Replacing Words in Fantasy

[cael_lilikoi]

This isn't sparked by or in reference to any book in particular, but just a general genre-specific question

Comments

[bs_08]

i am biased here, i once tried to read a fantasy story and it LITERALLY BEGAN with a list of commonly used words and an alphabet and everything. the list was like 7 pages long. so i skip over the list and dive into the story only to realize that the story is UNREADABLE without having to flip back and forth between the list

[kevias]

You don't have to come up with fancy fictional names, you can just call sushi and pizza what they are: raw fish and cheese bread pie. Or if Bloompfarger means "Bloom Hunting", why not call it the Bloom Hunting festival? That way readers can see what it is (Oh, they collect blooming flowers), instead of breaking the story to go back and check the reference.

That introduction, though... That's the most literal info-dump I've ever heard of. Usually you have some character go on and on about everyday objects and events, but this? Why on earth does the book need you to know the written language? And common words? Oh ye Gods, why?

[atateatarin]

nobody says that in fantasy, people are only allowed to eat foods found in britain circa the 1200's to 1800's.

Oh my god THIS THIS THIS.

And on that note, the general 'all fantasy is medieval' mentality drives me nuts. Why does all fantasy need to be stuck in the Dark Ages? Okay okay, I get it, for some people that time preiod probably seems more awesome than ours does, or the 1900s, or whatev, but come on! I want to see some original-world fantasy in a 1910 era! (Actually, I kinda do. Anyone know any?) Tallships are great (no really, I have a minor obsession with them) but where are the paddle-steamers? Why can't my characters have some soda on a hot afternoon? Or a milkshake

[sinestris]

"I want to see some original-world fantasy in a 1910 era! (Actually, I kinda do. Anyone know any?)"

I'm working on something set in a 1919/1920 kind of era - wars just ended, similar levels of technology (although no planes and only a few very, very basic balloons and maybe a zepplin or two), radios, railroads, and real food. The magic is just the cherry on the sundae, really.

[loth440]

For measurements in my fantasy I use archaic standards, like: league, fathom, pace, span, feet, etc.

As far as other things such as items or creatures unique to my world, I introduce it in a natural way with some type of reference to give it meaning. After that it's used just like any other word. If I've introduced it effectively, there's no need for a translation guide. I try not to overdo it, because I think too many new words and it becomes a chore for the reader.

[sabonasi]

I believe that italicizing foreign words is convention.

The way I see it, if - TVTROPES LINK TVTROPES LINK WARNING WARNING - translation convention is in play, then I don't see any reason that it can't apply to units of measurement, as well. I mean, a dwarf using "Thursday" really isn't any more jarring than a dwarf using any English word, since pretty much all English words have their root in real world history

[syntinen_laulu]

You beat me to it with Clockwork Orange. The nadsat language is brilliant! I read the whole book without realising there was a glossary at the back - I never needed it. But you'd have to be as gifted and as technically skilled as Burgess to get away with it.

[easol]

What about the Dark Tower series?

[sabonasi]

Never read it.

[syntinen_laulu]

For my money, if you are going to make up names for things in your world, they should only be italicised if your characters themselves find them foreign. If they are normal words to your characters, write them normally.

[swankivy]

I tend to find it very irritating if everything but the money, time/distance measurements, and curse words are the same. It seems like a very silly way to make it look like it comes from a different world or a different time, but it is not at all realistic given the context