Adding foreign words: Advisable or Not?

[Richard]

I am in the process of publishing a YA novel set in contemporary China. I have tentatively added pinyin (Romanized Mandarin) in italics when local color and dialogue seems to warrant it. I have provided brief translations in the footer on the page where the pinyin occurs, as well as a glossary, which includes tone marks.

One published friend advises me against including foreign words while another encourages me to provide them when they involve a concept or utterance, or other commonly used expression.

What do you think as a writer, as a reader, or both?

[Lee [Bibliophile Tings]]

Personally, I love when other languages are included. As long as there’s enough context or translation to help readers understand, I think it’s a great way to get even more immersed into the story.

[Tamara]

As a reader I am enjoy seeing these language differences from English or cultural differences from American culture (which is what Im most familiar with). I recently read a YA Romance "Highly Suspicious, Unfairly Cute" by Talia Hibbert an author who's from the UK. In the very beginning of the book she inputs a glossary of words and terms that are mostly used with UK youth and things specific to their school system (like grade levels, exam ratings, etc) I found this really interesting, and it made for fun read. If it lends well to your story and the setting, I say put it in!

[Richard]

Thank you for your prompt reply.

[Richard]

Nowadays, many high school students are taking Chinese as a Foreign Language. It might be a useful learning tool for them.

[Maureen]

I very much enjoy when a foreign language is included, ESPECIALLY when pronunciation assistance is provided. I for one feel like there is so much potential to improve world building when foreign language is used, in particular when those cases introduce us to a concept or belief that is so very other to the reader

[Richard]

Thank you to all who've replied thus far, but do you think it might be too cumbersome for teens?

[Mrs]

Speaking as a high school librarian, adding cultural perspective and foreign language words is definitely not too cumbersome for most teens. Teens lack experience, not intelligence: give them that experience. Speaking as a reader, I appreciate when foreign phrases are defined or used with enough context for me to intuit translation. But I tire of it quickly if it comes across as 'showing off' rather than adding context. I say add it.

[Richard]

Useful perspective, Mrs. K. Thsnk you. Yeah, I'm trying to distinguish between gratuitous and culturally informative Chinese words. For example, including the pinyin for a mini-bus, which is not unique to that culture might be too much as opposed to the name of a famous dish of cuisine, a common utterance in dialogue, or concept like losing face.

[Maya]

As a teen and avid reader of ya, personally I enjoy it when books set in other countries include words in other languages! It's best not to overdo it so that we can still understand what's being said, but I'd say go for it! I hope this helps!

[Alice]

Foreign languages are fine as long as you don’t just control c control v on google translate bc ain’t no way that’s going to be accurate

[»-daly (leaving)→]

Foreign words are fine until they get into the gibberish ones that start with x and z and things. That’s just gets confusing

[Diana]

I love when foreign words are used in books. I think it adds to the atmosphere and is sometimes the best move for a character or scene.

It is especially good when the author is able to use a foreign word and make the reader understand by the way a character may respond or how they describe the events afterwords.