Writing Tips: LOLCAT for Fanfic Writers
Although we've run features on dialects before ( British for Americans, American for Brits), LOLCAT is something new for fandom_grammar in that it's an English dialect derived from a non-English language. It's also a fairly new dialect, only coming into being with the advent of computer keyboards-pens and typewriter keys having been beyond the abilities of cat anatomy to master.
Native Cat has certain grammatical peculiarities compared to English, which become apparent in the dialect. Let's look at some, with some examples from Torchwood and Inception fanfic.
Capitalization
One of the most immediately apparent differences between LOLCAT and standard English is inconsistency in capitalization. It is true that cats are more easily prone to frenzy-you may have observed a cat leap up and race from one room to another for no apparent reason. This can be expressed in the Roman alphabet as all caps, demonstrating anger, alarm, or hysteria. LOLCAT can also be written in all lower case, indicating a more subdued tone.
In truth, however, the use of capitals and lower case is as varied as cats themselves, with some cats using initial caps, some cats mixing all cap words into lower case, and some cats changing their usage day to day. There has been some hypothesizing that polydactyl cats have a greater advantage with using the shift key, but studies have not yet been conclusive.
Fanfic writers seem to be converging on the use of all caps as the standard way to express the distinctive "voice" of the LOLCAT dialect. See, for example, this section from copperbadge's Torchwood fic Trying to Communicate, featuring an alien cat visitor:"I CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER?" the cat asked.
"I'm sorry, we don't understand," Jack said.
"HUNGRY CAT IS HUNGRY," the cat tried, looking pointedly at Ianto.
Ianto sighed.
"There's cream in the fridge," he said, offering his arm. The cat leapt into the crook of his elbow and purred contentedly.
"I HAS A YANTOE," it informed them.
Although context assures us the cat isn't shouting at the Torchwood crew, the use of all caps sets the cat character apart as distinctly alien.
Similarly, in this anonymous comment fic, Inception's forger Eames has delved too deeply into a mark's internet-infused subconscious. The use of all caps is used by the author to denote Eames's predicament: "OH NOES," Eames said.
Everyone stared at him.
"WHY IZ STARIN AT ME? IM IN UR DREAMS FORGIN UR PROJECTIONS," he asked curiously.
"Uh," Ariadne said. Arthur simply looked horrified.
The return to standard capitalization makes clear his recovery:"Well?" Ariadne asked.
"So," Eames began, looking at Arthur, "I heard you like--"
"If he says 'mudkip', I am going to scream," Arthur muttered.
"--the movies," Eames continued blithely, ignoring what Arthur had just said. "Are you free on Friday?"
Spelling
The other most immediately apparent difference between LOLCAT and standard English-British or American-is the variations in spelling. Our post on Transliteration 101 describes the difficulties of rendering languages from a non-Roman alphabet into standard English. Without delving into feline anatomy and the vocalization of diphthongs and dental or alveolar fricatives, let us just say there are several noticeable features in LOLCAT spelling.
There is no concept in native Cat of verb conjugation, and it's one of the most difficult features of English for cats to grasp. Cats will occasionally remember that English uses I'm or I am, but will just as often use I is (or I iz), or even I be. They will almost always use I has (or I haz) instead of I have. Tenses and irregular verbs are endlessly confusing to cats, and nonstandard conjugations are common:
Sentence Syntax
The study of the impact of the cat brain on native Cat has opened whole new vistas of study for syntactical theorists on generative grammar. Nonetheless, it is easy enough for writers to pick up the distinctive effects of native Cat on sentence structure in the English LOLCAT dialect.
One example is the brain structure that leads to recursion. For example: Chase things that twitch. Tail twitches. Chase things that twitch. Tail twitches … leading to an endless running in circles. One of the ways this is expressed in LOLCAT dialect is with a repetition of adjectives that sounds nonsensical in standard English, but is nonetheless an accurate representation of the recursive nature of native Cat sentence structure:"PEACEFUL CAT COMES IN PEACE," the cat yowled. (Trying to Communicate)
"WHY U SO MEAN? SAD EAMES IS SAD." ( Inception comment fic)
Another distinctive syntax in LOLCAT dialect deals with recursive nouns. The object of a sentence is often a pronoun, with its referent placed at the beginning of the sentence."MY POKER CHIPS, LET ME SHOW YOU THEM." ( Inception comment fic)
Felinologists are still engaged in extensive study of this usage and how its relationship to cats' unique social structures and rules of behavior.
Writing the LOLCAT Dialect
As mentioned in the transliteration feature article, standardization is difficult. Unlike the the usual advice, however, it may not even be appropriate with the LOLCAT dialect for a writer to pick one choice ("I iz") and use it consistently through a single story. Cats by their very nature resist conformity, as expressed in the well-known saying about herding them. An individual cat will use variant spellings and usages in a single piece of writing, and the fanficcer who wants to accurately capture the LOLCAT voice would do well to do the same.
The tips given here are only a start. The intricacies of LOLCAT dialect could fill a book, and the variations increase that exponentially. It's always best to have a native speaker beta your work. If you don't have a cat available to review your writing, the tips in the recent post on writing canon-consistent dialogue can be helpful: study the source. Reading LOLCATS will improve your "ear" for their dialect. Most of all, have fun!
Resources:
I Can Has Cheezeburger
Pajamaz, LOLcat Poet
Thank you to supercheesegirl and chiroho and all the Fan Grammarians for their assistance with this post.
Native Cat has certain grammatical peculiarities compared to English, which become apparent in the dialect. Let's look at some, with some examples from Torchwood and Inception fanfic.
Capitalization
One of the most immediately apparent differences between LOLCAT and standard English is inconsistency in capitalization. It is true that cats are more easily prone to frenzy-you may have observed a cat leap up and race from one room to another for no apparent reason. This can be expressed in the Roman alphabet as all caps, demonstrating anger, alarm, or hysteria. LOLCAT can also be written in all lower case, indicating a more subdued tone.
In truth, however, the use of capitals and lower case is as varied as cats themselves, with some cats using initial caps, some cats mixing all cap words into lower case, and some cats changing their usage day to day. There has been some hypothesizing that polydactyl cats have a greater advantage with using the shift key, but studies have not yet been conclusive.
Fanfic writers seem to be converging on the use of all caps as the standard way to express the distinctive "voice" of the LOLCAT dialect. See, for example, this section from copperbadge's Torchwood fic Trying to Communicate, featuring an alien cat visitor:"I CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER?" the cat asked.
"I'm sorry, we don't understand," Jack said.
"HUNGRY CAT IS HUNGRY," the cat tried, looking pointedly at Ianto.
Ianto sighed.
"There's cream in the fridge," he said, offering his arm. The cat leapt into the crook of his elbow and purred contentedly.
"I HAS A YANTOE," it informed them.
Although context assures us the cat isn't shouting at the Torchwood crew, the use of all caps sets the cat character apart as distinctly alien.
Similarly, in this anonymous comment fic, Inception's forger Eames has delved too deeply into a mark's internet-infused subconscious. The use of all caps is used by the author to denote Eames's predicament: "OH NOES," Eames said.
Everyone stared at him.
"WHY IZ STARIN AT ME? IM IN UR DREAMS FORGIN UR PROJECTIONS," he asked curiously.
"Uh," Ariadne said. Arthur simply looked horrified.
The return to standard capitalization makes clear his recovery:"Well?" Ariadne asked.
"So," Eames began, looking at Arthur, "I heard you like--"
"If he says 'mudkip', I am going to scream," Arthur muttered.
"--the movies," Eames continued blithely, ignoring what Arthur had just said. "Are you free on Friday?"
Spelling
The other most immediately apparent difference between LOLCAT and standard English-British or American-is the variations in spelling. Our post on Transliteration 101 describes the difficulties of rendering languages from a non-Roman alphabet into standard English. Without delving into feline anatomy and the vocalization of diphthongs and dental or alveolar fricatives, let us just say there are several noticeable features in LOLCAT spelling.
- ow sounds are often written as ao (nao)
- the long i sound is sometimes written as ai (hai, mai)
- the long o sound is sometimes written as oa (moar)
- conversely, you and your are often written as u and yur
- y sometimes becomes eh (itteh bitteh kitteh committeh)
- some vowels disappear altogether: sry, rly, srsly, r
- th is often written as d or f or just t (dis or wif or teh)
- s is often written as z (haz, iz, lolz)
There is no concept in native Cat of verb conjugation, and it's one of the most difficult features of English for cats to grasp. Cats will occasionally remember that English uses I'm or I am, but will just as often use I is (or I iz), or even I be. They will almost always use I has (or I haz) instead of I have. Tenses and irregular verbs are endlessly confusing to cats, and nonstandard conjugations are common:
Sentence Syntax
The study of the impact of the cat brain on native Cat has opened whole new vistas of study for syntactical theorists on generative grammar. Nonetheless, it is easy enough for writers to pick up the distinctive effects of native Cat on sentence structure in the English LOLCAT dialect.
One example is the brain structure that leads to recursion. For example: Chase things that twitch. Tail twitches. Chase things that twitch. Tail twitches … leading to an endless running in circles. One of the ways this is expressed in LOLCAT dialect is with a repetition of adjectives that sounds nonsensical in standard English, but is nonetheless an accurate representation of the recursive nature of native Cat sentence structure:"PEACEFUL CAT COMES IN PEACE," the cat yowled. (Trying to Communicate)
"WHY U SO MEAN? SAD EAMES IS SAD." ( Inception comment fic)
Another distinctive syntax in LOLCAT dialect deals with recursive nouns. The object of a sentence is often a pronoun, with its referent placed at the beginning of the sentence."MY POKER CHIPS, LET ME SHOW YOU THEM." ( Inception comment fic)
Felinologists are still engaged in extensive study of this usage and how its relationship to cats' unique social structures and rules of behavior.
Writing the LOLCAT Dialect
As mentioned in the transliteration feature article, standardization is difficult. Unlike the the usual advice, however, it may not even be appropriate with the LOLCAT dialect for a writer to pick one choice ("I iz") and use it consistently through a single story. Cats by their very nature resist conformity, as expressed in the well-known saying about herding them. An individual cat will use variant spellings and usages in a single piece of writing, and the fanficcer who wants to accurately capture the LOLCAT voice would do well to do the same.
The tips given here are only a start. The intricacies of LOLCAT dialect could fill a book, and the variations increase that exponentially. It's always best to have a native speaker beta your work. If you don't have a cat available to review your writing, the tips in the recent post on writing canon-consistent dialogue can be helpful: study the source. Reading LOLCATS will improve your "ear" for their dialect. Most of all, have fun!
Resources:
I Can Has Cheezeburger
Pajamaz, LOLcat Poet
Thank you to supercheesegirl and chiroho and all the Fan Grammarians for their assistance with this post.