Brit-picking: vital or a waste of time?

[emmagrant01]

jedirita and I discussed this topic over lunch yesterday, and it pops up on LJ constantly. I've never given it much thought, honestly, because everyone who's ever called me for an Americanism has been extraordinarily nice about it. The culture in the HP fandom seems to be that writers should use British English whenever possible, and I'll admit that I've bought into that 100%. I always looked at it as a respect-for-canon issue.

Rita feels differently, though, as do a lot of other people. So I started thinking about it, and now I'm questioning my sudden zeal to make sure my HP fic is as Americanism-free as possible. Can I really accomplish that? And is it really a worthwhile goal, considering there are so many other more important things to work on as a writer?

I'll keep this brief because so many people have already said something about this at some point. I'm still forming my thoughts, and I won't bore you with anything half-assed, for once! ;-)

For now, I'll just point to this post by lykaios, and say. "Yeah. What she said."

Comments

[wordplay.livejournal.com]

I'm so rushed today and I'm not even posting from home but this felt like something I should chime in on, considering something that I sent you recently. :))

I am not an obsessive Brit-picker, because I speak American English and just don't have the killer skillz necessary, but I do at least try to match the voices of characters to their voices in canon as much as I can. Ron, for example, has a very distinctly working-class British voice to me, and so I try to match that as best I can (which is tough, because, um, not a huge base to work from for me). I don't make as much of an effort with the rest of the text, but when a character is speaking, to me it's as much an issue of characterization as his reaction or physical mannerisms would be.

Although, you know, maybe that's the linguist in me. I do tend to notice accent, register, etc. of a speaker probably more than most readers would, so maybe it's just my own thing. *shrug*

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Oh, where are you? *misses* Hey, what did you send me?

I don't make as much of an effort with the rest of the text, but when a character is speaking, to me it's as much an issue of characterization as his reaction or physical mannerisms would be.

See, I agree with that 100%. If the narrative has it wrong, I don't see that as such a big deal. But the following would certainly make me raise an eyebrow:

Ron: Hey, y'all goin' to that totally rad ripper in Hufflepuff tonight? I'm SO gonna be kickin' it, homes.

Harry: Yo, whatchoo all up in my grill for? I'm down with that!

Hermione: Un-UHH. I know my baby's daddy ain't slackin on me tonight!

Ron: Why you buggin' me, bee-yatch?

Harry: She's always doggin' you.

Ron: All up in my bizness, yo.

Okay, maybe more than an eyebrow would be raised over that! ;-)