Ask HN:mother language or English

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1828264

by m1k3r • 16 years ago

1 9 16 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Hey HN, I'm about to open my personal blog, I plan to talk about technology, programming,maths, startups,personal stuff,etc. The thing is: I haven't decided yet in what language should I post in.My mother language is Spanish and my English is pretty well. Some advice?

bluesmoon• 16 years ago

alternate

byoung2• 16 years ago

There is a really cool website Ford has to advertise the new Fiesta, http://www.readypatumundo.com. It utilizes code-switching between English and Spanish, and there is an innovative slider in the top right corner that lets the user choose the English/Spanish mix. Maybe this could be worked into the blog.

m1k3r2• 16 years ago

he he it seems like great idea for a publicity campaign, but maybe it would be kind of weird for a post, I'll think about it!, thanks!

drallison• 16 years ago

Your English could be tuned up a bit. Normal English usage would not say "maths" but would say "math", although there are those who'd say the language is changing in that regard. You should have said "my English is pretty good" since "well" is normally an indicator of a state of good health when used with a form of the verb "to be". But those are nits. Who do you want to read your blog? What language will those people be most comfortable reading? Answer that and you have the answer to your question.

anigbrowl• 16 years ago

Normal English usage would not say "maths" but would say "math".

Actually, that's a US/UK difference, not a language issue. Irish, British, Australians all studied maths in school, because 'mathematics' is a plural noun.

gasull2• 16 years ago

- English: larger audience

- Spanish: less competitors

If you choose English, use an orthography and grammar corrector. This is a good idea for Spanish too.

m1k3r2• 16 years ago

"Spanish:less competitors"<--you are right, I didn't realize that one before!

gasull2• 16 years ago

I think it depends on how serious you are about blogging. A friend of mine started years ago a now very successful blog, and he now regrets having started it in Spanish, because he feels the blog cannot grow more in audience because of it.

rcfox• 16 years ago

If you're comfortable in both, why not offer both languages? You won't have to spend so much time on figuring out what you're trying to say in the second version, and it might even help to improve your arguments to write it again.

Ask HN:mother language or English

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