I think it´s a good idea, since it can help crossing the language barrier by completely eliminating it.

I speak only for myself, but since there are people from all around the world here I think there´s nothing bad in leaving some space to discuss in our native languages. Personally, I´ve grown more used to English than Spanish when talking about typewriters because English reaches much further and I get access to way more information than in Spanish, but having the possibility to use different languages would be great.

 

I've created three additional sub-forums for the French, German, and Spanish speaking members here. Given that my translations for describing them may be 'off', I'd appreciate if those who are native speakers could let me know if any of the wording should be changed. 

​As for moderating them, I should be able to keep an eye on the German one, possibly the French too (although my French is very limited), but I could use a hand with the Spanish sub-forum. Thanks.

Great idea. I've already created the first post in the German subforum

If you need help with German, you ask.

sirius

I'm always impressed with how well those who speak English as a second (or third, or fourth) language communicate in forums such as these, and I agree that providing a sub-forum in a language native to them might help to break the ice, so to speak. Those who are more comfortable with English and go back and forth between the regular TT forums might also act as a conduit and share some of the more interesting things being discussed in their language sub-forums.

​We'll see how it goes, and how much use they get. If they get busy I will appreciate if I can get one volunteer for each language to act as a moderator for their respective forum. Of course other languages can be added as well, but to start I only created those for the more regular forum members who I noted speak those languages.

Yes indeed - why on earth not!  My only concern is that information useful to all may be locked away in a language we do not speak, and I would encourage all users of those sub-forums to help guard against this where possible - though I'm not sure how!
  Given that the forum as a whole is based on English, I would encourage those using other language sub-forums (can't stand 'fora') to keep in touch with everyone, and not bury yourselves forever, out of sight, in a sub-forum.
Let's face it, even English divides us across the Atlantic!  I know full well that my colloquial British English will be a mystery to some Americans, but there is no way I'm going to speak a degraded 'World English' form just for that reason.  It has long been my contention that modern American English and British English are two different languages, and that time should be taken to learn them as such, and respect their differences.