Does changing dialect or making an accent add to character?
Replies
What does it tell you about a person if they have an English, Irish, Welsh or Scottish accent? It only tells me what nationality they are and nothing about their character. That's the reason I don't use accents.
However, I learn much about a characters by their body-language, facial expressions and outlook on life.
How each character speaks should be determined by their personal experiences and social background. A character may have been raped or abused as a child. Their parents may be drunks of drug addicts. The character might be an orphan or have a severe physical or mental handicap. They could be rich, poor. loving, uncaring, married, single, gay, bi-sexual, lesbian, passive, violent, honest, dishonest, working, jobless, an extrovert or an introvert.
Any combination of the examples above will determine a characters attitude to life. How he or she reacts to their environment and social situations.
Joanne Harris writes a three or four page biography on each of her characters before she starts a novel. Getting into character is important before you let an individual character speak. It's how actors prepare for roles. They study the background of the character they have been chosen to play.
Yes Dale, it does add to character and the atmosphere. Some people even use slangs to give the feel of place etc. I read some books, where it has been used beautifully but the key is don't overuse it otherwise it distracts the story(at least for me).
What does it tell you about a person if they have an English, Irish, Welsh or Scottish accent? It only tells me what nationality they are and nothing about their character. That's the reason I don't use accents.
However, I learn much about a characters by their body-language, facial expressions and outlook on life.
How each character speaks should be determined by their personal experiences and social background. A character may have been raped or abused as a child. Their parents may be drunks of drug addicts. The character might be an orphan or have a severe physical or mental handicap. They could be rich, poor. loving, uncaring, married, single, gay, bi-sexual, lesbian, passive, violent, honest, dishonest, working, jobless, an extrovert or an introvert.
Any combination of the examples above will determine a characters attitude to life. How he or she reacts to their environment and social situations.
Joanne Harris writes a three or four page biography on each of her characters before she starts a novel. Getting into character is important before you let an individual character speak. It's how actors prepare for roles. They study the background of the character they have been chosen to play.
Sometimes it does... Not always. :)
Yes Dale, it does add to character and the atmosphere. Some people even use slangs to give the feel of place etc. I read some books, where it has been used beautifully but the key is don't overuse it otherwise it distracts the story(at least for me).
Good luck.