tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333091580028808174.post5167081701312834031..comments2023-11-30T18:56:07.931-08:00Comments on The Regency Blog of Lesley-Anne McLeod: The Language of RegenciesLesley-Anne McLeodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14899105096816697616noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333091580028808174.post-47843374270310125592014-08-28T06:58:02.093-07:002014-08-28T06:58:02.093-07:00Lesley-Anne,
Thank you for stopping me from using...Lesley-Anne,<br /><br />Thank you for stopping me from using the name Heather for a minor character. I checked the names of the hero and heroine, but didn't think to do so for the rest of the cast. [Slap on the wrist]. Luckily, I'm just at the plotting stage, which is why I'm trawling the internet to answer questions that keep popping into my head.<br />Pam Johnsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333091580028808174.post-80389210591211467902009-03-03T12:53:00.000-08:002009-03-03T12:53:00.000-08:00Thanks for your thoughts, Hayley. I think for fant...Thanks for your thoughts, Hayley. I think for fantasy, it can be especially challenging to create a believable voice. As you say I think you have to use your base-point and create within the language of that era--eg. medieval. Medieval language can be particularly inaccessible as far as sources go, but the writer must avoid modern language at all costs ('gifted' included--it was never a verb and still shouldn't be IMHO). Then if the writer can add archaic sentence construction, or create her own twists of language order, meaning, etc. a believable tone should emerge. If it is a different world, it should have it's own language and voice.<BR/>In a created world, details matter more than ever.Lesley-Anne McLeodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15038784163781788930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333091580028808174.post-85431984108802705482009-03-02T19:32:00.000-08:002009-03-02T19:32:00.000-08:00I love how strongly you feel about this issue, and...I love how strongly you feel about this issue, and how hard you work to preserve the believability of your work. I think a lot of writers look at the dialogue and try to keep that sounding authentic, but they forget that the whole narrative needs to be unified. Modern turns of phrase just don't fly.<BR/><BR/>I'd be interest to hear your thoughts on striking that balance within medieval fantasy. I blogged about it some time ago, and the balance between a created world and a historical base-point (typical medieval, or what have you). I notice a lot of fantasy authors tend to use verbs like 'gifted' to create a sense of authenticity, but if I recall, that's a pretty darn modern use of the word. Then again, in a created world, does that detail matter? Does it jar?<BR/><BR/>Excellent topic, you've got me mulling some interesting matters again.Hayley E. Lavikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09896649083961644485noreply@blogger.com