PC and Dialects in fiction

[Patti J. Kurtz]

Thanks, Wilson!  I rather think that what you mention below, the
stereotypical use of "eye dialect," may be what people are reacting
against.  One member of our group was criticized by judges in a writing
competition for using dialect because "it's not done that way any more"
But I haven't seen a sample of her dialect, so I don't know how accurate
it was.

And I agree that it's a good suggestion to have a speaker of that
dialect review your MS for accuracy.  I'll pass that along to my
colleagues in the critique group where this question arose.

Thanks again!

Patti

hwgray at EARTHLINK.NET wrote:

>I certainly hope not! However, I, as a black person, have found some
>presentations of Black English annoying. For example, Piri Thomas, a
>one-hit-wonder from about 40 years ago, was famous for fifteen minutes
>for his novel, "Down These Mean Streets." In this work, whites and his
>fellow Puerto Ricans simply speak idiomatic English. However, *all*
>blacks speak a version of the old vaudeville-stage "Negro eye-dialect"
>that a script writer for Amos 'n' Andy would not have stooped to use.
>
>But that was then. These days, based on current fiction that I've read,
>my only suggestion is that, if you're not a member of the particular
>group whose dialect you're using, would it hurt to have a member of
>that group vet your version of the dialect for accuracy before you
>start sending your work out to publishers? Just as a courtesy.
>Otherwise, knock yourself out, to use a BE expression of yesteryear
>that somehow has risen from the dead to find a new home for itself in
>the laptops of contemporary Hollywood and TV writers.
>
>-Wilson Gray
>
>
>
>>Thanks!
>>
>>Patti Kurtz
>>Assistant Professor, English
>>Minot State University
>>Minot, ND
>>--
>>
>>Freeman - And what drives you on, fighting the monster?
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>>
>>Straker - I don't know, something inside me I guess.
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>>
>>Freeman - It's called dedication.
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>>
>>Straker - Pig-headedness would be nearer.
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>>

--

Freeman - And what drives you on, fighting the monster?



Straker - I don't know, something inside me I guess.



Freeman - It's called dedication.



Straker - Pig-headedness would be nearer.