Hello, hopefully a quick and easy question.... When writing dialogue, I tend to sound it out in my head how I expect the character to speak, which sometimes includes actually saying it myself. I modeled one side character on myself, her speech patterns anyway, and she's a tad sarcastic... In response to a friend she says what sounds like "chh" or "chuh" or "cha", which is a hybrid of "yeah" and the "chhh" sound of disapproval. Maybe this is a colloquialism (Philadelphia) for myself, but it works for the character so I'd like to use it. I don't know if I should just go ahead and spell it, in italics because it's a sound not a word, "cha" which I have seen... once... online (did a google search), OR if there is an actual known spelling for that expression. Probably doesn't matter in the end but I figured I'd ask!
The character is saying it whether it is a word or not, so I would think putting it in quotes the same as dialogue would be the answer.
Interesting note, quick search found this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-linguistic_onomatopoeias#Laughter in which a few languages have "cha" as a laughing onomatopeia, which the expression kind of is.
Hi, @UrsaBear , Love the name btw. I'd probably use "Tch!" However, I don't think I would use it that often. Sounds like that, are similar to expressions like "dude" and "bro." Pepper it in lightly and readers can pick up on how the character speaks. I probably wouldn't even use it 2x within the same 2 or more (out of personal taste). Hope that helps, Andrae
Isn't it the opposite, it goes in quotes if spoken aloud, italics only if thought. I believe it is only animal vocalizations that don't require quotes.
The linguist in me likes the tch cluster, especially if there is a notable or exaggerated hold of the plosive (when the air is released) at the top of the /ch/ like in chunk but not like in chilly, which might be appropriate since this sounds like the kind of word that would intone irony or sarcasm and would take a somewhat exaggerated pronunciation.
