When using slang in a middle-grade historical novel, it is important to
use words and phrases that were actually used during that period. The graphic
shows some of the slang used in 1894 when my current work-in-progress takes
place. I put it together with slang my characters might have used in 1894, and
it’s amazing how hard it was to find something that began with A. Actually,
there were plenty of choices, but none of them would have gotten past the censors.
Even “ante up” is basically a gambling term, but twelve-year-old boys have been
known to engage in that activity down through the ages. And “loaded” is one of the
many slang terms my characters could chose between when referring to a drunken
person.
There are other considerations besides using slang authentic to the
period.
Most importantly, my middle-grade readers must be able to decipher the
meaning from the context. It can’t be obscure, and it helps if the slang is
still used today.
I also don’t want to use slang with several meanings that include one that
is demeaning. I’m not referring to words that apply to someone’s behavior, such
as “rat” or “fink,” which don’t discriminate. But many of the words that were
in play in 1894 have racial connotations, and those are inappropriate for my book.
Because of the age of my audience, so are words that relate to sexual conduct
even if the meaning is relatively mild.
Finally, although I feel that I need some slang to make my characters
authentic, I don’t want to overwhelm my readers. As it is, I may have to cut
some out in my next draft.
Using slang in fiction—historical or otherwise—requires good judgment. I
expect to make numerous changes in subsequent drafts as I try to get it right.
But it’s worth the effort.
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