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Dialog without vowels (currently 798 views)
James R
Posted: December 24th, 2008, 1:27pm
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I have a minor character who speaks only in consonants, so my question is what is the best way to write that into the script? Should I just bring it up when I introduce her and expect the readers will remember? * JANE (20s), who only speaks in consonants, ... Should I translate the dialog each time? * JANE Ww, tht's bg ht. (Wow, that's a big hat.) Any suggestions? James
bert
Posted: December 24th, 2008, 1:42pm
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That might be OK -- amusing but weird -- for readers of the script. But it will never work on the screen unless you use subtitles or something. How do you expect Jane to actually deliver these lines -- and how will a viewer have the slightest notion of what Jane is saying? Or is this character like Kenny on South Park where nobody really cares what they are saying anyway? Anyway, I think this is an idea for literature -- a short story, perhaps -- but it is not an idea for the screen. Someone else may disagree.
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Shelton
Posted: December 24th, 2008, 2:09pm
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Save yourself the trouble and just have the character's jaw wired shut. You'll get the same effect without writing a bunch of subtitles or asides. I'm not sure I understand the reasoning behind it though. Is this just for comedic value?
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mcornetto
Posted: December 24th, 2008, 6:36pm
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Someone has to say these lines of dialogue. So I think rather than just using the consonants, you should be phonetic. Wa, tit's bug hut. or something like that. Otherwise you will get unpredictable results from the production.
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James R
Posted: December 27th, 2008, 1:07pm
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Quoted from bert
Or is this character like Kenny on South Park where nobody really cares what they are saying anyway?
Yes, Bert, something like that. But it has been done, remember Chewbacca? No subtitles, I'll be using the other characters' lines as translation.
Quoted from Shelton
Save yourself the trouble and just have the character's jaw wired shut.
I hadn't thought of that. Yes, it is for comedic value alone, but I wanted to have one of the B-stories show how she overcomes this condition (it was introduced through a childhood experience).
Quoted from mcornetto
Someone has to say these lines of dialogue. So I think rather than just using the consonants, you should be phonetic.
True, do you think this would be annoying for an actor or would they see it as a challenge? If it would just be annoying I might go with Mike's idea of having her jaw wired shut. What do you guys think?
James
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Sandra Elstree.
Posted: December 27th, 2008, 3:00pm
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What if the Hokey Pokey, IS what it's all about?
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In my opinion, that would be very tedious to read if it continued like that. What's the reason for the character talking like that? Sandra
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Sandra Elstree.
Posted: December 27th, 2008, 3:03pm
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What if the Hokey Pokey, IS what it's all about?
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Ok, I see, now that I read the thread. The jaw wired shut is an excellent idea. That's comedic. Sandra
A known mistake is better than an unknown truth.
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population17
Posted: December 27th, 2008, 5:51pm
I would be more entertained by her jaws being wired shut. I think it's almost impossible for a human actor to vocalize an intelligible sentence without pronouncing at least a FEW vowel sounds. A speech impediment, caused by forces out of the character's control is ALOT funnier.
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sniper
Posted: December 27th, 2008, 6:34pm
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The West Wing had a great scene where one of the characters just had root canal and therefore sounds, well, kinda stupid.
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