Vulgar language in fantasy

[ssampier]

Bwah?

Neither Tolkien (from which, arguably, almost all modern fantasy evolved), nor his pulp-era precursors (Conan, etc.), nor his semi-modern successors (i.e. Moorcock), were aimed at children. The notion of fantasy being aimed at kids is a combination of misinterpretations (sometimes deliberate ones, made by the "high-brow elite" in response to Tolkien), and of authors then proceeding to build upon said misinterpretations.

My understanding is that The Hobbit was made for children, but the later Lord of the Rings was not.

 

[ssampier]

Fo'shizzle.

Will the Real Iuz the Evil please stand up?!

 

[Mouseferatu]

My understanding is that The Hobbit was made for children, but the later Lord of the Rings was not.

True, I believe. But I'd argue that it's LotR, and not the Hobbit, that truly forms the foundation for so much of modern fantasy.

 

[delericho]

I don't mind if the characters use obscenities or not, provided it is consistent with the tone the author is trying to convey.

I generally find it inappropriate more often than not... but that may just be the nature of the books I read.

 

[Kaodi]

Gritty language belongs with gritty plots. George R. R. Martin uses vulgar language perfectly, yet that is because the world of his novels is as dirty as the language.

 

[Tonguez]

I find that so many are complaining about 'modern' English swear words being translations from fantasy languages hilarious. They've been around pretty much since English was invented! There is nothing modern about them!

Well yes and no.

I did some research a while ago and most of the evidence is that prior to the 1800s the word was not seen as entirely offensive. So although not a modern word the way it is currently used and phrased is modern slang.
Admittedly it possibly started to be used as a vulgarity around the 16th Century (and thus later than the Medievil period DnD emulates).

Prior to 1500 the word may have been a variant of Fulcher meaning soldier and to be derived from the word meaning "to strike, to penetrate" and seems to have the same root as pug~ as in pugilist

non sunt in coeli, quia fvccant vvivys of heli

 

[Squire James]

Some stories work better with vulgarity than others. Many fantasy stories are escapist in nature and actively strive to be different from "the real world", while other stories attempt to be "like the real world but with a twist". In short, the use of vulgarity in a story is generally a sign of realism more than a sign of "modern times". Many fantasy themes go out of their way NOT to be realistic, though, and vulgarity is out of place in them.

 

[Swoop109]

I don't have a problem with swearing and crude language in fantasy, as long as it fits both the characters and setting.
I doubt that preist or nobles would result to such words the majority of the time and having them use such would be a bit jarring when it does happen. However, I would expect such language from warriors, theives, and others from the more 'street' level.

I do have a problem with the use of modern words to represent the more used swearing in such settings.

Back in the 70's and 80's there were a number of fantasy novels where the wtiters made the attempt to create explectives around the cultures and settings in which their stories were set.

While it would not be, to me, a shock to see, "God f**king damn!", used by a fighter in a fantasy story. I belive that something like, "Phallas of Mars!", would make more sense if the story was set in a fantasy version of the Roman Empire. It might be a bit stilted to hear, but it makes sense in the setting.

Creating words to take place of more modern was, imo, best used in the series Farscape. Each character had their own combinations of words and the situations in which they would use them. Which is something that authors need to keep in mind if they are having characters coming from different parts of their world.
As Tonguez mentioned about his own language. Sometimes the swearing in a different tongue makes no sense to those hearing it if they come from a different culture. that opens up whole possiblities for writers if they are willing to take the time to create a rich and diverse setting.

 

[Plane Sailing]

If you were reading a fantasy novel and someone used the same sorts of swear words we use in our everyday life, what would you think? (Assume that the curses are being used in a reasonable way, and not in some Tarantino-esque marathon of obscenities.)

I don't like it and I'd ditch that author. I don't like hearing or reading foul language. I can't do much about the former, I can do something about the latter. Is LotR any worse for not using foul language? Is Conan any worse for not using it? I don't think so.

 

[The Human Target]

I have no problem with it, nor do I see those words as vulgar.