Forum: Author Hangout

Italicize foreign words but…

Switch Blayde 🚫

I italicize foreign words. Typically in dialogue. But I have a strange situation.

I specify the people are talking in Italian, but I write it in English, as in:

"May I join you?" Boyd asked in Italian which is what he spoke all the time since arriving.

And from that point on, even though everyone is speaking Italian, I write it in English. The reader simply knows they're talking in Italian. But later, there's a scene where they're speaking Italian (which I write in English) but use an English word. So do I italicize the word spoken in English? As in:

"His name is Regalo."
"Regalo? That means gift in Italian."
"Yes, he was a gift from God."

Replies: Reluctant_Sir madnige Paladin_HGWT

Reluctant_Sir 🚫
Updated:

@Switch Blayde

Sorry, but you have me confused.

First, if they are speaking Italian, there is no need to explain what an Italian word means (in Italian), and certainly no need to use an English word to do so, right? (This may be a contextual issue)

It seems to me the last line would be, "Sì, era un dono di Dio". Un dono is a gift, but regalo is to gift.

Or, "Gift a gift to the gift of god" would be "Regala un dono al dono di Dio."

Replies: Switch Blayde

Switch Blayde 🚫

@Reluctant_Sir

if they are speaking Italian, there is no need to explain what an Italian word means (in Italian), and certainly no need to use an English word to do so, right?

They are speaking Italian. But when the woman tells him her son's name is Regalo, he responds in Italian. Except during his response he uses the word "gift" in English. So if I were writing it in Italian, it would be:

"Questo significa gift."

He says "That means" in Italian and then the English word "gift."

Replies: Vincent Berg

Vincent Berg 🚫

@Switch Blayde

They are speaking Italian. But when the woman tells him her son's name is Regalo, he responds in Italian. Except during his response he uses the word "gift" in English. So if I were writing it in Italian, it would be:

That seems pretty clear cut. Since the text is in English, you wouldn't italicize it, but because the one word, gift, doesn't fit with the rest of the English words, you'd put it in secondary quotes (single quotes for us Americans, or double quotes for those still speaking the Queen's English). That way, when they explain it, it'll be immediately obvious what they're referring to.

There's no sense inventing new 'rules/guidlines' for something there are already established guidelines for.

madnige 🚫

@Switch Blayde

"His name is Regalo."
"Regalo? In English that means gift."
"Yes, he was a gift from God."

--as, if the speech is Italian, it would be weird to refer to the meaning in Italian.

Replies: Dominions Son Switch Blayde

Dominions Son 🚫

@madnige

--as, if the speech is Italian, it would be weird to refer to the meaning in Italian.

Even to native speakers of a language, name meanings are not necessarily obvious and well known.

Replies: Switch Blayde

Switch Blayde 🚫

@Dominions Son

Even to native speakers of a language, name meanings are not necessarily obvious and well known.

That would mess up the way I changed it. I named the boy Luigi. That Italian name means famous warrior. His Italian mother knows that and that's why she named him that.

Oh well.

Replies: Dominions Son

Dominions Son 🚫

@Switch Blayde

But was his Italian mother involved in the conversation you laid out?

If not I don't see why it has any impact on the scene.

Name meanings are something expectant parents might be expected to research.

Replies: Switch Blayde

Switch Blayde 🚫

@Dominions Son

But was his Italian mother involved in the conversation you laid out?

Yes. In both cases.

Switch Blayde 🚫
Updated:

@madnige

if the speech is Italian, it would be weird to refer to the meaning in Italian.

That's the point. The American is giving the English definition. If it was all in Italian it would be: "Regalo? In inglese che significa regalo."

I got around the problem. Regalo isn't actually a boy's name in Italian. I made it up using the Italian word for gift. I'm not doing that anymore.

Replies: Vincent Berg awnlee jawking

Vincent Berg 🚫

@Switch Blayde

I made it up using the Italian word for gift. I'm not doing that anymore.

After all, everyone knows that's what English is for.

awnlee jawking 🚫

@Switch Blayde

Regalo isn't actually a boy's name in Italian.

Irrelevant aside: does Italy allow parents to invent new names? I believe some countries impose strict rules.

AJ

Paladin_HGWT 🚫
Updated:

@Switch Blayde

For what it's worth, I tend to italicize words that are (or are supposed to be) in a different language from the rest of a sentence; in dialogue in particular.

I will often note at the beginning of a sub-chapter if the characters are speaking in a particular language.

For example: the following dialogue is in Spanish, but written in English; a few Spanish words are in italics.

for example: Raul said, "I am making the request upon the orders of Senor Mondragon."

Juan replied, "I know who you work for, but that is not why I am doing you this favor, Bato ."

I could have used Mister instead of Senor, but I believe the latter conveys more "flavor" or "atmosphere" similar to a movie where characters speak with accented English, rather than speak in German, Russian, Chinese, etc. (in a movie if you are reading the sub-titles you are probably missing other things on the screen)

Bato or Vato are Mexican/Chicano slang that have a context that I don't believe are captured in a "pure" English translation.

So, I think what you are doing makes sense Switch Blayde, and adds some color or depth to the story.

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Italicize foreign words but…

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