GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

technical jargon

POSTED BY: PEDME84
UPDATED: Wednesday, October 9, 2002 18:33
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Monday, October 7, 2002 11:54 AM

PEDME84


how in the hell do they write kaylee's, etc. technical jargon?

what's a grav thrust? what's a repression coil?
(i probably spelled that wrong)

do they just watch other shows about space ships in them and write down all the key words?

does anybody have an inkling of an idea where this stuff comes from?

- emily

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Tuesday, October 8, 2002 3:58 AM

WILLIAM08


If the shows any good,it really doesn't matter.

William08

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Tuesday, October 8, 2002 11:46 AM

PEDME84


i know, william08, but i'm coming from the perspective of "i want to write this" and that stuff's intimidating.

when kaylee went off on her rant on what's junk, my response was "damn! how do you do that?"

- emily

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Tuesday, October 8, 2002 1:52 PM

JASONZZZ


Writers for SciFi shows actually do not commit these "tech terms" on paper... Unless if its absolutely essential to the story, they simply leave a "[ Tech ]" tag in the dialogue and someone will come behind and fill it in during the finishing process.

Don't let that little thing otherwise intimidate/hinder/impede you and your creative process. Someone else can do that part if that's an issue. And of course, the corollary to that is: you are writing the wrong story if the tech is absolutely essential to the dialogue and the story/plot line, but you have absolutely no idea on what that stuff means.


Quote:

Originally posted by Thegn:
If your interested in writing plausible "tech" dialogue, just find a physicists or engineer online and ask him or her how something might work. If they're anything like me, they would get a kick out of explaining their trade. Then you can just throw in some usual jargon with what they told you. It's sure to work well enough.

Typically, in engineering the simplist geometric descriptions are used. If something looks like a coil or a rod, it's generally a "something coil" or a "something rod." Once you know a little basic science, it's not hard to fake it.


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Tuesday, October 8, 2002 2:51 PM

ZICSOFT


Quote:

Writers for SciFi shows actually do not commit these "tech terms" on paper... Unless if its absolutely essential to the story, they simply leave a "[ Tech ]" tag in the dialogue and someone will come behind and fill it in during the finishing process.
I'm told that some shows don't even do that -- they leave the tags in the script and the actors improvise. Usually the actors know that pseudo-jargon better than the writers anyway.

But that's crap. That's not science fiction. It's not even fantasy. It's just an invitation to turn off your brain for an hour. If I'm gonna do that, I'd rather watch porn. I prefer my masturbation to be more literal.


JOSS, WHERE'S MY CHECK???!!!

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Tuesday, October 8, 2002 5:53 PM

JASONZZZ


hehehehe, maybe in MST3K they do that...

Anyways, there's only so much you can do in a TV show. You might have time to actually rehearst once and then it's time for print. You have to figure that is about the quality to expect.

And besides, lots of actors (SciFi or not) have creative input into the process (if not actually writing or directing their own episodes) by the time the 3rd season comes rolling around. Some of them really actually do know the characters and the storylines better than the writers do.

Like I said, if it's important enough and integral to the story; they won't leave the important tech stuff out... Most times, it really is the story that matters, tech is just there to dress it up... Like the communicator badges or little hallway computer panels... it's not a big deal either way, some episodes they are important, some not so much.

Quote:

Originally posted by Zicsoft:
Quote:

Writers for SciFi shows actually do not commit these "tech terms" on paper... Unless if its absolutely essential to the story, they simply leave a "[ Tech ]" tag in the dialogue and someone will come behind and fill it in during the finishing process.
I'm told that some shows don't even do that -- they leave the tags in the script and the actors improvise. Usually the actors know that pseudo-jargon better than the writers anyway.

But that's crap. That's not science fiction. It's not even fantasy. It's just an invitation to turn off your brain for an hour. If I'm gonna do that, I'd rather watch porn. I prefer my masturbation to be more literal.


JOSS, WHERE'S MY CHECK???!!!


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Wednesday, October 9, 2002 4:04 PM

WILLIAM08


Okay, then try this. Get a physics dictionary, then get a dictionary of technical terms for the area you are writing about (ships, engines, airconditioning systems, etc.). Now, take a term from the first and use it as an andjective for a term from the second:

gravity thruster

spectral concentrator

event-horizon plotter

Ta-da. You're in business ;)

William

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Wednesday, October 9, 2002 5:49 PM

JASONZZZ


I am going to take a poke here and have to guess there aren't many budding starship pilots, multi-dimension cruiser engineers, or astrophysicists amongst our viewers. With that said, I sincerely doubt that it would take much to convince the audience of Kaylee capabilities. A hardcore enough audience will in fact start making up excuses and justifications for the show as to why there is such horrific anomalies between the science and physics that are going on and what is coming out of the actor's lips.

Case in point - StarTrek Technical Manual. 'nuff said.

I am not saying that the viewers are dumb or stupid. I am just saying that they aren't *that* smart either.


Quote:

Originally posted by Thegn:
I think, the tech jargon is more important then you are making it. A character like Kaylee, for instance, is defined to a large extent by her jargon. For any other character maybe it's not so important, but Kaylee has to sound convincing when she remarks about her stuff or she fails to present the persona of a competent engineer.

Now of course, if your audience is stupid, the writer has more artistic freedom, but that's a dangerous assumption to make. If your audience is not stupid, they'll see through poorly constructed dialogue. I'm of the mind to beleive that, in any writing, one should never assume that the audience can be easily fooled. It's always better to do your homework and not leave the jargon to whim, even in cases where it may not seem important.

-----------
In the Dark Ages, Romano-Celtic Britannia was over-run by Viking-like cultures collectively called the Anglo-Saxons. They were led by warlords called Drytinns, and the greatest warriors among them were the Thegns.


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