You have to admit that linguistically, they're at least interesting.

[stigmata_crow]

 Yep, that's right, I'm getting this discussion bitch started off. :D

And on that note, swearing. I've recently been pondering how to address swearing in Twilight, and I think it's time to here what you all think.

Now, SMeyers doesn't particularly have her characters swearing, but I've always had to ask myself, is that because they wouldn't swear, or

Comments

[audreyii_fic]

Is Stephanie dealing with swearing well, or is it something she seems to have left out because of her opinion on it?

The latter. Now, mind, given that it's a young adult novel, I can see how she won't be dropping the F-Bomb every five pages. But what I'm referring to specifically here is that "Holy crow!" nonsense. Whenever Bella said that, it actually made the narrative grind to a halt as I blinked at the page. Bella's obviously a good and proper little girl, in spite of how Meyer tries to tell us she's otherwise, so she would never even say "Holy cow!" (which would also be kinda dorky, but not screeching-to-a-halt odd). My understanding on the subject is that Holy Cow (the toned down version of Holy Crap, which is the toned down version of Holy Shit, of course) is still too blasphemous, in that it technically refers to certain Hindu beliefs as holy, or alternatively refers to the golden calf from the Old Testament as holy (I'm pretty sure it's usually mean to be the former). So "Holy cow!" is too much, and it has to be "Holy crow

[sleepy_sheep683]

"And I think in the Harry Potter series Ron drops a few colorful phrases about Merlin's genitalia. "

Ron certainly swore, but we never heard it. Rowling often had lines in the narrative such as, "Then Ron said something that Harry was sure would have made Mrs Weasley very cross indeed..."

Just another way of conveying a sweary character without having them swear.

[lulu_honey]

Very true. Even in the first few books there were phrases such as "Dean swore loudly." I think at one point in DH Ron actually say "effing" lol.

Anyway, it all adds up to ... Rowling > Meyer.

[dredhedred]

Leah would need to gargle holy water to clean her mouth out.

Oh Leah, I love you so much!

[the_angry_pixie]

Now, mind, given that it's a young adult novel, I can see how she won't be dropping the F-Bomb every five pages.

See i dont get this. If its for young adults i dont see why swearing is an issue. i define young adults as adults, who are young. so 18-25 year olds. and your certainly not going to taint the innocence of that age group by including swearing.

[dredhedred]

Did Bella really say "Holy Crow!"??
I must have been in so much haste to skip over Bella's whining that I must have just change it in my head to "Holy Cow". Not much better really I guess.