Register Guidelines E-Books Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Go Back   MobileRead Forums > E-Book General > Writers' Corner

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 07-26-2010, 04:05 AM   #1
Druid_Elf
Zealot
Druid_Elf will become famous soon enoughDruid_Elf will become famous soon enoughDruid_Elf will become famous soon enoughDruid_Elf will become famous soon enoughDruid_Elf will become famous soon enoughDruid_Elf will become famous soon enough
 
Posts: 109
Karma: 612
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: belgium
Device: none
Which language do you use ?

Hi,
This might be a strange question but what language do you use to write your (e)books ?
If you are not a native english speaker, it's quite possible that you will make grammar errors (or translations errors from your native language to english).

So do you write in your native language, and then have someone translate it for you, or do you write in english, and hope that you have enough language skills to write in your non-native language ?

I was just curious as there are writers from all over the world and I would find it strange if they all wrote in english.

Thanks for your feedback
Druid_Elf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2010, 05:01 AM   #2
Worldwalker
Curmudgeon
Worldwalker ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Worldwalker ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Worldwalker ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Worldwalker ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Worldwalker ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Worldwalker ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Worldwalker ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Worldwalker ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Worldwalker ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Worldwalker ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Worldwalker ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Posts: 3,085
Karma: 722357
Join Date: Feb 2010
Device: PRS-505
You might want to read the post "What It's Really Like To Be A Copy Editor" and ask yourself whether people who are native English speakers can write in their native language. From the evidence I've seen, a fair number of them don't.
Worldwalker is offline   Reply With Quote
Advert
Old 07-27-2010, 04:03 AM   #3
Gudy
Wizard
Gudy ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Gudy ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Gudy ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Gudy ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Gudy ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Gudy ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Gudy ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Gudy ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Gudy ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Gudy ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Gudy ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Gudy's Avatar
 
Posts: 1,154
Karma: 3252017
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Germany
Device: Pocketbook Touch Lux (623)
From what I've seen, non-native English speakers, at least from a certain skill level up, are actually less likely to make grammar and spelling errors than most native speakers. This is especially true of pet peeves like there/their/they're, a lot/alot and similar homophone confusions. Translation errors are a concern, but that's why you want a beta reader whose native language is English. :-)
Gudy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-27-2010, 07:11 AM   #4
Druid_Elf
Zealot
Druid_Elf will become famous soon enoughDruid_Elf will become famous soon enoughDruid_Elf will become famous soon enoughDruid_Elf will become famous soon enoughDruid_Elf will become famous soon enoughDruid_Elf will become famous soon enough
 
Posts: 109
Karma: 612
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: belgium
Device: none
Thanks for your insights. It's true that with recent spelling programs it's less likely to make mistakes, but in my native language it's easier to be more eloquent than in English (unless I use translations dictionnaries ). But writing in English will make your work more accessable to a larger audience.
Hadn't considered the face of using a beta reader which is a native english speaker.
Thanks
Druid_Elf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2010, 11:46 AM   #5
DArenson
ebookworm
DArenson rocks like Gibraltar!DArenson rocks like Gibraltar!DArenson rocks like Gibraltar!DArenson rocks like Gibraltar!DArenson rocks like Gibraltar!DArenson rocks like Gibraltar!DArenson rocks like Gibraltar!DArenson rocks like Gibraltar!DArenson rocks like Gibraltar!DArenson rocks like Gibraltar!DArenson rocks like Gibraltar!
 
DArenson's Avatar
 
Posts: 268
Karma: 100026
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Canada
Device: Kobo, Kindle
I was born in Israel and the first language I learned to read/write in is Hebrew. I spent two years in the US -- between the ages of 13 to 15 -- and learned to read and write in English. Today I write in English.
DArenson is offline   Reply With Quote
Advert
Old 07-28-2010, 04:05 PM   #6
ficbot
Wizard
ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Posts: 2,409
Karma: 4132096
Join Date: Sep 2008
Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App
I write kiddie stuff in French for my students and usually have it proof-read by at least 2 native speakers. Everything else, I write in my native language, English

I think that whatever language you write in, it is important to have proof-readers. I read a book off Smashwords recently where it quickly became clear that English was not her first language. There were no obvious glaring errors per se, but there were certain expressions or turns of phrase that very clearly gave it away. I look up the author's bio and sure enough, she mentions being a native Spanish speaker and living in many Spanish countries.
ficbot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2010, 02:05 PM   #7
MacEachaidh
Browser
MacEachaidh ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MacEachaidh ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MacEachaidh ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MacEachaidh ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MacEachaidh ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MacEachaidh ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MacEachaidh ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MacEachaidh ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MacEachaidh ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MacEachaidh ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.MacEachaidh ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
MacEachaidh's Avatar
 
Posts: 745
Karma: 578294
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Australia
Device: Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura HD
My native language is English. I do a lot writing in Gaelic, but I doubt I'll ever be more than functional in that language. Gaelic grammar is straightforward and quite logical, but the expression of ideas is highly idiomatic (and often surprising, from an English-speaking worldview). I've become quite proficient as a translator from Gaelic to English, so I can understand what I read, but I'm far less certain when trying to write directly in Gaelic.

It's opened my eyes a great deal to the struggles others might have in writing in English.
MacEachaidh is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Why not in another language? panzer Kobo Reader 0 08-05-2010 08:07 PM
Seriously thoughtful Learning a new language GraceKrispy Lounge 159 11-22-2009 08:38 AM
Language metadata Toxaris Calibre 1 11-19-2009 04:22 PM
Unutterably Silly language codes Nate the great Lounge 6 08-04-2009 04:46 PM
iLiad language ? java ? kran iRex Developer's Corner 12 06-10-2008 06:45 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:02 AM.


MobileRead.com is a privately owned, operated and funded community.