Subcreator
Minstrel
I have a pretty specific question, but this could also apply to any word that comes into English from another language. I am writing a contemporary/urban fantasy about the fae. The main character is a moderately well-read young woman who discovers that a fae tribe lives below the streets of Boston. I say that she is well-read, especially in medieval romances, because she knows enough to recognize that the word sidhe.
Just in case anyone doesn't know, the word means "mound" with the sense of that being where the fae live. My question is this: when those who do not know Irish orthography see it, they would likely pronounce is sid, or even sid.he, when it should be shee
For those who know IPA: (/sɪd/, or even /sɪd.he/, when it should be pronounced /ʃiː/)
Now to my question: Would it be better to go with the traditional spelling (in this case, sidhe) or use a spelling that readers would be more likely to pronounce correctly, like shee?
Just in case anyone doesn't know, the word means "mound" with the sense of that being where the fae live. My question is this: when those who do not know Irish orthography see it, they would likely pronounce is sid, or even sid.he, when it should be shee
For those who know IPA: (/sɪd/, or even /sɪd.he/, when it should be pronounced /ʃiː/)
Now to my question: Would it be better to go with the traditional spelling (in this case, sidhe) or use a spelling that readers would be more likely to pronounce correctly, like shee?