Foreign (or original) language in a dialogue

[orionsixwings]

Should we put the translation as a footnote, or right after the dialogue?

Alan Moore writes his graphic novels using the actual calligraphy of the language in use durng the conversation, and it gives a different effect to the reader. Tolkien uses footnotes to translate the elvish (or dwarvish, or dark speech) used in the paragraph for readers to understand. I forgot who it was, but there was another book I read where the translation came after the sentences.

What is better?

 

[Lissa]

I think it depends on the type of book being written. With Tolkien the footnotes gave the text a more archaic feel. Like you are reading the history of an ancient civilization, which is how he wrote. With other books I have read (can't think of any exact ones at the moment) it was better to have a translation right after because the author wanted a more modern feel. What it basically comes down to is preference.

 

[Green]

Aye, good points. I would also add that maybe you don't need to have a translation at all.

I mean, if the conversation is taking place between two people who speak the language, and one of them is the POV character (or the POV char is simply listening in and understands the language), then there's no need to write it in the foreign language at all...

e.g. "I went to the shops today," they said, in their native Ganglian.

But if the POV character doesn't speak the langauage of the conversation going on, then you should write it in the foreign language and not supply a translation, because the POV character doesn't understand it, and so neither should the reader. Tolkien gets away with footnotes where most other authors would not, I think. Most works of fantasy would not benefit from footnotes.

e.g. "Mair g'rijgliak per-tek," one whispered, but Jim could not make out the words.

Depends on the situation and aims you have, of course