Good morning everyone. In this scene I would like to know your opinion: With a cheerful smile, ‘Good morning!’ said a young redhead lady. ‘Welcome back.’ Holding a tray with mugs. Taric smiled graciously. ‘Darling. What a lovely day!’ looking to the bard, ‘I see your artists have new companions,’ he said, loudly. She nodded. "They came yesterday," she said, as waitresses passed through serving customers. ‘Shame, you weren’t here. The boss liked their music.’ All of a sudden, a small creature with fur and big ears, began playing the flute, clapping his little feet. At the same time, tabors and more pipes played along. Everyone inside lifted their mugs joyfully. ‘Your friend wasn’t there today.’ She pointed to a table closer to a window. ‘He hasn't been here at all?’ Taric passed by a couple of waitresses, serving tables. ‘No honey.’ the waitress pushed aside some children trying to grab her skirt. ‘The usual?’ I put a different colour on the words I need enlightenment. By this conversation, it gives you the impression that the waitress and Taric have an intimate relationship? I'm asking this because the two don't have any relationship. I was tried to sound more like they know each other for soo long. The folks love Taric. They see him as a charming rogue, and to be honest, Taric is very charming. At the same time, I tried to give an easy-going personality to the waitress. With my intention, which words would you advise me to write in this scene? As far as I had witnessed in England people tend to call love someone they don't have an intimate relationship. Any help would very be appreciated.
In the US it's fairly common for waitresses of all (most?) ages to call patrons 'sweetie', 'dear', or 'sweetheart', depending on the age and gender of the waitress and patron. 'Darling' is not really a common word in America, any more than 'doll' or 'dame' are these days. I can't think of a time when I, as a patron or coworker of a server (the only time it's socially acceptable to call strangers by pet names) was called 'darling'. Having said that, I think I have been called darling before, by someone in Taric's relative position. It's definitely more of a 'British' word to most Americans, I think, generally only used in sarcastic bites and well-meant, but somewhat demeaning, vocatives.
I've never traveled to England, so don't take this as serious. In the US, it's only acceptable to call someone pet names if you have a close relationship with them. Although, in the whole "British kids go on adventures" collection of stuff that was popular, I think everyone was called pet names. And I knew a girl from England who called everyone "Love", so maybe
I feel obligated to note that my earlier post is from a Midwestern/Indiana perspective. Regional differences are huge, and someone from the south might call everyone from their five year old nephew to a visiting foreign dignitary 'darlin'.
It depends where this is set. Which country and which area of that country. In England, up North, I get called "pet" and "lass". My Grandmother, from Liverpool often used the term "wack" which means "mate" or "friend". Then you get more universal ones like "sweetie" or "honey". I would look up modern slang words for the country and region you're writing these characters for.
Thank you, guys, for your response. Well, this is a fictional universe, so my best option is to look for slang words on which the culture was inspired maybe?
Darling would be used in high society or with a sardonic/sarcastic undercurrent - probably not to stranger, but perhaps to an acquaintance in a jovial manner. In the sense you’ve written ‘darling’ it would only work in the latter case (mischievous/sardonic/sarcastic). I’d replace “hun” for “honey” too. People usually say during greetings, on departing, in place of ‘please’ (ie. “Could you pass us one hun?”) or alongside thanks (ie. “Thanks hun!”). In Newcastle “pet” is the norm and in some circles in Birmingham “c**t” is like saying “buddy” (ie. “How’s if going c**t?); also common in Australia too! The UK is rife with all kinds of strange local quirks. Accents can completely change too within a dozen miles or so. In the UK people use “hun” rather than “honey”. By far the most common is “love” (which can be said to perfect strangers/enemies or anyone!). Depending on age others include ‘petal’, ‘doll’, ‘dear’, ‘gorgeous’/‘gorge’, ‘mucker’, ‘mate’ and ‘sweetheart”. Decide where your characters are and then research. If they’re in the UK ... good luck! Haha! Slang changes all the time ... I believe some linguistic declared that Liverpool was the fastest evolving English dialect on Earth - adding more new terms than any other region per year.
it also depends on where in the US the person is from and, really, the ethnicity/culture as well. My father's side is from Louisiana and they have a completely different way of speaking than myself and my relatives further north. I also moved to the Midwest and its a whole new set accents and ways of saying words. When I went to school in Pittsburgh, yet again, it was different. So different, they said they spoke "Pittsburgese" Also, i see a lot of comments saying that "darling" isn't really used. Its common for me and my family. My husband calls me "darlin'" and his mother uses "darling" a lot, but they are also from the south.
I would add to the above, that I do use "darlin" and it's more of a southern portion of the US than the northern area. I never add the g on the end when speaking. Though some people will object to being called any pet name. I just don't give a shit and do it anyway. lol Especially if I am being a bit bitchy. Though I live in the midwest, I lived further south for a long time, and that southern KY twang really comes out in my speech at times. Edit to add, it doesn't need to be used in a bitchy way. That's just how I use it sometimes. People also use it with loved ones. I would definitely not use honey either. I'd say Hon. And I use this all the time for pretty much everyone not related to me.
I'll take a crack at the waitress thing: Hon. (pronounced hun) Short for Honey, which is based on context in how it is used between casual and personal relationship. So in this context of a waitress and a patron (strangers), it is acceptable for her to address them as hon.
Yeah. I work retail in the Pittsburgh metro area, and I get called "Hon" all the time, by men and women alike. Can't help wondering if it would be different were I 6 inches taller.
I did note this, about half an hour and two posts later. I briefly forgot that just because Hoosiers speak correctly, doesn't mean it's the only dialect out there. Edit:: it's late, I'm tired, and that was supposed to be a joke.
Thank you guys so much for your responses. So you advise to use for the waitress, hon or love, is? Just to make sure.
