| Vom Thema belegte Seiten: < [1 2 3] | Why would you study another language? Initiator des Themas: Pablo Fiumara
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Parrot 
Spanien
Local time: 00:05
Spanisch > Englisch
+ ...
| That's an advanced lesson | Mar 7, 2007 |
bale002 wrote:
But the basic point is that, as far as developing in the translation profession is concerned, one would study another language as part of a strategy to expand in a specialization, as opposed to a strategy of doing many types of translations in one language.
Erstwhile "general" markets (here in Spain the market started with "general" translation) are now looking at specializations in the race for competitivity. And while one can understand that the "sworn translator" specialty is mainly legal or has to do with authentications, there has been a recent perceptible trend towards seeking specialists in other fields.
The upshot: better bargaining leverage for the specialists. They are no longer forced to swallow low rates where specialized markets back them up.
That's mainly because errors in the specialist fields are too costly.
| | | | | one more idea | Mar 7, 2007 |
Also, I know that I go insane when I hear a language and don't know what's being said. I was in Bosnia a few years ago ( its gorgeous), and after a few weeks I was SO happy that I could have a short conversation with people.
Why would anyone NOT want to open themselves up to more?
| | | | biankonera
Lettland
Local time: 01:05
Italienisch > Lettisch
+ ...
Williamson wrote:
Romanic, Germanic and Slavonic (Baltic?) languages are so apparented that if you know one, you can easily learn another.
Oh no you dont.:)
Thats a typical thing for 99.9% of people to think that if you know 1 Baltic language you have no problem learning the other 2. However thats not really the case.
You see, Estonian is closer to Finnish as both are Finno-Ugric languages. So Id say only those Latvians and Lithuanians who speak some Finnish can understand our Estonian neighbours.:)
As for Latvian and Lithunian those two languages belong to the Eastern Baltic sub-group of Indo-European language family. Yet the Latvian and Lithuanian vocabularies vary greatly from each other and are not mutually intelligible. And its one of those great stereotypes this world has that Latvians can easily understand Lithuanians and vice versa, however its not true at all.
| | | | | Joy and respect | Mar 7, 2007 |
Textklick wrote:
But boy, is it wonderful to (try to) be able to order dinner in Florence in such a beautiful language.
Was this some kind of linguistic climax of pleasure? (linguistic orgasm may sound better but maybe vulgar)
I know that feeling. Listening to yourself speaking in a melodic foreign language like Italian and you just think:"Is it me? I never knew this part of myself. It's music. It's a poem!" While you are just asking:"Scusi, signora, ma dov'è il bagno?"
Another quite serious aspect is showing respect for the cultural identity. When I was in Mallorca last year, I spoke Spanish and tried a little bit of Catalan. If I would go to South Africa I would learn some Afrikaans in order to talk to the native people. In fact I feel extremely uncomfortable staying in a country without being able to communicate with all the people, not just the skilled ones.
I just wanna chat with shepherds, craftsmen, grandma, fishermen...
What I really would like to learn is:
Turkish (beautiful and very familiar sound)
Romanian (because Romania must be a beautiful country with gorgeous nature and because for someone who knows Italian its not that difficult, I suppose).
To all the passionate language learners:
¡arriba! - Forza! - Go for it! - Nur zu! -
Saluti- Stefania
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Pablo Fiumara
Local time: 19:05
Englisch > Spanisch
THEMENSTARTER | I want to clarify something | Mar 7, 2007 |
I'll post the same in my another thread.
I am 16 years old, have to do one year to finish high school. I am so responsible that I am planning what I am going to do after I finish secondary school. I like English very much and, after ruling out being a teacher (I discovered I do not like teaching, just love the language) I decided to become a translator. The point is I am not confident and doubt whether to do something after I have decided about it.
I wish I could write ... See more I'll post the same in my another thread.
I am 16 years old, have to do one year to finish high school. I am so responsible that I am planning what I am going to do after I finish secondary school. I like English very much and, after ruling out being a teacher (I discovered I do not like teaching, just love the language) I decided to become a translator. The point is I am not confident and doubt whether to do something after I have decided about it.
I wish I could write here in Spanish but it is not allowed (by the way, I talked to some people graduated from where I am willing to study, they gave me useful advices and I have recovered my confidence).
I hope you will understand me better now.
Sorry for my English. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Pablo Fiumara
Local time: 19:05
Englisch > Spanisch
THEMENSTARTER | Very interesting opinions | Mar 7, 2007 |
Your opinions are very interested and let me see the things from another point of view.
PS: One of my previous messages is hidden
| | | | mediamatrix (X)
Local time: 18:05
Spanisch > Englisch
+ ...
After being forced to learn the rudiments of English, French, German and Latin at an English grammar school up to the age of 16, I focused my attention almost exclusively on other much more exciting things like maths, physics and engineering. My only qualifications in languages are poor 'O'-levels in three of those languages.
A few years later, engineering took me to Guatemala on a short contract. Fearing that otherwise I wo... See more After being forced to learn the rudiments of English, French, German and Latin at an English grammar school up to the age of 16, I focused my attention almost exclusively on other much more exciting things like maths, physics and engineering. My only qualifications in languages are poor 'O'-levels in three of those languages.
A few years later, engineering took me to Guatemala on a short contract. Fearing that otherwise I would go hungry, or get on the wrong bus and end up lost in the jungle (not to be recommended in 1970's Guatemala, or even today...), I learnt the rudiments of Spanish. I survived to tell the tale.
Engineering later took me to Belgium. Again, survival was my primary preoccupation so I chose to live in a French-speaking village and brushed up my school-boy French (whilst most of my English colleagues chose to live in the international suburbs of Brussels where they claim you can 'get by' without ever needing a word of French or Flemish, and they sent their kids to the British School). The fact that I was in fact employed in Belgium as ... a translator (Fre-Eng) ... was neither here nor there: survival out of working hours was my prime motivator.
For several years I travelled frequently on the ferries 'twixt Belgium and the UK. Survival was again at play and I found it expedient to learn a few words of Flemish - mainly because it helped a lot when trying to get excess quantities of English ale through Belgian customs if you could at least be polite to the man in the peaked cap as you drove off the boat.
Likewise when I moved to (French-speaking) Switzerland. There are many places in the east of the country where half-a-dozen words of German (even 'German' German will do, as long as you appear to be making an effort...) will work wonders as you go in search of a McDo.
Now, having moved to Chile, I've had to shake the dust off my Spanish survival kit. Not because of my work but because there are only a tiny handful of other people in town who speak any variety of English. There's absolutely no point in going into a local caf' and asking for a 'toasted ham and cheese sandwich'. You'll go hungry. And deservedly so! It's a 'barros jarpa'. If you want one, you've got to ask for it by name. And if you want it served with a smile, you can add: "Porfa". And if you want a Coca-Cola Light to accompany it, you must ask for a 'Coca-Cola Light'! Survival language works wonders!
So, I have learnt languages primarily for survival, secondarily to facilitate my private life - and only in third place for the purposes of earning a living. That said, I've been translating for cash (or the occasional McDo) since 1978. It'll be nice, though, when everyone speaks English... Errr - won't it?
MediaMatrix ▲ Collapse
| | | | Textklick
Local time: 23:05
Deutsch > Englisch
+ ...
In stillem Gedenken | Of course, my dear | Mar 7, 2007 |
Tuliparola wrote:
Was this some kind of linguistic climax of pleasure?
In a way yes, but I should add that it was before the truffle season!
Steffi added:
Another quite serious aspect is showing respect for the cultural identity.
Yep. As I said earlier - politesse!
When I was in Mallorca last year, I spoke Spanish and tried a little bit of Catalan.
That's true - a couple of words of Catalan mean that the waiters are really nice to you. (Do I sound like a total hedonist, or are we allowed to indulge ourselves occasionally, gien the mad life we lead?)
Steffi finished:
What I really would like to learn is: Turkish (beautiful and very familiar sound)
Romanian (because Romania must be a beautiful country with gorgeous nature and because for someone who knows Italian its not that difficult, I suppose).
To all the passionate language learners:
¡arriba! - Forza! - Go for it! - Nur zu! -
Saluti- Stefania
In principle I agree fully. Hence the heading of my earlier posting!
See you on the Kurfürstendamm in May, if my customers give me enough time.
Groetjes
Chris
[Edited at 2007-03-07 23:43]
[Edited at 2007-03-08 07:07]
[Edited at 2007-03-08 07:10]
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| Glad to know I am not the only one | Mar 8, 2007 |
safot wrote:
Also, I know that I go insane when I hear a language and don't know what's being said. I was in Bosnia a few years ago ( its gorgeous), and after a few weeks I was SO happy that I could have a short conversation with people.
Why would anyone NOT want to open themselves up to more?
I also go insane when I hear a language and don't understand what's being said... my family and friends thought I was crazy and made fun of this "insanity" so I am glad to know I am not the only one with "this problem"
| | | | Pablo Fiumara
Local time: 19:05
Englisch > Spanisch
THEMENSTARTER | Question about when to start another language | Mar 8, 2007 |
I have been studying English for seven years and willing to start learning another one the next year. I am thinking of either French or Portuguese. My idea is to start with one in 2008 and with the other in 2009. Which one would you recommend to start with first? Why? I think it is better to begin with French because it's more important but Portuguese is crucial on account of Brazil, who is our (Argentina) neighbour.
| | | | Parrot
Spanien
Local time: 00:05
Spanisch > Englisch
+ ...
| Whatever you start | Mar 8, 2007 |
(follow your instinctive interests, I suggest), make sure your third language is on it's way to improvement before you launch another one. (The gap between 2008 and 2009 may be too short).
You will almost never suffer interference in your native language. However, your B language may get affected by a C language if the C language becomes good enough to interfere with the B language. Make sure the levels are spaced well.
Example: proficient B and beginner C will not conf... See more (follow your instinctive interests, I suggest), make sure your third language is on it's way to improvement before you launch another one. (The gap between 2008 and 2009 may be too short).
You will almost never suffer interference in your native language. However, your B language may get affected by a C language if the C language becomes good enough to interfere with the B language. Make sure the levels are spaced well.
Example: proficient B and beginner C will not conflict. But intermediate B can come into conflict with intermediate C. Meaning that if you speak Spanish as A and English as B, then acquire French as C, you will have no problems while the French is at a safe distance from English. When the French becomes as proficient as English, you may suffer interference. The only way to avoid it is to keep improving English while acquiring French.
I suppose I don't have to say that if you begin French and Portuguese together, you will be fighting against the current as both languages "sabotage" each other in your head.
But if you keep a prudent distance between French and Portuguese, they can even help push your comprehension in both subjects. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Pablo Fiumara
Local time: 19:05
Englisch > Spanisch
THEMENSTARTER | A clarification | Mar 8, 2007 |
[quote] The only way to avoid it is to keep improving English while acquiring French [quote/]
For the sake of clarification, of course I will go on studying English.
Thanks for your answer, a very good explanation
Greetings!
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| A degree in translation/languages is no guarantee | Mar 15, 2007 |
I have a degree in translation and am currently studying for a diploma in Irish Gaelic.
Out of our final year class of 40 students, only 6 of us became translators.
The rest of the class went into the civil service, customer service jobs, teaching or taught English abroad.
You can have as many degrees as a thermometer, but it is no use without care & passion.
It is always fun learning new ways of ordering beer. ... See more I have a degree in translation and am currently studying for a diploma in Irish Gaelic.
Out of our final year class of 40 students, only 6 of us became translators.
The rest of the class went into the civil service, customer service jobs, teaching or taught English abroad.
You can have as many degrees as a thermometer, but it is no use without care & passion.
It is always fun learning new ways of ordering beer. Making an effort is always appreciated. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Parrot
Spanien
Local time: 00:05
Spanisch > Englisch
+ ...
Orla Ryan wrote:
You can have as many degrees as a thermometer, but it is no use without care & passion.
I loved that
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