McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft

Alternate Realities vs. Ease of Reading

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caynreth:
Tasmin, I think if people are so easily tripped up by terms that are not really even foreign in nature, but follow English word forms and should be easily understood in context, well...I have to wonder why they are reading a fantasy story.

I don't think you have at this point, any need of so much as a footnote, much less an appendix. Although I do enjoy fantasy novels with worlds so complex and full of so MANY characters and languages (as long as they are well constructed and not just made up words) that you need appendices.

novium:
Why not just make up words in english? Ok, I know that sounds silly, but I'm thinking more, use terms that may not be the standard 'king, queen,', but still get the message across and aren't strange words that are - and I think this is the big hang up- similar looking. Plus, I think working on a similar set-up as words that do mean king queen prince princess (i.e.  tsar, tsarina, tsarevitch, etc, which your titles reminded me of) may have the exact effect you were hoping to avoid.

I know that's why, personally, such things tend to be a stumbling block for me. I start feeling like I have to memorize vocabulary and concept lists. That's fine in a foreign language literature class, but it's not fun. 
That is of course the great thing about english.. the language generally has three or four ways to say the same thing, sometimes more, because of all the different languages that lent it vocabulary. (e.g. kingly/regal/royal). Plus, if there is any word-associations that are remotely similar to your set up, maybe use them.

I know, using an example from one of JB's books is overdone, but look at the codex alera with 'first lord'. He could have used king or some derivation of Caesar. But his chosen term was easy to remember, understand, *and* it implied something of the political set up. And the great thing about history, is that there has been such a variety of different systems, all with their own unique things, that perhaps there are bits and pieces of them you can steal from.

caynreth:

--- Quote from: novium on July 02, 2007, 10:08:52 PM ---Why not just make up words in english?  Plus, I think working on a similar set-up as words that do mean king queen prince princess (i.e.  tsar, tsarina, tsarevitch, etc, which your titles reminded me of) may have the exact effect you were hoping to avoid.

--- End quote ---

dare I mention here that those are not English words?

novium:

--- Quote from: caynreth on July 05, 2007, 03:07:50 PM ---dare I mention here that those are not English words?



--- End quote ---

When, they are transliterated, but they have been adopted into the language. (Intelligence Czar, drugs Czar, etc etc etc). So technically I am in the clear- but I did not mean to imply that tsar etc were english words, necessarily- that was the result of re-editing my post and being slightly careless. My point still stands though. Use already known words. Or avoid exoticism for exoticism's sake.

caynreth:
 Yes, those words have become loan words in English, but not in the context that they were originally meant. I fail to see any reason for avoiding "exotic" terms in an alternate world where our rules don't necessarily apply.

I still say stick to your guns Tasmin! It makes your world richer! Anyone who can't deal with it can go read Jackie Collins or John Grisham novels.  :P

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