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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/41871
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/41871
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

The way a character talks reflects their social class, their level of education, where they come from, what kind of people they are and how the see the world. The last one in particular is key - if all your characters appear to see the world in exactly the same way, it wouldn't matter that they happen to be using different idiosyncrasies.

Some examples:

> I glanced at him, and cocked my head to one side. Distantly, but quickly growing nearer, I could hear haunting, musical baying, ghostly in the midnight air. "Holy shit," I breathed. "Hellhounds."  
> "Harry," Michael said sternly. "You know I hate it when you swear."  
> "You're right. Sorry. Holy shit," I breathed, "heck-hounds. (Jim Butcher, _Grave Peril_, chapter 5)

One of the characters in this scene is religious, and doesn't swear. The other has a specific sense of humour. Both elements are reflected in the way they speak.

> ‘I am sure you have given me all the heaviest stuff,’ said Frodo. ‘I pity snails, and all that carry their homes on their backs.’  
> ‘I could take a lot more yet, sir. My packet is quite light,’ said Sam stoutly and untruthfully.  
> ‘No you don’t, Sam!’ said Pippin. ‘It is good for him. He’s got nothing except what he ordered us to pack. He’s been slack lately, and he’ll feel the weight less when he’s walked off some of his own.’  
> ‘Be kind to a poor old hobbit!’ laughed Frodo. ‘I shall be as thin as a willow-wand, I’m sure, before I get to Buckland. But I was talking nonsense. I suspect you have taken more than your share, Sam, and I shall look into it at our next packing.’ (J.R.R. Tolkien, _The Lord of the Rings_, book 1, chapter 3 - Three is Company)

Sam is of lower social class than Frodo and Pippin. This is reflected in how he speaks (both in his language, and in how he addresses the others), as well as in the way the others speak to him - Frodo here is a benevolent master, responsible for his servant's welfare. Pippin teases Frodo, marking them as equals, but also the two display different character traits: Pippin is more light-hearted, he's the one teasing, whereas Frodo speaks in a more lyrical way - "thin as a willow-wand".

The differences between the characters are subtle, but they are enough that over time we learn to recognise them. Listen to your friends and family, and you will observe a similar thing: you do not need idiosyncrasies to recognise that only person X would say phrase Y, whether because of its content, or because of how it was expressed.

Original score: 24