other than the main language of a work. Also about slang, vernacular, dialect, constructed languages, developing languages over the course of a story, and writing in your second/third etc. language.

248 questions
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Methods for creating slang

I am interested in creating slang or a vernacular for a particular group in my story. I want it to be distinctive and a definite marker for in-group/out-group, but not incomprehensible. I'm not looking for industry jargon, and it's not extensive…
Lauren-Clear-Monica-Ipsum
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British / American language mishmash

English is not my mother tongue. I am completely fluent in English though, and I write my fiction in English. Here's the problem: I live in neither the UK nor the US (nor any other English-speaking country), so I am exposed to both in equal measure…
Galastel supports GoFundMonica
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Using slang as a narrator - pros and cons

Is it advisable to use slang and euphemisms as a narrator, in addition to the main characters who use it? Are there arguments for and against it? For example, if I were to write about street thugs and their exploits, would using slang in the…
Axarydax
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How do I indicate that my character is speaking a different language than the one used for narration?

The main character I have in mind for a story in a fantasy setting will be in foreign lands for the entirety of the book. She will have a basic grasp of the spoken language, so her dialogue will use limited vocabulary and simpler grammatical…
Pasqueflower
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How does one include non-Latin-based script in an overall English work?

For Latin-based languages, the foreign term may be expressed in italics. Gracias. However, what about non-Latin-based languages and non-alphabetic languages? Okay, what if something happens, and the main character makes a comment with a Chinese…
Double U
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Using Latin words in fantasy

I have seen at least a few cases of Latin being used in both fantasy and scifi, and I wonder how it is perceived and how much is tolerated. Being primarily a gamer, the first examples that come to mind are Kingdoms of Amalur and Warhammer 40,000. Is…
Borgel
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How to interpret a language from a non-speaker's perspective?

I want to create a believable conversation between a character who speaks Mandarin and English and a character who speaks English but does not speak Mandarin. Basically, the Mandarin speaker is supposed to code-switch, but (s)he forgets and…
Double U
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Analogies, pitfalls and guidelines

Analogies can be powerful tools in both explaining and misrepresenting a complex topic. What methodology works well for finding good analogies and how does one figure out whether an analogy is well suited for a specific audience?
David Rutten
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How to master literary American English as a second language?

I want to learn to write fiction books (historical and science fiction) in American English. My native tongue is Russian and I speak fluently German, since I grew up in Austria. My English is good enough for technical or business communication, but…
user6696
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2 answers

Using different spellings for different characters in a story

I'm writing a story with an American character and a British character. I'm contemplating having the characters use the regional spellings when it comes to words like realise/realize or favourite/favorite, depending from who's point of view I'm…
Lluvia
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Writing as a non-native speaker

English is not my first language, but as an English student, I'd always like to write in that language... I have many story ideas but my skills are not that good to be a novel writer where I usually face grammatical mistakes, any advice?
Nour Fourti
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Would it make sense to use words from other languages such as Latin?

By this I mean, if I used a Latin phrase or used a Latin title for something, would that make sense? For example, I was thinking of using a Latin title for an in-world book. Or a Latin species scientific names. Or use the name of some kind of Latin…
Destructive Wolf
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4 answers

Use of Regional Diction in Writing

Let's say a piece of writing is being composed. That piece of writing can, of course, be crafted with a slew of different techniques and artistic choices, but, one of those is the language used. How does the use of regionally-diverse diction, such…
glotchimo
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Non native writers who learned English late

Does there exist example of non native English writer who learned the language late in life?
ori
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My characters speak a foreign language but I write them in English

There will be many scenes in my stories that would be akin to this: "He would like to meet both of you" - he speaks to them in a foreign language here. Is there a better way to write when a character is speaking in foreign language but the writer…
faddllz
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