Wednesday 12 August 2015

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Inappropriate Language in Books - Are Authors Contributing to the Problem or Being True to Life?

Discussion photo

I've been thinking recently about inappropriate language in books. The protagonist of my current read has used some words that aren't really appropriate, and that can be offensive, and it's made me think.

When inappropriate language is used, is the author simply being true to how their characters might speak, or by using it, are they telling readers it's ok to use such language?

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

There are definitely times when certain words/terms that are inappropriate are used for the right reasons. Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley is one book that comes to mind. Set during intergration of black students into white schools, certain racist language is hurled at the black students. Set in the 1920s, Talley is being true to the behaviour of people back then. Talley is in no way condoning the language, it's being used to show how awful white people were - even if you didn't know this kind of language was not acceptable, you would pick it up from the novel.

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley Quote
From page 24 of Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

Don't Let Me Go by J. H. Trumble

Don't Let Me Go by J. H. Trumble is another; an LGBTQ novel that deals with homophobic attacks. Using such language in this kind of novel is necessary to show the disgusting attitudes and behaviour of the attackers. Again, it's not condoned, and you're clear that this language is not on.

Don't Let Me Go by J. H. Trumble Quote
From page 18 of Don't Let Me Go by J. H. Trumble

But what about books that aren't using language in this way, the books that have their characters use words they probably shouldn't, either in inappropriate ways, or words that are just politically incorrect and offensive? For example, if "gay" was used as a synonym for "stupid", I.E. "That's so gay." Obviously, we all know that's wrong, but ignorant people do say this kind of thing. There are also the words used a while back to describe people with special needs that we all know are seriously offensive, but are hurled by people when someone makes a mistake, or, perhaps, used when someone gets excited.

When authors have their characters use these words in this way in their books are they contributing to the problem, or just representing the language that is used, being true to the character, however wrong the language is?

Speak by Laurie Halse Andersen

In the novel I'm currently reading, Speak by Laurie Halse Andersen, there are three instances that I can remember of Melinda using political incorrect words formerly used to describe people with special needs, and they make me wince a little. I can't work out if this is ok because it's representative of who Melinda is, or if it's a unwise decision on Anderson's part. Speak was originally published in 1999, so quite a while back - I don't know if that makes any difference, were we using this kind of language more then and it wasn't seen as so bad? I just don't know.

Speak by Laurie Halse Andersen Quote
From page 196 of Speak by Laurie Halse Andersen

So tell me what you think! Is it right for authors to represent the language people use, or are they in the wrong to use such language in their writing at all? Could they be seen as condoning it? Or are they just being true to life?

15 comments:

  1. I think it is fine if you start saying it is not then that is just censorship and we don't want to go down that road. Of course raising awareness of the language used in novels is a good thing as it allows us the potential reader to decide whether or not we want to read that.

    The language used in a book might be totally justified but be too much for a reader to feel they can get through so they can just choose to not read it as long as there are warnings and such available.

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    1. I guess that makes sense, censorship really isn't the way to go.

      The only problem is you can't put those kinds of warnings on books - unless a potential reader reads a review, and that review states that there is such language in the book, it's unlikely that they'll know.

      However, to play devil's advocate, would you say that authors have some kind of social responsibility to not use such language? Not so much that they should be censored, but that they should consider not doing so, maybe? Or is this moot and they're just reflecting the language that is being used?

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    2. Why can't you put those warnings on books? I've read YA books with clear warnings about the sexual content contained therein. I don't see why that is possible while a warning about language isn't? I would say the language used is dependent on the genre I wouldn't want to see potentially offensive language in a MG book but I think once you venture into YA with adequate warnings authors should be free to use language as long as they are willing to step up and defend their work.

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    3. I'd say because, saying a book has sexual content in it isn't going to prevent a book from selling, at least not too much. But "contains offensive language" might stop people from buying a book. I can't see publishers putting warnings on a book that may prevent people from buying it. That's all I meant. :)

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  2. You've raised a very interesting question! I think that for YA books, there should be a little something on the back to say 'offensive language used' so that readers can allow themselves to feel shocked by particular words instead of thinking that it's ok, and I think that in books for younger readers offensive language of any sorts is inappropriate. Of course, it is harder to judge language used in older books as what was acceptable then may not be now. In those instances I think that the reader needs to be responsible with recognising what has changed. xxx

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    1. I think the only problem with having a warning like that on a book is that a lot of people have objected to similar warnings, such as age restrictions and "not for under **s" warnings. Some books say things like "mature content", and I think that's ok, and maybe a similar label for language would be useful, but I do think a lot of people would object to it.

      Great points, Jasmine, thanks for stopping by! :)

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  3. I think it's a fine line between being realistic and being bad for books, but personally, I like to see some bad language, especially if, like Lies We Tell Ourselves, it's relative to the story in question and not just used for effect, you know? This is a great topic Jo, really well delved into too! :)

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    1. Thanks, Amanda! :) I know what you mean. With Lies We Tell Ourselves and Don't Let Me Go, the story just wouldn't feel realistic without that language, I'd have difficulty believing the story without it. But I do really dislike books that use words like "retarded" and "spaz". I know a fellow blogger will stop reading a book if she finds instances of such words. I guess it all depends on the person reading. I do think I'll be making such language clear in my reviews from now on, though.

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  4. I think it has to be considered on a book by book basis, the language used has to reflect the character, their background and experiences. Using inappropriate words just for the sake of using them or for effect would not be right but I think we have to be careful of saying what words authors can and cannot put into their books. Sometimes they're needed to reflect the situation and time, use a different word and you could potentially undermine what the author is trying to say.

    Go to far and we get censorship - eek!

    http://www.thatjessebloke.co.uk

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    1. I can see what you mean. I just really object to some words. They are so offensive. If they're not being used to show the time or situation, then I don't get why they should be used. "I spazzed out", or "are you retarded?" because someone got something wrong... not ok. I'm not for censorship, but I don't see how, today, they could get through the editing process with the publisher. All these kind of words, not just those related to those with mental health issues. Yes, use them if they reflect the situation and time - but if not, don't.

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    2. At least that's my opinion. And only my opinion, and everyone is free to disagree! :)

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  5. I hadn't really thought of this much, but you're right - there are certainly words that aren't politically correct (or even offensive) that are used in general language - so should authors take them out of books? I don't know. I do think that an author writing in the 90's probably wasn't as attuned to some of these words as we are now. (I have to confess that I probably said these things when I was a teen in the 90's - I don't specifically remember, but it certainly wasn't on my radar to think about it this way). Hopefully more modern authors would avoid these sorts of terms - unless a specific point is being made. Remember too that derogatory terms do tend to change over time and what's considered offensive now may not be seen that way later - or might not have been seen that way in the past.

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. This is true, I suppose. I do think it something authors should really think about, though, and make a decision on. I think there should be a good reason the author chose to use such language.

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  6. When I saw your title, I thought you meant cussing, and I was prepared to disagree, but now that I understand that you mean words that are belittling, I see what you mean. Definitely okay when it is in context and used to show how offensive those words are, as in the examples you used (or Huck Finn, which is widely challenged for its use of the N word, but defended on the same grounds you used for Lies We Tell Ourselves). Spaz and the R word, and 'psycho' were tossed around jokingly all the time when I was a kid way back in the 70s and 80s, and my friend whose mom is gay was the worse person I knew for calling dumb things "gay." So if I am reading a book from that time period, I wouldn't be surprised to see that type of word used thoughtlessly. If I'm reading a book written in the last ten years, and a character uses that type of mindless insult, I would expect that the character is being portrayed as offensive, or I would be offended by the author.

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    1. Right? I think authors need to really look at the words they're using. There has got to be a good reason for using such words, and, I'd hope, that it's shown through the story that these words aren't acceptable.

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