Language in Fantasy

imagine123 · Feb 26, 2008

Um, I'm totally lost here. I want to put 'okay' in my novel, but okay wasn't really said/created until around the 1800s and my novel is loosely based on the 1700s. I'm probably going to fudge it, but just want some comments, or acceptable synonyms.

THANKS

ORION · Feb 26, 2008

Why? Take a look at older novels - there are turns of phrase that mean the same thing- aye, right-o etc...

Lawfire · Feb 26, 2008

Why is it important to include it? I agree there are a lot of better options.

Menyanthana · Feb 27, 2008

imagine123 said:
Um, I'm totally lost here. I want to put 'okay' in my novel, but okay wasn't really said/created until around the 1800s and my novel is loosely based on the 1700s. I'm probably going to fudge it, but just want some comments, or acceptable synonyms.

THANKS

I know that problem. And I am not even writing in English.

What about "fine"?

dawinsor · Feb 27, 2008

Your title line is "language in fantasy." Does that mean your novel is set in a fantasy world? Or is it fantasy that happens in an older period in our world?

If it's fantasy that happens in an older period in our world, then I wouldn't use "okay" because I think it would jar the reader right out of this atmosphere you've been creating. As a reader, I'd take "all right" (two words) or better yet, "very well" or as Menyantha suggests "fine." But not "okay."

If your book is set in a fantasy world, I assume the characters are not speaking English. In effect, you're translating what they say, and they probably have a word that's similar in meaning and informality to "okay." In that case, it seems to me to be an acceptable usage, assuming you establish from the start of the story that your characters speak informally.

Death Wizard · Feb 27, 2008

A writer's language, whether fantasy or not, is earned from page one and needs to remain consistent from page one. If "okay" is out of place in the language you've earned with the reader, then you should avoid it. I think that dawinsor's suggestion of "very well" is a good one.

sunna · Feb 27, 2008

If the rest of the language is consistent with that time period, then I would find "okay" pretty jarring, and I'd wonder why the author didn't do enough research to know it wouldn't be used. "Very well" is a good substitute; so is "aye".

Sarpedon · Feb 27, 2008

Shakespeare had little trouble making people from other places and times speak his vernacular english in his works. Zounds!

Andrhia · Feb 27, 2008

Interestingly, I had the opposite problem with my first novel. I have a few chapters set quite a few hundred years ago, so originally I tried to give a sense of period to the dialogue. (Not thee and thou, just very formal sentence structure.)

It was horrible. It was so horrible that I rewrote every word of it to be a little more contemporary, even at the expense of a little bit of realism.

So I'd say try a few things on for size and see how you like them. Then go with whatever works for your story, even if it isn't what you would have picked in the first place.

Death Wizard · Feb 27, 2008

Andrhia said:
Interestingly, I had the opposite problem with my first novel. I have a few chapters set quite a few hundred years ago, so originally I tried to give a sense of period to the dialogue. (Not thee and thou, just very formal sentence structure.)

It was horrible. It was so horrible that I rewrote every word of it to be a little more contemporary, even at the expense of a little bit of realism.

So I'd say try a few things on for size and see how you like them. Then go with whatever works for your story, even if it isn't what you would have picked in the first place.

That's a good point. It can go too far in the other direction, especially if you're not a professional linguist, which most of us aren't.

Vomaxx · Feb 27, 2008

I faced the same problem with OK in my fantasy novel; I decided it sounded much too contemporary, and American, so I eliminated it.

Mythica · Feb 27, 2008

I recommend to anyone taking a linguistics course. Even if you aren't in college anymore, you can take a cheap one at a community college, or even purchase a book. Learning the development of language is REALLY cool.

You would be surprised the sort of language people spoke before modern English (or whatever modern language).

There are so many words that can replace "okay" that you'll never run out of them. I agree with the suggestions of "fine" and "very well." You can say "alright" or "certainly" or.... the list goes on. The best way to get an idea of how people spoke a few centuries ago is to read literature from that time period.

Language is fun

Chasing the Horizon · Feb 27, 2008

I agree that the word 'OK' would sound out of place in a book using more formal 'historical' sounding language. I personally use words like OK in my own fantasy books all the time, but that's because my entire narrative is very casual and modern (I figure whatever language the characters are actually speaking doesn't sound old-fashioned and formal to them, so why should it sound that way to the reader?).

Sonneillon · Feb 27, 2008

Sarpedon said:
Shakespeare had little trouble making people from other places and times speak his vernacular english in his works. Zounds!

Shakespeare also made up words. Talk about a writer with a strong voice, his didn't bow for anything.

I'm struggling with this as well, keeping a median between my natural voice, which uses modern English slang and vernacular, and what's actually appropriate for my fantasy setting. Thus far, 'okay' has made its way into the story exactly once. For the most part, I use 'all right' instead.

Mythica · Feb 27, 2008

Yea... I wouldn't use "okay" in my book that takes place 3-5,000 years ago lol

Again, there are lots of good alternatives to the word!

Sarpedon · Feb 28, 2008

I'm fond of 'Very Well,' but only because of the Popul Vuh.

cethklein · Feb 28, 2008

Just be careful using "aye" and stuff like that. They can be over-used. Best to limit those terms to certain characters. It helps spice things up as well as gives depth to your characters.

I'm gonig to cite a video game here, as odd as that may sound. There was a game titled Chrono Cross that came out quite a few years ago. There were a ton of characters. Each one had their own lingo, it really made them unique and kept the dialog fresh. One character would do the typical "pirate speak" while another would constantly say "y'know" after everything. I thought it worked really well.

But again, don't be TOO afraid of "okay" it can still work in fantasy too. But like Mythica said, in a historical piece, you need to be more careful using things like "okay" and "whatever".

angeliz2k · Feb 28, 2008

I've found the same problem in period pieces.

It's hard to strike a balance--if your story is set in the 16th century, does your reader REALLY want to read text that's actually like 16th century prose? Porbably not--it's very very difficult to decipher. Plus it's almost impossible for modern writers to write!

Stick with what feels comfortable when you strike a balance. If you force it either way, your reader will probably be able to tell.

As for okay--as others have said, try another word, that probably won't fit if you as the writer are questioning it.

HourglassMemory · Feb 28, 2008

'Okay' in the 17th century, which I guess is the feeling you want to evoke to the story, I think it doesn't fit.
If you want the reader to feel like it's the 17th century, you have to offer him as much stuff that makes him think that he's in the 17th century. Language would certainly show him that.
"Okay" would just throw him out of there and put him on a 21st century street.

"All right" or "Alright", is what I thought of first.
"Then so be it" or just "so be it" , was another.
"Fine" ...even though, to me, it feels modern, I dunno why. perhaps adding "sir" or "miss" after it feels more antiquated. Although I have to say that "Fine", seems to present a state of being as in "I'm fine".
"Certainly" was another.
*nods* ....does it have to be a word?

Language in Fantasy

imagine123

ORION

Sailed away years ago

Lawfire

New Old Guy or Old New Guy

Menyanthana

Moonflower

dawinsor

Dorothy A. Winsor

Death Wizard

Tumhe na koci puujetha

sunna

Sarpedon

Andrhia

Death Wizard

Tumhe na koci puujetha

Vomaxx

Mythica

Expert Gerbil Wrangler

Chasing the Horizon

Blowing in the Wind

Sonneillon

Autophobic Misanthrope

Mythica

Expert Gerbil Wrangler

Sarpedon

cethklein

angeliz2k

never mind the shorty

HourglassMemory