I've noticed several discussions in the historical SYW critiquing usage of English phraseology, terms, expression, and whatnot. Most of the historicals in AW are set in Europe and America, or, broadly, ancient Rome. Ishtar'sGate is writing of ancient Babylon. Except for the latter, our literature relies on recorded precedent for the English spoken in certain periods, and readers have developed expectations of English dialog in period fiction.
In my case, the native language is Sumerian. There are about half a dozen people on the entire planet who can speak it well, and the language construct bears absolutely no resemblance to English.
Absent any English context, I have chosen to create dialog that reads like modern American English, rather than impose an Elizabethan interpretation on it. For this my friends here have criticized my work in part because their expectation was broken, and the dialog terms took them "out of the story." These are valid points that cause me to write this post.
Getting back to Sumer, the prehistoric culture was relatively classless. It wasn't until the mid-second century BC that priests and kings began to assemble courts and develop a system of fealty. Before that we have no records to indicate social stratification. What we do have is abundant evidence of a matricentric culture grounded in mutual respect between the sexes and a reverence for female procreativity.
So to my question. Is there a compelling reason for me to include/exclude modern expressions? If I use the phrase "let's forget it" instead of "let us forget it" am I breaching a canon of some sort? For that matter, are contractions right out? Will the reader care? Would you care? Must I resort to Medieval or Renaissance argot when neither has more application than L. A. street talk?
Another example, the use of "madam" and "sir" between high priest and priestess or between bodyguard and queen, as an expression of mutual respect rather than the deference implied by "exalted one" or "my queen."
I'm not being cynical or sarcastic. I really want the opinions of my fellow historian writers, even though most of you write Euro-American period stories. I'm well into my Sumerian WIP, but now is better than later to make changes.
Recommendations, opinions, examples welcome.
In my case, the native language is Sumerian. There are about half a dozen people on the entire planet who can speak it well, and the language construct bears absolutely no resemblance to English.
Absent any English context, I have chosen to create dialog that reads like modern American English, rather than impose an Elizabethan interpretation on it. For this my friends here have criticized my work in part because their expectation was broken, and the dialog terms took them "out of the story." These are valid points that cause me to write this post.
Getting back to Sumer, the prehistoric culture was relatively classless. It wasn't until the mid-second century BC that priests and kings began to assemble courts and develop a system of fealty. Before that we have no records to indicate social stratification. What we do have is abundant evidence of a matricentric culture grounded in mutual respect between the sexes and a reverence for female procreativity.
So to my question. Is there a compelling reason for me to include/exclude modern expressions? If I use the phrase "let's forget it" instead of "let us forget it" am I breaching a canon of some sort? For that matter, are contractions right out? Will the reader care? Would you care? Must I resort to Medieval or Renaissance argot when neither has more application than L. A. street talk?
Another example, the use of "madam" and "sir" between high priest and priestess or between bodyguard and queen, as an expression of mutual respect rather than the deference implied by "exalted one" or "my queen."
I'm not being cynical or sarcastic. I really want the opinions of my fellow historian writers, even though most of you write Euro-American period stories. I'm well into my Sumerian WIP, but now is better than later to make changes.
Recommendations, opinions, examples welcome.
