How to write accent?

[Schultz_von]

I don't know if there is a thread for this, so I just made one.
...
So... when people talk, they talk with an accent - obviously - even if they came from the same region, the way they talk will always be slightly different. Heck, even my brother sounds different when he spoke, like seriously why does he speaks like that!? So my question is, how do you translate that into words? How did you guys make it that these two different characters are different when they speak? because sometimes when I write dialog, it feels like they are just the same person, just back and forward.
...
So ... help!

 

[CL]

I don't know if there is a thread for this, so I just made one.
...
So... when people talk, they talk with an accent - obviously - even if they came from the same region, the way they talk will always be slightly different. Heck, even my brother sounds different when he spoke, like seriously why does he speaks like that!? So my question is, how do you translate that into words? How did you guys make it that these two different characters are different when they speak? because sometimes when I write dialog, it feels like they are just the same person, just back and forward.
...
So ... help!

I just pronounce the accent and spell it out as how it sounds. Like let's take your name for an example. Schultz, for me, sounds like "Shults". But now someone else could come from another region of wherever and pronounce it differently as "Shools" and going a step further by leaving the "t" completely silent. "Shults" and "Shools". Or how about that title "Another World Magician" could sound as is, but having that "Shools" character pronouncing it it could sound like "Anoo'er Wald Maigishen".

What I have described, would that make sense for your accents?

 

[SailusGebel]

Don't do this unless you want to confuse people.

 

[K5Rakitan]

Carefully

 

[CarburetorThompson]

Use colloquialisms and dialect slang as much as possible. Try to avoid just adding a bunch of apostrophes everywhere.

 

[CL]

Don't do this unless you want to confuse people.

You mean like Brad Pitt's "Pikey" accent?

 

[SailusGebel]

You mean like Brad Pitt's "Pikey" accent?

I mean that English isn't Japanese. You can't just use cockney(example) in dialogues. Because people from all around the world and people with different levels of English read web novels. By adding accents, slang terms, jargon, and even memes, you might confuse a lot of readers. They won't understand things, or they will think it's a typo\mistake. Simple is better.

 

[CL]

I mean that English isn't Japanese. You can't just use cockney(example) in dialogues. Because people from all around the world and people with different levels of English read web novels. By adding accents, slang terms, jargon, and even memes, you might confuse a lot of readers. They won't understand things, or they will think it's a typo\mistake. Simple is better.

I like that reasoning very much. Good point.

 

[Paul_Tromba]

If you do spell words to match an accent make sure to state that the character is speaking with whatever specific accent you want. This makes it easier for a reader to know that it isn't a typo or you having a stroke mid sentence. However, this doesn't work well with some accents for many reasons.

 

[Redemit]

You could always just add a note explaining the accent the character is using or even going a step further and give a link to an example on YouTube

 

[CL]

You could always just add a note explaining the accent the character is using or even going a step further and give a link to an example on YouTube

Now that you mentioned this, I think the glossary would be a valuable asset for accents too.

 

[SailusGebel]

Now that you mentioned this, I think the glossary would be a valuable asset for accents too.

And after thinking about this, think about how many readers check glossaries.

 

[CL]

And after thinking about this, think about how many readers check glossaries.

Too true.

 

[TotallyHuman]

Don't

 

[TheEldritchGod]

You have five million different fonts available world wide. Pick something neutral for normal Non-speaking writing, then everyone who has an accent gets a different font. Times new roman is the superior font, so use that as your base, then maybe Ariel Narrow if you have a freak. Only freaks use Ariel Narrow.

ME <------ FONT SNOB!!!

 

[Agentt]

Don't do this unless you want to confuse people.

Agreed


But, if ya wanna, well, there is one way, and that is to do it the way i did that there, writing wanna and all.

Secon' way is, to add these co'as at ra'dom places, prefe'ly substitu'ing the letter n.
Or, you can add words or phrases well known for that community, like blimey, dickens, etc

 

[Ai-chan]

Ya gotta naw der accent fer ya can rite it, ya ken?

Ain't nobody got time fo' dat!

 

[SailusGebel]

well known for that community, like blimey, dickens, etc

And force readers to google those words because they aren't part of that community. Readers don't even check tags or read a novel's description, and you force them to google the words that might not appear on a first google page. What can go wrong here? Hmm...

 

[_oinkchan]

I don't know if there is a thread for this, so I just made one.
...
So... when people talk, they talk with an accent - obviously - even if they came from the same region, the way they talk will always be slightly different. Heck, even my brother sounds different when he spoke, like seriously why does he speaks like that!? So my question is, how do you translate that into words? How did you guys make it that these two different characters are different when they speak? because sometimes when I write dialog, it feels like they are just the same person, just back and forward.
...
So ... help!

Eg- If an American says Water ill write- Wader. If a britisher then- W'o'er. If a russian- Wohtair. If an indian- whater. If a neutral accent- Water.

 

[hauntedwritings]

To make accents obvious, yeh ken make kensitent type-hoes, yeh? Or accentin' to emphasize that the character it too lazy to finish the word they are intendin' to speak. You can also use frekkin filler-words to show that the character is frekkin obsessed with its frekkin way of speaking.

The key is giving the character a set of 'rules' when they speak, and editing dialogue to fit those rules whenever said character speaks.