World's Crossing Academy 1.0
Poll: Regarding Aoibheann's Dialogue
So I got an interesting bit of feedback on the feedback form, and I want to explore this. The feedback goes:
"Please STOP trying to write an Irish accent. It is not even CLOSE to actual Irish speakers. It reads like an awful racist stereotype that mixes up multiple Irish and Scottish dialects.
Either get actual Irish people to review and revise her dialogue, or scrap the "hoho top of the morning oi'm a leprechaun"-type nonsense entirely. Just write her dialogue like a normal person speaking standard English. If you just say she's Irish, people will know. They can read her lines in their head as such.
It is the one glaring criticism I have of this game's writing, because otherwise the charactisation and dialogue is pretty solid. But my god every time I try to read Aoibheann's dialogue it makes me want to force-quit the application."
My writing of Aoibheann, as true as I TRIED to make it to Irish vernacular, seemed to still fall short and offend someone who was actually Irish. I had a decision to make when I wrote her, and one option was what this person was suggesting, just telling the reader in narration that she has a thick Irish accent and let the reader just imagine her speaking in such a fashion. My question to you all is, is Aoibheann's dialogue over the top? Would you also like to see the vernacular toned down a bit and leave more to the imagination?
This is a PUBLIC POLL on the Patreon; you do NOT need to be paying in order to weigh in.
Vote here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/63652835
Comments
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Since I can't vote in the poll on Patreon, I'll give you feedback this way. Write it the way you want. Personally I don't mind it but then again I'm not Irish. The question is; how many Irish people are vocal and care about this? A small percentage? Some of them? The majority? All of them? If you had a "stereotype" from my country in the game I would just chuckle and shrug, but that's just who I am as a person. Just be careful with bending the knee and when. That's a slipery slope and not always justified in some instances.
Good words, good words. It was anonymous feedback, and I just assumed it was from someone who was Irish. The majority of the community finds her endearing, but I also want to let everyone know that I am listening and that I read every piece of feedback.
While it wasn't an option in the poll, I think trying to find an Irish volunteer would be the more interesting experience, as it is closer to a real life interaction. That way the character can stay true to herself while adding some cultural flair.
Yes, this is a middle ground I'm very heavily leaning toward. Thank you.