A Random Thought

[kaasirpent]

I think our written language would be enriched if we dropped double quotes and dialoge tags like 'he said' and 'she intimated' and replaced them with XML-style tags that convey more meaning than just "<whatever>" or 'he said.'

"Honey?"

"Hmm?"

"Honey, will you please look at me? I have something...important to tell you."

He puts down his paper. "Alright. What is it?"

"You know how we were discussing having children?"

"Um...yes?"

"Well, I think...I might be pregnant."

"That's...great, sweetie!"

Now, consider the same dialogue, but with XML tags.

<apprehensive>Honey?</apprehensive>

<distracted>Hmm?</distracted>

<annoyed><anxious>Honey, will you please look at me? I have something...<mysterious>important</mysterious> to tell you.</anxious></annoyed>

He puts down his paper. <annoyed>Alright. <curious>What is it?</curious></annoyed>

<hesitant>You know how we were discussing having children?</hesitant>

<terrified>Um...yes?</terrified>

<excited>Well, I think...<unsure>I might be pregnant.</unsure></excited>

<fury><horror><anxiety><terror>That's...</terror></anxiety></horror><murderous calm>great, sweetie!</murderous calm></fury>

It could even be used for inserting internal monologues.

<fury><horror><anxiety><terror>That's...</terror></anxiety></horror><thought>very interesting because I had a vasectomy, you harlot</thought><murderous calm>great, <thought>whore</thought>honey!</murderous calm></fury>

(No, I'm not serious. Or...<mysterious>am I?</mysterious>)

Comments

whoa!

[crittersitter.livejournal.com]

"you harlot"? *rolls* a lil too much time on your hands, or have you been taping soap operas again?

Re: whoa!

[dorsai.livejournal.com]

Probably on that new <reverent chord>television</reverent chord> of his.

Re: whoa!

[crittersitter.livejournal.com]

*moment of semi-dignified silence while listening to reverent chord * teehee

Re: whoa!

[kaasirpent]

I never claimed it was good dialogue, only that it was dialogue, period. :)

Re: whoa!

[crittersitter.livejournal.com]

oh, i dunno....harlot sounds sort of old fashioned and gentlemanly, as opposed to say, well...slut ;-)

Re: whoa!

[kaasirpent]

"Harlot" is very Brontë. "Slut" is more Danielle Steele :)

[joeylemur.livejournal.com]

Can't wait to see the DTD file for that.

[kaasirpent]

I'll wait for the DVD, instead. :)

[liddle-oldman.livejournal.com]

Ah, but whatever happened to "Don't tell, show"? ;)

[liddle-oldman.livejournal.com]

[whimsical]Ah, but whatever happened to [pontificate]"Don't tell, show"?[/pontificate] [/whimsical]