Is this a proper word? - Writers Forum

terrib · 06-09-2008, 02:32 PM

May I use the word hisself in place of himself? When I try to use himself a little green line tries to change it to him. Or should I space it ie: him self or his self?

This is the sentence I am having trouble with:

Tonight, the only battle Barrack knew he would be fighting would be with hisself. And he had a bad feeling he would loose.

lilacstarflower · 06-09-2008, 02:41 PM

Only if it's 'his-self' you use - according to my dictionary. Never heard of hisself before

terrib · 06-09-2008, 02:59 PM

Thanks lilac. I guess I made that one up, eh? Maybe it's a Southern thing.

Ilasir Maroa · 06-09-2008, 03:03 PM

It's a dialect thing and nothing inherently wrong with it, but Standard English recognizes only "himself".

terrib · 06-09-2008, 03:09 PM

So, does that mean I can use it, Ilasir?

JosephB · 06-09-2008, 04:21 PM

Well, if it is dialect, fine. It's relatively common in the south. I hear it all the time. Otherwise, I wouldn't use it.

lin · 06-09-2008, 05:17 PM

Exactly. Not in a serious sense like that. "his self" can be used at times. As in something like "He can't differentiate his fears from his self" But generally "himself" works better.

HarryG · 06-10-2008, 07:46 AM

Hisself is a Scottish word, for himself.

Sunny Rabbiera · 06-10-2008, 11:14 AM

Slang is very subjective, in my stories I usually have one character who speaks a mixed slang of sometime.

Sam Winchester · 06-10-2008, 11:44 AM

Using it in speech, I'd say no problem. I wouldn't, however, use it in prose, unless your narrator is going to use slang words all the time, and that would get confusing very quickly.

lin · 06-10-2008, 12:00 PM

It's not really slang, it's dialect. And in an Uncle Remus story, no problem. But in an essay, as in the OP example, it's not going to fly.

HarryG · 06-10-2008, 02:44 PM

It's not slang, it's not dialect, it's not an accent, it's a word used by people speaking Scottish.

For example, Scottish people don't say Yes, they say Aye; they don't say Small, they say Wee. Those are words in an ancient and long-used language.

The first recorded use of Hisself, in Scottish literature, was some 800 years ago. It was transported to America after the continent was settled by the Europeans and is now in common use in those parts of the US containing a high proportion of Scottish settlers.

When I say Scottish, I mean what can be described as Scottish English, in the same way as we have US English and UK English, a language usually understood by English speakers everywhere, but which have substantial differences nevertheless.

I won't go on to describe Rhodesian English, Indian English or even Ulster English, it would cause a riot.

In case there is any doubt, Scottish literature is a separate subject to English literature, the former being the language used by Robert Burns, its most famous exponent, and quite unlike UK English.

lilacstarflower · 06-10-2008, 02:59 PM

I'm Scottish and its slang to me - broad Scots slang nowadays

Ilasir Maroa · 06-10-2008, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryG

It's not slang, it's not dialect, it's not an accent, it's a word used by people speaking Scottish.

For example, Scottish people don't say Yes, they say Aye; they don't say Small, they say Wee. Those are words in an ancient and long-used language.

The first recorded use of Hisself, in Scottish literature, was some 800 years ago. It was transported to America after the continent was settled by the Europeans and is now in common use in those parts of the US containing a high proportion of Scottish settlers.

When I say Scottish, I mean what can be described as Scottish English, in the same way as we have US English and UK English, a language usually understood by English speakers everywhere, but which have substantial differences nevertheless.

I won't go on to describe Rhodesian English, Indian English or even Ulster English, it would cause a riot.

In case there is any doubt, Scottish literature is a separate subject to English literature, the former being the language used by Robert Burns, its most famous exponent, and quite unlike UK English.

Scottish English is a dialect. So yes, "hisself" is from a dialect.

HarryG · 06-10-2008, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilacstarflower

I'm Scottish and its slang to me - broad Scots slang nowadays

Can you please tell me how you would describe the language used by Robert Burns, and I'm not being facetious, I am genuinely interested (I've studied it for long enough).

To be specific, would you describe it as slang?

I've been away for a while (from Scotland).