: Re: How to convey breeding through character dialogue I'm trying to write a story based in medieval times. Some of my characters are kings and nobles so I'm trying to make their conversations more...

@Kristi637

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In my experience, language that conveys higher social-economic status generally has a wider vocabulary, uses more complex or rare words (and more foreign words), is (at least superficially) more polite, and is more indirect and euphemistic. It tends to be abstract and emotionally removed, and can be poetic in a clever or intellectual way. It's basically an intersection of highly educated with highly "refined" (meaning highly trained in things such as manners and manipulation).

Language for lower-socioeconomic status is more direct and blunt, more sensual, less polite, more emotional, more likely to use curse words, and to rely on a smaller and simpler vocabulary. It can be poetic in a vivid and earthy way.

Both groups will also have their own characteristic slang and in-jokes. There are also always exceptions to these rules (and people who emulate the speech patterns of the opposite group for effect). Rather than just using stock phrases, you'll want to understand the different ways the groups use language --for the upper class, it's part of a complex and political web of constantly shifting social status.

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