Right. I'm English, and I'm in two fandoms (this one, natch, and HP) based on very English books. However, most fandom authors tend to be American
( Read more... )
I am American, and I do not mind being Brit-picked in the beta stage, or any stage actually. I understand that, contrary to popular belief, I do not know everything, especially concerning the intricacies of Americanisms vs. Britishisms, and do not mind having that pointed out to me. I would rather have it pointed out to me once or twice and do it right from that point on than lose readers or have people gnash their teeth whilst they read it. What I would mind is if someone were to be very nasty about it in a review.
I think that it does make a difference. It not only makes the fic more authentic, it credits you as a writer because you are looking to do things correctly instead of just shrugging your shoulders and surrendering to complacency.
I'm American, and consistently get accused of "writing British". (I also get accused of having a British accent, but that's another story.) I have to attribute this to the enormous number of British authors I read in my formative years. I have to, because I have yet to figure out the bloody difference.
So, eh, I wouldn't be offended if someone pointed out my "Americanisms" but it doesn't bother me if other fics have them, because I can't tell an Americanism from a hole in the ground.
I'm not a Brit, I'm an Australian, and we share many slang terms in common. I'm also a bit of an anglophile. I think it makes a huge difference; I find it terribly jarring when there are Americanisms in an otherwise well-written piece. In my corner of the HP fandom, we have Brit pickers who whore themselves out foist their services on those more unfortunatly not-British than themselves.
Well, being on of those (::cough cough:: unfortunate) Americans, I know that my work is likely very un-English. Which bugs me, especially since I plan to be moving the the British isles exactly a year and seven months after I am finished with colledge. So... it would be great, for me at least, and I'm sure for others as well, if you DID in fact point out certain things that might irk you the wrong way. Or, at least within out fics, that is.
In responce to your questions: --No, I would not be offended. Perhaps sad at the truth of such statements, but glad also knowing that I could right them in the next drafting process. --It makes a great deal of a difference, especially for those of us who actually have never even BEEN of the American continents, so have no solid idea of what "normal" is where these stories take place. --Hmm... toughie. I wouldn't be quite sure, you should ask someone more fluent in grammar than myself, as I kind of create my own a great deal of the time, just ask ariastar--I'm not sure what you mean by "f'r," but no, don
( ... )
IMHO, Aziraphale would never say "gotten" or "could care less" - it would definitely be "got" and "couldn't care less" respectively.Absolutely. And I have to say, Crowley would never say those things either, although you can imagine him speaking American English to piss Aziraphale off, maybe
( ... )
One thing I do notice is that Aziraphale's language, although very English, is a lot more informal than his fuddy-duddy persona suggests. He says things like 'I'll be damned, and 'what the hell was that?' And, of course, 'fuck!'
For all the notes about him not swearing for more than 4000 years, he actually swears quite a bit (even before saying 'fuck') - there are the ones you have here, and he says 'bloody' and 'bugger all' (both in the dolphin conversation), and he says 'bugger!' after getting Crowley on the phone while Crowley is unfortunately entertaining Hastur and Ligur. (Makes me wonder if he was potty-mouthed for the first 2000 years, or something). I think the whole 'dear me, I'm a confused angel who thinks 1950 is very modern' thing is just a ploy, probably to get out of actually working. This is, after all, an angel who goes to see films while they're still new (he has to have seen Gorillas in the Mist for his comments in the dolphin conversation to make sense) and who knows about the conventions and cliches of science-
( ... )
Ye, I do agree with this to some extent. Well, a lot actually. He buys CD's, which is a big giveaway that when it really matters he'll be as up-to-date as any technophile. In 1990, when the book was written, CD's has only just become a serious option, and were being flogged as the best ever way to listen to music (even though this was a lie, but don't get me started). More importantly, CD players (the laserdisc player that Crowley has is a CD player by another name) became slightly more affordable at around this time; more affordable for an angel concerned about expenses! Although, having said that, thery were still bloody expensive. And he has a computer. Which he uses. Crowley doesn't use his computer, he only has it for show, so you could in fact argue that Aziraphale has far more of a grip of modern technolgy than Crowley. Crowley hasn't even got a modern car
( ... )
you could in fact argue that Aziraphale has far more of a grip of modern technolgy than Crowley. Crowley hasn't even got a modern car.
That's very true - if something is connected with music or writing, Aziraphale is quite happy with it. Crowley's car has only two modern things about it - the fake bullet holes from 1967 and the Blaupunkt. I'm sure he felt he was being very modern when he wished the tape player into the Bentley (and he would have been - cars are still turned out with tape players, after all). It does say something that he couldn't imagine a car CD player, though.
And yes, Aziraphale does seem dim in telephone related matters - the snide little mental aside about Crowley being 'the type of person' who has two lines, the fact that he shouts down the line (although maybe that doesn't count, given his state of stress at the time). I'd expect being contacted by a telemarketer would make him give up phones for months. Heaven knows how he dealt with the surge in mobiles.
Comments 34
I think that it does make a difference. It not only makes the fic more authentic, it credits you as a writer because you are looking to do things correctly instead of just shrugging your shoulders and surrendering to complacency.
Reply
So, eh, I wouldn't be offended if someone pointed out my "Americanisms" but it doesn't bother me if other fics have them, because I can't tell an Americanism from a hole in the ground.
Reply
Reply
In responce to your questions:
--No, I would not be offended. Perhaps sad at the truth of such statements, but glad also knowing that I could right them in the next drafting process.
--It makes a great deal of a difference, especially for those of us who actually have never even BEEN of the American continents, so have no solid idea of what "normal" is where these stories take place.
--Hmm... toughie. I wouldn't be quite sure, you should ask someone more fluent in grammar than myself, as I kind of create my own a great deal of the time, just ask ariastar--I'm not sure what you mean by "f'r," but no, don ( ... )
Reply
Reply
For all the notes about him not swearing for more than 4000 years, he actually swears quite a bit (even before saying 'fuck') - there are the ones you have here, and he says 'bloody' and 'bugger all' (both in the dolphin conversation), and he says 'bugger!' after getting Crowley on the phone while Crowley is unfortunately entertaining Hastur and Ligur. (Makes me wonder if he was potty-mouthed for the first 2000 years, or something). I think the whole 'dear me, I'm a confused angel who thinks 1950 is very modern' thing is just a ploy, probably to get out of actually working. This is, after all, an angel who goes to see films while they're still new (he has to have seen Gorillas in the Mist for his comments in the dolphin conversation to make sense) and who knows about the conventions and cliches of science- ( ... )
Reply
Ye, I do agree with this to some extent. Well, a lot actually. He buys CD's, which is a big giveaway that when it really matters he'll be as up-to-date as any technophile. In 1990, when the book was written, CD's has only just become a serious option, and were being flogged as the best ever way to listen to music (even though this was a lie, but don't get me started). More importantly, CD players (the laserdisc player that Crowley has is a CD player by another name) became slightly more affordable at around this time; more affordable for an angel concerned about expenses! Although, having said that, thery were still bloody expensive. And he has a computer. Which he uses. Crowley doesn't use his computer, he only has it for show, so you could in fact argue that Aziraphale has far more of a grip of modern technolgy than Crowley. Crowley hasn't even got a modern car ( ... )
Reply
That's very true - if something is connected with music or writing, Aziraphale is quite happy with it. Crowley's car has only two modern things about it - the fake bullet holes from 1967 and the Blaupunkt. I'm sure he felt he was being very modern when he wished the tape player into the Bentley (and he would have been - cars are still turned out with tape players, after all). It does say something that he couldn't imagine a car CD player, though.
And yes, Aziraphale does seem dim in telephone related matters - the snide little mental aside about Crowley being 'the type of person' who has two lines, the fact that he shouts down the line (although maybe that doesn't count, given his state of stress at the time). I'd expect being contacted by a telemarketer would make him give up phones for months. Heaven knows how he dealt with the surge in mobiles.
Reply
Leave a comment