English expressions for video game dialogues

Question

Hello.I'm currently writing dialogues for a video game, but since English isn't my native language I would need a little help regarding some expressions.In French there is an expression which we sometimes use to describe the lowest part of a city or area in a rather pejorative way, which is "les bas-fonds", implying that people living there are whether poor or not very commendable. But I don't find any equivalent in English.I would also need to modify those two sentences, so that it looks like the person is trying to sound smarter than he is, but fails and makes grammatical mistakes :- Have you already subscribed to our services? In this case please come in.I've tried this, but I don't think it translates the idea that well. Those are just mistakes for the sake of it, whithout the idea of trying to sound smart :- Did you already have subscribed to our services? In this case please would you come in.Thanks in advance.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

anonymousIn French there is an expression which we sometimes use to describe the lowest part of a city or area in a rather pejorative way, which is "les bas-fonds", implying that people living there are whether poor or not very commendable. But I don't find any equivalent in English.

"The slums" might be closest to your "the shallows". The AHD defines it as "n. often slums
A heavily populated urban area characterized by substandard housing and squalor: grew up in a slum near downtown; lived in the slums by the river." ( https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=slum ) I would say, though, that a slum is more about the buildings than the people.

There is an expression "the gut", but it is confined to the US Navy. The Urban Dictionary defines it well: "An unofficial US Navy term. An area in a continental European city where the trashy bars and prostitutes usually are." If your guy is a US sailor, and you're in Europe, that's what you want.

If all you want is prostitutes, there is "the Red Light District".

Of course, "the ghetto" is available, but in the US that has come to mean the area where the black people are, but with reference to the unfortunate ramifications of the oppression and isolation they suffer, so it is heavily racist if used to mean "where the impoverished criminals live".

anonymousI would also need to modify those two sentences, so that it looks like the person is trying to sound smarter than he is, but fails and makes grammatical mistakes :- Have you already subscribed to our services? In this case please come in.

I have heard that called "delusions of eloquence". I know what you want, except I don't know what it is supposed to mean. Some context would help a lot.

Maybe: "Is youse inscribed to our services? Aright, then, on tray, mon sewer." He has butchered "Are you subscribed to our services" All right, then, entree, monsieur." An American might well use French in that way trying to sound sophisticated. Even Homer Simpson has said "au contraire, mon frère", but he said it to Marge like the **** that he is.

Anonymous · Answer

Try this https://www.yourdictionary.com/sink-estate

English expressions for video game dialogues

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