His name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens, but we know him by the name of Mark Twain, an American author, famous not only for his humor but also for his amusing colloquial style based on an American cadence. Mark Twain changed the way people thought about writing by replicating ordinary rural speech. In Tom Sawyer Chapter 2, young Tom speaks in what sounds like foul language while trying to convince another boy to paint the fence for him:
“It has to be done very carefully; I don’t think there’s one kid in a thousand, maybe two thousand, who can do it the way it’s meant to be done.” (twins)
Writing in such ordinary spoken language is one of the most sophisticated tasks of an author.
If writers want to emulate Mark Twain’s writing style, they must first determine whether they would like to depict characters from Twain’s Mississippi River region or from another English-speaking region. The main point is to capture how people talk casually. Twain’s remarkable writing style was different from other writers of his day because he chose to write in the way people in his region spoke. However, UK residents appreciated his style and invited him there to entertain them.
Capturing natural speech and making it enjoyable is not an easy task. Most readers are surprised to find that writing the way people talk is a more difficult art form than academic writing. To do this, two fundamental questions described in this article must be answered. He or she can then apply four techniques to achieve the goal of using colloquialisms effectively in fiction books.
In the first place, one would have to ask where the protagonists of his novel live and where they were born.
Although one’s characters may not be based on real people, they must have a personal background, also known as history. The personal story is essential if the writer wants to represent the natural way of speaking about him. If one would like their characters to sound like Mark Twain characters, they could hail from the midwestern state of Missouri or live near the Mississippi River, which runs along the Missouri border (By the way, the Mississippi River runs through ten states in all). If the narrator is not very familiar with the way of speaking of the people in that region, it would be better for him to write in a dialect or accent that she knows well. Picking characters from other parts of the English-speaking world would work just as well and be entirely original. For example, one could choose characters from Australia, where people are known for telling outstanding jokes that delight readers, or one could set their characters in New York City.
Second, writers should ask about the educational background of their protagonists.
There are many non-traditional ways to receive education for life, in addition to the traditional school. Perhaps one’s characters were educated on the streets, on the Internet, or through other real-life experiences. Living in a certain neighborhood, being part of a unique family in the theatrical profession or being the daughter of a well-known truck driver are experiences that have an impact on the characters’ way of thinking and expressing themselves. The characters face challenges such as homelessness, getting a second chance at life, or falling in love. Such unique and non-traditional characters provide readers with insightful and illuminating messages. The dishonest characters represent how not to behave, as well as foolishness. In addition, many characters slur their words or use the typical contractions of spoken English.
Once the author has answered those two essential questions (mentioned above) regarding the background of the characters, they can proceed to follow four necessary steps:
Step 1 Authors must first familiarize themselves with the vocabulary and jargon of the period in which the characters in their story live, which is easier to do if they are writing about modern times or a period not so far in the past, given that they have some experience. in mundane language. Typically, the most successful stories come from people writing about what they see around them.
Although masterful writing about the distant past can be achieved, it is not easy to write about medieval England while only experiencing modern life in Ohio or California. If one chooses to write about a period distant in the past, one should do some research and, if possible, read some books from that period. A character in America in 1950 might use the word “swell” to describe something he likes, while the same character in 2020 typically says “great.”
The following are some words that were commonly used in the 1940s: give me (a woman); a geezer (an older person); an eager beaver (an enthusiastic person); and cheesy (cheap).
Here are some words that were popular in Mark Twain’s day: seek (get something and bring it back); count (to be of the opinion); irritable (difficult to deal with); sordid (of bad reputation); and there (there).
Step 2 It is advisable to read a few books or watch a few movies set in the period one would like to write about. Take notes with vocabulary one could use in their story. If the writer finds some words that don’t seem to belong to the period in which the story takes place, they can do some research on the etymology of the words to see when they were first used. Hear about recent terminology being used on television and consider how language is evolving. For example, many new expressions such as “social distancing” and “superspreader” came into use after the COVID-19 crisis.
Step 3 Consider the linguistics Check in of the characters in one’s story. Do they use a formal Prayed informal tone? They may speak in an informal tone most of the time while using a formal tone in some situations. The chronological age of the characters also influences their verbal expressions and gestures. An older adult may use some expressions that differ from those of a teenager. A street gang member communicates differently than a college student. Having characters with different linguistic registers meet each other makes for a fascinating contrast.
Step 4 Read some fictional Mark Twain books for inspiration. It is said that writers should read many books by the author they wish to emulate. Much can be learned simply by observing an author’s style, and this knowledge of rhythm and tone can be applied to your own writing based on the 19th century or other periods. It can inspire science fiction writing in which authors create new words used in a fictional future setting.
As Aunt Polly hilariously puts it in Tom Sawyer Chapter 4:
“Oh, Tom, you poor idiot, I’m not joking with you. I wouldn’t do that. You must go and learn it again. Don’t be discouraged, Tom, you’ll make it… and if you do, I’ll give you something very good. There, now That’s a good boy.” (twins)
Polly’s language is not academic jargon. Instead, she exemplifies Polly’s natural rhythm based on everyday speech as she pleads with Tom for her to learn. Her speech is similar to that of the elderly who talk to children, even today. The main thing that she should have in a fictional conversation, no matter what period she is depicting, is a compelling and funny conversation with a nice pace and tone.
