Bi-lingual characters language switching -questions

[CosmicLeon]

So i have a bi-lingual character who's native language is different than the common language (in this case common is written in english) So i was wondering if I should but his though bubbles in his language, rather than common. This is a fantasy novel so the language doesn't really exist which makes it harder for me to decide what I should do. Typically when this character speaks that language I write it romanized so the readers can read how it sounds, with a translation. But I don't know if should just write it in english, or keep it ambiguous. Basically what he is telling himself is to "keep it together" so plot wise i don't think i makes a huge impact on knowing what he is saying to himself, but I would like some thoughts on it as i would like to write it in a character set I have designed.

[Jen-Jen]

There are better people than me to ask, but, typically, always translating into your mother tongue is a bad way to learn a language. There's a delay, it's distracting and confusing, and there isn't always a perfect translation. If you don't want to always put the character's thoughts in the fantasy language, then by all means, don't.

[AilyneGouveia]

Heya ! I got a lot of Bi-lingual characters in my story, although i don't show their thoughts i let them speak in their native langage whenever needed. So what i do is that if it's just for one or two speech bubles, i do the text in Italian for exemple and translate it in english under the pannels. But i have planned some speech that will be entirely in another langage then english and i thought about using another font for this, one that stand out. Plus a little note at the begining of the conversation, so i'm sure the readers will not get confused and can still follow what it's about.

I hope i could help you a bit

[gmaximin]

If what your character isn’t crucial to your story, you can keep the original language.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen just came to mind for this, with bubbles in original language that aren’t bringing much to the story once translated, but gives a mysterious feeling.
Now if the language is invented (unclear from what you’re saying), I’d suggest to add a translation somewhere (under or at panel bottom is quite common), or a way for people to decipher (even though most people won’t bother in all fairness).

[CosmicLeon]

well, he kinda is important, but yes, i wanted the err of mystery to him. and thank you, I will have a translation under. It's be a while until i release the grammar/language info on it, because I am still perfecting it as I go.

[domisotto]

I don’t reproduce foreign language in my story, I just mention it when the characters talk in it, conveying it through text, like this:

---

While he devoured food with his eyes, salivating but suspicious, Liam moved, because his voice came just behind his ear. Volya all but leaped up into the air: he was nearly impossible to sneak on.

But also he understood Liam without the translator.

Liam had said: “Don’t worry, the food is safe to eat.” He had said it neither in English, nor in Russian.

[IntoTheTempest]

The main character of Fang & Fractals is bilingual English/Spanish. But he's lived in the US most of his life and has been around english speakers most of his life, so his thoughts are in English.

[joannekwan]

Practically speaking, if there's a LOT of text in the other language, and translations can't fit in the gutters anymore and you don't want reader fatigue, I use carrots around regular English to denote they're speaking/thinking in the other language.

Like if all this was in Spanish, I would need a whole 'nother page for the translation.

[Tanako]

Personally I like the idea of having the traditional language written out. here is a sample of mine

I do this so readers can get the feel for it. I understand that some people may not be fund of it but personally I like it. what I try to do is not overwhelm the page with too many text so it looks clean and professional,
at the end of the day it's up to you and what you prefer. if you are going to be working with a lot of words then this my not be the best idea. but if you are using few words then I don't see a problem.

[carreonaiwille]

I don't know if think could help. I use or typically don't translate the foreign language the MC speaks because often she uses it to distance herself from other characters. Sometimes, meaning is implied.

I guess it depends on what you want to achieve or how important the character's bilingualism is to your story.

[shfra13]

Not sure if this help, but the language I use in my mind depends of what language is my surroundings at the time. For example, if I hear someone speaking in my native language, my thoughts will speak in my native language. Or, like right now, I'm reading something in english, my thoughts will speak in english. Not sure if other bilinguals experience this, but that's my personal experience. On the other hand, when my thoughts wasn't triggered by anything (e.g., I was alone and just randomly daydream), my thoughts can be whatever language I'm comfortable at the time. Sometimes, mid thoughts, I can alternate between the two languages. Mostly, because I'm comfortable with both language. So, in my opinion, the character's thoughts can interchange between language (if they are fluent in english! Otherwise, it is easier to think in native language). If you use the native language, though, I think it is better to have a direct translation. If it is a comic, putting it in the speech bubble is good enough. But, since you said it's a novel, I'd suggest something like this:

"[foreign language]," he told himself to keep it together.

Alternatively, you can also try

[foreign language], he thought to himself. Keep it together.

You can experiment other ways that fit and flow easier, though!

[SagaHolmgaard]

Personally, I think in the language I'm currently speaking/listening to the most. So when I'm around my swedish family, I start thinking in swedish, but after a day on the english-speaking internet, my brain is in english mode and I think in english xD
I guess you can do whichever you want. Showing his native language in his thought bubbles for lore reasons is totally valid, but having them in english is also logical, I think.

[The_Book_Keeper]

if your character is bilingual in the sense that he speaks a known real language than you can use this method,
[name of language lets say Spanish] "your characters dialogue."
or
if your character is using some made-up language like Dothraki or like the one from Hunter X Hunter universe (where the spoken language is the same just the written format is differnt.) then you will have to explain how the language works in some way.

either way, using both or any one of the methods will do. in the end it depends on the story your telling and the audience you are writing for.

[CosmicLeon]

I want to say thank you to everyone I will think about your advice(s) and see how I will move forward.