You mean, you've seen me posting on this website now for over 3 years and you don't yet know how an American talks if he is pissed off or annoyed?

Imagine that! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

<font color=skyblue>I would think that the best way to get what you said in a more casual tone...you'll need to post what you are trying to say, and let us take jabs at it. It is also important to tell us where these people are supposed to be from. I cannot help you if the guys in your conversation are from New York, but if you want some Georgia/Carolina hype, I'll be glad to help.</font>

Well I wasn't taking notes at the time, I was more interested at the point you were trying to make than how you were making it. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

That's because you see things from an insider's point of view. You see a difference between different towns and regions. I'm still working on differences between emotional states.

My paranoia prevent me from going into details about what I'm writing, but it's happening in a place of mixed cultures, so it doesn't matter which particular lingo is used as long as it sound real and is common. much like your average movie. As far as I can see they just speak english, I couldn't tell what version they are using.

I don't have any exact line I need written right now, I'll make posts when I stumble into problems, but I don't think there is ever going to be a situation where I'm so stuck I can't write anything. If there are words I don't know, they just don't exist to me, so I say things in a way I know. The problem is the way I know might not be the way other people would say it, and it's hard for me to tell. That's why I'm trying to get a some information in advance, so that I have something to base myself on.

[ 12-15-2005, 12:17 PM: Message edited by: Luvian ]

Americans, when they're irritated they put stresses on words that might not have any reason to be stressed, except for being the points of their irritation.

That's the thing. Our emotions, short of using foul language, are all in our tone. Sentences are likely to be shorter, more to-the-point when we're angry. Often, speakers who are angry will repeat themselves or stammer out their words. So, the only difference between emotional english and conversational english, in writing, is sentence structure.

All the unneccessary dialogue is removed, and imperative (command) sentences are used more.

A conversational sentence:

"I wonder where I put my sandwich."

An emotional sentence:

"Listen, have you seen my sandwich?"

Not much difference to be sure...which is where the writing comes in. You need to tell the reader how the person is speaking.

"Listen, where's my sandwich?" Bill demanded angrily.

But don't use words like "angrily." ;)

Howabout:

"Listen, where's my sandwich?" Bill's eyes narrowed, his jaw locked.

Don't beat the reader over the head with the angrily notion, let them infer it. In fact, my example above may be overkill. Get your reader subtly there. Remember: a reader (or anyone in any situation) is more committed to a conclusion they deduce or infer rather than one you blatantly hand them -- even if they are being spoon-fed either way. ;)

[ 12-15-2005, 02:45 PM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]

Ted was now becoming rather annoyed with his whiny little brother. "I've not touched your stupid sandwich, so lay off it! Can't you see I'm busy?" he spat back, stuffing another cheese puff into his mouth. He stabbed at the remote control to rewind the part of the movie he'd just missed.

"'I've not touched'? Where are you from, Mr. Fancypants?" spat back his little brother as he stayed just out of Ted's reach, blocking the signal from the remote. "Tell me where you put my sandwich or I'm gonna get you."

Ted moved his leg slightly. Not enough to betray his intentions, it was enough to let him jump out of the chair and tackle his little brother, knocking him on the ground.

"For the last time, you moron, I didn't touch your stinking sandwich! All I've been eating is cheese puffs, like these..." Ted smashed a handful of cheese puffs against his brother's face, crumbs spilling on the floor.

"Boys, BOYS!" yelled their mother as she came into the room, attracted by the commotion. "What's going on here?"

"Dipnose here can't find his sandwich," Ted said. "And he won't believe that I didn't take it."

Ted's brother pushed him off and onto the floor. "Mom, he's lying again. He's always taking my stuff."

"Is this the cheese and avocado sandwich?" their mother asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Yeah," said Ted's brother. "That's it."

"It's in the trash where I threw it," said his mother. "That sandwich was sitting on the counter for the last three days. How many times have I told you to clean up after yourself? Now get the vacuum and clean up this mess."

The boys got up slowly.

"NOW, GENTLEMEN!" she commanded.

========================

Sorry... Larry's "I've not" just caught my eye, and away I went.

Yeah, "angrily" is a rather poor word choice, just put there for simplicity/

Nice ending there, Bungleau ;)

It's all in the verbs and nouns...and english has a TON of verbs that mean "talk angrily."

Commanded is one of them..."spat" is a fun one to use, when the speakers are particularly malevolent. Thesauruses can help in that regard, though.

... what the hell just happened? Anywho, Luvian, since your in Montreal, go talk to a McGill student, from Toronto perhaps, and notice how they speak.

I'm not really from Montreal, I live an hour from it, but put it up for simplicity. I doubt many people would know small towns around Montreal.