Writing mute characters

[kjc]

This is something I've been meaning to ask someone for a while - and who better than a forum full of writers and readers?

I come up with a lot of characters, and I came up with one two years ago, specifically, who can't speak. He was born that way. I've fleshed out his back-story and his personality and the whole nine yards, but one thing I am stuck on is how to write him.

So, the question of this thread is, how do you write a mute character? He can communicate with sign language and writing (he keeps a dry-erase board, or a chalk board, or a paper of some kind on him at all times) but how would you translate that to writing?

"I see," he wrote. ? I don't know, that seems too quickly paced and immediate if he's actually writing it. Any ideas?

[ezydriver]

I suppose instead of introducing him as "Well spoken" introduce him as "Well gesticulative". It'll set the precedent for his character. Subsequent to informing your readership to his muteness you could back up his dialogue (?) with statements such as 'I see "He articulated with a sweeping arm across the empty space" '.

Alternatively you can always add a twist to the plot by suddenly giving him the ability of speech, similar to the chief in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. That will solve your problem.

[shortstoryfan]

I would read works that have mute characters and use their handling of muteness to inform your own technique. The only book I can think of right now with a mute character is The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, but I'm sure there are others.

[cgrillo]

The Confidence Man's title character is a mute, and he communicates by writing on a small slate; however, he doesn't participate in conversations, and I think the following scene is the only time he "speaks:"


Pausing at this spot, the stranger so far succeeded in threading his way, as at last to plant himself just beside the placard, when, producing a small slate and tracing some words upon if, he held it up before him on a level with the placard, so that they who read the one might read the other. The words were these:—


"Charity thinketh no evil."

As, in gaining his place, some little perseverance, not to say persistence, of a mildly inoffensive sort, had been unavoidable, it was not with the best relish that the crowd regarded his apparent intrusion; and upon a more attentive survey, perceiving no badge of authority about him, but rather something quite the contrary—he being of an aspect so singularly innocent; an aspect too, which they took to be somehow inappropriate to the time and place, and inclining to the notion that his writing was of much the same sort: in short, taking him for some strange kind of simpleton, harmless enough, would he keep to himself, but not wholly unobnoxious as an intruder—they made no scruple to jostle him aside; while one, less kind than the rest, or more of a wag, by an unobserved stroke, dexterously flattened down his fleecy hat upon his head. Without readjusting it, the stranger quietly turned, and writing anew upon the slate, again held it up:—


"Charity suffereth long, and is kind."

Illy pleased with his pertinacity, as they thought it, the crowd a second time thrust him aside, and not without epithets and some buffets, all of which were [4] unresented. But, as if at last despairing of so difficult an adventure, wherein one, apparently a non-resistant, sought to impose his presence upon fighting characters, the stranger now moved slowly away, yet not before altering his writing to this:—


"Charity endureth all things."

Shield-like bearing his slate before him, amid stares and jeers he moved slowly up and down, at his turning points again changing his inscription to—


"Charity believeth all things."

and then—


"Charity never faileth."

The word charity, as originally traced, remained throughout uneffaced, not unlike the left-hand numeral of a printed date, otherwise left for convenience in blank.

[kjc]

I suppose instead of introducing him as "Well spoken" introduce him as "Well gesticulative". It'll set the precedent for his character. Subsequent to informing your readership to his muteness you could back up his dialogue (?) with statements such as 'I see "He articulated with a sweeping arm across the empty space" '.

Alternatively you can always add a twist to the plot by suddenly giving him the ability of speech, similar to the chief in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. That will solve your problem.

Hah, "well gesticulative." XD That's a unique phrase. The only problem with describing his articulation is that he will have quite a bit of dialogue (?, indeed) and I can't say that every time he communicates. It would get tedious.

That would solve all my problems! Unfortunately, though, his muteness is a part of his character, and the story relies on him being unable to speak. Thanks for the idea, though.



I would read works that have mute characters and use their handling of muteness to inform your own technique. The only book I can think of right now with a mute character is The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, but I'm sure there are others.

Thank you! I was hoping for some book suggestions with mute characters. I will pick that up. :)


The Confidence Man's title character is a mute, and he communicates by writing on a small slate; however, he doesn't participate in conversations, and I think the following scene is the only time he "speaks:"

Despite that being a very interesting read, it doesn't quite apply to my character. More specifically, he's the witness to a murder, so he needs to be able to communicate and have conversations. I just don't know how to do it comfortably. Thank you for sharing that, though.


I asked some friends, and they've suggested <using some kind of bracket> or italics, when he uses sign language. I don't know, though - would that read well? I'm really still lost with how to portray this character.

[hillwalker]

Just because he is mute doesn't mean he doesn't have his own 'inner voice' that you can capitalise on to drive the story forward if you want.
From his perspective/point of view he can be as communicative as any of the other characters in the story (let his dialogue appear in italics if that makes it easier to identify his speeches). Just because the other characters don't hear him doesn't mean your readers can't.

I once wrote an entire monlogue once where the speaker turned out to be mute - no harm in that I assure you.

Good luck

[stephofthenight]

italics. as in thoughts. or "as he makes the signs with his hands trying to convey the deepest meaning to her she begins to understand his silent words..." <- sentences like that. and once you establish the charcter tbhe reader knows he is mute so establish one form of communication and use it as his speech.

[Ties That Bind]

One of my main characters is a mute. Developing these character's backgrounds is best; then they have plenty to think about with their inner voice. I use italics for thoughts. I also use a sign language and occasionally he might write something. It used to be difficult for me and I thought the character was being neglected somewhat which is why it's important to give these sort of characters special attention and plenty of scope for participation in the story. I made it easier on myself and had his three best friends learn this 'sign language' however . . . it's always handy to have a translator!

[xtianfriborg13]

You'll have to be really descriptive on this character's gestures and expressions.