Quick question. If you're writing fantasy or science fiction and they have their own words for something, do you need to put a note in saying what it means?

In my fantasy novel, they have their own words (usually for swearing) and I wonder if I need to make aware to the reader what these mean.

For example, one line in my novel is:

"The Klacking* goblin queen"


Then, at the bottom of the page is a brief footnote, telling the reader what it means. Essentially, it's the fantasy equivalent to the F word. But do I really need to do this? I'm not too sure if I need to keep my footnote in or whether that's unimportant. Are footnotes good for this or does it just look weak? Advice please.

Then, at the bottom of the page is a brief footnote, telling the reader what it means

Please don't. Pratchett is one of the few authors who can get away with using footnotes, and he wouldn't use it to explain a swear word that should be obvious from the context in which the word is used in the text.


- NaomiM

Cool. That should bring the word count down a little. Thanks.

I think the meaning would be implicit? No need for footnotes? Or you could just use normal swear words. George R R Martin uses them quite freely in a medieval Fantasy world setting. I blinked rather rapidly when straying across the C word lol!

JB

Well to be fair, I wanted to avoid using REAL swearwords in this fantasy novel (other than the lighter ones like "Damn" and "Hell") because if you put swearing in the words, it automatically limits your readers and I kinda want this novel to have a more broader appeal. Also, I'm not too sure they are obvious as swearwords. But I think I'll take the footnotes out either way. They don't really add anything to the scene and I doubt many readers would pay attention to them anyway.

What I guess I COULD do is, at the end of the novel, have a kind of "Drakonian Dictionary", where certain words are explained and what their meaning is (like the Drooge dictionary at the end of clockwork orange). It would be at the end of the story, so the readers could flick to it afterwards--but I guess it's not essential.

One thing I do mention, however is when one character says a word--which is a swear. She then apologies for using it and tells one of the characters not to mention it out loud as it's quite offensive. Maybe that would be better than a footnote?

Well to be fair, I wanted to avoid using REAL swearwords in this fantasy novel (other than the lighter ones like "Damn" and "Hell") because if you put swearing in the words, it automatically limits your readers and I kinda want this novel to have a more broader appeal. Also, I'm not too sure they are obvious as swearwords. But I think I'll take the footnotes out either way. They don't really add anything to the scene and I doubt many readers would pay attention to them anyway.

Why should it limit your readership? Unless it's a YA book - I'm sure most adults have heard the F word...

Why should it limit your readership? Unless it's a YA book - I'm sure most adults have heard the F word...

That is true, but that doesn't mean they have to read it any more. To be fair, I'm actually not a huge fan of swearwords in any form of fiction (unless it's based on real life, then it's acceptable). I just think there are better words to use then just to swear. But that's just my view. I'm not against it, I just think that there's a time and place for it.

I'm with you, Dwriter, and am not a fan of swear words either. If it's a story set in the backstreets of Glasgow, then, ok. But if it's some fantasy world or middle england, it's just empty words - like white noise. It doesn't add anything to the plot or the dialogue.


- NaomiM

<Added>

I've never got to the end of a novel and thought, Where's all the swearing?'
I have got to the end of a novel and thought Where's all the F***ing, but that's a different matter entirely.

Well obviously there's a time and place for it, I'm not suggesting you litter your book with swearing just for the sake of it!

I also kind of think that by using a 'faux' swear word in place of a real one that is recognisable as such - klacking IPO fucking; chix instead of shit, say, you are essentially swearing, surely? The word is different but the meaning and context the same. To avoid swearing might be to structure your sentences in an entirely different way, or just avoid the words?

Jess. What the klack are you klacking talking about you klacking klacker? It's not klacking swearing, stop klacking talking klacking boglins! lol

Er, yeah, I supposed your right, it does sound the same.

Mind you, I don't use that word all the time in the novel, just in a couple of places. Going back to what i said about swearing only said when its needed. Usually for comedic purposes. I dunno, I guess you'd have to read the book to get the context (which hopefully will be the case one day when I get a publisher. Or is that IF I get a publisher?)

I think swear words used sparingly can add an awful lot to dialogue in terms of emphasis and affect. Like I said, straying across the c-word in a hey-nonny-no Fantasy scenario was quite powerful and prompted a great snort of laughter. At the end of the day, they're just words. I can't see why any writer would take exception to any word, personally. Isn't that like an artist hating a colour? Iain Banks made brilliant effect of the F word, printed small in the middle of one near-empty page in his novel Dead Air, and that was also highly effective.

As in real life, a swear word can make us sit up and take notice, but yes, it can be overdone. I also understand how a real-world swear word might bounce readers out of a fantasy setting but I've seen this done to good effect elsewhere too. Neil Gaiman's Stardust springs to mind. There you go, three excellent examples of how a well-placed swear word can indeed add to dialogue and to a story, because it can deepen a character, or a situation, and who doesn't relate to a well-timed 'Fuck!'???

JB

who doesn't relate to a well-timed 'Fuck!'???

Yes, indeed!

Emma

I totally agree with that you just said. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against using swearwords at all--I just think there's a time and place for it. But, if used correctly, they can be used to great comic effect (as you said). It's just for this particular book I wanted to stay away from swearing because I wanted it to have a YA appeal as much as an adult appeal (or, to be plain, YA). However, my next book is more realistic (to an extent) so I'll probably put the odd swear in there.

Maybe I'm just against swearwords because a publisher refused to accept my book because of it. Apparently you can't use the C word in a childrens book. I know, it's political correctness gone mad! lol

I am indebted to Terry Edge for introducing me to the concept of a Smeerp:

"Call a Rabbit a Smeerp" A cheap technique for false exoticism, in which common elements of the real world are re-named for a fantastic milieu without any real alteration in their basic nature or behavior. "Smeerps" are especially common in fantasy worlds, where people often ride exotic steeds that look and act just like horses. (Attributed to James Blish.)

Methinks there is a parallel.

Pratchett is one of the few authors who can get away with using footnotes

Susannah Clarke is another, Douglas Adams another.

In all three cases, the footnotes are distractions from the main story line that are only acceptable because of the humourous content (Douglas and Terry) or a justifiable assumption of good will towards the writer out of gratitude for a charming afternoon beside a hot fire with a glass of wine and perhaps a few crumpets slathered with rapidly melting butter and home-made jam (Susannah).