Lois’s answer to “Although I highly appreciate some of your Vorkosigan novels, on the whole I tend to prefer the Worl…” > Likes and Comments

“Technically, none of the 5GU characters are speaking any our-Earth languages, so there ought to be some elbow room in pretend-translation by the Author.” Yes, this is true. Subjectively, it feels anachronistic to me (an Englishman) when I encounter Americanisms in mediæval times. Although it’s funny that I feel that way, because the English I speak would also be anachronistic in mediæval times…

“But I do try to comb out metaphors, anachronisms, and terms based on technologies that don't exist there.” You’re very diligent; and it works! The result feels authentic. I reread the beginning of The Hallowed Hunt just now, and I really I feel that I’m there! There's nothing out of place to distract.

“Freshen up” has never been part of my vocabulary, and I don’t remember hearing anyone but an American using it. Of course, I can’t swear that it’s not used in Europe, or even in England. But I suspect that any such use has crept over from the USA, in the way that things do. (And I noticed a Youtube video recently about British expressions that have crept over to the USA.)

As a Brit I can confirm "Freshen up" gets used in England.

I really appreciate authors who take this into account. I've recently a of fantasy-book that used the word mohawk to describe the hairstyle. And another where the phrase "cut to the chase" was used frequently. Very annoying! (And english isn't even my first language!)