FOREIGN CHARACTERS - HOW TO WRITE ABOUT DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES BY ELVINA PAYET
Mon kapab, en mon fere. :)
For those who don’t understand Creole -- I CAN, SO I DO.
I love writing foreign characters, my preference being those of French/Creole ancestry. It helps that my parents are from the Seychelles Islands -- I can write from experience about the Creole language and customs I know and love dearly.
Writing characters with different nationalities can be challenging and fun. Delving into a different society with its customs, language and mindset can open your consciousness, not only as a writer, but more importantly, as a person.
When creating these unique characters, the necessary homework should be done. This would include:
Location – when using actual countries, town or cities, be sure you’ve either visited them or if the bank balance or frequent flyer points don’t permit, have looked up relevant details via the library or the web. Many locations have their own web site and you can learn valuable information via the net –- street names, buildings, amenities or local events.
Be sure to paint actual locations in a positive fashion. The worst thing you could do is upset your potential readers by putting down a place they could be from, or have visited and loved. Otherwise, you could create imaginary locations from bits and pieces of information from different cities or countries.
Language – a fabulous tool to bring your characters to life. When using language in dialogue, be sure to translate the text into English, especially if it’s not a popular language such as French or Italian. There is nothing more frustrating to readers than not understanding what has been said or written.
Sprinkle your selected language throughout the book to make a point, or to educate your readers about the character’s nationality. Don’t irritate your reader with endless pages of gibberish. It slows down the pace and gives the reader a headache. Trust me, I’ve read such books.
And finally, be sure you’ve researched the language properly. There is nothing more annoying to a reader to see the incorrect use of a language they are familiar with. Books and the Internet are good sources, but people are the best. Contact language schools or universities, churches or speak to neighbours, friends or general acquaintances. With the diverse multicultural population, it’s not that hard to learn a new language.
Make sure the written language is correct, and importantly, up to date. I learnt a valuable lesson when researching the language of the Seychelles Islands. In the past, English and French were taught in the Seychellois schools, with Creole (a French dialect) only spoken at home. In recent years, pride in their true language has the schools now teaching Creole.
And what a shock Creole is in written form. A phonetic language, it bears little resemblance to the French I recognize. So learning to write Creole was new to me too.
Clothing – A very important part of your characters. What they wear and why tells the reader much about these special people. If they wear a headdress, is it for religious purposes or just to keep off the sun? Does that scarf, shawl or pants have a specific name and special significance in their lifestyle? Being accurate with these small details will deepen your characters’ reality.
Customs – Filtering information about customs into your work will make the story jump from the pages. Whether dietary, religious, or regional/locality related, these details will have you, and of course your readers, loving the heroine and hero. Along the way, you’ll also be educating the public about facts they may not know about.
Now, how many people know this Seychellois custom? On her wedding day, a bride prepares a special salad for her guests. Called "palmis," it is made from the heart of a young palm trunk. I didn’t, until I went to a traditional Seychellois wedding many years ago.
I love writing about a culture I’ve learnt so much about –- through reading, listening to family and friends, or witnessing events first hand. But that doesn’t mean I can’t learn something more, or write new, unique characters. I’ve always been intrigued by Morocco. Dark men, exotic women, mystical landscapes. I can’t wait to put pen to paper to bring my own special foreign characters to life –- of course, after some extensive research.
Hope you enjoy doing the same.
Orevwar. Goodbye.
For those who don’t understand Creole -- I CAN, SO I DO.
I love writing foreign characters, my preference being those of French/Creole ancestry. It helps that my parents are from the Seychelles Islands -- I can write from experience about the Creole language and customs I know and love dearly.
Writing characters with different nationalities can be challenging and fun. Delving into a different society with its customs, language and mindset can open your consciousness, not only as a writer, but more importantly, as a person.
When creating these unique characters, the necessary homework should be done. This would include:
Location – when using actual countries, town or cities, be sure you’ve either visited them or if the bank balance or frequent flyer points don’t permit, have looked up relevant details via the library or the web. Many locations have their own web site and you can learn valuable information via the net –- street names, buildings, amenities or local events.
Be sure to paint actual locations in a positive fashion. The worst thing you could do is upset your potential readers by putting down a place they could be from, or have visited and loved. Otherwise, you could create imaginary locations from bits and pieces of information from different cities or countries.
Language – a fabulous tool to bring your characters to life. When using language in dialogue, be sure to translate the text into English, especially if it’s not a popular language such as French or Italian. There is nothing more frustrating to readers than not understanding what has been said or written.
Sprinkle your selected language throughout the book to make a point, or to educate your readers about the character’s nationality. Don’t irritate your reader with endless pages of gibberish. It slows down the pace and gives the reader a headache. Trust me, I’ve read such books.
And finally, be sure you’ve researched the language properly. There is nothing more annoying to a reader to see the incorrect use of a language they are familiar with. Books and the Internet are good sources, but people are the best. Contact language schools or universities, churches or speak to neighbours, friends or general acquaintances. With the diverse multicultural population, it’s not that hard to learn a new language.
Make sure the written language is correct, and importantly, up to date. I learnt a valuable lesson when researching the language of the Seychelles Islands. In the past, English and French were taught in the Seychellois schools, with Creole (a French dialect) only spoken at home. In recent years, pride in their true language has the schools now teaching Creole.
And what a shock Creole is in written form. A phonetic language, it bears little resemblance to the French I recognize. So learning to write Creole was new to me too.
Clothing – A very important part of your characters. What they wear and why tells the reader much about these special people. If they wear a headdress, is it for religious purposes or just to keep off the sun? Does that scarf, shawl or pants have a specific name and special significance in their lifestyle? Being accurate with these small details will deepen your characters’ reality.
Customs – Filtering information about customs into your work will make the story jump from the pages. Whether dietary, religious, or regional/locality related, these details will have you, and of course your readers, loving the heroine and hero. Along the way, you’ll also be educating the public about facts they may not know about.
Now, how many people know this Seychellois custom? On her wedding day, a bride prepares a special salad for her guests. Called "palmis," it is made from the heart of a young palm trunk. I didn’t, until I went to a traditional Seychellois wedding many years ago.
I love writing about a culture I’ve learnt so much about –- through reading, listening to family and friends, or witnessing events first hand. But that doesn’t mean I can’t learn something more, or write new, unique characters. I’ve always been intrigued by Morocco. Dark men, exotic women, mystical landscapes. I can’t wait to put pen to paper to bring my own special foreign characters to life –- of course, after some extensive research.
Hope you enjoy doing the same.
Orevwar. Goodbye.
