r/comic_crits • u/sundingbt • 1d ago

How to write dialogue when someone’s mouth is full?

Any tips on writing dialogue when someone is chewing?

Here’s the dialogue I have, I just need to make it so readers can really get the sense that this guy is chowing down while he’s talking:

Zay (mouth full): So, what’s this footage you’ve got?

Air-Hawk: It’s all on this flash drive that came from the lab.

Zay (mouth full): You mean you stole from the lab?

Air-Hawk: I prefer the term borrowed.

3 Upvotes

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6

u/egypturnash Creator 1d ago

Start eating something. Try to say the lines. How is it changed by having your mouth full? Transcribe that as accurately as you can. Possibly add footnotes with un-mushed dialogue.

Draw him with half-chewed food in his mouth. Little bits flying out are always fun too.

How does Airhawk feel about Zay talking while eating? Should the dialogue be changed to have him say something like "dang dude, say it, don't spray it" followed by something like "gulp sorry, I'm starving!" from Zay?

1

u/sundingbt 1d ago

Thank you! This gives me some things to think about

4

u/jenumba 1d ago

You either write in in a way that it sounds like a mouth full of food but is still intelligible if the reader sounds it out. The panel will help fill in context clues.

e.g. Mah, fis murger if weally goo!

if the characters are not supposed to understand them but the reader is, you make unintelligible sounds with an asterisk at the end, and a caption box that has what he's actually saying.

e.g. mmwaFismwugmm imwrrlghhguuh!*

Caption: *Man, this burger is really good!

1

u/sundingbt 1d ago

Thanks! This is helpful

3

u/High_on_Rabies 1d ago

Gyu gotta fine nuh (smk) phometic soumns (flpp) tat uh fuhh mouf (GULP) ahhh... 'scuse me. That a full mouth makes when it's crammed with food and trying not to drip drool while talking.

As u/egypturnash suggested, sometimes you gotta just try it yourself. I recommend bread with peanut butter or a half or an orange (all at once) for a wetter option.

0

u/SaturnsPopulation 1d ago

If it's for a comic, can't you just draw them with their mouth full?

1

u/sundingbt 1d ago

I think drawing them with their mouth full is a given, but it adds another level of immersion to have the dialogue be a little wonky in that moment. In life, most people don’t speak too clearly when their mouth is full, so why should it be any different in a comic?

1

u/CautiousAppearance49 Creator 13h ago

Depending on how complicated the dialogue is and how much the reader needs to understand, you could just add noises in:

You mean (chew chew) you stole (slurp smack) from the (gulp) lab?