I’ve got to disagree with you there, anon. I was an English language instructor both overseas and in Canada for 14 years and lemme tell you? That’s not the case.
When we read a language, we’re recognizing words and interpreting meaning. When we’re writing, we have to actively choose words and put them together in some sort of grammatical form. They two skills are related, but they aren’t the same. I can read Korean just fine, and I know how to write all of the letters and combine them together, but when I try to form a sentence? Everything is in the wrong order and I’m choosing words that are impolite or incorrect for the context or both.
I’ve learned a lot of languages in a lot of different ways, from growing up in a bilingual community to studying languages in school to immersing myself in another culture overseas and I 100% understand the nerves of someone not only trying to write in a language they’re not completely comfortable in but trying to do so in a way that doesn’t come across as rude.
Your level of English language mastery is clearly very very high and the people reading your fics might have a very different level than you do. Native speaking readers don’t comment because of anxiety or worry or any number of other reasons. Non-native speakers just have one more anxiety to add to the rest.
If I were presented with this problem from a reader, you know what my response would be? Leave it in your native language! Maybe it’s just me, but I’d get a kick out of that, and with things like Google Translate, I could probably get a fair approximation of what you’re intending to say.
One of my favorite comments was in Spanish (which I happen to know, but even if it were in a different language, let me tell you, I’d be just as flattered and excited that someone took the time and effort to read in their non-native language and then comment) So. Cool.
I actually did get a comment in Spanish the other day. I can infer from French, but I don’t speak a word of Spanish. So, yeah, Google Translate to the rescue, and it was a wonderful comment and I loved it.
I second the idea of native language comments. I will find it cool to have comments in Polish, German, Russian, whatever,
I had never thought of that. I’m all for the “leave the comment in whatever language you’re comfortable with, if you so desire” idea.
I’ve gotten comments in Spanish in fics written in English, though I just assumed they knew I know Spanish, now it’s just occurring to me that maybe that’s the language they were comfortable with. AND I LOVE IT ❤
Another thing, from a Spanish spaker/english writer author, even a comment like “good write, happy fic, like” would be great, because they took the time to leave a note.
So, leave them in Spanish, English, terrible English, Japanese, I’d love them anyway! 😀
ohmygod 이제 한국말로 코멘트 할까봐ㅠㅠ
I’m a non-native speaker who is still learning, and because of my insecurity of my skills and the fear that I might offend people with my mistakes and mischosen words, commenting always has been hard and exhausting for me. And I struggle to comment because I know what I’m feeling in Korean, my first language, but I just don’t know how to put those in English.
After reading this thread and what writers feel about comments in non-English-language, I feel less self-conscious about commenting and I think I’ll start leaving comments in Korean. This kind of things really encourages people like me. Thank you!
if anyone ever tries to tell u that racism/sexism/ableism/etc. are “natural” just show them this video
Those two that just could not come up with any differences! They were like “we both got glasses, both got these red sweaters, maybe we’re different heigh- nope we’re the same height… well shit we’re perfectly the same!”
Here’s another “friendly” reminder that the LGBTQIA+ community is not a fucking pissing contest to see who suffers the most oppression. The only people who do not belong in the LGBTQIA community are heterosexual, hetero-romantic, cisgender people (as in, ticking all three categories).
You’re biromantic, asexual, cis? You’re in.
Bisexual aro enby? Definitely in.
Asexual, aromantic, intersex? STILL IN.
Our community is built on inclusion and love. Finding peace and comfort with each other when we can’t find it elsewhere.
Stop fucking gatekeeping. You look like an asshole. You don’t get to decide who can or cannot be part of the community. We are not some elite club, where each member must adhere to some standard of queerness.
It’s not a competition. Fucking stop acting like it.
The Archery Range 