POLL: Foreign Languages in Stories - Aye or Nay

[severusslave]

Poll Foreign Languages in Stories - Aye or Nay

This really interests me. Click a radio button! Also, feel free to tell me about horrible badfic experiences you've made concerning this. *remembers HP fiction and Parsletongue usage* *shudders*

Comments

[xanzpet]

I don't really have any particular badfic experiences when it comes to foreign languages. That is, outside of Harry Potter. *headdesk* It just irks me when authors rely on online translators for Latin or Greek spells or whatnot, because the translators usually suck and don't take things like tense, etc. into account. Of course, JKR's Latin is notoriously bad, so what can you expect? *sigh*

But since my degree is in Latin and Greek, it just bothers me. I suspect the same holds true for those who speak more than one language. I also speak French and, while I'm not fluent, it's irritating when you see it mangled. Grr.

[severusslave]

Oh, I agree! I speak German, English, French and half-way decent Italian, as well as having learned Latin and Japanese in school for long years!

Mangled languages are horrid. A very simple method of ruining your story in one second. Why people just can't find a native speaker to translate things for them I don't know.

[reijamira]

Actually when reading fanfics I'd like to understand each and every word. It bugs me to no end when there is no translation at all given.

In badfics foreign languages are often used completely meaningless, and, of course, you will never find a translation. WTF?

[severusslave]

Yepp. I hate that, too.

Oh, of course they are. May I point you to jap fandom fics? And while I'm sure that there are 10yrs old American girls who can speak and write perfect Japanese, the majority does not. Back off.
Also, Latin isn't the default language to mangle if there is some magic in your story. Choose a different language: be original.

*sigh*

[porntestpilot]

I like to just write in another language and maybe not translate it at all, thus annoying everyone.

[severusslave]

Ja, das ist auch lustig. Wahr.

Mwahahaha.

[porntestpilot]

You are assuming I can't read that?

[severusslave]

You took some German, didn't you? So, yes. It's simple words.

:> Or do you want me to add a translation footnote?