I've just finished a fantasy novella and afterwards it got me thinking about the slang in it. I also write thrillers/mysteries as well. I don't go too Irvine Welsh, just sprinkle a few bits here and there. As much as I like Welsh, I find too much of it it can be grating.
About as much as I like bagpipes. I always like them for a few minutes, and then all of a sudden I don't. But a little scotch seems to increase my tolerance for both. I seem able to tolerate the Irish Brogue a lot better (and in fact enjoy it), until I can't understand what's being said. I sometimes can't understand the Scottish at all. It actually sounds cool, but the problem is in failure to communicate.
I didn't have any problem reading Trainspotting, so... a lot, I guess. I'm with Xoic, though - the issues come when you can't work out enough of what the characters are talking about from the context.
Thanks for your replies. At least if it's Scottish I can understand it. A lot of American slang leaves me flummoxed.
Where do you hail from? A lot of American slang these days leaves me flummoxed as well, but it's because I'm older and can't keep up with the way the young'uns talk these days (and don't care to). I guess that's what slang is for though, inn'it? To create an in-group so nobody else understands what you're talking about.
If I were to say "The ankle-biter was knee high to a grasshopper.", would you understand what I meant?
Got it. But not everyone will understand that, and too much incomprehensible slang gets in the way of enjoyment of the story.