tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20155610.post6055879999394952106..comments2024-03-06T02:46:19.929+00:00Comments on Translation Tribulations: Divided by a common languageKevin Lossnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14727800526216764023noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20155610.post-17469701155383177082010-07-15T14:09:09.833+01:002010-07-15T14:09:09.833+01:00Hi Kevin,
I completely agree with you about the v...Hi Kevin,<br /><br />I completely agree with you about the variants in English and other languages - and sympathise with you! (I think you know you're not alone on this one!) <br /><br />I always ask our customers what sort of English we should use for their translation just to avoid them complaining about us using "the wrong one" later. Even key-account managers working for advertising companies aren't always sure what type of English (or Spanish or whatever) their own corporate customers require - people just don't think about it. And if they're not sure, they'll ask for "international English" or a "moderate" type of English without any regional colouring or "fancy wording" (which sounds a bit dull to me).<br /><br />On a slightly different note, the BDÜ - our own translators' association and the largest one in Germany, with over 5,000 members - doesn't differentiate between language variants either in its online database listing members and their specialist areas. That's why agencies and direct customers sometimes ring me up after scouring it for short-term manpower and expect me to do an American translation even though I'm British (and want you to do a British translation even though you're American). <br /><br />This is a sorry state of affairs if you ask me. I've mentioned it to their head office, but nothing's changed yet. This deliberately misleading situation applies just as much to members who speak French, Spanish (Latin American v. European Spanish) or Portuguese (Brazilian v. European), too, and probably to a few other languages into the bargain. But I guess there are a few influential people in the BDÜ who feel it can only be of benefit to the members if customers are channelled in their direction (a powerful argument, but one that's not as professional as I'd expected).<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />Carl<br /><br />Amper Translation Service<br />Fürstenfeldbruck<br />Germany<br /><br />www.ampertrans.de<br /><br />=====================Carl Carterhttp://www.ampertrans.denoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20155610.post-83727682816251582052010-07-14T11:20:03.445+01:002010-07-14T11:20:03.445+01:00Hi Kevin,
Very nice and funny post, thank you!
I ...Hi Kevin,<br /><br />Very nice and funny post, thank you!<br />I don't think you're old-fashioned at all! I've been a freelancer for a few months and being a French translator myself I always ask for the type of French that is needed by the client. Unfortunately, it happened to me yesterday that a PM told me I was wasting his time because I asked him why and how the translation he required would be used. <br />To me this is a golden rule and I'm sure that's how I will be able to sort out good agencies/PMs from bad outsourcers...Sophia OZOGhttp://www.puzzle-translations.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20155610.post-56830140141505568612010-07-13T17:41:55.897+01:002010-07-13T17:41:55.897+01:00You are not old-fashioned, my dear Kevin, you are ...You are not old-fashioned, my dear Kevin, you are just a highly professional linguist who deeply cares about the end product. Hilariously enough, all our direct clients always know exactly what kind of Spanish they want, and if they don't, we will brainstorm with them and usually reach a very quick resolution.Judy Jenner and Dagmar Jennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15991071510108619107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20155610.post-64895033888300710752010-07-09T15:14:07.062+01:002010-07-09T15:14:07.062+01:00What do I think, Paul? I think you've reiterat...What do I think, Paul? I think you've reiterated my point nicely. You can't trust an American to get the emotional and linguistic subtleties of British English right in many instances and vice versa. I defer to your judgment that I used the wrong word in this case (much too strong!); that's the risk incurred by agencies and customers who casually mix and match translators and projects without considering their cultural backgrounds. And saying "just use international English" (a line I often hear) doesn't do much to achieve a solution. All that does is indicate that one should aim for the broadest audience possible, but even the best intentions and great skill will often lead to failure in such an endeavor.Kevin Lossnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14727800526216764023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20155610.post-74958691345202859862010-07-09T15:04:48.300+01:002010-07-09T15:04:48.300+01:00Hi Kevin,
Nice article, but if I dare I'd lik...Hi Kevin,<br /><br />Nice article, but if I dare I'd like to be a little picky on one thing. The use of the word "Git". I always take this word to be something used as a strong insult for someone who has behaved deplorably, or sometimes used towards a good friend who does something bad that you would let a friend away with. But I don't think it means "idiot" at all.<br /><br />A quick check in Collins gives me this definition;<br /><br />git n. Brit. Sl. 1. A contemptible person, often a fool. 2. A bastard (from GET (in the sense: to beget, hence a bastard, fool)<br /><br />What do you think?<br /><br />Paul.Paul Filkinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20155610.post-69046895463880521152010-07-09T13:12:26.185+01:002010-07-09T13:12:26.185+01:00Here's one bit of continental punctuation that...Here's one bit of continental punctuation that Japanese people occasionally use to get my goat;<br /><br />It should be ." and not ".<br /><br />But do they know why? No they do not.<br /><br />It's because the " print block is more rugged than the . print block and therefore less likely to get damaged. So the tough old double quotation mark has to go outside the punctuation mark to protect the poor little dotty fella from wear and tear.<br /><br />Which makes a lot of sense in a digital world. Let's continue to suffer because the Yanks were cheapskates at the turn of the last century.Rodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04229724488178529402noreply@blogger.com