Dialect Heavy Books

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I often struggle to maintain interest in books that are dialect-heavy. For context, I mean stories that are written phonetically based on how words are said casually by native speakers, rather than with correct spellings and grammar.

For example, I recently picked up a book that was written in a working class Scouse accent. I could understand it since I grew up in that part of the country, however there's something almost distracting to me about this writing style.

I think it's because I'm not used to seeing words written in that way even though I've heard sentences spoken in that way. There's something almost uncanny about it. I don't think it's necessarily wrong to write in dialect-heavy way but it takes me out of the story somehow.

There are exceptions. I think it works with Scots-English because Scots is a celtic language that has its own rules. When English was forced on the Scottish, the Scots language merged with English and that created a distinct variant of English. I often see and hear words such as 'Cannae' which comes from 'Cannot' and that doesn't take me out of the story because it feels natural.

I know whenever I go to certain places in Yorkshire and Derbyshire, there are posters that are written in the dialect and slang of each place. Some of it is derived from very old saxon terms. Reception to this is very mixed, some people find it cringey whilst others think it gives the place more character.

Hi,

Yes, I'm Scottish and I have found that reading and listening in regional dialects can be difficult. Especially if you're not used to the accent. I used to have issues with the likes of 'Oor Wullie' and 'The Broons', because it was based on Dundee 'Scots'.
I have spent a few years living in the South of England when I was younger and I found that I had most difficulties with Aberdonian Doric speakers and thick Geordie speakers as seen in the Viz.
I have found that learning another language really helps put regionalisations in perspective.
I learned a ton about German over a 5 year period, but I couldn't really advance beyond that point as I couldn't immerse myself in the language. Due to family and work commitments. So I gave up. I later found out that my Autism was likely a factor. As I had to translate in my head while listening and I couldn't do it quick enough to follow a conversation. I think that the Audio-Visual disconnect is a related difficulty at least for me...
I feel the need to correct you on your understanding of Scots as I think that you're confusing it with Gaelic.
Scots language is a Germanic language evolving out of middle-English. Gaelic is a Celtic language. Scots English is just modern English with a lot of mixing of Scots language and a Scots accent.

Ah, my mistake. Thank you for the correction.

I stopped reading Wuthering Heights when I got to Joseph's speech, because I couldn't understand his Yorkshire dialect. I might try again at some point with some help from ChatGPT.

In some parts of postwar Europe using the standard form of one's language was seen as giving in to corporate homogenization of society so speaking in dialect was an act of rebellion. The poor miserable French! Their language was homogenized in the late 18th century.

I agree though with OP. If the dialect doesn't add to the meaning of the dialog then I don't need it.

I think it's the phonetic approach that confuses me. Standard English isn't phonetic, so reading something purely so really throws me. I end up hovering over each word and lose the meaning and flow of the sentence/paragraph. I'd sooner I'm told someone has a particular accent and I can just hear that way as I read.

I wonder if reading out loud without thinking about it would help? Just read the sounds you see and listen to what words they make as you speak them.

I like Ian Rankin's books, and he includes passages that have a heavy Scottish dialect. The main character also reflects on his own and others' dialects, which I find interesting. I feel that it adds to the book, but he only uses it in shorter passages, so I don't find it hard to read.

Please forgive my imprecision in describing the above: I'm an American and don't know much about the details of British dialects.

I grew up in a region of America (Appalachia) that is know for its strong and unique dialiect, and have had people comment on the traces that still come out in my speech at times. So a little bit of dialect makes a book relatable to me.

LostLibrarian's post made me think of something.

I had a friend who said she had no inner voice, or very little, and said she heard nothing in her head while reading. She was a very fast reader and had a great memory, so I wonder if that was more efficient for her.

I think I'm almost the opposite, and much of my reading must go through my auditory system before I understand it. I tend to hear my voice in my head as I'm typing, and I often will type the wrong homophone even though I know the correct one.

There are certain sounds I just can't seem to figure out how to recreate verbally.

My driving instructor likes to start our lessons with Sit thi sen Darn which is a very Yorkshire way of saying Sit yourself down. Now, I understand what it means. I can recognise it when I hear it.

However, it sounds like a complete mess when I try to sound it out / say it because it's nothing like my usual speech. I actually had to Google how you would write it down. Particually the thi and Darn parts.