Writing the other . . . language

[scarlettina]

Years ago, a friend of mine gave me a chapbook of short-short stories he published. One of them was, ostensibly, a Jewish story. But for some reason, the character kept referring to "shavath." I couldn't figure out what the character was talking about. I asked the friend and he said the character was talking about the Sabbath. I said to him, "Oh,

Comments

[garyomaha]

This is a thoughtFUL and thought PROVOKING post. Thanks. As one who tends to over-analyze much of the time, I can relate to much of what you expressed. It also dovetails a little with something that I read elsewhere this morning which I'm trying to wrap my head around -- unfortunately, I don't have time to get into that right now.

[scarlettina]

The question of writing the other effectively and respectfully is one that has become something of an evergreen topic in science fiction and fantasy writing circles. I know a couple of people who, through earnest attempts to do the right thing, have found themselves the target of some pretty severe thrashing.

I'm working on a story right now with a historical African American character in it and just finished reading her autobiography (about which I hope to post later). Finding her voice, her perspective, even for just the one or two scenes she's in is making me cautious, nervous. I want to get her right because of who she was, what an extraordinary person she was, but I also want to get her right for fear of what getting her wrong may provoke. It's a really challenging thing.

[jaynefury]

Thought provoking post. I always thought that because I write space fiction I can make things up and borrow mightily from whatever culture I want. But if I'm being authentic it also means world building and then staying true to that world.

Also, I've never heard the word Shavat spoken but I have heard "gudyuntiv" on Shabbat and finally figured out what it was, and it only took me a few years. :D

[scarlettina]

"Gud yuntiff" is what I heard growing up until I began to learn Hebrew, when I realized that it was Yiddish for "Good yom tov." And yes, worldbuilding is core to the genre, no matter how you approach it. And it's some of the hardest stuff about writing SF and fantasy. I feel your pain. :-)