Could even be that I asked it, as around the time I had a bit of an ax to grind with someone who wrote PotC badfic that was half in Dutch and half in English.

Answer then was: yes, you can write in another language, but probably hardly anyone else on the Board will be able to read it.

So, that would be yes to both your opening questions. I think it would be easier if at least one of your agents is bilingual themselves. It is comparable to the fact agents rarely get thrown into fandoms of which they do not know the canon. Usually at least one of the agents knows the canon, so it would make sense if also one of the agents knew the language of the badfic. (Or the language the badfic pretends to be written in).

I would imagine it to be very difficult PPCing a fic that is not in English but having the mission report in English. There are some things that can't be translated very well. And how can one translate funny mistakes in a fic not in English to funny mistakes in English? That would be a challenge to say the least.

Questions of this sort are always good for the FAQ, but of course we'll answer here first :)

You seem to be asking two questions, so let me take them one at a time - easiest first.

Yes, I think you would be just fine writing a mission in a language other than English - assuming, of course, that you speak that language fluently. If both your narrative, the dialogue of your agents, and the fic you are PPCing are all in that same language, whatever it is, then you should be able to treat it exactly like any other mission.

The problem with that is that you're going to have a very, very small audience. This means it will be almost impossible to have a proper beta-reader and you will be writing more or less for yourself. I'd say that you shouldn't do this for your Permission request, or for your first mission or two afterwards - the PGs will want to understand what they're looking at. Once you're established, though, go ahead.

As for PPCing non-English fics in an English-narrative mission... doable, but extremely hard. PPC technology includes Universal Translators, so I imagine the agents would manage, but it would be difficult, and the Flowers would almost certainly assign a fic in any given language to agents who speak that language. You could still write such a mission in English, however, the bulk of mistakes and therefore manifestations depend on an intimate knowledge of the language nuances. You would have to explain every mistake to your English-only audience (in which case it would be best to have one agent who speaks it and one who doesn't, so their dialogue can be exposition).

So yes, it's possible, and I would certainly encourage it - I don't think this has ever happened before and I'm delighted by the prospet! - but you'd have to be very, very careful about how you do it.

Also, I refuse to be the final word on this; there may be something I don't know or haven't considered. We need the opinion of at least one more Respected Oldbie. After that we'll finalise the answer and put it up on the FAQ. Until then, Anamia, consider this an unfinished answer, mmkay?

Yes, the HQ does indead have universal translators, unless they have a TARDIS to do the translations for them.

As for writting in other languages itself, I have no problem with it. But please make sure that your writting in that language is up to snuff. It isn't ironic to write in a language where in turn you should be PPC'd for it.

Bablel Fish is not a reliable translator. (ie. "Star War III: The Backstrok of the west" http://antibody-software.com/web/fun/fun/star-wars-iii-:-the-backstroke-of-the-west/) Not Safe for Work!

Leto