I like it when it at least tries.
Jesus & Christianity
- Thread starter Methuselah Flint
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But is it even that odd? People use outdated expressions that have lost connections to their origin all the time. And considering that people in Trek say these things way less than people in real life tend to, then it is indeed a bit odd and archaic thing to say even in the setting. Like someone saying 'by Jove!' now.
Honestly, it's a judgment call. Something like "Groovy!" or "Don't have a cow!" is likely to date quickly, but an expression that's been around for awhile like "take the bull by the horns" or "make a deal with the devil" will probably sound less anachronistic. See also "crying wolf" or "tasting the forbidden fruit."
Meanwhile, getting back OT, there's been occasional references to Christmas on STAR TREK: the infamous Christmas party in "Dagger of the Mind," Picard's Dickensian Yuletide fantasy in GENERATIONS.
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Yep. And I think they obviously tried to avoid things in the first category.
Even in period dramas the language is rarely accurately historical. Concessions will be made for clarity. But they throw in some old timey expressions for flavour and try to avoid too obviously anachronistic things. Of course, in a historical drama one can go for greater accuracy, if that's the sort of thing one wants to do. There is information available on how people spoke in the past (until certain point at least.) But for a show set in the future, such information does not exist. You would have to extrapolate and make it up. And whilst that would be a highly interesting experiment from linguistical perspective, it probably would not be good use of the production company's dime...
In the 18th century people would say: "She knoweth that thee liest," etc. It is pretty difficult to extrapolate a linguistic shift of that magnitude out of thin air. Though more I think of this, more I'd like to see someone to try!
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Klingons love the Book of Judges, full of pillaging and plundering
Yes, it is odd to me. "By Jove" stands out just as oddly, often because it is a deliberate use of an anachronistic phrase. It just stands out in the setting.
And it can be tricky to strike a balance between dialogue that sounds too contemporary and dialogue that sounds too stiff or artificial, especially if you're going for a natural, conversational tone
I tend to prefer the TOS approach,which strikes me as more down to earth, but I can see where some people might prefer more "timeless" dialogue. Not sure any of the ST shows have really tried to go for genuinely futuristic speech.
I tend to prefer the TOS approach,which strikes me as more down to earth, but I can see where some people might prefer more "timeless" dialogue. Not sure any of the ST shows have really tried to go for genuinely futuristic speech.
I think someone should've been deliberately over-the-top space-y and exclaimed "Jupiters!" when they were surprised... just like the Wonder Twins' catchphrase from Super Friends.
I saw it on a bumper sticker once. I felt validated by it.I'm still crushed that "frell" didn't catch on the way "frak" did.
Have you read any of Jack Womack's SF novels? His future lingo can be challenging to decipher . . . in a good way.
Not sure it would work on TV.
No I haven't, sounds interesting!
"By Odin's Beard!" still has a bit of zing in it.
That sounds a bit older. 18th century is when the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were written.
Yes, perhaps. Use of 'thou' started decline in 17th or 18th century depending on the area.
In Berman trek especially the guests and aliens often sound stilted. Occasionally you'll get an ACTOR who just sounds realler. Brian Keith comes to mind; Dukat! Though a quasi-regular, too; and the Cardassian file clerk who tried to pass as a "butcher."But usually it's like there's almost a trek-guest, stilted-esque, formal sounding dialect.
Or I'm wrong. What do you think?
Or I'm wrong. What do you think?
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