Spelling and the use of language in ficdom

[layne67]

America vs England - a poll.

I'm neither American nor British, so it doesn't really bother me if say, Orli or Sean Bean are "Americanized" or the Winchesters speak the Queen's English. Maybe because I don't really get which is which, except for the spellings - the colors and the favorites and the humours and the whatnots.

What about you? Does it bother you? And if you're an American writing about British characters, or vice versa, do you use the "proper" spelling for your fics?

Comments

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

It doesn't matter to me at all. I think that hobbits should speak more British-like, but you know? It really doesn't bother me that much if they don't to me. :-)

[layne67.livejournal.com]

I think the fics that have the hobbits speaking overt American are mostly crack fics?

[unhobbityhobbit.livejournal.com]

I don't care about spellings. It's when hobbits start talking about trash and Dean starts exclaiming "Bloody hell!" that I start to get bugged.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Trash is American then? I got a bit confused sometimes, between the boot and the bonnet, autumn and fall etc. Someone should start an American/British dictionary. Or maybe there's one already.

*googles*

[honeyandvinegar.livejournal.com]

Good questions. I write mostly C/Z, but if I write F/S, I stick with Americanized spellings. So I don't have Frodo say, "Oh Sam, that massage oil has such a lovely flavour (:D!)", but "flavor". Of course, when it's a Brit friend that's writing a C/Z, there's no big deal with them writing it in their own vernacular... duh, lol. Though some people see an American doing the Brit spellings as pretentious. I can see why, but it doesn't bother me at all, so yea. :)

[layne67.livejournal.com]

I was taught British English when I was in school so my spelling follows the British one. But we mostly have American shows on TV so the way we talk is mostly influenced by the Americans, with a mix of British speak. When we're not talking Manglish that is.

[shirebound]

I can only talk about fictional person stuff, since I haven't written many real person stories. I don't feel a need to change to British spelling for LOTR fictional person stories (for the most part), because the hobbits, etc. aren't British; they're hobbits of the Shire. But for names (such as Gandalf the Grey, etc.) I use whatever the Professor used.

I've been called on the carpet a few times for not using British spelling for LOTR fics, but I'm just here to have fun and not stress out over things like that. Cookies, biscuits... as long as hobbits are happy, I'm happy. What DOES bother me is modern slang, or cursing, or other things that pull me out of Middle-earth and into the present.

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

WHAAAT? You wouldn't want a fic in which Frodo says, "Hey man, Aragorn dude, what the ____ is that?" And Aragorn answers, "Shut up, Fro -- chill out! Yer always sweatin' the small stuff." :D

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Cookies are American? I've always thought they are two different things, that cookies are softer and "crumblier" while biscuits are the "hard", crunchier ones.

[lbilover.livejournal.com]

If it's really off, like having an American use a British word that is so obscure here you don't even know what it *is*, it can throw me out of a story. The spelling difference- humor, humour, etc.- doesn't really bother me. I do try to use the appropriate words and spelling in my own fics if I can. It would seem wrong, for example, to use 'fall' instead of 'autumn' in a hobbit fic.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

I'm in the rather strange place where my spelling is British ( we were taught British English at school ) but the way I speak is more American than British!

[serai1.livejournal.com]

As far as spelling goes, I would only use British spelling if I was writing something that was supposedly written by a Brit. But if it's just me as the narrator, then no. Also not with dialog - nobody speak a spelling, they just say the word.

Grammar and such are a different thing, natch.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

I guess it would help if your beta is someone from across the ocean.

And I think writers who are not well-versed with either have it the hardest. I mean, most of the time when I wrote ( what little of it ) I'd just do it on a best guess basis and then leave it to my betas to do the corrections.

*looks at them apologetically*

[goodbyetoyou.livejournal.com]

Well I'm American but my brain has this translator that can translate "Queen's English" rather well (It's what oftens makes me have that weird English accent from time to time that one of my best friends likes to poke and laugh at me for) without really making me go "HUH?!" so I don't really care either way. But in fics when Sam or Dean say "bloody hell" or "bloody" Whatever and they're not talking about having just decapitating a vampire I tilt my head and go WTF lol. Other than those times I'm all, whatever, lol.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

But in fics when Sam or Dean say "bloody hell" or "bloody" Whatever and they're not talking about having just decapitating a vampire

Okay, that took a couple of minutes for me to compute LOLOL.

But what about singing? Can you tell whether a person is singing in British English or in American English from a song?

Do you watch American Idol? Simon commented something about one of the contestants singing like a British and all this while, I didn't think George Michael did it any differently than say, Justin Timberlake.

[lilybaggins.livejournal.com]

I don't use British spellings, but yes, American slang in LOTR stories bugs me. Many writers of Aragorn fic have him saying, "yeah," and "okay," and I've even seen "gonna" once or twice---and we know the men of LOTR spoke even more formally than hobbits.

Profanity drives me crazy, too. I can take "damn," but the f-word in Middle-earth just doesn't fly with me.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

How did the people of ME swear then? And I'm presuming that the elves didn't do any cursing at all :DD

[annwyn55.livejournal.com]

Interesting topic, luv.

I learned American English in school and was influenced by it through movies and the media, but when I was younger, I read a lot of British fiction and non-fiction, so I'm comfortable with the Queen's English as well. Which was a lot of help when I came to Canada, because the spelling here is predominantly British and so's my boss.

When I read HP or hobbitfic, spelling doesn't bother me, but American patterns of speech as well as americanisms like "yeah", "gonna" etc, make me cringe.

When I write, I use the language as a means to characterisation, and using UK English in a hobbit fic, for example, helps me immerse myself more comfortably in their world. The same with RPF - I use American English when I write Sean/Elijah. With Orlijah, I would use the manner of speaking that suits the pov I choose.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Oh Canada is more British than American? I've always thought it's the latter, because of its proximity to the US. Except for that one state that is predominantly French, Quebec I think? God, and geography used to be one of my favourite subjects at school, too!

[pheebs1.livejournal.com]

I try and writer American language and spellings because I figure if I read a Harry Potter fic that wasn't britishized I'd be bugged. I think it's hard not to have little things creep in though - which is one one needs a vigilant beta I guess.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Is your SPN beta American?

[cyndrarae.livejournal.com]

Heh.. you have no idea how much I fret about this one. I try to make it sound as American as possible, but am sure some sort of British-ness always creeps in somewhere. Especially with some of the idioms Americans don't use, or commonly used words like 'perhaps' instead of 'maybe', 'reckon' instead of 'think', 'as well' instead of 'also' or 'too'.. you know, little stuff like that. *shrugs* That's why an American beta helps.
But you know I do keep in mind that the audience is global and not just American, so in a way even if I end up sounding neutral but understandable by everyone, I'd be okay with it :D

[layne67.livejournal.com]

'perhaps' instead of 'maybe', 'reckon' instead of 'think', 'as well' instead of 'also' or 'too'

Oh my goodness, I had no idea that some of the words are American while the others are British!

And that does not take into consideration all those slangs that differ from place to place, right?

[katikat.livejournal.com]

It doesn't bother me at all. As long as it's proper English, grammar and spelling, no switching of you're and your or lose and loose etc., I'm okay with whatever :) In fact, my beta is British ;P

[layne67.livejournal.com]

But you yourself are American?

Btw, I meant to ask you this before, how did you add that bookshelf thingie on your profile page? It's cool!

[i-o-r-h-a-e-l.livejournal.com]

Indonesian English! Yay!

Sorry. *g*

I think that's why we need betas. They can straighten up what should be used.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

NO way! Manglish it is. All the way.

*shudders*

LOLOL

[arabia764.livejournal.com]

This writing American malarkey is KILLING ME! I can't bloody do it. All right, so I get mom/mum ass/arse (don't care what anyone says, arse is a better word) trousers/pants but it's all the other things. I am very, very working class, south London English. I talk in colloquialisms, trying to take them out is a nightmare but I will try. Really try.

As for the spellings, nope, my brain won't allow me to spell things 'wrong.' I just can't do it. It offends all the grammar teachers I've ever had!

Thank heavens I had an American beta, couldn't do it without her. I’ve solved the problem for the new big fic: it isn't set anywhere. They can talk like Australians if I want them to!!!!!!!

[arabia764.livejournal.com]

PS And don't get me started on swearing. In England we have this HUGE range (which I se way too much) but Americans don't know most of it.

[suzy-74.livejournal.com]

Mostly it don't bother me as I'm not english speaking but there are certain expressions, that even I know, that are *so* typical american or british that can sound totally hilarious used wrongly. I doubt it would be the authors intention to have the reader laughing if it's about something serious. It takes away... um, the realness of it. Makes it like a "crack fic" when it's not intended to be.

Spelling mistakes or minor grammar mistakes... I don't think I even notice those. It must be something really major for it to bother me.

I think I've only put down one fic I couldn't read. Too bad because if I remember correctly I found the story itself exciting and intriguing but after awhile I ended up not understanding it at all.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Like you, it doesn't bother me, but more because I'm not quite sure which ones are American and which ones are British. I learn quite a number of things from the comments above - like biscuits and cookies, perhaps and maybe etc.

Hi Suzy!!!

[aredhelebenesse.livejournal.com]

Well, that's once interesting!
I had a bit English in school and that's what for me is the right English language. I mean for me, as a bloody bad English-writing German! Nonetheless, since I never had a clue, did I first use some American spelling and mixed it up, always according to the temporary setting of my spell check program. What shall I say? I hardly understand everything in a spoken conversation, no matter whether American or English and I speak it even worse.
Btw, Hobbits (the real ones!) ... actually speak a certain middle German mix dialect! And if you don't believe me, come hither and listen! ;D

[layne67.livejournal.com]

use some American spelling and mixed it up always according to the temporary setting of my spell check program.

That's what the spell checkers are for, right?

I don't mix the spellings, but I do mix up the words, not being quite sure which are which.

<3<3<3

[melyanna-65.livejournal.com]

I really can't tell, because like you English it's not my own language. I only realized that Frodo and Sam have a very different way of speaking.

*hugs you*

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Frodo and Sam had that class difference, I think, that's why they talked differently.

Shinta and I? Our languages are basically the same and yet we have so many words that differ in meanings and contexts. We had a good laugh over it, though - meaning she laughed at mine and I laughed at hers :)

[elenya54.livejournal.com]

In my experience in the LotR fandom, American writers mostly don't make any effort to anglicise their English, but I don't have a problem with that except with the word gotten which (to me) is like a slap in the face with a wet fish when met in a F/S fic. Oh, and maybe "pants" for an overgarment. How many times have I thought Frodo and Sam were cutting to the chase, only to find they'd only taken off their trousers. :D

Again and again, when I was writing ATIH, my American betas flagged up errors of spelling or usage that weren't errors. I'm afraid I was rather gleeful on the subject, and in the end they learnt to say "Err, *cough* is this correct British usage?" rather than just strike a metaphorical red pen through it.

It made me realise the myriad subtle and not so subtle differences between the two languages.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

It's funny really, how a language differs when the people are located at different places. My language and the Indonesian language - it's a source of many arguments, and laughter too, in the way how the two basically same language could differ so much in terms of meanings and contexts.

You can read about it here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differences_between_Malay_and_Indonesian).

Do you know that we have what is known as Manglish here? ( Singlish in Singapore ). Heheh, you wouldn't be able to understand it :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manglish

[munibunny.livejournal.com]

It doesn't bother me either way... I mean, I know that Sam/Dean and Jensen/Jared are American but it's all good to me.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Most of the time I couldn't tell the difference between Brit talk and American. I only just knew that there's a difference in between words such as maybe/perhaps, cookies/biscuits and reckon/think!