I'm writing something, and I need to have dialogs, but I have a weakness with english. I'm not too familliar with popular expressions. You know, how people talk among themselves. I know english but I never speak it in real life. I'm more familiar with "proper" english. You know, the kind you'd read in a magazine or instruction manual.

So I need help with dialogs, I need to add more life and colors to it. I'm doing research, but I can't think of everything, so it would really help if you guys could give me some example of spoken english in real life. You know, the things that differentiate an american speaker from on english or australian one.

But it has to be close to PG-13. I don't want the curse words. If it would get you in trouble for posting it here on Ironworks, then it's too much. Nothing much stronger than "Shut up" or "jerk".

Can anyone help me with this?

Hmmm... since this is being read, the biggest difference -- accent -- goes away. I'm not sure I can point you to any specific things that Americans say that non-Americans don't. It's more along the lines of the words they use...elevator instead of lift, hood instead of bonnet, and so on.

In fact, if I were to think of a good source, I'd look for a dictionary that cross-references American to British terms. I had a Chilton's manual for one of my cars that had that in the back of the guide -- wrench for spanner, things like that.

That's probably a good place to start. Next, I'd avoid country-specific phrases. Things like bloke, lad, crisps, bangers, vegemite, and so on. How to figure those out, however... perhaps websites... try this google search for some interesting ideas.

If you want, feel free to pass it by me and I'll give a review (unless you're really writing War and Peace, Second Edition [img]smile.gif[/img] ).

Good luck!

Well it doesn't have to be technical terms, like you said. I really need to work on lingo and culture. You know what I mean... people don't talk like they're reading their lines from a text. ;)

I'll try that link when I do some more research later. http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...ons/icon14.gif

[ 12-15-2005, 09:57 AM: Message edited by: Luvian ]

Canadian (AKA us): Bloody (Those bloody telephones aren't working again), Hoser (Don't be a hoser). Is this what your looking for?

Luvian, coming here is probably the best way -- and you're speaking pretty decent colloquial English, whether you know it or not. If you want to see some of what sets American dialogue off from others, try reading the best American dialogue writers. Start with Hemmingway, of course, there is no other place to begin.

It depends what setting you are writing it in, or more importantly where the people who are speaking are from.

For example, in Middlesbrough it is common for nearly everyone to add the word like into a sentence.

"Do you know what I mean like?"

More likely pronounced "Do ya know what a mean like?"

If you want the "street talk" (Jane and FInch, scarborough), forget english and start listening to '50 cent and his band of illerate hoodlum peasants.

From reading novels, I've developed the habbit of using bloody when I think. So it's said today too? I thought it was a medieval expression or something.

I'll have to remember "like". In quebec's french, teenagers use this a lot too, as well as two other expressions that are not used in english.

It's "interesting" listening to them. It usually goes something like this. "So she was saying stuff and I was like no way. And she was like shut up." I just don't get anything they say. ;)

I don't so much want street talk as those little words and expressions used in casual conversations.

See what I mean? How often is the word "casual" used in everyday discussions? I write, I don't speak. Not many people would ever say aloud. "I'm writing something, and I need to have dialogs, but I have a weakness with english." It would go more along the lines of "Hey! I wanna write something but I suck at it, wanna help?" or something like that.

Most people don't speak properly, so I need to learn how they speak, to represent them realistically.

I'm doing well with the more mature dialogs, I just need the special expressions.

[ 12-15-2005, 11:53 AM: Message edited by: Luvian ]

You can insert that quote for any youth in America.

"Cool" has become a universal word now, especially since the boomers are running business. I use the word in coversations with 60-yr-olds in the professional context.

Well you know, I wasn't even sure of what it was I wanted, so of course I couldn't explain it. I've been thinking about it, and I know now.

I can handle casual dialogs. I've seen plenty of it. Maybe I don't know every expressions, but I can do well enough.

My problem is with emotions. How do people talk when they're pissed off or annoyed? What special words do they use to express their emotions, beside the obvious F word? How about when they are sad, happy? How do they talk, react? how do you express your annoyance at someone or something? That's where I have a smaller vocabulary.

You mean, you've seen me posting on this website now for over 3 years and you don't yet know how an American talks if he is pissed off or annoyed?

Imagine that! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

<font color=skyblue>I would think that the best way to get what you said in a more casual tone...you'll need to post what you are trying to say, and let us take jabs at it. It is also important to tell us where these people are supposed to be from. I cannot help you if the guys in your conversation are from New York, but if you want some Georgia/Carolina hype, I'll be glad to help.</font>

Well I wasn't taking notes at the time, I was more interested at the point you were trying to make than how you were making it. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

That's because you see things from an insider's point of view. You see a difference between different towns and regions. I'm still working on differences between emotional states.

My paranoia prevent me from going into details about what I'm writing, but it's happening in a place of mixed cultures, so it doesn't matter which particular lingo is used as long as it sound real and is common. much like your average movie. As far as I can see they just speak english, I couldn't tell what version they are using.

I don't have any exact line I need written right now, I'll make posts when I stumble into problems, but I don't think there is ever going to be a situation where I'm so stuck I can't write anything. If there are words I don't know, they just don't exist to me, so I say things in a way I know. The problem is the way I know might not be the way other people would say it, and it's hard for me to tell. That's why I'm trying to get a some information in advance, so that I have something to base myself on.

[ 12-15-2005, 12:17 PM: Message edited by: Luvian ]

Americans, when they're irritated they put stresses on words that might not have any reason to be stressed, except for being the points of their irritation.

That's the thing. Our emotions, short of using foul language, are all in our tone. Sentences are likely to be shorter, more to-the-point when we're angry. Often, speakers who are angry will repeat themselves or stammer out their words. So, the only difference between emotional english and conversational english, in writing, is sentence structure.

All the unneccessary dialogue is removed, and imperative (command) sentences are used more.

A conversational sentence:

"I wonder where I put my sandwich."

An emotional sentence:

"Listen, have you seen my sandwich?"

Not much difference to be sure...which is where the writing comes in. You need to tell the reader how the person is speaking.

"Listen, where's my sandwich?" Bill demanded angrily.

But don't use words like "angrily." ;)

Howabout:

"Listen, where's my sandwich?" Bill's eyes narrowed, his jaw locked.

Don't beat the reader over the head with the angrily notion, let them infer it. In fact, my example above may be overkill. Get your reader subtly there. Remember: a reader (or anyone in any situation) is more committed to a conclusion they deduce or infer rather than one you blatantly hand them -- even if they are being spoon-fed either way. ;)

[ 12-15-2005, 02:45 PM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]

Ted was now becoming rather annoyed with his whiny little brother. "I've not touched your stupid sandwich, so lay off it! Can't you see I'm busy?" he spat back, stuffing another cheese puff into his mouth. He stabbed at the remote control to rewind the part of the movie he'd just missed.

"'I've not touched'? Where are you from, Mr. Fancypants?" spat back his little brother as he stayed just out of Ted's reach, blocking the signal from the remote. "Tell me where you put my sandwich or I'm gonna get you."

Ted moved his leg slightly. Not enough to betray his intentions, it was enough to let him jump out of the chair and tackle his little brother, knocking him on the ground.

"For the last time, you moron, I didn't touch your stinking sandwich! All I've been eating is cheese puffs, like these..." Ted smashed a handful of cheese puffs against his brother's face, crumbs spilling on the floor.

"Boys, BOYS!" yelled their mother as she came into the room, attracted by the commotion. "What's going on here?"

"Dipnose here can't find his sandwich," Ted said. "And he won't believe that I didn't take it."

Ted's brother pushed him off and onto the floor. "Mom, he's lying again. He's always taking my stuff."

"Is this the cheese and avocado sandwich?" their mother asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Yeah," said Ted's brother. "That's it."

"It's in the trash where I threw it," said his mother. "That sandwich was sitting on the counter for the last three days. How many times have I told you to clean up after yourself? Now get the vacuum and clean up this mess."

The boys got up slowly.

"NOW, GENTLEMEN!" she commanded.

========================

Sorry... Larry's "I've not" just caught my eye, and away I went.

Yeah, "angrily" is a rather poor word choice, just put there for simplicity/

Nice ending there, Bungleau ;)

It's all in the verbs and nouns...and english has a TON of verbs that mean "talk angrily."

Commanded is one of them..."spat" is a fun one to use, when the speakers are particularly malevolent. Thesauruses can help in that regard, though.

... what the hell just happened? Anywho, Luvian, since your in Montreal, go talk to a McGill student, from Toronto perhaps, and notice how they speak.

I'm not really from Montreal, I live an hour from it, but put it up for simplicity. I doubt many people would know small towns around Montreal.

That's about as american as you'll get :D if your needin a little scottish dialect help id be happy to help out :D

[ 12-15-2005, 04:39 PM: Message edited by: Madman ]