I am just wondering how us older ones can keep up with the language nuances.I saw this as part of a newspaper report on how the people in our new New Prime Minister's constituency were celebrating her swearing- in ceremony at Kings House
One young man summed up the optimism of the gathering by holding aloft a can of 'tin boom' (tin mackerel).
Now if I were to refer to tin boom in a children's story ???????????
Recently, I heard a young girl giving testimony at a church service and admitting to deliberately waiting on
'the music bus.' Our people language is very vibrant and fluid. While I immediately understand music bus, (the buses that play loud music and lewd songs, despite the law) I will have to ask somebody why tin boom.
This is a valid consideration. If you wish to use new and trendy words, consider a glossary as a global or regional reader will not understand. You choice will depend on your target market.
ReplyDeleteAnother consideration is that fads change and trendy words will date your book.
One never thinks of recording these trendy words at the time they are being used. One simply looks back, not remembering when they were common and when they became obsolete. A record of them would come in handy when writing a story set in previous decade. Perhaps we could start 2011 list with 'music bus', 'tin boom' and 'crass it'.
ReplyDeleteGood idea Helen.
ReplyDelete