In most conversations you're going to have one language that dominates. When we encounter that, and we do it a lot because the fun! the bits of dialogue that aren't are indicated with italics. We juggle several different languages in our series, and translation is an issue a lot. Fortunately, it makes sense that in a world with so many languages being bandied about at any given time, there will be those who can act as translators. We do this with English, American Sign Language, British Sign Language, an advanced talk-to-text app on one (deaf) character's phone, French, Cuban Spanish (more incoming), Draconic, Faerie Gaelic, Dwarven, Japanese, and a thousand other niche-specific languages that have died out everywhere but in the immortal courts where they're still spoken. Lots of characters speaking English as a second language.
This is what it looks like when I have spoken English and telepathy in the same interaction, and a non-English speaker between them...
~~
Niki looked positively delighted, and Jo could feel it in his mind. Her eyes widened in exasperation. No. No. No. Niki, we have to go home.
As usual, he ignored her. "We are strangers, exploring - "
If you say "strange new worlds" I'm going to strangle you.
" - our options. We would love a native guide, if you are available."
Wolf is going to kill me.
Live a little.
She raised her hands in preparation to smack Niki's head, and then remembered their audience, so she ran them through her hair in frustration instead. "Fine, you win," she muttered. She looked at this Lucien and smiled. It was a crappy smile and she knew it. She didn't fake smile well. "Take us to your leader, I guess."
"Am I translating that?" Niki asked with a cheeky grin.
"Do it and I'm telling Wolf I dropped you in transit. I don't care."
This is what it looks like when I have spoken English and telepathy in the same interaction, and a non-English speaker between them...
~~
Niki looked positively delighted, and Jo could feel it in his mind. Her eyes widened in exasperation. No. No. No. Niki, we have to go home.
As usual, he ignored her. "We are strangers, exploring - "
If you say "strange new worlds" I'm going to strangle you.
" - our options. We would love a native guide, if you are available."
Wolf is going to kill me.
Live a little.
She raised her hands in preparation to smack Niki's head, and then remembered their audience, so she ran them through her hair in frustration instead. "Fine, you win," she muttered. She looked at this Lucien and smiled. It was a crappy smile and she knew it. She didn't fake smile well. "Take us to your leader, I guess."
"Am I translating that?" Niki asked with a cheeky grin.
"Do it and I'm telling Wolf I dropped you in transit. I don't care."
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