06-12-2017, 03:27 PM | #1 |
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Describing horse commands
Okay, I've got a bit of a question. In the story I'm working on I have a point where the characters have to ride on horses. I know the commands for go, stop, faster, slower, left, right, etc. However, some of the commands that I would use aren't actually words. They're more clicks and grunts and other noises that the horse understands and responds to. How would one best describe those in a bit of dialog?
For example, the "forward" command I most regularly use to make a horse go is two cheek clicks followed by "hup, hup", although, depending on the horse, sometimes the two clicks are enough, and the hup-hup is sort of an extra emphasis that's not needed. Hup-hup with me is usually reserved for when the animal is hesitant about going. Kind of like saying, "It's okay to go." So if I was to use that standard "go" command in dialog, how best would I do that given that it's technically non-verbal? I mean, I *could* just leave it as part of the narration, but I want to use it as part of the dialog if possible. |
06-13-2017, 04:13 AM | #2 |
cacoethes scribendi
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It's hard to tell what might be best without knowing more of the context - how much "conversation" is going to be directed to the horse. In a lot of situations it simply wouldn't be necessary to include it at all, but it's also possible to envisage a scene in which the horse(s) are more directly involved in how the scene unfolds.
I don't have any problem with "hup, hup" in dialogue - although I don't know how you might express some of the other non-verbals. The first time you might explain whatever commands you decide to use, but after that I think it should be fine. I haven't been on a horse since I was a kid, so about the only thing I'd be saying if I found myself on one now would be, "Get me down from here," or maybe just, "Help!" |
06-13-2017, 10:49 AM | #3 |
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Just ask Mister Ed for a description!
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06-13-2017, 11:29 AM | #4 |
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06-13-2017, 03:30 PM | #5 |
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Whatever you do, please don't give us "sound effects" like Modesset does in his "Recluse" series. Great series, but the sound effects annoy me considerably!
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06-13-2017, 03:37 PM | #6 |
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I have the solution for horse commands. Full cast audiobooks with sound effects and music. That would be great.
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06-13-2017, 07:16 PM | #7 | ||
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Quote:
Of course! Of course! :P Quote:
Actually, I'd LOVE to do something like that. My problem is I'm always broke. So unless someone did something like that for me pro-bono, eh, not gonna happen. Although it would be cool if it did happen. |
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06-13-2017, 08:39 PM | #8 |
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He clicked his tongue/cheek.
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06-14-2017, 01:39 AM | #9 | |
cacoethes scribendi
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Quote:
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06-14-2017, 05:00 AM | #10 | ||||
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06-14-2017, 05:24 AM | #11 |
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'Ka-Pow !' over the the top of the head should end the sound effects, don't you think? *
* = In no way am I advocating cruelty to animals. However, I do advocate extreme cruelty to authors who insist on using sound effects. 'Whoa, there, big fella!' |
06-14-2017, 05:26 AM | #12 |
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06-14-2017, 08:51 AM | #13 |
Just a Yellow Smiley.
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I was hoping you meant the author.
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06-14-2017, 08:59 AM | #14 |
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Hey Steven,
You might want to avoid the sounds and just be straight forward with the commands because I don't think all horses are trained exactly the same with tongue clicks and stuff. |
06-14-2017, 04:36 PM | #15 | ||
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Yeah, that's what I eventually opted for. It didn't give me the same effect as I wanted, but I decided it'd be the easier way out for now. lol. |
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