Writing Dialects

There is a lot of different advice out there on writing dialects. Some people say they are fine, others say not to use them because they are too much of a distraction to the story. I think if they are done well then they really can add a flair to the story. I think that Brian Jacques, author of the REDWALL series, is a good example of this. Anyone who has read his stories understands that each species has a different dialect. While I love the different dialects I think it is a good thing that the characters with the strongest accent, the moles, aren't used by characters that are in every conversation. Another good example of strong dialects are the UNCLE REMUS stories which is similar to the accent Jim has in THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN. When you read them you know how to picture the speaker but at the same time some of the nuances of the conversation may be lost and some readers may not appreciate the extra effort that is needed to understand what is being said. You just have to know who your audience is and what they want and are willing to read.

I am not one who tries to write the dialect using apostrophes and phonetic spelling to distinguish dialects. I try and play with word order and word choice to show the differences between characters. For example if I use the word mate people imagine a different type of person than if I use buddy. When it comes to word choice the best example is Yoda. Everyone knows when you read something like "Judge me by my size, do you?" you don't picture the same person who says "Are you judging me by my size?" or maybe something like "Your little brain dwells too much on my physical appearance." If you don't feel comfortable doing a complex dialect you should look into word choice and order because it is the little details that make the character. Just make sure that you are consistent.