Technobabble: How Much Is Too Much?

[Shaun]

Technobabble, if you didn't know, is the use of scientific terms, real or imagines, within your prose as if they were just normal words. Think Star Trek dialogue.
So, how much technobabble is too much in a story? Do you agree with inventing lots of your own technology-based words to use in dialogue? Inventing new computers and giving them their own name, for example.

[Andy]

I guess technobabble is okay as long as the author doesn't sound like he's trying to impress the reader. I think it should be like infodumps: give enough info so the reader knows what's necessary, and no more.

Stargate SG-1 made fun of technobabble a lot: one character always explained things the scientific way, and was always asked by another character to give a simpler, 10-word version of what she was saying. :)

[Carraka]

I agree with Andrew -- as long as the author isn't just trying to impress the reader.

But when making fun of technobabble -- I feel like I've seen that too many times. Character A speaks incomprehensible scientific something, and then Character B translates. It was fun the first time I read it (I believe in Patricia C. Wrede's The Enchanted Forest Chronicles), but now I'm just tired of it. It might be me, though. I get tired of such things pretty quickly.

[Shaun]

I agree somewhat Carraka. I've seen it a million times before. It is a little funny at times when done by the right person, but for the most part if you're making fun of it it just isn't funny. I've not watched a lot of SG-1 though, so I can't say if it worked there, but I trust Andy's judgment. If he says it is funny I would agree with him. SG-1 is a decent show, I just hate Scifi Channel and commercials too much to sit around watching it :S

[Andy]

I agree somewhat Carraka. I've seen it a million times before. It is a little funny at times when done by the right person, but for the most part if you're making fun of it it just isn't funny. I've not watched a lot of SG-1 though, so I can't say if it worked there, but I trust Andy's judgment. If he says it is funny I would agree with him. SG-1 is a decent show, I just hate Scifi Channel and commercials too much to sit around watching it :S
The guy in SG-1 who always asked for a simpler version was a humorous, sarcastic character, so it was always seen as a joke, while still being informative. And they didn't overdo it, either.

[Rafael Domination]

I tink it's alright if they author knows his stuff, can make it interesting and doesn't put too much of it...