In this episode of the Life Writers Vlog, we look at how jargon and foreign words can add flavor and authenticity to our stories. But, like salt, a sprinkle enhances, but too much can overwhelm.
Today’s bite from my book, Eating an Elephant: Write Your Life One Bite at a Time, is Bite #64, “It’s Greek to Me.” This bite reminds us that jargon, sayings, foreign words, and technical terms can bring richness when used carefully and properly defined.
You can add definitions in parentheses behind the unusual words, but instead of breaking the flow, weave the definitions naturally into sentences.
Do you use jargon in your writing? If so, what types do you often use? Give us an example of a sentence you’ve written that incorporates this type of language in the comments section below, along with your thoughts about your favorite way to clue in your reader.
Whether you use foreign, colloquial, occupational, or other words or not, always remember, the only way to do this wrong is to not do it at all!
There are still two open spots for writers on the Writing the Waves cruise. If you’re already booked, are on the fence, or just curious, join our travel advisor and Virgin Voyages’ specialist, Paula Iwanski, and me for a Writing the Waves info session and get all your questions answered. It is free and open to the public, but if you are not already signed up for Writing the Waves or a member of the Life Writers Community, you do need to register using this link. In the meantime, check out the cruise page for all the details.
I have been reprimanded by fellow writers for not explaining farming and rural terms. Gotta get everybody on the same page.!
Funny you should ask! As someone who has set her fiction in medieval Japan, I feel a constant tug of war between wanting to include the flavor of the language and being concerned about the story turning into “what I know (or more likely, what I don’t know) about Japan and its history”. When I use Japanese words I try to explain them through context or work the definition into the story as you suggest. Here are a couple of examples: She stared at him, round-eyed. “These are hashi.” Uncomprehending, he shook his head. “Not to eat, to use.” She… Read more »
Standard: You people can go to the southside of downtown after you clean up the living room.
Pittsburghese: Yinz guys can go to sahside of dahntahn after you redd up the house. (John will appreciate this)
Like everywhere, local jargon is foreign to those of other areas. Although these slang words will always be a part of my background, I try not to use them in my stories.
This reminded me of the story I wrote about scrapple, a Delaware fav renowned for having everything in it but the oink. If you have a few minutes to throw away, here’s the link to the story.
Connie, those few minutes were far from thrown away! I enjoyed your story on scrapple, which took me back to my teenage years in Salisbury, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I remember Rapa brand very well. There were several restaurants serving scrapple in the area at that time, mostly diners and relaxed, family style establishments. I was a picky eater and never worked up the courage to try it, but you’ve roused my nostalgia and made me curious. I’ll let you know what I think!
Trying to describe life in my native Switzerland without using local expressions is like going to Burger King and bypassing the burger. My hometown of Basel is renown for three days of utter frenzy during Carnival, or as we call it Fasnacht. At the begin of Morgestraich at the stroke of five o’clock on the Monday morning after Ash Wednesday, all downtown streetlights are extinguished, leaving the area in total darkness. A shout to attention is followed by traditional brass, piccolo and drum renditions in deafening volumes that vibrate through your entire body; it also starts the instant lighting of… Read more »
Patricia, in my memoir I use italics for Russian words followed by an English word without breaking the sentence. Example: “Dorogya, dear one, I missed you,» she said. The Russian word is italicized.