I Google translate if I have a crush/curiosity about the person. Otherwise, I skip it! I have tons of Arabic statuses from the friends I made in Tunisia. Usually too lazy to attempt to understand.
Native Anglophone here, and I'd venture to guess that over 50% of my FB statuses are in other languages.
I have a variety of reasons: 1) When I'm reading something in another language, I often feel "inspired" to update in that language. 2) I frequently post quotes or song lyrics that describe my feelings/situation, and I prefer to post them in the original language. 3) I'm posting something for a specific audience who I know will understand and notice it... or I'm attempting to AVOID a specific audience. For example, sometimes if I'm upset but don't want to discuss it, I'll avoid using English so I don't get questions from certain people.
I've had a few rude comments about it (notably one person who told me to go back to Mexico after I posted something in French) but they're few and far between. If anyone's curious enough to ask, I always translate it without hesitation. I typically don't bother offering a translation until asked though.
I'm native German (though fluent in English, thanks to higher education in Canada) and I write all my statuses in English. The main reason is that most of my FB friends are English natives and that virtually everybody understands it -- ya know, it's easier for Germans who learnt English in school to get what I'm saying than for Americans to figure out what on earth I'm talking about when I speak German
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I write whatever I want, in whatever language I want, on my statuses. Most of mine are in English but sometimes I am in the mood to type in another language. Or I have song lyrics in a different language in my head, etc. Sometimes I get a "What does that say? lol" comment, and sometimes responses in the language if anyone knows it. Or maybe no one will comment. I don't care, it's my status.
Hmm. I don't really use facebook/twitter very often, but when I do post updates they are usually in Swedish. Sometimes I'll get comments asking for an English translation, which I'll then post. But mostly I'll just get replies in Swedish, or no comments at all.
I definitely see a lot of English statuses, but it isn't uncommon to see them in Swedish, French or German. Occasionally, though less frequently, I'll see statuses in Norwegian, Spanish or Danish.
I understand at least a little of all the aforementioned languages, so I'll always read the statuses. As for commenting on them, I'll almost always try to comment in whatever language the status was posted in unless it's Norwegian or Danish (or, sometimes, German) in which case I reply in Swedish or English, depending on the person and the language.
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I have a variety of reasons:
1) When I'm reading something in another language, I often feel "inspired" to update in that language.
2) I frequently post quotes or song lyrics that describe my feelings/situation, and I prefer to post them in the original language.
3) I'm posting something for a specific audience who I know will understand and notice it... or I'm attempting to AVOID a specific audience. For example, sometimes if I'm upset but don't want to discuss it, I'll avoid using English so I don't get questions from certain people.
I've had a few rude comments about it (notably one person who told me to go back to Mexico after I posted something in French) but they're few and far between. If anyone's curious enough to ask, I always translate it without hesitation. I typically don't bother offering a translation until asked though.
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I definitely see a lot of English statuses, but it isn't uncommon to see them in Swedish, French or German. Occasionally, though less frequently, I'll see statuses in Norwegian, Spanish or Danish.
I understand at least a little of all the aforementioned languages, so I'll always read the statuses. As for commenting on them, I'll almost always try to comment in whatever language the status was posted in unless it's Norwegian or Danish (or, sometimes, German) in which case I reply in Swedish or English, depending on the person and the language.
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