Characters Need Unique Dialogue
Speech Patterns, Word Choices Make Each Character Sound Different
Dialogue becomes real when your characters' words show their background, attitudes, and culture.
Some writers say that you should be able to tell who is speaking just from the characters’ words and phrases. This isn’t hard if you have story people from different backgrounds and social levels, but even if they’ve all grown up in the same town, it’s worth the effort.
Dialogue Shows Background
A character’s word choice comes from his background and his family’s background. Does he call a man a gentleman, man, guy, dude, mate, or homie? Is the girl cute, gorgeous, or fine?
Here are a few sets of contrasting characters. What can you tell about them just from their speech?
- “A little light on the dashboard turned on and then a poof of black smoke came out of the thingamajig.”
- “The engine ain’t hittin’ on all the cylinders. Gimme the wrench and I’ll take a look-see.”
- “One needn’t exert oneself playing tennis in this heat.”
- “Eww, you’re dripping sweat!”
- “He’s got the ugliest chair I’ve ever seen, all these weird carvings and stuff.”
- “I prefer cleaner lines, but his chair is a splendid example of late Baroque.”
Dialogue Shows Attitude
A character’s attitude and personality traits are revealed through what she chooses to comment on, and how she makes the comment. Can you picture the people talking here?
In the park:
- “You know, if people would just throw their trash away, the trash they brought, the whole world would be a lot cleaner.”
- “So then Sarah told me that Lupe told her that – hey, keep your ball away from me!”
After school:
- “I can’t go with you. I gotta make a stupid cake for my stupid Home Ec class.”
- “Hey, Mom—do we have any lemons? I want to make that lemon pound cake for Home Ec tomorrow.”
Multicultural Characters
If you write a story with characters of a particular ethnic background, you must put in the effort to create an real world for them. This requires careful attention to attitudes, concerns, and an authentic setting, but don’t dismiss the dialogue as minor. A simple word or phrasing here and there goes a long way in bringing your reader into your world.
- “You want to do this, yes?”
- “My abuela gave it to me.”
- “Sure, and you’ll be wantin’ to go with me, will you?”
- “I enjoy to read the book.”
- “Bien, we can go now.”
Regional Dialogue
In a more minor way, regional subcultures can have their own phrases:
- “I have to ret up the kitchen before bed.”
- “Marcia lives over to Westfield.”
- “Y’all go two sees and a holler and there’s his house.”
- “Ayuh, it was a wicked blizzard yesterday.”
Spend some time playing with characters and their dialogue. Spend the effort to make them sound unique (but not forced), and your readers will be captivated.
For more tips on characterization, read Creating Characters that Live and Create Distinct Characters.
For more guidelines about writing dialogue, read Good Dialogue Isn’t Real and Dialogue Tags.
