Slang, phrases, and curses... - Writers Forum

DaNorthernLight · 01-19-2006, 03:30 PM

Greetings! I'm currently writing some science fiction. The setting is the Omni-pass Starcluster: a collective of steller systems once colonized and connected by an ancient, but extinct race. The connections are slightly summonable wormholes that are incredibly stable, even from time-dilation. These wormholes are moving highways that answer to very old artifacts created by the ancients similar to Egyptian tomb-science.

The relationships between the species: exiled humans, Quanimechja people (Quan for short), The Myroid, The Sifters, and Seraph are not the topic at hand. There is an Omni-Speech that's been instigated since the First Cataclysm, and alliances form at the doorstop of the Second Cataclysm only solidifying this language. Omni-Speech gave me, the writer, a chance to lazily hop around language barriers by creating a council that propagated it.

The problem I'm having is how the characters will express themselves in varied circumstances. The exiles could say vaguely human things that have changed over the years and distance from normal human civilization. In instances where the protagonist could be working with a band of Quan mercenaries, they could say curses that are strangely alien and make virtually no sense other than their context. The Sifter's are usually plain in their speech, but their anger could bring up something even more eyebrow-raising. I'm not sure what to do. I can't for the life of me think up useable phraseology.

Sorren: "The human exiles are of no concern to me, for I am not simply a human anymore."

D'Vorah: "You mean to tell me that after all these years, you've decided to be marked with the Sifter's code? You... a [INSERT something about the fact that humans have hair and Sifter's don't -- hair-brained maybe?] exile... are a Hunter?"

Sorren: "[INSERT SIFTER-ishy CUSSING HERE]! Why do you think I've come unarmed as it is? And here of all places?"

All in all, I've got alot of work ahead of me... sigh.

RedEurope · 01-19-2006, 03:41 PM

Some good words out there.

DaNorthernLight · 01-19-2006, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedEurope

Try "Mrifk". That's original.

Some alien worlds are acceptable, but the bulk of my phrases I'd like to make the thoughts clear - as Omnispeech is a unified and transulated phonics melting pot. "Mrifk" may not do it for me, but an occassional noun that sounds like a specific thing they are referring to, could work.

Sifter's could refer to Quan as "Hairy's"... or humans as "hair-topped"; "hair-brained"... In a "slang" way, of course. But somehow, I'm not sure if that's doing anything for me.

Unless I could be silly as well, and use "Mrifk":

Sorren: "I'm afraid your fleet will have to take the bulk of the orbital front. Quan ships do not have the weakness of being digital, and compromiseable to those signals."

Gaulni: "Mrifk!" he sneered as though growling. "Some tidings you are!"

RedEurope · 01-19-2006, 04:09 PM

DaNorthernLight · 01-19-2006, 04:19 PM

Jokes aside. Do you know of any authors that composed some amusing slang or phrases for their races?

Utopian Union · 01-19-2006, 04:22 PM

RedEurope · 01-19-2006, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaNorthernLight

Jokes aside. Do you know of any authors that composed some amusing slang or phrases for their races?

Well, there was John Agard, I suppose - but it doesn't seem like the type of thing you are looking for for that story.

Stewart · 01-19-2006, 05:58 PM

Are you aware of the word hirsute?

bob rulz · 01-20-2006, 12:32 AM

I don't know exactly where it originated from, but sithspit from the Star Wars universe (not used in the movies, just the Expanded Universe) is a very good example of this (although I guess it's not technically alien...).

SxThorntonxS · 01-20-2006, 02:55 AM

Hell, if its universal you could just put variations on the cursing you already know. Use different letters and make similiar sounding words. Like Farq! Shig! etc. You could have something rather humorus with a word and have someone ask what it means, then the can say its a female (insert alien creature here). Just thoughts

Superlagg · 01-20-2006, 03:14 AM

Beastmonkey!

Would that work in the boldfaced area?

DaNorthernLight · 01-21-2006, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob rulz

I don't know exactly where it originated from, but sithspit from the Star Wars universe (not used in the movies, just the Expanded Universe) is a very good example of this (although I guess it's not technically alien...).

HAHA! You just reminded me of the Princess Leiah Quote:

"Why you stuck up... half-witted... scruffy looking... NERF HERDER!"

classic

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superlagg

Beastmonkey!

Would that work in the boldfaced area?

It would if I decide that Sifters are aquianted of ape/monkey species. Something along those lines could very well work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SxThorntonxS

Hell, if its universal you could just put variations on the cursing you already know. Use different letters and make similiar sounding words. Like Farq! Shig! etc. You could have something rather humorus with a word and have someone ask what it means, then the can say its a female (insert alien creature here). Just thoughts

VERY useful post! Thank you very much. I was attempting to think up some oddly translated quotes of Quan banters -- and this just might be the ticket.

Oracle · 01-27-2006, 01:01 PM

Quote:

[INSERT something about the fact that humans have hair and Sifter's don't -- hair-brained maybe?]

Rough-head? Roughtop? Bristletop? Furtop? Think (synonym for hair/rough texture) + (synonym for head)

Quote:

"[INSERT SIFTER-ishy CUSSING HERE]

Lodehck? Lodahck?