: Re: Writing dialogues for characters whose first language is not English I am seriously wondering how to go about writing dialogues for characters whose native language isn't English and who aren't

@Vandalay250

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This problem may be circumvented by instead writing the character's dialogue in English, but changing the tone to reflect the tone of his first language. To make my point clearer, you should note the difference between traditional English novels (whether American or British, for that matter) and Russian novels (translated by a good translator and providing appropriate English equivalents for Russian phrasing). Take Erast Fandorin, for example.
Most of the time, dialogue from such characters is avoided and instead conveyed in the third person. When two characters speaking the same foreign language converse, English may be used to write dialogue, albeit with a different tone, idioms, and style. Interactions between an English-speaker and a foreigner will have to be biased. In other words, one must choose a viewpoint to address the conversation. If not, the writer must possess at least basic knowledge of the foreign language (whether fictional or real!).
The same concept applies when we are writing within a fictional universe, where no English is spoken. You can write from one viewpoint; assign English to be used to convey dialogue in one particular language and treat other languages as one would foreign languages in the real world. Recall Star Wars?!

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