Over a period of at least the last 50 years, I have had occasions to use "translators" in many different countries.
This everyday situation , in my opinion is a huge contributor to frictions, disagreements and even conflicts between cultures and countries. Unless one has access to an extremely well trained translator, one who has been totally immersed in the language and customs of both of the two languages involved, for a lifetime, there will be problems. That kind of translator is a very rare find.
Even with the same language , the meaning often changes. Example : if I tell Bob to tell Joe a story, it is not likely that Joe will get my exact meaning.
I have hired translators in countries who were University teachers of English in their country, only to find later that what they had translated to a client or supplier was not at all what I had said and was the reason for a less than successful negotiation.
So everyone needs to be aware that the news that they hear from other countries always has to be researched and verified. Even minor inflections can change the whole story. And it does.
skyrider wrote:
Over a period of at least the last 50 years, I have had occasions to use "translators" in many different countries.
This everyday situation , in my opinion is a huge contributor to frictions, disagreements and even conflicts between cultures and countries. Unless one has access to an extremely well trained translator, one who has been totally immersed in the language and customs of both of the two languages involved, for a lifetime, there will be problems. That kind of translator is a very rare find.
Even with the same language , the meaning often changes. Example : if I tell Bob to tell Joe a story, it is not likely that Joe will get my exact meaning.
I have hired translators in countries who were University teachers of English in their country, only to find later that what they had translated to a client or supplier was not at all what I had said and was the reason for a less than successful negotiation.
So everyone needs to be aware that the news that they hear from other countries always has to be researched and verified. Even minor inflections can change the whole story. And it does.
Over a period of at least the last 50 years, I hav... (
show quote)
Well said....
It's astonishing how often translators make mistakes...
And how often information gets lost in the translation...
Canuckus Deploracus wrote:
Well said....
It's astonishing how often translators make mistakes...
And how often information gets lost in the translation...
I'm sure you understand this very well in your business, Canuk .But getting lost in translation is not as bad as not getting lost and coming out with an entirely different meaning . Also another reason why punctuation is so important,
but not at all a strong point with most translators.
skyrider wrote:
I'm sure you understand this very well in your business, Canuk .But getting lost in translation is not as bad as not getting lost and coming out with an entirely different meaning . Also another reason why punctuation is so important,
but not at all a strong point with most translators.
Punctuation is important......
Let's eat, Grandma.
Let's eat Grandma.
Woman without her her man is nothing.
Woman, without her, man is nothing.
skyrider wrote:
Over a period of at least the last 50 years, I have had occasions to use "translators" in many different countries.
This everyday situation , in my opinion is a huge contributor to frictions, disagreements and even conflicts between cultures and countries. Unless one has access to an extremely well trained translator, one who has been totally immersed in the language and customs of both of the two languages involved, for a lifetime, there will be problems. That kind of translator is a very rare find.
Even with the same language , the meaning often changes. Example : if I tell Bob to tell Joe a story, it is not likely that Joe will get my exact meaning.
I have hired translators in countries who were University teachers of English in their country, only to find later that what they had translated to a client or supplier was not at all what I had said and was the reason for a less than successful negotiation.
So everyone needs to be aware that the news that they hear from other countries always has to be researched and verified. Even minor inflections can change the whole story. And it does.
Over a period of at least the last 50 years, I hav... (
show quote)
It also apples to people that mispronounce certain words! I got a killer deal on some glassware because the dude said they were Spose instead of spode! I had checked them out before hand and knew what they were!! Worked for me!!!
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