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Blogging with broken English

Posted by Sebastyne • 9/21/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: bad english, esl, grammar, international bloggers, language, spelling

As a non-native English speaker I dare to address this topic, which might not be an appropriate thing to do if you were a native speaker... But... When I come across blogs that have been written with such broken (bad) English, that is hard or near impossible to make any sense out of, I wonder why do they bother. English is not the only allowed language for blogging, so it would make a lot more sense to write clear, coherent sentences with your first language than attempt to reach large audiences writing "English".

When I find a blog like this, there is little or no chance of me staying to read more. It is also impossible (I first wrote nearly impossible, but changed my mind as it is impossible) for me to take a bad English writer seriously even if I knew they were not native speakers and very good at what they do (and blog about). I mean, learning a second language isn't rocket science! If you love the language enough to use it in your blog, you should love it enough to learn it fluently - or at least near fluent, that's what I think, or have someone translate it for you. (And at least learn to use spell checkers, and if your spell checker cannot understand what you want to say, nor will your readers!)

I also speak Swedish and French, but I would NEVER disrespect those languages enough to attempt to write a blog using either. And I certainly would not expect to be taken seriously if I did.

I am not saying that you should be fluent in order to communicate using a second language, like on Facebook with your friends, and even BlogCatalog discussions trying to get ideas on how to promote your non-English blog, but writing a blog that is aimed to English speaking people... It just doesn't make sense to me, especially if the topic is some sort of an advice blog that has numerous native speaking bloggers competing over the same eye balls. I would understand badly written blog describing the horrors of every day life on a war zone, but I've never seen such blog...

And my point? ESL-bloggers, please consider the level of your English before starting a blog in English. It might make a lot more sense to write in your first language.

User Comments

9/21/09

cooper

I don't mind reading blogs that are written by ESL people. I think that the best way to learn a language is by immersion actually, and if writing in that language helps I really don't mind it. There is always the option not to read it, but I wouldn't discourage others from writing in another language.

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1. 9/21/09
  
  Sebastyne
  
  To me learning English is one thing, blogging writing English is another.
  
  I personally wrote a ridiculous amount of personal diaries in English when I was learning. And watched a lot of (subtitled) telly. These days, I would watch DVD's with English for the hearing impaired -subtitles on, to help me get the hard parts and learn to listen.
  
  Immersion is a good way to learn, but blogging isn't really immersion at all. And if you are learning English by blogging, I would encourage personal blogs instead of advice -blogs for the purpose and not expect (a lot of) people to pay attention...
9/21/09

timethief

When I come across blogs that have been written with such broken (bad) English, that is hard or near impossible to make any sense out of, I wonder why do they bother. English is not the only allowed language for blogging, so it would make a lot more sense to write clear, coherent sentences with your first language than attempt to reach large audiences writing "English".

I have experienced that same thing. I think learning a second or even third language is admirable. However, when I witness a blog that's barely readable and covered with Adsense advertising, I wonder why the blogger does not write in their mother tongue, and supply a translator widget for those who read other languages.

If you want an quick and easy way for your international visitors to access your information in their own language without taking them away from your website, install a free WordPress translator Plugin or one for Blogger.

If you need resources to help you lean English there are many free resources available on the internet. There are 9 in this post: ESL and blogging
onecoolsite.wordpress.com/2008/11/23/esl-and-blogging/

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9/21/09

crazyTsu

I agree with the OP. The way for the Internet to expand is to INCLUDE everyone. The fact that there exist many ESL internet users proves that other people do want to integrate into the Internet

Previously when this generation of users started there were not enough tools and support for their languages. Now however it is not true

I myself have broken skills in my native language - I cannot write it, although I can speak in it. However I have been able to blog in it (using English transliteration), and I did it just to give a little boost to that domain

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9/21/09

cooper

I'm with you on the ad sense stuff, but I honestly rarely see quality blogs in any language loaded with ads, so I wouldn't be reading those in any language.

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