How to Write Foreign Language in a Screenplay

Hollywood, Bollywood, Nollywood … in the 21st century, movies are made everywhere. And while the film industry expands, so does our desire to hear from more diverse voices, including languages we may not understand. But with strict screenplay formatting, how do you write in a foreign language to enhance the authenticity of your story, and at the same time make it legible and not confusing? Never fear, there are a few simple ways to write foreign language dialogue in your script, no translations needed.

Option 1: When it Doesn’t Matter if the Audience Understands the Foreign Language in Your Screenplay

If it’s not important for the audience to understand the dialogue spoken by a character (perhaps it’s just setting the tone for the scene), or, despite not speaking that language, the audience will still understand what’s going on, then you can write that dialogue in the spoken language. This is only recommended for writing in a foreign language in very small bits of dialogue. For example:

In a traditional screenplay, or upon exporting your SoCreate story to the traditional format, the dialogue would look like this:

Or, you can write the foreign dialogue in your given language, but use Dialogue Direction to let the reader know which language that line is meant to be delivered in.

After writing the dialogue in your given language, click the Dialogue Direction icon at the bottom of the Dialogue Stream item. It looks like a person with an arrow pointing right.

Then, add that this particular line is delivered “In French.”

Click anywhere outside the Dialogue Stream item to finalize the change.

When you export your SoCreate story to the traditional screenplay format, it will look like this:

You can also use SoCreate’s Dialogue Type option and select Foreign Language. This is best used when the foreign language being spoken isn’t as important as what’s being said. Your script will denote that the line is delivered in a foreign language without specifying which foreign language it is.

Option 2: When a Character Speaks in a Foreign Language for a Length of Time in Your Script

If you’re writing a scene that’s foreign language heavy, you may consider stating that in the scene description or when you introduce that new character. To insert scene description, use the Action Stream Item from your Tools Toolbar. Within the Action Stream Item, describe the scene. On a new line, add that “All dialogue is spoken in [insert foreign language here].” You can put this text in bold or write it in italics so it stands out from the description. For example:

When you export your SoCreate story to the traditional screenplay format, it will look like this:

Subtitles would need to be added to the film after the fact.

Option 3: When Many Scenes in Your Screenplay Feature Foreign Language Dialogue

If there’s a significant number of scenes in your screenplay that utilize foreign language writing, you should note near the beginning, in the description, that all dialogue spoken in that foreign language will be noted using italics from there forward. Or, that all dialogue spoken in a foreign language will be noted using brackets.

To insert this note within your scene description, use the Action Stream Item from your Tools Toolbar. Within the Action Stream Item, describe the scene. On a new line, add that “All dialogue in italics is spoken in [insert foreign language here].” Or, “All dialogue in brackets is spoken in [insert foreign language here].”

For example:

When you export your SoCreate story to the traditional screenplay format, it will look like this:

The screenplay will flow better for the reader, without the constant interruption of parentheses to note a foreign language is being spoken.

Option 4: When the Sound of the Foreign Language Dialogue is as Important as the Meaning

David Trottier gives this example in The Screenwriter’s Bible for conveying that the sound of the foreign language is as important as what the character is saying, but the words have a humorous quality:

Voilà! It’s really that simple. Writing a foreign language in your screenplay will be even easier with the SoCreate Screenwriting Platform. Interested in giving it a try? Be sure to sign up for our private beta list to be one of the first to know when the platform launches soon.

Adios,