Writing Blog Number 2

20240516 Using Foreign Words

Using Foreign Words

Back to my list of topics for writers!

This topic is one that does not seem to be needed as much as it used to be, back in the twentieth century. A part of it is that there are a number of publishers who don’t like it, and a part of it is that it just does not seem necessary.

This is the use of foreign words in your fiction.

The modern feeling is that when someone is speaking a language other than English, you write their words in English, but indicate elsewhere that the language is not English.
         e.g.”I have the bomb,” she said down the phone in Russian, so Bill didn’t understand what she was talking about.
Yes, it’s clunky, but that seems to be what more and more publishers are pushing for.

However, the traditional way is to have the person say the phrase in their own language, then supply a translation.
         e.g.”Veni, vidi, calcitravi sus nates!” Caesar declared. (I came, I saw, I kicked its arse!)
Note, both the foreign words and the translation are in italics.

There is also a trend amongst some publishers to have foreign language translated, but to indicate through formatting that it has been translated.
         e.g.”[I saw a flying saucer!]” the German boy cried, but none of the Americans understood him.
Note, this is in italics and surrounded by square brackets. At least 2 publishers I have worked with prefer this.

So, that’s what happens when a person uses a whole sentence in a foreign language.

What about if they just use a word or phrase?
         In that case, the foreign word should be in italics, and, especially if it is a common word or phrase, there does not need to be a translation.
         e.g.”Ciao, Fred!” Donna called from across the pool.
         Marilyn Monroe has a touch of je ne sais quoi about her acting.
         When my school bully was beaten up, I couldn’t help but feel a little Schadenfreude about the situation.
         I hate it when I get a feeling of déjà vu for no reason.
Note that only one of these examples uses direct speech. At any time in a written work, when using a foreign word that has not been absorbed into English, it should be in italics. The exceptions to this are words from European languages. So, French words, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, German, are all in italics. If an Australian word, however, has become a part of English, then it does not need italics. Kangaroo definitely has become English; wadjita has not. They are both from the same language group, but one is in common use, one isn’t.

Why European words? I have no idea, but that is the way it goes. This includes Latin, by the way.

And that is the use of foreign words in English.
Generally.