Writing for a large audience is challenging enough, but when you add regional accents, it becomes well-nigh impossible.
When you communicate with people and learn to understand the differences in how they speak, it becomes extremely useful for writing immersive stories, blog posts, or ads. Dialects are much more than words; they incorporate tone, culture, and identity.
So, how do you deal with regional dialects and not sound phony or awkward, especially to those locals? Keep reading to find out.
Why Dialects Matter in Writing
When readers can see text that resembles how they speak, it creates a sense of representation and understanding (and relating!), which is a really big deal, it’s bigger than slang or accents.
It can become the punch lines of jokes, the constructions of sentences, or the rhythm of speaking.
For example, someone from the south might say, I’m fixin’ to leave. In New York, they might just say, I’m leaving, but it’s more than just using different phrases to communicate the same thing.
If you choose one that is not right for a specific dialect, you can run the risk of your readers breaking away from your story or getting lost in the details.
Find the Right Way to Include Dialects
Writers often rely on Google, social media, or AI to get a feel for regional dialects, but that only scratches the surface.
Reach Out to Local Media
YouTube channels, podcasts, and local newspapers are excellent sources of natural language. Observe how interviewees engage or describe events.
Subtle variations in tone and vocabulary will catch your attention and disclose more than any slang dictionary could.
Use Online Communities and Forums
Locals tend to ask and respond to questions in their voices in localized sub-communities on websites like Reddit or Quora. These uncensored exchanges are excellent for learning real-world language and dialect.
If finding those local forums becomes difficult, many writers conduct in-depth research by using things like a VPN client for Mac or other devices in order to get search results as though they were based in their target area.
For example, writers looking to learn about the West-Riding/Yorkshire dialect might connect to a server based in Leeds in order to get the same results as locals would, including local forums, Facebook groups, or streams.
This way, they’ll more likely come across expressions that would not show up in global or largely American-based media such as Reddit.
Avoid Stereotypes
You might be inclined to have fun, hijacking the dialect for effect. But doing so almost always leads to caricature, and your readers will recognize it from a mile away, and likely won’t react to it kindly. Instead of finding an exaggerated phonetic spelling, use the following:
- Idioms and local references
- Sentence structure and rhythm
- Cadence over spelling
Even businesses are upgrading their AI models to enable them to understand more dialects and avoid bias. This shows that misrepresentation does not only happen to humans.
As a writer, being respectful and accurate is more important than being clever.
How and When to Modify Your Dialect
Here, there isn’t a rule that applies to everyone. Your audience and goal will determine this.
For Writers
Dialects should be used to define, not to mock, characters. Readers can get just the right amount of flavor from a few key sentences scattered throughout the dialogue without feeling overwhelmed.
For Marketers and Bloggers
Localize your material if it is intended for a certain area. This doesn’t always include changing the language; it could also entail switching references or examples. Ads for winter coats in Edinburgh and London will sound different.
How to Get Dialects Just Right
Here’s a simple list to help your writing sound natural and authentic:
- Read books, newspapers, or blogs written by local people.
- Listen to interviews and podcasts to understand how locals talk in casual settings.
- Language resources, such as the International Dialects of English Archive (IDEA), can be useful.
- If possible, ask a native speaker to provide feedback on your work.
- Don’t try to cram dialect into every line – sometimes, a little goes a long way.
The Balancing Act
Balance is key when writing in regional dialects. You want to be approachable without coming across as fake, and genuine without being cliché.
When in doubt, err on the side of clarity. The majority of readers won’t criticize you for being cautious, but they will undoubtedly notice if something seems out of place.
Dialects provide character to your writing. When done correctly, they make readers feel comfortable with your writing, and that’s the essence of good writing.
You will not only become a more compassionate writer but also a smarter one if you pay attention to how people communicate and appreciate the geographical diversity of language!
