Non-native speaker

Y

youra

New member
Hi!

I am a non-native English speaker. Actually, English is my 3rd language. I think I'm not bad at it, but writing a good screenplay requires a far superior knowledge of the language.
I have some interesting ideas for my first screenplay, but I need it to be written in English, if I want it to be produced somewhen.

I think two possible solutions are:
1) to write it in Eglish, no matter how good my English is, and then find a good editor/proofreader to read the screenplay and make corrections if needed. The problem is that after correcting all grammar and spelling mistakes the screenplay can be still not good enough - my vocabulary is not very rich, and this can result in dull dialogs, stupid scene descriptions, etc.
2) to write it in my native language, and then find a good translator. The first problem here is that it is not easy to find a person, that is able to make a good translation of the screenplay. The second problem: I will need the translator's help each time I rewrite some parts of the screenplay.

I'm sure I'm not the first to have such problems. What are you guys doing in such situation? Is it a common practice to hire a translator?

:dankk2:
 
The editor would be the better and cheaper idea. Translators might still get it wrong, whereas you can atleast convey exactly what you want in botched English and work from there. And what better way to improve your English than by writing a screenplay in it!
 
agreed. A translator isn't likely to write sparkling dialog, unless of course they're also a creative writer.
 
Go with option 1 for your first screenplay and then try to work on your English better so that if you want more of your scripts produced, you can move forward more easily than with an editor because if you don't get at least a little better ( like, making english your second language or at least as fluid as your second language), you will always be depending on and editor for your scripts. That is of course, unless you decide to only do foreign films...that could work out great for you as well.
 
I say go for number 1. And reading what you wrote, corrected and proof-read, will help you get a much better idea of what you want to be writing like.

I'm glad you're concerned. :)
 
as an independent film maker and artist, I always find that preserving the native language is the most aesthetically pleasing element to foreign films aside from the obvious candidates like story, plot, and performance. find good actors who speak well in your own language, then find a good translator who is fluent in both the language being spoken in the film and the language you are most comfortable with, and work closely on the translation in the film. then subtitle it appropriately.
 
I always find that preserving the native language is the most aesthetically pleasing element to foreign films aside
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I think Broken English + English Subtitles >>> Foreign Language + English Subtitles.
 
seunosewa said:
I think Broken English + English Subtitles >>> Foreign Language + English Subtitles.
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then we disagree on a fundamental level. I think the translation, subtitles, and meaning of language is only half it's beauty. while foreign languages necessitate the need for subtitles for obvious reasons, it is equally important that the performance of the actors and actresses stress the subtlety of spoken language. broken english doesn't quite cut it, in that sense. or at least if it has, I haven't seen in a film in which it does.
 
it is equally important that the performance of the actors and actresses stress the subtlety of spoken language. broken english doesn't quite cut it, in that sense
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By broken English I mean foreign English. German English. French English. Jamaican English. Nigerian English. Heavily accented English. Borat's English. People speak these 'languages' every day in many countries. For example, in my country, we have so many languages that the only way to communicate with everybody is to speak English.

Can you give an example of a line of English dialog that can't be delivered properly in, say, German English? The only problem with our English is that it's quite difficult for foreigners to understand. The heavy accents. Otherwise, it's just English.
 
Just want to thank everybody for the expressed opinion.

I decided to write the screenplay in my native language. I want to focus more on the subject, than on the language. This will save me a lot of time later when I decide to rewrite some parts of the screenplay. When I become satisfied with the screenplay, I will translate it into English, preserving the original style, and then hand it to the editor.
 
If your native language is Chinese, French or Spanish, that's cool. A popular language. So what's your native language?
 
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