: Re: In which language does the Russian mafiosi speak in my English novel? In my novel, the MC goes to a Russian mafia in Moscow. Now before the MC character introduces herself as an English speaking

@Deb2945533

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My answer to your other question, here, should also answer this one. In brief, English is the language you're writing the novel in, so English is the language you're writing their dialogue in. English is the only language you can expect your readers to read.

If some characters are speaking in Russian, and your POV character doesn't understand what is being said, you can tell that people in the room are speaking in Russian, your MC doesn't understand, then he introduces himself and they switch to English (or have a translator, or something).

If your POV character does understand Russian, you can just have the dialogue in English. Remember, you are not telling "what happened", but the MC's perception of what happened.

If the POV character doesn't understand Russian, but what is being said is important to the story, maybe some other character can repeat it to him in English - whether just give him the cliff notes, or make it interesting with side comments.

Another element you should not forget is tone and body language. While being unable to understand what is being said, your character might grasp the gist of what's going on through how it's being said. He might even glean some interesting insights: turn off one sense to heighten others, as it were.

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