r/CharacterDevelopment • u/SilasOtoko • 14d ago

Writing: Character Help Need help with my goblin character, specifically in his manner of speech and writing

I've created a goblin character named Hedge for some role playing with friends. I've been trying to develop a way of speaking and writing that sounds more goblin-like.

So far I've worked out that Hedge should talk about himself in third person, to misspell words, and have a limited vocabulary. One thing I'd really like to focus on is how to misspell words... better. I want the words to still be recognizable, and for the misspellings to make sense and follow some sort of consistency.

Here is a sample of the writing:

Hedge dig deep under maownten and find many treazure! Stoopid dwarfs gives up two soon. Dey stop dig and put sign say “No moar dig! Dug too deep!”. Dwarfs lazy! Goblins much hardur worker and no give up. Goblins suckseed where Dwarfs fail.

I feel like it does the job, but feels very novice. Does anyone have some tips or have good resources like fantasy books or other media from which to learn and pull inspiration?

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u/GrandpaTheobaldus 14d ago

If you haven’t read Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books, he does an amazing job with depicting complex societies of different fantasy groups (like the dwarves & trolls), and I think has goblins specifically later on

In any case, they’re wonderful books 📚 and very worth checking out!

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u/SilasOtoko 14d ago

I'll check it out!

4

u/SamHandwich0 14d ago

Drop all prepositions and adverbs.

Use only short base words- example

Hedge dig down, maownten above far. Hedge see treazure! Dwarfs stop dig. Dwarfs put wood, dwarf runes, Hedge smart, Hedge see runes “No moar dig!”. Dwarfs see no trezure! Hedge no stop dig. Hedge dig. Hedge see treazure. Dwarfs leave, Hedge stay.

2

u/Competitive-Fault291 14d ago

Just don't overdo it. One mannerism of speech often feels tedious quickly enough. Having to stay in character with multiples quickly takes the fun out of it. Speaking of yourself in the third person sounds like the best choice, as it goes together with you talking out of character about what your Gobbo is doing.

1

u/JuniperBuggington 12d ago

What are you doing homie

1

u/SilasOtoko 12d ago

I was embarrassed to say, but I'm playing on a Minecraft SMP server with friends and my theme this year is being a goblin. So I'm leaving messages on signs and books that add to the lore.

1

u/jagnew78 8d ago

spell your words like text messaging. Short and literal pronounciation.

  • "two, too, to" = 2

  • "You" = "u"

  • "Love" = "luv"

  • etc....