Looking for a word

[out_totheblack]

In the interest of time for NaNo, I am using some modern slang in my story but I will need more appropriate verbiage when I hit the editing stage

Comments

[david_bridger]

Not so much "hey," but "my life sucks" and "yeah" would definitely would pull me out of a medieval story.

I think I'd use "my life is hell."

[out_totheblack]

What about something like heya? Same feeling for you?

I hear "oi" on tv when something is supposed to be in the UK. Is that a more modern word or something that might be appropriate?

[david_bridger]

Oi is modern, but according to the Online Etymology Dictionary, hey has been used since about 1200.

"c.1200, variously, in Middle English, hei, hai, ai, he, heh, expressing challenge, rebuttal, anger, derision, sorrow, or concern; also a shout of encouragement to hunting dogs. Possibly a natural expression (cf. Roman eho, Gk. eia, Ger. hey).

"Þa onswerede þe an swiðe prudeliche, `Hei! hwuch wis read of se icudd keiser!' ["St. Katherine of Alexandria," c.1200]

"In Latin, hei was a cry of grief or fear; but heia, eia was an interjection denoting joy."

So I'd say you're totally safe to use it. :)

[out_totheblack]

Oooo, thanks, David. I will google that dictionary. I need a good online thesaurus. Mine used to be good with lots of old, little used words, then they redesigned and became all modern.

I used to have a subscription to the OED through my university, but it when with this last round of budget cuts. I think they should have cut the Chancellor's salary and left the OED.

[out_totheblack]

LOL, that pretty cute. I already said someone had the sense of a frog.

[ex_naomi_ja]

In a fantasy, I would definitely be thrown to see modern colloquialisms like that. I can't really think of alternatives beyond "My life is horrible/terrible/tragic," etc. It wouldn't necessarily need to be a ye olde word, but "sucks" is just too jarring. Same with "yeah" and "hey."

[out_totheblack]

Would something like "heya" feel the same way?

[ex_naomi_ja]

I have a feeling I've read "heya" in fantasy novels (Mercedes Lackey is coming to mind, but couldn't say for sure), and for some reason it doesn't bother me as much as "hey." No rhyme or reason for it, to be honest though...! Maybe check the etymology of the words you're unsure about and see if there are any historical equivalents?

[bogwitch64]

I agree with you on yeah, but hey is actually pretty ancient used just the same way we do today. Goes waaaaay back to the 1200s used as an exclamation of everything from joy to encouragement to anger.

From etymology.com (an AMAZING resource):
In Latin, hei was a cry of grief or fear; but heia, eia was an interjection denoting joy.

Sorry, not being combative. All opinions are valid and up to the opinion...ator? I just love this sort of thing, and can't seem to help myself when the chance for discussion comes up. :)

[meitah]

Swearing always works. "God's wounds" is a classic, and "sarden [noun]" is the medieval equivalent of "goddamn [noun]."

The Beka Cooper books by Tamora Pierce are a good resource for this. She uses real medieval cant for the characters.

[out_totheblack]

Oh, good ideas. I have one grumphy old grampa breaking out with "great Azbur's tits." Eventually, I'll have to figure out who Azbur is and what she did.

I'll have to find me some Beka Cooper.

[peadarog]

My life is in the midden.

[out_totheblack]

Ooooo, I like that!

[peadarog]

It's a smelly place to be... ;p

[out_totheblack]

That it is and all sorts of things wind up there.