Regional Dialect in Dialogue

[Skip Slocum]

Are you Burke? 

[Neghe]

No.

But I have attended one of his work-shops.

[510bhan]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/elmore-leonard-hospitalized-stroke-599696

The prolific author, 87, is recovering at an undisclosed facility near his Detroit home.


Prolific author and Hollywood favorite Elmore Leonard, 87, has suffered a stroke and is recovering in a Detroit-area hospital.

The author of the books that inspired FX's Justified and the films Hombre, Get Shorty, Out of Sight and Jackie Brown was working on his latest book at the time of the attack a week ago, according to the Detroit News.

[cswillson]

(downloading to MP3 would be best for proper pronouncing of the New Orleans accent).   

Didn't think they had one.

[2par]

Sorry to hear about E. Leonard. Truly a wonderful writer.

[Alice, a Country Gal]

Didn't think they had one.

Guess you've never listened to a Real Cajan then.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NrBSPiN2cw


Or you're telling us you are a Cajan.  

[Neghe]

Sorry to hear about Leonard.

Will Patton reads James Lee Burke:
http://youtu.be/GhWB8zCsfcM


And a classic rock & Roll ditty:
http://youtu.be/3z-GwdaKrn8

[cswillson]

Or you're telling us you are a Cajan.  

Nope, I'm a Grit. But it's 'Cajun'.

I love Nawlins, though. Never miss a chance to go there. Went in May on the City of New Orleans, stayed in a hotel at Tolouse and Dauphine and spent every night on Bourbon. I love NOLA.

BTW, I ran a marina in Florida for a while. A boat made the winter rounds -- South in September, North at Easter -- and its name was CANAJUN.

I asked the captain why it was named that. He said, "Because I am one."

[Jo Bannister]

I'm with those who think less is more.

I think it's absolutely fine, in fact a bonus, to use characters from all over the place, and to indicate how their speech patterns vary from what we think of as standard norms.  That's all part of life's rich tapestry.  I don't think it's fine to allow those speech patterns to get in the way of clear communication - as even a committed regionalist must admit that they can and do in real life.  When you start thinking of the accent as another character, it's time to rein him in.

[Gyppo]

When you start thinking of the accent as another character, it's time to rein him in.

I've never consciously thought of it that way, Jo, but I know what you mean and have to agree.

Gyppo