I gotta get an opinion on this. · 10:34pm Mar 29th, 2018
So, in the latest story, 'Through Time, Love Does Travel', there's going to be a very big period shift when Twilight goes back into the past. We're talking a thousand plus years. Don't worry, this isn't spoilers, in fact, this was supposed to be more explicitly stated, but I somehow managed to completely gloss over making any mention of it. Typical case of 'I'm the writer, so I forget to look at my story as if I know nothing about it.'
ANYWAY, I gotta know if you'd all prefer the language to be 'ye olde' style, or just normal Equestrian. Normally, I would go the ye olde route, but as of late I've begun to notice canon depictions of the past totally leave this aspect alone, and if I'm correct, one of the show's creators had made mention of the fact language was never that way in the first place, but I only say this after hearing such from a third party; I have not seen this supposed claim with my own eyes. I'm a big stickler for following canon as closely as I can, within reason, and if 'ye olde' totally misfits with the show, then I'm not gonna do it...
Unless you fellas would like me to. I know it can be a bit difficult to read at times, but it makes the past feel like the past, which I think works a lot better from a story-telling aspect. Considering I haven't written any of the dialogue in chapter 2 yet, this will totally be up to you all.
Funny, I've always wanted to write a story where the readers shape how things happen.
Personally, I would go for a good balance. I would keep general language fairly modern (but not too modern) and expressions of higher emotion closer to archaic. Think late 1800's, I reckon.
Of course, the difficulty of doing this will depend on just how well you're able to balance and how long you'd have to do such.
But this is the opinion of someone who hasn't (and probably won't) read it because he prefers to read one-shots.
Acording to the Journal Of The Two Sisters, it seems that ponies back then speak in normal english, but Celestia and Luna spoke in 'ye olde' only out of formality otherwise they speak in modern english.
Now, as of Season 7 finale The Journal Of The Two Sisters is no longer canon, but it still servers as a good example of how Equestria was back then.
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Well, as funny as this sounds, I'd be more comfortable writing full-blown iambic pantameter, as I've not only done it before, but I've done it quite extensively.
As for wanting to read one-shots, I'll keep that in mind for what i publish next. I've had some one-shot ideas in the oven for some time now.
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Noted. Formal speak in old-ish Equestrian.
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Oh no no no, you don't have to cater to me. In fact, I would prefer that you didn't. I don't even read on this site very often anyway.
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I'd like to write more one-shots anyway, so have no fear!
Doesn't matter how you write it to me. But, I thought it was pretty obvious how far back you would be going. You stated Tia was only a couple hundred years old when she dated the girl and now she's over a thousand. Plus I believe you mentioned Luna knew about her which would mean that she was around before Luna was locked in the moon. A thousand years ago. So yeah, you were perfectly clear.
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Oh, well, I had one reader speculating that Twilight and Celestia had at one point had the same lover, so I panicked and was like "whoa shit, did I mess something up?"
Even in Luna's S2 Nightmare Night appearances, her speech is more "Ye Olde Butcherede Englishe" than anything. So maybe keep it archaic-ish without going overboard?
Also, good start! Interested to see where the story goes. It's one of those where the premise sounds like it could have become terribly cliche and forced, but instead it looks like the author can do it justice and might pull it off after all.
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I've been talking to another reader in PMs, and that's sort of what i'll be doing. If there's any sort of formal speaking, it'll be done in a sort of old Equestrian, but casual conversation will be a somewhat simplified version of modern Equestrian
I'd honestly go with the olde speech, seeing as you can pull it off well.