Polythestic Swearing - Page 2

eschwartz · 06-26-2013, 12:01 PM

In the Forgotten Realms, there are thousands of gods. I think they usually curse in the name of the character's patron god(dess).

Or like in A Game of Thrones, but instead they always use the NINE hells, as the Forgotten Realms has 9 hells.

dreams · 06-26-2013, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VydorScope

I wonder why "by" versus "for" ?

I just always thought it was because you were asking for help/blessings or something that is given/granted "by" them.

VydorScope · 06-26-2013, 01:52 PM

I think it sounds like it boils down to

... by the gods, don't let them touch you!

Which sounds awkward to me, or

.... by <some god name> <some god body part> don't let them touch you!

or go with the one that most closely fits the flow I am used to

... for the gods' sake don't let them touch you!

Part of the problem is this guy is pretending to be something he is not. I am thinking that when he swears it should hint at that since most of the time people slip up during times of high emotion or duress.

Alex Bleach · 06-26-2013, 02:54 PM

This may not be a useful suggestion, as I think you want to refer to Gods, to emphasise the character's beliefs. You could use the name of the place in the story instead e.g. "For the sake of Atlantis, don't let them touch you!"

cromag · 06-26-2013, 09:32 PM

Ye gods!

gmw · 06-27-2013, 09:11 AM

I am assuming you mean something like Norse mythology. In this case you could swear by a particular god as fits the occasion. eg: Swear by Loki when something is tricky or devilish, swear by Odin when something to do with chasing women (or maybe death, depending on what you wanted to emphasise). And so on.

Greg Anos · 06-27-2013, 04:59 PM

Oodin and Frigg! was a popular Norse curse....

Hitch · 06-27-2013, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

Oodin and Frigg! was a popular Norse curse....

I love that one. Always have. It gets me odd looks, though. ;-)

Hitch

BeccaPrice · 06-27-2013, 05:47 PM

For some really creative swearing, read the Lensman books - the "spacer's god" Klono certainly had a lot of interesting parts to be sworn by and at.

crich70 · 06-27-2013, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

Oodin and Frigg! was a popular Norse curse....

They're also the origin of two days of the week. Oodin = Wednesday and Frigg= Friday.
Along with:
Sunday= day of the sun,
Monday= day of the moon,
Tuesday =day of Tyr (norse god)
Thursday = Day of thor
and
Saturday = day of Saturn

pdurrant · 06-29-2013, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VydorScope

In this case, the speaker is warning someone about being attacked by a bad thing. So the conversation is something like (I am still crafting it, so this is really rough)

"Remember they're weakest against fire, and <for god's sake> don't let them touch you!"

It's that phrase I am trying to fit with a character whose background is a world with many active gods.

For something that wouldn't sound forced to modern ears (well, mine, at least), how about

"Remember they're weakest against fire, and by all that's holy, don't let them touch you!"

Timoleon · 06-29-2013, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cromag

Ye gods!

Ye Gads!!!

Andrew H. · 06-30-2013, 12:22 AM

I think you are importing modern Western cultural norms by assuming that people are going to swear using the name of their gods in the first place. This might be limited to the judeo-christian religions: I don't think that the Romans swore using the name of their Gods ("by Jove, I think he's got it" *is not* a translation from the Latin), and don't think Hindi swear words involve their gods, and I've never heard a Buddhist use Buddha or something similar as a swear word.

I'm not an expert on international swearing, but I really don't think that the fact that we say "God damn it" means that people with multiple gods are going to have an equivalent.

On the other hand, the kind of profanity you got in Latin and still get in Hindi was a lot more sexual or "earthy" than you might want to use.

BeccaPrice · 06-30-2013, 09:59 AM

As I recall, too, different cultures have different bases for profanity. Just because many of our swear words are religious doesn't mean that this is true for all cultures - some cultures have more sexual profanity, others have more scatological-based swearing. You can be really creative - "by the bottom of my foot!" or something like that.

gmw · 06-30-2013, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

[...] You can be really creative - "by the bottom of my foot!" or something like that.

Erk. Now that's dirty!

06-26-2013, 12:01 PM	#16
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	In the Forgotten Realms, there are thousands of gods. I think they usually curse in the name of the character's patron god(dess). Or like in A Game of Thrones, but instead they always use the NINE hells, as the Forgotten Realms has 9 hells. Last edited by eschwartz; 06-26-2013 at 12:03 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Swearing in books	mattlynn	Writers' Corner	46	10-07-2011 03:03 PM

06-26-2013, 01:52 PM	#18
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	I think it sounds like it boils down to ... by the gods, don't let them touch you! Which sounds awkward to me, or .... by <some god name> <some god body part> don't let them touch you! or go with the one that most closely fits the flow I am used to ... for the gods' sake don't let them touch you! Part of the problem is this guy is pretending to be something he is not. I am thinking that when he swears it should hint at that since most of the time people slip up during times of high emotion or duress.

06-26-2013, 02:54 PM	#19
Alex Bleach Enthusiast Posts: 39 Karma: 532396 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: UK Device: PC - PDF & Kindle Desktop	This may not be a useful suggestion, as I think you want to refer to Gods, to emphasise the character's beliefs. You could use the name of the place in the story instead e.g. "For the sake of Atlantis, don't let them touch you!"

06-26-2013, 09:32 PM	#20
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,294 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	Ye gods!

06-27-2013, 09:11 AM	#21
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	I am assuming you mean something like Norse mythology. In this case you could swear by a particular god as fits the occasion. eg: Swear by Loki when something is tricky or devilish, swear by Odin when something to do with chasing women (or maybe death, depending on what you wanted to emphasise). And so on.

06-27-2013, 04:59 PM	#22
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,527 Karma: 37057604 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Oodin and Frigg! was a popular Norse curse....

06-27-2013, 05:47 PM	#24
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	For some really creative swearing, read the Lensman books - the "spacer's god" Klono certainly had a lot of interesting parts to be sworn by and at.

06-30-2013, 12:22 AM	#28
Andrew H. Grand Master of Flowers Posts: 2,201 Karma: 8389072 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Naptown Device: Kindle PW, Kindle 3 (aka Keyboard), iPhone, iPad 3 (not for reading)	I think you are importing modern Western cultural norms by assuming that people are going to swear using the name of their gods in the first place. This might be limited to the judeo-christian religions: I don't think that the Romans swore using the name of their Gods ("by Jove, I think he's got it" is not a translation from the Latin), and don't think Hindi swear words involve their gods, and I've never heard a Buddhist use Buddha or something similar as a swear word. I'm not an expert on international swearing, but I really don't think that the fact that we say "God damn it" means that people with multiple gods are going to have an equivalent. On the other hand, the kind of profanity you got in Latin and still get in Hindi was a lot more sexual or "earthy" than you might want to use.

06-30-2013, 09:59 AM	#29
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	As I recall, too, different cultures have different bases for profanity. Just because many of our swear words are religious doesn't mean that this is true for all cultures - some cultures have more sexual profanity, others have more scatological-based swearing. You can be really creative - "by the bottom of my foot!" or something like that.