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01/08/2006: "Secret Languages"

I love the fact that every industry/hobby/sport/etc. has its own language.

As a new knitter, it took me a bit to understand that DPNs are double pointed needles, that to frog is to unravel your knitting, and an FO is a finished object.

In fan fiction, there are a gazillion words - slash, squee, AU, deathfic, MSR…it goes on and on, breaking up into even more diverse language as you get into more specific fandoms.

The same holds true for publishing, and to me it was a big deal when I finally got the nomenclature. I didn't know what the RWA was until halfway through my first book. I'd heard the word galleys, but wasn't exactly sure what that meant. Try talking to a non-category reader and see how often you have to think of what the abbreviations that are a standard part of your lexicon stand for.

The police, boy, they have a huge vocabulary in code. So do scientists and musicians and movie folk. The inner-language has everything to do with inclusion and exclusion. If you don't know the words, you're an outsider and suspect. The secret language is the extension of the secret handshake, and we all know how desperately we want to know that.

I'm trying to learn at least a few words in the secret language of special forces. Some are acronyms that I don't want to spell out. It's one of those things that gives characters authenticity. Readers don't have to understand the secret language, they just have to get that it is the secret language. I've read many a book where there was medical jargon or spy jargon, and unless it was overused or used in a weird way, it helped me immerse myself in the story by making me believe that I was being given special access into a special place.

When I read a book that's placed in a unique world, I need those signposts, something to tell me this is the real deal.

What would be a dream come true is a dictionary of special universe language. A compendium of all the slang and acronyms and secret handshakes. How cool would that be? Any takers? Hmm?

Replies: 5 Comments

on Sunday, January 8th, Diana said

Ah, but at least one of those fanfic terms you mentioned is only for a particular (cough cough) world of fanfic. Not that I would know anything about that.

I know what you mean though. I had no idea how many of the terms I used were specialty jargon terms until my editor asked me to define them. There was a moment where I thought I'd need a glossary in my book.

on Sunday, January 8th, kim said

that would be good

on Sunday, January 8th, Jordan said

I would pay big bucks for that book.

on Monday, January 9th, Sadhbh said

Anne McCaffrey handled this very well in her "Talent" series, when an official used the LEO acronym to someone for whom the same acronym had a different meaning and the inadvertent humour was very well done. I agree on not necessarily needing to know the meaning once it's clear from the context that it is professional jargon - however (from a professional viewpoint here) are your books likely to be translated? - because if so the corresponding Special Forces language will be necessary for the translator to convey the same effect.

Hugs

on Tuesday, January 10th, Jo said

Good point about the foreign editions, S.

Ah hah! You found my secret message, Diana.

I'd pay a lot, too, Jordan.