A spelling question
Question: Should I spell for r-droppers or not?
Okay, so, I'm writing this story, and there's a word that is pronounced [va:d@] (the @ is a schwa; I've never figured out how to post IPA Unicode). It is the Polari word for "to look." Polari is/was almost never written, and so there's no consensus as to the spelling. The book I have lists spellings vada, varda, vardo, vardy, varder, but the spelling it mostly uses throughout is vada. Polari is/was mostly spoken by people with non-rhotic accents, so I understand why the spelling is like that.
The film Velvet Goldmine, which is my only other point of acquaintance with the word, has it in I think the closed-captions (definitely the script as well, I'm told) spelled as varda. On the other hand, I'm told that the bit of Polari in the film isn't really representative of its use; there are errors.
Now, my own accent is rhotic, so obviously I'd prefer spellings without the r, because then I try to pronounce the r as written. However, the fandom is British, which pushes me toward the r. But so are the books I have on Polari, and they prefer the r-less spelling. I am divided. (Also I am hungry, but that's not really germane.)
The rule I usually use is if it's a word I'd say r in, I spell it, but -- I mean, it wasn't ever spoken by Americans, so how am I, the American, to know whether I should spell/pronounce it with an r anyway? It's so confusing.
Anyone have any strong opinions for me on this? No? *crickets chirp*
(Yes, believe it or not, this is for a Pros story. The gayest, gayest Pros story ever.)
Okay, so, I'm writing this story, and there's a word that is pronounced [va:d@] (the @ is a schwa; I've never figured out how to post IPA Unicode). It is the Polari word for "to look." Polari is/was almost never written, and so there's no consensus as to the spelling. The book I have lists spellings vada, varda, vardo, vardy, varder, but the spelling it mostly uses throughout is vada. Polari is/was mostly spoken by people with non-rhotic accents, so I understand why the spelling is like that.
The film Velvet Goldmine, which is my only other point of acquaintance with the word, has it in I think the closed-captions (definitely the script as well, I'm told) spelled as varda. On the other hand, I'm told that the bit of Polari in the film isn't really representative of its use; there are errors.
Now, my own accent is rhotic, so obviously I'd prefer spellings without the r, because then I try to pronounce the r as written. However, the fandom is British, which pushes me toward the r. But so are the books I have on Polari, and they prefer the r-less spelling. I am divided. (Also I am hungry, but that's not really germane.)
The rule I usually use is if it's a word I'd say r in, I spell it, but -- I mean, it wasn't ever spoken by Americans, so how am I, the American, to know whether I should spell/pronounce it with an r anyway? It's so confusing.
Anyone have any strong opinions for me on this? No? *crickets chirp*
(Yes, believe it or not, this is for a Pros story. The gayest, gayest Pros story ever.)