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Date Posted: 16:19:29 02/02/04 Mon
Author: Cyanide
Subject: Ok. (r)
In reply to: Shanola 's message, "Comments inside." on 22:19:09 02/01/04 Sun

I don't understand the need to include an entire conversation in French. I've heard it said that it makes the fiction more real but if that's the case, then ALL of Michael's thinking should probably be in French, which could pose a serious communication problem to the reader.

Actually, the french conversation had more to do with Janet than it did Michael - she started the conversation, she choose the language. I had thought of having Michael's thoughts in french as well - simply because he was having a conversation in that language and it is usual to think in the language you are speaking - but then decided against it, in order to provide more of a divide between his thoughts and the exchange with Janet. Now, having said that, I will again consider changing his thoughts to french.

Why not just say something like, "She spoke in French and Michael answered the same way". Then I'd KNOW they were speaking French but I wouldn't have to actually look at a sentence and then read the translation.

Having already included a brief conversation between Janet and Daniel in Latin, I thought it best to stick to the same format.

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Replies:

[> [> [> [> Hmm... -- Shanola, 20:15:36 02/02/04 Mon

First off, thanks for answering. =P I wasn't sure you would. This is a touchy subject for me and I tend to rant when it comes up so I was afraid you'd read it and go, "Silly girl!" and blow me off. Thanks for taking the time to answer me.

I don't necessarily think you should change Michael's thoughts to French. I agree with you that he probably thinks in French but I don't think it's necessary to write his thoughts in that language.

You said that you included the second conversation because it kept to the same format as earlier in the story. I'm questioning that format.

I find it very distracting when entire conversations are written in another language. I've been trying to think of an example of that in a published novel and I can't. Words, phrases, sure. No problem there. Words and short phrases are short and it's easy to include a translation of the phrase/word in the conversation. In books, when characters speak in different languages, the author usually just makes a note of it and goes on. I can't think of one book where an author has written an entire conversation between two characters in a different language. Not even Tolkien. I certainly don't think that if a book is translated into, say, French that the character's American converstations are left in English.

I don't think its okay to write that way in published writing and I find it distracting in fanfic. It's unneccessary. Can you convince me otherwise? I'm very willing to hear another side of this issue.

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[> [> [> [> [> Warning rambling ahead...(r) -- Cyanide, 14:25:41 02/03/04 Tue

First off, thanks for answering. =P I wasn't sure you would. This is a touchy subject for me and I tend to rant when it comes up so I was afraid you'd read it and go, "Silly girl!" and blow me off. Thanks for taking the time to answer me.

lolol, I am not inclined to take these things personally, so feel free to rant all you like.

I'm not the type of person who asks for people's opinions' and then refuses to consider them, no matter how they are delivered. (I've never been able to understand people who do do that either.)

Regardless of whether or not I agree with someone's opinion, I will always consider it, dissect it and then dissect my own to see whether or not it requires editing.

You said that you included the second conversation because it kept to the same format as earlier in the story. I'm questioning that format.

I find it very distracting when entire conversations are written in another language. I've been trying to think of an example of that in a published novel and I can't. Words, phrases, sure. No problem there. Words and short phrases are short and it's easy to include a translation of the phrase/word in the conversation. In books, when characters speak in different languages, the author usually just makes a note of it and goes on. I can't think of one book where an author has written an entire conversation between two characters in a different language. Not even Tolkien. I certainly don't think that if a book is translated into, say, French that the character's American converstations are left in English.

You are quite right, usually only small portions of conversations are written in different languages - personally, I've always felt a little cheated when authors did that.

Though I possess little talent in regards to different languages, I do enjoy the intricacies of the written word and find the inclusion of different languages interesting.

Having said that, I think it is likely that the majority of people would concur with you on this matter, and so, I shall see if my addled brain can come up with a clarifying sentence which will allow me to eliminate the french passages.

I don't think its okay to write that way in published writing and I find it distracting in fanfic. It's unneccessary. Can you convince me otherwise? I'm very willing to hear another side of this issue.

I sincerely doubt I would be able to convince you otherwise, even if I wanted to. Yes, it is probably distracting, but then I enjoy distractions and to me that is what fan fiction is.

Seeing as you used the magic word "unnecessary," I will change it - I do so dislike anything unnecessary. *bg*

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[> [> [> [> [> [> Okay. And hey... -- Shanola, 20:13:53 02/03/04 Tue

It's going to be a few days before I can beta the rest of this story. I'm getting ready to head out of town and working like crazy so I can go. I might need a week or so to get back to you on the remaining bits.

Thanks so much for putting the story here, though. I'm really enjoying it. =P

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