Balancing Language Real/Zalanthian

[Kol]

How do you guys balance modern language and speech patterns from what's appropriate IG? Do you have a mental list of 'NO!' words? A physical one? When thinking about what's suitable for your character to say, do any of your speech patterns come into play? Do you have to check yourself before you wreck yourself with modern 'buzz-words'?


The Busty, short-short wearing youth says, in Bieber-accented American 'Ah'll be goin' ou' now Amos, Malik's gonna be loosin' 'is 'ead terday!'

The burly, chitin-armored Mul says, in tribal-accented sirhish, 'Yheaaaaa baby! I'm buzzin'! Gonna slide in my whip to the burger join' an watch some bitches twerk it!'

[HavokBlue]

common sense


and nobody talks like that in real life

[cnemus]

common sense


and nobody talks like that in real life

It's only truly common if everyone has it and yes, some people do talk like that in real life. I'm not trying to be snarky, but I would also very much like to know what sort of words/phrasing don't fit. 

[HavokBlue]

Kol's example featuring a presumably intoxicated individual declaring that they're going to get in their car and drive to a restaurant that features both hamburgers and women who are "twerking it". It is a contextually improbable jumble of slang from a variety of subcultures. Zalanthas has alcohol! Mild intoxication causes a buzzing sensation! 'Buzzing it' is probably okay! Zalanthas does not have cars, hamburgers, or twerking back-up dancers! The rest of these things are probably not okay!

It should not be super hard to make logical assumptions about words or phrases you are unsure about. Nobody can give you a list because nobody is going to catalog every instance of modern slang and colloquial speech to explain the contexts in which they may (or more likely, may not be) appropriate to use in game.


If you're really caught up in the moment and can't decide if it's appropriate to use words or phrases like "twerk" or "slide in my whip" in game, you can contact a Helper on Helpchat where they will hopefully respond with the following image:

[cnemus]

Thank you Havok for outlining a logical formula for evaluating words and phrases for inclusion in appropriate slang. A full catalog is not required, but creating a few helpful tips to reference, like your second post included, can help get everyone on the same page. Logic is not universal, it is a learned methodology.

[Marauder Moe]

I think most people actually do have a good sense of what is and isn't setting-appropriate.

Just sometimes people like to slip in little OOC-ish anachronistic jokes, with varying degrees of tact.

[Nyr]

Tactful:  You see the black moon and make the "that's no moon" joke the very first time you see it.

Not tactful:  you emote doing the Monster Mash.

[MeTekillot]

Is the Monster Mash appropriate if it is indeed a graveyard smash?

[Kol]

Is the Monster Mash appropriate if it is indeed a graveyard smash?

Better to ask forgiveness than permission, no?

Havok, obviously, I'm not expecting a wagon (the whip, in this instance) To roll up outside the Gaj, twerking breeds and all, with all youthful exuberance, and start popping buzzwords. Maybe my lack of a hashtag or /sarcasm made it difficult to convey my humour?

What I am after though is a widening of vocabulary, maybe I should have made that clear, and I apologise if I didn't. However, I have caught myself a few times having to delete and rethink a few words that I'd use in everyday life:- Dude, awesome, epic, you're a foot (leg-end, ledgend), bro, holmes, chicka, wicked....you get the idea. A few of those words, in the right context, would be acceptable, it was an epic battle, as opposed to the battle was epic....however, some are not, dude, for instance, would have no place in Zalanthas, and I often find myself at a loss for other, replaceable and acceptable words, such as pal, that are not part of my regular spoken vocabulary.

Yes, common sense does have a play, and most, if not all players are generally good enough to realise what's acceptable and whats not. What I'd like to see is suggestions of common words that have a place in modern speech, but are not in a zalanthian setting, and maybe a few examples of replacements that would be.

Dude: -> Pal, buddy, bud, friend.....and then I run short.....

Hope that helps!

[HavokBlue]

dude/bro/brah -> bruv

Try looking up examples of archaic slang that would maybe not be out of place in Zalanthas.

Example - half the Rinthi PCs you'll ever encounter speak like they just walked out of London's West End circa 1860.

[Reiloth]

I've personally used british/cockney accents/words before, and even southern Texas accent/words before. Whatever makes the character seem more alive. A few choice words can really 'stick' and make the character appear real.

[BadSkeelz]

Occasionally (when tired or distracted) I call people dudes. I'm not proud for it.

When I'm actually on my game, I try my best to avoid words and phrases that depend heavily on metal or water imagery. When trying something for the first time in a long time, I'm not "rusty," I'm "stale." I don't "fish around" in my belt for something, I "rummage." Nothing too major.

[Reiloth]

The funny thing is Dude might apply to ranchers or farm-people...Duderancher as it were.

But yeah it is pretty jarring. The other jarring word I find is 'Awesome'.

[Voular]

Biggest pet-peeve I have is the whole adding another layer of accent on your already coded accent, if you understand what I mean. You already have the -rinthi tag, don't need to make it further incomprehensible to my lazy ass to read your text!

[Patuk]

Labyrinthi, especially the elves, should speak ebonics. That is all.

[Symphony]

How sad. "Sorry, we cannot tell modern day slang from something appropriate for a post apocalyptic world." Please. Recruit more players who don't read documentation.

Fo sho, homie!  

[HavokBlue]

I've personally used british/cockney accents/words before, and even southern Texas accent/words before. Whatever makes the character seem more alive. A few choice words can really 'stick' and make the character appear real.

If it seemed like I was being snarky about this bit, I'm guilty of this with like 99% of my rinthers

Labyrinthi, especially the elves, should speak ebonics. That is all.

can't tell if intentional subtle racism or unintentional subtle racism

[Fujikoma]

I say what I feel like. If I think it will get a laugh, I'll do it. That said, I have to think long and hard sometimes to avoid words or concepts involving things that would be alien to Zalanthas, like, any metal other than copper (though, with gold and silver dyes, it's somewhat confusing), religion, taking a bath, and many other topics that would somehow not mesh with the setting. Not going to say I'm good at it, but I do put some effort into it.

[wizturbo]

Biggest pet-peeve I have is the whole adding another layer of accent on your already coded accent, if you understand what I mean. You already have the -rinthi tag, don't need to make it further incomprehensible to my lazy ass to read your text!

This is a pet peeve of mine as well.  All it does it makes it hard to understand what someone is saying.  Word choice can go just as far to indicate your character doesn't speak well, without the horrible eye-sore.

The exception to this is speech impedements, adding an accent that isn't coded (like its your tribe thing), etc.

[Marauder Moe]

There's a difference between "accent" and "dialect".

Coded accents are just that; accents.  I think it's highly appropriate for players to evoke dialect in their text as well.

(That said, I wouldn't be opposed to people coming up with community standard English analogs for Zalanthas dialects.)

[HavokBlue]

I say what I feel like. If I think it will get a laugh, I'll do it. That said, I have to think long and hard sometimes to avoid words or concepts involving things that would be alien to Zalanthas, like, any metal other than copper (though, with gold and silver dyes, it's somewhat confusing), religion, taking a bath, and many other topics that would somehow not mesh with the setting. Not going to say I'm good at it, but I do put some effort into it.

I'm not sure where you're getting the impression that copper is the only metal in Zalanthas. Take a look at the rings of Templars and Nobles.

[Talia]

I'm not sure where you're getting the impression that copper is the only metal in Zalanthas. Take a look at the rings of Templars and Nobles.

Or even that giant steel dragon in Allanak. My pet theory: Tek is actually an alchemist. The whole copper mine thing was just a big troll on Muk. "lol ur fighting me for copper dude look at my steel dragon"

[BadSkeelz]

Tek's tower is also apparently plated in gold.

[Patuk]

Labyrinthi, especially the elves, should speak ebonics. That is all.

can't tell if intentional subtle racism or unintentional subtle racism

Neither, certainly no more racist than your own remark about the labyrinth.

[Fujikoma]

I say what I feel like. If I think it will get a laugh, I'll do it. That said, I have to think long and hard sometimes to avoid words or concepts involving things that would be alien to Zalanthas, like, any metal other than copper (though, with gold and silver dyes, it's somewhat confusing), religion, taking a bath, and many other topics that would somehow not mesh with the setting. Not going to say I'm good at it, but I do put some effort into it.

I'm not sure where you're getting the impression that copper is the only metal in Zalanthas. Take a look at the rings of Templars and Nobles.

I was under the impression that commoners weren't supposed to look directly at nobles out of respect, much less would an elf be wise to go around eying signets.