Comments on: Flavor Your Fiction with Foreign Expressions

By: Sudha Balagopal

Sudha Balagopal — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 13:21:39 +0000

In reply to dholcomb1. Agreed, Denise. The foreign expressions should seem natural to the prose. Thank you for reading!

By: dholcomb1

dholcomb1 — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 04:02:47 +0000

I do like it when they're used appropriately--sometimes they can be very educational about culture--but, not as token drops.

denise

By: Az Karim

Az Karim — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 05:45:59 +0000

This is so useful. As a non-native English speaker, I also sometimes wonder how do I effectively incorporate non-English words in my writing.

By: Sudha Balagopal

Sudha Balagopal — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 05:24:38 +0000

In reply to Eldred Bird. Thank you Bob! Glad you use Navajo words. And yes, those cultural references make a story come alive!

By: Eldred Bird

Eldred Bird — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 03:55:14 +0000

Excellent post, Sudha. In the third James McCarthy book (Cold Karma), I included several Navajo words, as James was working with Deputy Nestor Yazzi. There are also cultural references that add depth and color to the character.

By: Sudha Balagopal

Sudha Balagopal — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 02:48:04 +0000

In reply to Amber Polo - author. Hi Amber, Just in case you didn't see my response to your post -- just been a long day -- here it is again! Thank you for your feedback. I'm sorry, I think I answered to your post and addressed my response to Kenneth Weene! Apologies. Yes, recently I have stopped using italics and if the dialog in the foreign language is not extensive, I feel I don't need to explain. Readers are smart, we have to give them credit!

By: Sudha Balagopal

Sudha Balagopal — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 02:42:06 +0000

In reply to Kenneth Weene. Hi Kenneth, Sorry I think I inadvertently replied to someone else's post and addressed it to you! Yes, it is challenging, isn't it, getting the right flavor of the language, especially the regional differences. Kudos to you for doing your research!

By: Sudha Balagopal

Sudha Balagopal — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 02:39:22 +0000

In reply to Jenny Hansen. Thank you, Jenny. I'm responding to the fascinating responses to the post!

By: Sudha Balagopal

Sudha Balagopal — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 02:38:14 +0000

In reply to Sudha Balagopal. Amber, thank you for your feedback. I'm sorry, I think I answered to your post and addressed my response to Kenneth Weene! Apologies. Yes, recently I have stopped using italics and if the dialog in the foreign language is not extensive, I feel I don't need to explain. Readers are smart, we have to give them credit!

By: Sudha Balagopal

Sudha Balagopal — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 02:34:03 +0000

In reply to Kenneth Weene. Kenneth Weene, thank you! I used to italicize Indian words, but now I tend not to, especially if they are few and far between. The context usually makes the meaning clear. Happy writing!