Any of you Brits wanna help a guy out?

Apathy's_Child · 03-25-2011, 12:44 PM

So I’ve written something I’d appreciate a little assistance on. It’s set in London, though, and despite my deep appreciation for British slang, I need someone familiar with the place to skim the dialogue for inconsistencies or flat-out ain’t-no-Londoner-talk-like-that lines. I don’t usually get much out of writing about places I’ve never at least visited, but this was written on a prompt from my pushy girlfriend a while back when I was hitting a wall with writing and getting really frustrated. She set me something totally outside my remit and I wound up getting pretty into it, and am probably gonna carry on. First though, I want to decide whether to keep the London setting, or rewrite transerring it to New York. I’ve already had a Brit look it over and make suggestions, but although she knows the lingo she’s not actually from London, so I figured I’d see if any of you guys from across the pond felt like helping a guy out.

I’ll just say, I’m not looking for a critique here – I have a pretty good idea of what I think the issues are. If you wanted to give feedback that would of course be welcomed, but I don’t want anyone to be put off thinking I’m asking for someone to extensively comb for strengths and weaknesses if they’re not really into writing. My major query here is with the dialect.

ssj_goku · 03-25-2011, 12:46 PM

C*nt is british isn't it?

Apathy's_Child · 03-25-2011, 12:49 PM

Apparently cunt in British Land isn't a gender specific insult. In the US it's supposed to tend to refer to women, although pretty much everyone I know uses it interchangeably.

Also, yes - more British slang. They have some fucking perfect terms.

MissCheyenne · 03-25-2011, 01:31 PM

'the dogs bollocks' (as in, it's awesome/good/great) is one piece of slang I'm especially fond of.

Apathy's_Child · 03-25-2011, 01:33 PM

Bollocks is one of my favorites. I'm also a fan of piss-wit and scrote.

MissCheyenne · 03-25-2011, 01:34 PM

Wanker or tosser are both nice interchangeable insults as well.

Murder.Of.Crows · 03-25-2011, 01:49 PM

I don't know if this would help. It was googled after all, but here http://www.coolslang.com/in/british/index.php also, id suggest watching some British comedy sketches or stand ups. No one cusses more than comedians, on t.v.

MissCheyenne · 03-25-2011, 01:54 PM

Also 'I was wankered' as in I was extremely drunk.

Apathy's_Child · 03-25-2011, 02:00 PM

Tosser is a good one. That coolslang link is pretty good too, MoC. But I'm mostly after someone to just skim pick out anything that just doesn't roll out right with a London accent. It's hard to judge when the only research suggestions you've had are "just Youtube Eastenders".

MissCheyenne · 03-25-2011, 02:02 PM

Yeah, don't youtube Eastenders. That shit will make you weep and not for any good reason.

Blackspike · 03-25-2011, 03:48 PM

yeah id be happy to do it m8 but bugger me if its long then i gonna have to get on the dog and bone to me mate to help me

Apathy's_Child · 03-25-2011, 03:49 PM

To help you read down the phone?... Man, you crazy Brits. Fucked if I can keep up with your tea-drinking ways.

Blackspike · 03-25-2011, 03:53 PM

nah id send alf of it 2 im lol and how u no cockney rhyming slang lol

Blackspike · 03-25-2011, 03:54 PM

and anyway about us brits ... you americans are fucked up we have trouble keeping up with you

Apathy's_Child · 03-25-2011, 04:00 PM

... Goddamn it, K. Why are you hounding me? You left me. YOU DID THIS TO US.

JCC · 03-25-2011, 04:05 PM

Depends where in London, London is by no means a homogenous area where the slang is widely applicable.

Blackspike · 03-25-2011, 04:06 PM

yh we left you coz u were out of control lol lets just say that both brits and americans are fucked up lol

Still Jack · 03-25-2011, 06:43 PM

http://www.londonslang.com/

Amuse yerself.
I'm not too familiar with Landaan slang. but yeah.

CuckooTuli · 03-26-2011, 04:05 AM

Yo, Apathy. I'll do it if you want. I'm from Essex, which is really much the same thing as south London in terms of slang & speech. I'm cuckoo.tuli at gmail, if you want to send it over.

Apathy's_Child · 03-26-2011, 12:26 PM

I was wondering if you were close by. Thanks, appreciate it - I will.

Ben Lahnger · 03-26-2011, 05:00 PM

Just don't get a bee in your bonnet over it ... cause that would mean a different thing there too.

I actually think this is an interesting exercise. I hope you get the help you need, and that it has the ring of authenticity when you are through.

CptSternn · 03-27-2011, 01:28 AM

Just download and watch the series 'Ideal'. By season 6 you should be able to write it yerself sure!

Also, it's a great show. Also check out 'Peep Show' at it is equally as brilliant and will have you speaking like you lived there in no time.

Apathy's_Child · 03-27-2011, 06:20 AM

Thanks man - I'm already a pretty big Peep Show fan (I'm gonna cry the day my country embarrasses me with an American reboot). Will definitely check out Ideal, especially if it's just as good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Lahnger

Just don't get a bee in your bonnet over it ... cause that would mean a different thing there too.

The major one that kept catching me out is that pissed in England apparently means drunk, and not mad. And they don't say mad for angry.

They're a strange people.

Still Jack · 04-02-2011, 05:22 AM

Pissed off is the more correct term for angry.
For drunk use:
Pissed, hammered, trolleyed, rat-arsed, sloshed, lashed, wankered, shit-faced, brickfaced.
More recently I've been using "Father-jacked" in reference to the Father Ted series.

MissCheyenne · 04-02-2011, 05:41 AM

For drunk use see also : pie-eyed, slaughtered, battered, steaming, bladdered, plastered and arseholed.

For angry : pissed off, steaming mad, cheesed off, brassed off, mad and fucked off,