What Is Phonetic Dialogue?
Writing an accent or dialect in dialogue, or spelling words the way they’d sound when spoken aloud by that character, is known as phonetic dialogue.
For example:
“Ah’m fixin’ tuh tell that feller tuh take uh hike,” he said to his buddy.
Don’t Do It
There’s no denying that writing characters with accents or dialects can add an irreplaceable richness to your book. So, while I enjoy a book with a unique character in it, when it comes to using phonetic dialogue, I generally advise my clients, “Don’t do it.”
It’s worth noting that many well-known authors have use this device, including Roald Dahl in The Witches, Mark Twain in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and J.K. Rowling in Harry Potter. Doing so can certainly lend an element of authenticity or help the reader feel as though they are right there in the scene. So why do I give such advice to my clients?
Pulling off an accent in dialogue is a tricky business. If not executed correctly, it can cause harm rather than add depth to your book. Those who have such accents as your characters might find your phonetic dialogue offensive, belittling, or derogatory. And at the minimum, it can be distracting and difficult for your readers to decode.
Unfortunately, many new writers who attempt to do this fall short in their attempt at authenticity, often due to their lack of personal experience with having such accents or dialects. And this is why I suggest playing it safe (at least until you have done your due diligence, as I will explain later).
Three Alternatives to Phonetic Dialogue
1) Describe It Within the Narrative: One alternative to phonetic dialogue is to describe it within the narrative and let your reader imagine it themselves.
For example:
Trading her th sounds with Zs, the French artist asked, “What do you think of this painting?”
or
In a thick Zimbabwean accent, he answered, “My flight leaves before sunrise.”
or
Speaking in a lilt and skipping over the double T, the British tourist asked, “Do you have any more of those little doughnut holes?”
2) Use Colloquialisms: Another alternative is to use colloquialisms, or phrases and terms that are well known in a specific region, culture, or language. This includes common sayings and slang terms.
For example:
“Welcome in, y’all!” the waitress said.
or
“It’s true, or may cancer eat me!” his new Danish friend swore.
or
“Dude! It’s raining cats and dogs out there,” he said, shaking off his umbrella.
3) Slips into Their Native Language: And a third alternative is to have your character slip into their native tongue here and there. In this case, I suggest using italics to note a different language being used.
For example:
Her mom smiled sweetly at her. “I am here for you anytime you need me, mija.”
or
“Nossa! Did it really happen like that?” Whenever he got excited, he often reverted to speaking his native language of Portuguese.
or
“Opa!” the wedding guests all cheered.
Do Your Due Diligence!
Whether you choose to use one of these alternative devices or if you are firmly set on writing phonetic dialogue, be sure to do your due diligence with research and don’t rely solely on Google Translate. It would also be wise to have a sensitivity reader and beta readers help you determine whether your method of choice works well or not. And of course, your editor may be able to help with this too!
More About Writing Dialogue
Want to learn even more about dialogue? Check out these other Tips for Writers articles in the Writing Dialogue series:
- Accents, Dialects, & Phonetic Dialogue
- Common Dialogue Mistakes
- Dialogue Tags, Said Bookisms, & Anchors
- Crafting Realistic Dialogue
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