I don’t get the “non-native speaker so won’t comment” thing. Like, you just read a fic in that language? You can write a short sentence in that language. Who cares if there are mistakes, even native speakers sometimes suck. English isn’t my first language either? and yet i’ve posted over 100k in english on ao3 over a year. I get being anxious, but not being a native speaker Isn’t A Good Reason For Not Commenting. If you can read then you can write.

lavvyan:

holdouttrout:

saxgoddess25:

ao3commentoftheday:

If you can read then you can write.

I’ve got to disagree with you there, anon. I was an English language instructor both overseas and in Canada for 14 years and lemme tell you? That’s not the case. 

When we read a language, we’re recognizing words and interpreting meaning. When we’re writing, we have to actively choose words and put them together in some sort of grammatical form. They two skills are related, but they aren’t the same. I can read Korean just fine, and I know how to write all of the letters and combine them together, but when I try to form a sentence? Everything is in the wrong order and I’m choosing words that are impolite or incorrect for the context or both. 

I’ve learned a lot of languages in a lot of different ways, from growing up in a bilingual community to studying languages in school to immersing myself in another culture overseas and I 100% understand the nerves of someone not only trying to write in a language they’re not completely comfortable in but trying to do so in a way that doesn’t come across as rude. 

Your level of English language mastery is clearly very very high and the people reading your fics might have a very different level than you do. Native speaking readers don’t comment because of anxiety or worry or any number of other reasons. Non-native speakers just have one more anxiety to add to the rest.

If I were presented with this problem from a reader, you know what my response would be? Leave it in your native language! Maybe it’s just me, but I’d get a kick out of that, and with things like Google Translate, I could probably get a fair approximation of what you’re intending to say.

One of my favorite comments was in Spanish (which I happen to know, but even if it were in a different language, let me tell you, I’d be just as flattered and excited that someone took the time and effort to read in their non-native language and then comment) So. Cool.

I actually did get a comment in Spanish the other day. I can infer from French, but I don’t speak a word of Spanish. So, yeah, Google Translate to the rescue, and it was a wonderful comment and I loved it. 

I would be so excited to try to translate a comment from a reader. Please comment no matter how! If it is a happy comment I am a happy author!