Link from Legend of Zelda
Last week I did some poetry about various hero types that connected to Superman and still had a few more heroes that came to mind. They didn’t fit into his history, so I’m going to discuss them over the course of this week. Mostly in list form on how you can use them and what to be cautious of.
Today I’m talking about the silent or limited vocabulary hero. Any character that doesn’t talk for one reason or another will be a challenge. How do they communicate, especially in a medium where dialogue is the easiest way to show thoughts? You can have the reader constantly reading their thoughts, but how does that translate to the other characters? If the character has limited vocabulary then you have a little more leeway, but there is still a challenge. This might be why you don’t seem characters like Link and Groot in word-only mediums.
So, what can you do to use this kind of hero?
- Body language is an important part of this character. Facial expressions like scowling, smiling, and frowning can denote emotions. For limited vocabulary, you can denote a tone of voice. Physical actions shouldn’t be overlooked, so have characters cross their arms, pace, and do whatever you think a person would do under certain emotional states. A nervous tic can help here too.
- Another character can be their voice like Rocket with Groot in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’. The translator can take one of two paths. The first is to openly translate and repeat with the silent/limited character says. This can be annoying and repetitive as well as confusing. A cleaner, but more difficult, method is to have the translator talk to their friend in response to a statement with occasional repetition. For example, the silent character gives a look and the translator goes ‘I thought you were supposed to check her for weapons!’ The interactions with other characters can be a wealth of connection to the reader.
- Sign language can be used if you have a system or know ASL. Writing is another communication technique, but it can’t be done in an emergency. You can also get away with simple gestures and hand signals.
- DO NOT think that a character that doesn’t talk isn’t listening. I’ve read a few stories where a mute character is portrayed as never understanding what is going on even though they’re not deaf or blind.
- Give a reason for the silence or limited vocabulary of a character. Oath of silence, magical curse, injury, etc. Some characters can get away with this in some mediums like Link in Legend of Zelda. A hero that needs only be a surrogate for the reader/player and be talked to is acceptable to a point. An example of a reason can be the following: I played a martial artist in a role-playing game who made an oath of silence until he rescued his fiancee. He had psychic powers, so he would communicate occasionally with telepathy and most times it was with his best friend. You know, I should think about reviving this guy, but I don’t remember his name.
So, can anyone think of any other tips for a silent or limited vocabulary character? Any favorites of yours that falls into this category?
Legends of Windemere 
Ferb 😀
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Forgot about him. Silent Bob too.
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Ooh yeah, almost forgot about Bob! What about the Anti heros? There are a lot of great creepy bad guys who are almost to totally creepy because of their silence
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Only one I can think of now is Korenen from Hellboy.
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There were a few in the Buffyverse
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I guess monsters do count. I always put them in a separate category than villains.
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Well there is a particular set of villains from season 5 and a sect from season 7 that are what I consider to be humanesque villains that remain completely silent. Demons, on the other hand, are apparently quite talkative.
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Are you talking about ‘Hush’? Can’t remember the silent villains in Season 5.
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Yes! Hush is super creepy!! I’m thinking there is another set though…that might be I Angel
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I know Universal Studios in Orlando have ‘The Gentlemen’ during their Halloween Horror nights. Not sure if they still do, but they had them when my wife went with her family. The people dressed as them had hidden wheels on their shoes or something to give them that gliding motion.
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That would be SPOOKY! I hope they still do
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I’m such a novice I can’t draw on an experience, but I think a mute character would be able to use facial and hand movements to “talk.'” Also, maybe a tablet or writing in the dirt.
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Writing is definitely a useful method. Sign language can help too for more advanced hand movements. Maybe throwing something in an emergency? It’s definitely a challenge and I haven’t attempted it yet. Although Stiletto and Bessaria might fall into the category.
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Dunno if I’ve got this right, because I’m a bit out of my depth here, but R2D2 and Chewbacca are pretty good communicators. In fact, I quite like a Wookie moan when things aren’t going my way.
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They certainly count since they would fall into ‘limited’ vocabulary. Only one or two characters understands them, so they’re rather in need of a translator. Ever wonder if Han or C-3PO were mistranslating their friends?
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Oh now that’s disturbing. Actually I don’t think so in the case of C-3PO because he’s always disagreeing with R2D2, and if Han mistranslated, then Chewie would get cross. I think mistranslations only work in drama if we know what the mute/limited vocabulary person is trying to say, as in dramatic irony, for example when Julia Roberts tells that posh woman in Pretty Woman that she nearly peed her pants, and Richard Gere translated it as her saying she liked the Pirates of Penzance.
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The audience would definitely have to know the real words at some point. Even if it’s after the fact. Forgot about the Pretty Woman one.
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Yes, the audience always has to be in on the joke. Well, they have to think they are, at least. In Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for example, you think you know everything and then, bang, you get the plot twist. I do love a good twist.
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My favorite is Lucky # Slevin. That had a very good twist.
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I haven’t seen that. Is it very gory?
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It had some scenes of graphic violence since it dealt with feuding mob families. I don’t remember how bad it was.
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Must admit, not too keen on gore.
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Another aspect of this is a person/ghost/whatever who only the viewpoint character can see and hear. So they may have information without a source that’s visible to others around them. Or others may believe they are having weird conversations with themselves. This works especially well if you want the viewpoint character to be regarded with suspicion by others, denied promotions, etc.
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Kind of like a child who is working with an imaginary friend?
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That could definitely be a form of it. Especially to create a general unsettling atmosphere in a story with young kids. Didn’t every parent dread their young child having an imaginary playmate that they talk to and want to “bring” everywhere?
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Never knew it was dreaded. My parents kind of promoted such things. I am thinking of horror movies where the child in the house is talking to the ghosts now. My son did something like that by saying he was talking to a ghost in the corner. Still no idea what that was about.
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Don’t feel bad, my son once told me he smelled “fleas dying.” Turns out he caught a whiff of wood smoke and thought it smelled like the flea collar on his buddy’s pet dog. Hence, fleas dying.
Kids are awesome, don’t let anyone tell you different.
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The creepy part is that it happened soon after my grandmother died. Kids are certainly awesome.
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Aura. Some characters change colours as such.
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Interesting. Like a heroic mood ring.
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Yep. They may not be able to order a cheeseburger with those skills though.
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But they’ll tell you they’re angry when you mess up their order. Though we lazy Americans have numbers on our food now, so they can hold up fingers. 😛
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