Something weird I've been wondering about. Is it better to go with local usage on things (ie, grinder versus submarine versus hogie versus eye-talyun) based on your setting, or use the most generic word so you don't have to pull people out of the story by explaining it?
The specific example I've got: The story's set in Boston, present-day. People in the story frequently ride the subway. I've been calling it the subway. But few real Bostonians would call it this-- it's the T (from MBTA). I've probably slipped up and called it that, and I'm going to need to standardize to one or the other in the rewrite, and explain it if I use "T".
Picky picky picky. But I'm curious if anyone has a strong opinion about this kind of distinction.
Posted by Kolona (Member # 1438) on :
If you know the local flavor of a thing, go with it. You have only to explain it once, the first time you use it, and that can usually be worked into the text without resorting to an infodump. I'd think it would enrich your story.
Posted by Nexus Capacitor (Member # 1694) on :
If people in Boston call it "the T", I'd go with that. Explain it early on in the story, then use "the T" from there on out.
People in Boston will be reading the story someday (hopefully.) If you leave that detail out, it will seem like you didn't do your research.
Posted by Phanto (Member # 1619) on :
Yeah, here in Boston no one calls it the "subway."
Maybe, in rare occasions, "the train."
Posted by kinglear (Member # 1932) on :
I would think that if you are setting your story in the common, everyday, REAL Boston then it makes senese to use local phrasings like T, just like in Chicago people call the trains the 'El' or in Atlanta everyone referes to the rail line as 'Marta'. Unless you are changing/recreating Boston itself in your story that gives a reason for calling it the subway, use the lacal saying.
-jon-
Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :
Agreed. Of course, in D.C. people would call the Metro whatever the heck they pleased; 'subway', 'train', and 'light rail system' vied with pretty specific terms like 'Orange line' and 'Reston branch'. So you wouldn't really have a problem introducing the Metro for a book set there.
"I need to get to that rally on the Mall."
"Take the light rail system." (Yeah, people in Northern Virginia and Maryland would really say stuff like that...sometimes )
"I don't want to use the Orange line Park and Ride."
"I'll take you to the Kiss and Ride."
In any case, if you simply make sure the first use is in a context that makes it clear what general catagory of object the noun describes, then the reader can figure it out.
"Just catch a ride on the T." (ignorant of whether this is actual usage)
"I'm hungry. Why don't we stop and get a gyro?"
quote:Charlie was in the produce aisle at Smith's when he spotted the guy tailing him.
"T" is something you can ride. "Gyro" is some kind of edible item. "Smith's" is a grocery store.
)