Usually, if I have an non-English speaking character, I always have the character speak their mother tongue. I then have an Author's Notes at the bottom and translate the lines, or conversation, for those who wish to know what was said.
I would like to know how other's do it. I only use this method because it's the one I find easiest. It is also the method I prefer when reading fics. I have read a few that have the original language in the body of the story and then no translation whatsoever. I then have to copy the dialogue, in its entirety, into a free translation site, just to understand it.
I've thought of the English in italics method before (thinks back to Say Anything (http://www.hpfandom.net/eff/viewstory.php?sid=23715) by megyal). If the reader knows the characters are speaking another language, they might appreciate the knowledge that another language is being spoken without having to skip through a set of phrases they cannot pronounce, let alone understand.
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I would like to know how other's do it. I only use this method because it's the one I find easiest. It is also the method I prefer when reading fics. I have read a few that have the original language in the body of the story and then no translation whatsoever. I then have to copy the dialogue, in its entirety, into a free translation site, just to understand it.
I've thought of the English in italics method before (thinks back to Say Anything (http://www.hpfandom.net/eff/viewstory.php?sid=23715) by megyal). If the reader knows the characters are speaking another language, they might appreciate the knowledge that another language is being spoken without having to skip through a set of phrases they cannot pronounce, let alone understand.
I definitely look forward to the other responses!