MEME: Linguistics

[citycouncil]

Prompted by a conversation on Twitter, let's take a look at the linguistic choices behind the way our characters speak! NERDS. Here are a few prompts, but feel free to talk about anything you feel like with regards to language and your characters.

Where and when are they from originally?
What is their accent?
Do they curse? Under what circumstances?
What influences the way they speak?
Has their speech changed since arriving in Darrow? In what ways does it differ from canon?
Have they picked up any specific language/slang/vocal tics while in Darrow?
What slang do they use, if any?
Do you have anything specific you keep in mind when writing their dialogue?
What else should we know about how they speak?

Let's talk about talking.

Comments

[formerlysiryn]

This is fucking GREAT.

Where and when are they from originally? County Mayo, Ireland, but she spent a lot of time in boarding schools as a child, then most of her teen/adult years in the US.

What is their accent? Still recognizably Irish, since she was raised until age 11-ish in Ireland, but it's watered down by her time in boarding schools and ultimately mostly by living in the US for so long. The accent comes out a bit more when she's speaking to someone with a close accent, or when she gets worked up or tired.

Do they curse? Under what circumstances? Very rarely, since she comes from a Marvel canon and it feels wrong for her to curse, even though it'd make sense for her. She'll let a few slip when she gets really angry.

What influences the way they speak? The biggest influence is her own state of being - whether she's angry, tired, excited, her accent gradually becomes thicker as conversation goes on.

Has their speech changed since arriving in Darrow? In what ways does it differ from canon? It's probably just about the same as it has been since she was a teen, since I assume most Darrow people speak with a default American accent. No real change there from her living in the US and NYC for most of her life.

Have they picked up any specific language/slang/vocal tics while in Darrow? She loves bringing up TC² to mock locals, if that counts.

What slang do they use, if any? American slang, with Irish/British English slang mixed in.

Do you have anything specific you keep in mind when writing their dialogue? When and where and how to change the writing of her accent when I'm writing her tags. I try to sound out words in my head to figure out how she'd sound, especially when considering when to drop an -ing and other modifications. I also have her slip more into using ye and yer instead of you and your/you're when the American influence in her accent fades and her Irish accent is getting thicker.

What else should we know about how they speak? She has a naturally nice sounding voice on top of the Irish accent, thanks to her powers.

[intheruins]

*_______* in my head at every time Theresa speaks.