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

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.

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?

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.

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

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

Ok, I see, now that I read the thread.

The jaw wired shut is an excellent idea. That's comedic.

Sandra

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.

The West Wing had a great scene where one of the characters just had root canal and therefore sounds, well, kinda stupid.