English isn’t my native language, but I’d say I’m fairly close to being fluent as my work is primarily international. When reading books, I often opt for the English version, whether it’s translated or not. Occasionally, once every few books, I might need to look up a few words online, but overall it reads relatively easy, all while unconsciously improving my English.
I’ve tried reading in my native language before, but for some reason it feels “wrong,” as if small details are missing or as if the overall atmosphere is different, although that might not even be the case at all. I’ve heard people argue both sides of the issue, so I’m quite curious about your perspectives!
by kokoyume
7 Comments
Both. There are books I prefer in the English original and there are books where I don’t care. I don’t want to have limited vocabulary in my native language.
I read in English! I plan on reading Korean books in Korean when I get a little better at it. I really don’t like reading translated books, and most of the books I read are written in English so that’s the language I choose (I also kind of connect better with the English language than my native one.)
I read the translated ones. But there are some bad translation ngl, so I would search for the English to reread the book😂
I mostly prefer to read in Spanish (mother tongue) I found that fits better my aesthetic preferences. Only read in English books that were written originally in English. Also ny favorite writers (Borges, Cortázar, Fuentes, etc.) wrote in Spanish
Both.
I prefer to read fantasy books in english. I feel things get lost in the translation and the language flows better.
I don’t care when it’s a crime novel.
I haven’t read a book in my native language since I left school nearly 20 years ago.
Mostly English, tbh. I read some in my first language but I guess it’s 1/10 or 2/10 books I read? And most books I read are English to begin with, I see no point in reading the translation in my mother tongue when I can understand English just as well.