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Q&A "Too modern" words

In a story set in a fantasy version of 5th century Persia, I've been told by a beta reader that a boy wouldn't call his father "dad", (would use "father" instead), wouldn't say "no spoilers", etc. ...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Galastel‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Question style word-choice
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-12T21:57:24Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/37336
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T09:16:32Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/37336
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T09:16:32Z (almost 5 years ago)
In a story set in a fantasy version of 5th century Persia, I've been told by a beta reader that a boy wouldn't call his father "dad", (would use "father" instead), wouldn't say "no spoilers", etc.

I am somewhat confused by this: a boy in 5th century Persia wouldn't be speaking English, and wouldn't be speaking any language that would be understandable today. Why, then, is "pass me the figs" OK, but "no spoilers" not OK? I'm not talking here of modern concepts, like rockets (as discussed in [this](https://writing.stackexchange.com/questions/443/should-i-avoid-modern-words-phrases-in-fantasy-writing) question), but of **modern turns of phrase, that describe things that existed back then as much as they exist now**.

Are such turns of phrase really jarring, considering the setting? What should guide me, in terms of word choice, so as not to create this jarring effect? That is, what makes a phrase "too modern" as opposed to "timeless/transparent"?

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2018-06-30T12:48:35Z (over 6 years ago)
Original score: 7