: Re: How do we distinguish how a character pronounces a word and how it is spelled in a dialogue? How do we distinguish how a character pronounces a word and how it is spelled in a dialogue?

@Sent2472441

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Show it.
Using a different spelling is akin to telling: you could similarly just make a recording and ship it with your story. It does not make much sense, right?
You could instead show it. Write down the dialogue in proper English, but show what the words sound like, show the face that the character makes in producing the different sounds, and show the reactions of the other characters too, with as much detail as you think is necessary.

"I don't want to buy Apple products, because they are too expensive for the quality you're getting." Alice said.
Bob smiled at the way she leaned on that A in Apple, her lips protruding, and her teeth showing like a laughing horse. The grimace of that one vowel was the mask of her full distrust.
"It's Apple, with the A as in ask." said Bob opening his mouth on that first vowel as in a smile.
"Whatever. They are still too expensive." said Alice and went on repeating Apple a few times, alternating between the two sounds. "Does it really make a difference?"
"Yes! There are two a's in English, the pronunciation is different, but they are spelled in the same way." explained Bob.

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