Steemit is a great platform and since it's still in beta development phase, a lot of feature will be added later on. However, although I read lot tutorials here on how to write in different languages and why it's important to post own content also in english more than in native language, I didn't find any real suggestion on how improve really things as reader and writer.

Image under CC0 licensing

Actually, there are three ways to write in another language:

1. Making double post, one in english and one in native language.
   PRO: The reading is clear and the post is at its optimal length. Each post has its own title.
   CON: exactly double work for the writer who needs to replace, eventually, even images to fit different languages. Moreover, the reward is split among two post, so the writer will get "trending" status harder, so less votes and less popularity.

2. Making a post in double column, a column in native language and the other one in english.
   PRO: All upvotes for both languages goes on same post, helping to gain visibility and trending status. A little less work for the writer since he won't change images and..maybe less effort in translation?
   CON: Messy. Even if layout is ok, it's a bit hard for the reader to track lines, with subsequent eyes straining. This could be not the case, but I also found that in double column post, the author does not apply same effort writing english version after he finished native language version, maybe for some sort of psychological factors, like if english version is secondary to native language version. In which language do you write the title?

3. On a single post, writing first in english then in native language
   PRO: Clear reading. All rewards on same post.
   CON: Exhausting, especially if there is a paragraph in a language and then its translation. The post gets really long. In which language do you write the title?

Some writing are better than other depending on post type.
For example I find useful writing a double column post for poetry, songs and "introduce yourself post".
For photography and really short post, writing first english then in native language will maximize rewards and won't tire readers.
For long and demanding posts, I think the best solution is to make a double post, to put the same commitment for both english and native language and create two quality posts.

My suggestion

It would be really cool if we could have all the PRO and less CON every time we want to make a double or multiple post language.

The main concept behind suggested changes is there are two or more different post on the blockchain: the changes are mainly at platform display level.

Changes at blog level

First thing, display language flags near post titles to make readers know that post can be found in different languages.

Here the first magic happens. If steemit is set to be in a specific language that matches a post language, the post will automatically be show in that language already at blog level, otherwise I will read it in english.

For example, if my Steemit is set to be in Spanish and I go on the blog in the image above, I will see first post (which has Spanish flag) with Spanish title and Spanish content, while the second post (which has no Spanish flag) will be seen with English title and English content. And that's for an Italian native blog where author provided the translation for some post.

Changes at editor level

Second thing, new buttons are added at editor level.

The main language button will be important for rewards, while "Add translation" will just reset the editor and allow to write a new post, selecting the language of new post from above menu.

Both post will have different tags, because as I said earlier, there will be different post on blockchain. The add translation button will appear after the post is sent, so every translation will be added after the post is published. This to avoid mess with the editor and random deletes of content.

Rewards

The main change is about rewards: they will be given only to the main language post. This means if I make a post in native language, Italian for example, and someone is reading my English translation and upvotes it, the upvote value goes to the Italian version. This will greatly grant less vote dispersion and will greatly help a post to get into trending value in the specified community.

Tags and Blogs

So what happens if I search for a tag which is in common between translated post and original post?
Only one post will be showed: in specific language if there is a match as stated earlier, or in english if no match between steemit language and post language is found. Obviusly if no translation is provided the post is show in the only avaible language. Moreover, even if two post exist on blockchain, just one will appear on blog level: "duplicate" posts entry (meaning translated versions) will be hidden despite being still there and available for reading.

What if I don't like it?

Everything described above is a "plus" and not a standard: if you like double column or multiple post you can just do it.

Is there anything more simple? Everything sounds so complicated.

Well maybe it is. Especially the reward system could not be so easy to do for devs to code.
Anyway, a more basic level of supporting translation would be "linking" posts in some way. For example, the add translation button could just be a field to put the link of the translated post. When going on a blog, language flags could warn users there are more translation of that post, clicking on them will make users redirect to the linked translated post.

That's all guys, I hope to see soon more feature on this platform and that some dev will catch this post.
I would like to read you opinions on the matter, what kind of strategy do you use for multi-language post and if my suggestion is a good one. Write everything in comments!