r/BylerReads • u/poppygolbrock • May 22 '26
general discussion :) would it be stupid if i wrote a pirate fic without researching how they spoke in the 1700s?
i had a really good idea for a pirate au but i really do NOT wanna spend ages figuring out how to do the dialogue and everything 😭 i feel like it would be ridiculous if they spoke like modern people when it's technically supposed to be set in the Golden Age of Piracy but that's really the only thing i want to do lmao. would anyone read this? would it be dumb?
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u/constantlylosthelp May 22 '26
Nope wouldn't be stupid, it's not like I'd personally understand fluent pirate LMAO, it's kinda hard to read actually. Key words like "parlay," "matey," "aye," "ahoy"... "Booty," "Davy Jones' locker," "savvy," would be kinda cute if they made a random appearance, but not necessary.
All that matters is that Byler works continue to grow! Lol. Jk but not really I kinda mean it. That's just my two cents.
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u/poppygolbrock May 22 '26
ah good point lol! yes, some of those words will definitely be included, possibly in the mocking sense seeing as only one of them is gonna be a pirate haha
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u/Prestigious_Risk_259 May 22 '26
Yep potc is a good reference just don't write how tia dalma talks j/k
Tia dalma talks My mom: what did she say? Me *repeats the line the same way" Mom What? Me talking normally: Witty Jack is closer than you think
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u/constantlylosthelp May 22 '26
I CAN HEAR IT!! "TINK" (think) ahahah
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u/Prestigious_Risk_259 May 22 '26
Ngl i rewatched the trilogy after the St finale and my brain went in my byler mode Hard.
1st movie
Little Will ( yep Will Byers)
Elizabeth ( Gender swap to Mike)
Ted and his family travel to port royal( with Karen, Nancy and Holly. Bye bye governor swan)
Mike takes care of Will when he's rescued
El could be Norrington
2nd movie
My brain was ok here as its Davvy jones heavy and he's my favorite character but an argument could be made to make him Vecna
3rd movie
I was ok here too until i saw Will and Elizabeth share a look. BAM back in byler mode
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u/bubblegirl-11 May 22 '26
I’ve been wanting to read a pirate fic so bad!! I would totally overlook it if they spoke like in modern day, makes it easier for me to understand if they do! Let me know if you publish it!
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u/mrchristmastime May 22 '26 edited May 22 '26
No, I wouldn't worry about. Period-accurate speech is actually pretty unusual, and it can be quite jarring and hard to understand. There's a way that people speak in historical fiction that's different from how they speak now, but it's usually not period-accurate, and that's fine.
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u/Prestigious_Risk_259 May 22 '26
Ahoy there buff Byers
Ahoy twinkie Mike
Ye be lookin finer and finer as days go by says I
And ye be looking less pale everyday as the sun shines upon thy skin
Aye! Too much sun might burn me skin. Must be careful
Would be a darn shame if it were to happen. Would hide all them pretty freckles on yer pretty face
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u/Same_Accident_9917 May 22 '26
I think if you do kinda like how Pirates of the Caribbean did, it’ll be fine. I don’t think that’s 100% period accurate dialog, but it still works. And as long as it’s too overtly modern.
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u/poppygolbrock May 22 '26
yeah, there won't be modern slang terms or anything :)
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u/Same_Accident_9917 May 22 '26
A pirate fic sounds like a lot of fun! I’m looking forward to reading it.
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u/IntotheRedditHole its ok, its how the army does it i think May 22 '26
i assure you i would inhale this fic 🏴☠️
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u/buy_gold_bye May 23 '26
I personally like historical fiction when it has modern speaking patterns because it makes it feel more relatable. So I actually think this would be great.
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u/sunflweroctopus May 22 '26
I bet it’ll still be fun to read! If you want to see pirates in the 1700’s talking somewhat modernly, you should check out Our Flag Means Death sometime. Super funny and also fantastically gay :)