Colloquial language

[jmc_bks]

I'm rereading Emma Holly's Menage, which has been reissued. When I first read it, eons ago, well, more like 7 years ago, I knew that the publisher was British, so the British slang and phrases in it didn't strike me as strange, even though it is set in Philadelphia. If I had thought about it at all, I would have assumed that the author was British as well and thought that was why the slang was slightly off for American characters. But as I reread, I'm finding the British slang coming out of American mouths to be more noticeable and a bit awkward, especially since I now know that Holly is an American author (I ran across a thread inquiring a few months ago) I'm guessing the British slang was edited in because of the publishing house and its anticipated audience?

And this reminds me of a recent conversation I had with The Biochemist about a big argument in her fandom. One member of the community reviewed older work and found things that would be beta'd out of her work now, but which she decided to leave alone. A reader informed her that her use of "gotten" was inappropriate for a Briton, and as a result the entire work was crap. Seems to be an extreme opinion, but the discussion (and flame war?) that went on afterward made it clear that there are people all over the spectrum on the appropriateness of regional slang for characters.

And was it just me, or did John McCain come off as more than a bit desperate last night on The Daily Show?

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I'm surprised. I'd have thought that because fanfic was free, and written for everyone to enjoy, that readers would have overlooked that sort of thing.
I think it only throws me out of the story when it's a really misplaced usage. I was, in a desperate for Book 7 way, reading Harry Potter fanfic - from the author whose Vorkosigan fanfic you recommended - and it did throw me when Harry started thinking about graduating from Hogwarts. But I understand what the author meant, and read past it. It annoyed me far more when Julia Quinn had a character thinking about her brother graduating from Eton, because even if the author got it wrong, you'd expect her editor to correct it.

Marianne McA

John McCain

[(Anonymous)]

"And was it just me, or did John McCain come off as more than a bit desperate last night on The Daily Show?"

I thought it a bit desperate that he had to do a official "announcement" after unofficially campaigning and running behind. As crowded as the campaign field is getting, none really strike me as a clear cut winner.

Keishon

From Carrie http://lovelysalome.blogspot.com

[(Anonymous)]

Even my Republican parents, who would have voted for McCain at any opportunity before 2004-ish, thought he came across horribly. It's rare that Stewart eviscerates a guest so thoroughly.