Using Creole, and Other Regional Dialects in Writing

Repeating Islands reported that Trinidadian writer and journalist Lisa Allen-Agostini recently wrote (in Allyson Latta’s blog Memoir, Writing, & More) about her experiences using Creole in her writing.

One quote which I came away with:-

The author proceeds to give sound advice to writers who want to use Creole, stressing that “As with any new language, learning to use dialect effectively takes practice.” She adds, “Reflect on your reasons for incorporating it — anthropological authenticity, characterization, and/or art—and ensure that any dialect enhances, rather than gets in the way of, an effortless and meaningful experience for your readers.”

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2 thoughts on “Using Creole, and Other Regional Dialects in Writing

  1. In some cases, when I write a character who speaks with an accent or regional dialect, I like to learn to use the accent myself. By learning to speak in the same way my character does it gives me a window into their worlds and minds. It also makes it much easier to figure out what my character is going to say by first coming to an understanding of how they sound. Great post!

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