discussion A question for non-native english writer.

[kenta50]

So I wanted to start writing for a vn and I was wondering if you write it in your native language and then tranlate or you wrote it directly in english.

 

[TheBlackDeath's iconTheBlackDeath]

If you have someone who knows English well you would probably be better off writing in your own language, then translating and having them proofread it to make sure its understandable. Hell even if you dont have a proof reader you'll be able to write a deeper story in your native language since you wont be held back by a lack of vocabulary, you'll have to deal with things getting lost in translation but that would happen either way.

 

[TheLowEnder]

I don't plan to write any VN, but as non native english speaker, I find that speaking/writing directly in english is the way to go, at least for me.
I believe some quirks of my native language still make through, but I think that I convey my thougts better this way.
Also, as @TheBlackDeath pointed out, you are going to find words that don't translate perfectly from different idioms.

 

[Tofolli85]

i try to write, but then i forget how the word is, then i use the translator, 100% of the time is like this

 

[ejectitembrilliance]

If you have someone who knows English well you would probably be better off writing in your own language, then translating and having them proofread it to make sure its understandable. Hell even if you dont have a proof reader you'll be able to write a deeper story in your native language since you wont be held back by a lack of vocabulary, you'll have to deal with things getting lost in translation but that would happen either way.

Just my opinion, but I would suggest the complete opposite.
In my experience (as a non-native English speaker) when you do it this way, it becomes stilted and jarring to read. It's really easy to see that translation has been the case.
Maybe with current technology this isn't as much an issue anymore, however.

But I still see strange translations, because language is constantly changing. Idioms, new ways of using words that are natural for you in your native language, might not come across as intended in English.

If you write in English, and get a proof-reader, maybe one that is also fluent in your language, I think you'd end up with a much better result. And as a bonus, your English would steadily improve!

 

[mime]

So I wanted to start writing for a vn and I was wondering if you write it in your native language and then tranlate or you wrote it directly in english.

Plenty of VNs would benefit if people wrote in their native language, and worked with a native speaker to help finish the translation.

If you know anyone who has ever done any translation work, you'd know that the first thing translators are taught is that they're learning to translate from another language into their own. That's the much easier way to go. Translating both directions is so much harder.

 

[Sarya]

When i write stories, i generally use my native language, french, then i translate into english if needed.

 

[TheBlackDeath's iconTheBlackDeath]

Just my opinion, but I would suggest the complete opposite.
In my experience (as a non-native English speaker) when you do it this way, it becomes stilted and jarring to read. It's really easy to see that translation has been the case.
Maybe with current technology this isn't as much an issue anymore, however.

But I still see strange translations, because language is constantly changing. Idioms, new ways of using words that are natural for you in your native language, might not come across as intended in English.

If you write in English, and get a proof-reader, maybe one that is also fluent in your language, I think you'd end up with a much better result. And as a bonus, your English would steadily improve!

Thats a great point, I second that if you can get someone who knows both your language and English to go the route of writing in English only. Fall back on your language when you need to get a specific feeling/phrase across that you dont know the words for in English and ask them what the equivalent would be if there is one.

 

[Sarya]

People who do professional translation often say it's better to translate from the language you learn to the language you're native in.

I think i would also insist on the importance of not only knowing the language, but about culture or it's really difficult to translate right.

That being said, here, most of the stuff is fan translate, that's not perfect, but that's good enough in my opinion.

 

[nobodyv31]

I think chat-gpt can handle it easily

 

[kenta50]

Thanks everybody for all your replies, I don't have any native english friends and even less that speak spanish lol, for me the best would be to write directly in english but I am not that proficient yet, I would like to learn and get better at it. But since I am just a rookie at writing too I decided to write in spanish first and then try to translate.

 

[fd13333]

its better to wrote in native and than translate cuz u will have more knoweledge about your characters speak maner and etc