I write in English, but I’d rather not
My native language is Spanish, and I’d rather write in it. Not just because I know it better than English, but also because I find it richer and more versatile—I feel like it gives me more ways to express myself. Plus, the different kinds of Spanish we speak across LATAM add another layer of folklore to the language.
And yet, here I am, writing in English. But I want to talk about the why, cause I’ve been thinking a lot about why I write in Spanish less and less.
The main reason is simple: I want to be read. I don’t write here just to be read; I don’t write for others, but I still want to be read. This is also why I support the toast button and other tools Bearblog offers to help our posts reach the community. I do want to know if someone read me. In fact, if possible, I want to know what they think—to share different perspectives.
I want to be read for the simple fact that knowing someone else is reading me makes me feel a certain kind of connection with the person who took the time and effort to reach the end of my writing. A type of closeness that, even if distant in space, even if I don’t know who they are, I don’t share with anyone else. Because when someone reads me, that person knows something about me that those who’ve never read that particular piece don’t. We’re connecting through the written word, and I think that’s wonderful.
But if I’m being honest, I’d rather write in Spanish all the time. Still, I have to adapt because this is a platform where most users speak English, and it makes communication easier. It just bothers me a little not to feel entirely free. This is one of those cases where you can’t have it all.
Of course, I could always write in Spanish regardless—and I do—but if I only wrote in Spanish, I’d be limiting the kind and number of connections I can make with others who enjoy writing. In fact, sometimes I prefer to write a post in Spanish first and then decide whether I want it in English, and that’s when I go and translate it. It can be double the work, but it’s still satisfying.
Despite everything, I feel privileged because knowing and being able to write in two languages allows me to connect with more people who understand me in either English or Spanish. In the end, it’s not so bad.
I hope the Spanish-speaking community here continues to grow. I talked about that some time ago, but unfortunately, it’s tiny compared to those who write in English. And I’ve noticed I’m not the only one. Many here are from Italy, Germany, China, Russia, and they write in English—I wonder if it’s for the same reason or simply because they prefer the language.
Even if you’re just a number below the toast button, that’s enough to feel satisfied. It’s something special, no matter how mundane it may seem. What do you think?
Thanks for reading.