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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/45223
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/45223
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

I often need to introduce one, if not several, made up dialects. We're talking about fictional worldbuilding: so any real world dialect is ruled out. They can be used as a source of inspiration, but they can't be straight up applied.

Creating a dialect from scratch is easier than making a completely new language, since it relays a lot on an already existing and estabilished tongue. If English is the base, we'll have a lot of vocabulary and grammar to draw from.

Yet making a dialect comes with its own challenges.

I'm specifically looking for ways to change, distort and "misuse" the base language in a convincing way, while mantaining readability for the readers. More on this point:

- I'd rather not use **nonces** and completely made up words. While dialects usually have a lot of new terms, it's hard for the reader to familiarize with new vocabulary. And I'd rather avoid the _squanch_ effect (Source: no less than a [a rick&morty scene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE_Lk5fVGxs)).
- For a similar reason, I'm kinda wary of accents. They are hard to convey without telling the reader ( **she was speanking with a southern accent ... she used to drag on the vocal at the end of each word ..** ) and can't be transcribed in text effectively\*.

As a point of reference, I consider Brandon Sanderson' High Imperial a well made dialect, albeit delightfully confusing: [link](https://coppermind.net/wiki/High_Imperial).

**Related:**

- [Introduce new English dialect](https://writing.stackexchange.com/questions/32460/introduce-new-english-dialect)
- [How realistic should dialogue and character voices be?](https://writing.stackexchange.com/questions/20468/how-realistic-should-dialogue-and-character-voices-be)

\*N.B.: to be fair, some accents probably CAN be transcribed effectly, but while this is somewhat doable for real dialects with actual references, I feel it would be significantly difficult for an invented one.

Original score: 7