Question important to my fic. Please help!

There is a Wookiee in my story, but I'm not sure if I should write in Wookiee sounds or just the translation of what he says. I've seen both options used in fic before, but never together, so I'm guessing I have to choose one. He's going to be talking to Jedi most of the time, so they will know what he is saying, but I'm not sure which one to use. He's in most of the fic, so any comments would be greatly appreciated!

 

I would just describe the sounds, not actually type them out like "arrgh snarf graaah" - it just looks tacky.



tf

 

or you could translate it like this {that sounds reasonable} or {Chewbacca? He's cool}

but whatever the wookiee is saying. This is just a suggestion, though.

 

I'd suggest it depends on how much you want your readers to understand. As well as whose point of view the story is coming from. I've done it both ways (though not in the same story): when my main character understands Wookiee, I do the {dialogue in brackets} thing. When my main character DOESN'T understand an alien language, or if the dialogue is very short, I say that the speaker grunted/howled/etc. and someone else translates.

As long as you're consistent, either way will be fine.