From: Marnen Laibow-Koser <marnen@...>
Date: 2010-01-01T02:40:18+09:00
Subject: Re: The ruby website translator

Phillip Gawlowski wrote:
> On 31.12.2009 09:30, James Britt wrote:
> 
>> So here's someone offering to help out with a community-driven,
>> open-source project that clearly needs the help, and is greeted with a
>> lecture on grammar and told to come back later.
> 
> A firm grasp of the language translated to and/or from isn't "nice to
> have", it's essential.

Yes.  But there is a difference between reading and writing.  I can read 
German very well and speak it more or less fluently, and I sometimes 
take German>English translation jobs for extra income.  However, I have 
trouble writing comprehensibly in German.

This situation is common.  In fact, most professional translators 
consider it *unethical* to translate into other than their native 
language.

> 
> It is even more essential in technical writing, since it requires a very
> high level of exact translation to eliminate possible double-meanings.
> 
> A German - English example:
> "source code"
> 
> Can be translated as "Quelltext", "Programmcode", or "Code-Quelle
> erstellen", only the first two are proper translations of the term
> "source code", the third option meaning "generate academic source for
> code", or "acquire academic source for code". This is made even more
> difficult in that "code" can mean "program source code", *or* "cypher".
>

Right.  This is why you need a native German speaker familiar with the 
field to do that translation.

> Two words, and a whole paragraph of possibilities. ;)
> 
>> I'm sure we all want translations to be clear and accurate, but surely
>> we can find some way to encourage more people to contribute what they can.
> 
> Sure. But I don't know about you, but proof-reading and editing aren't
> really fun if the source material is anything like the OP's initial 
> email.

But an English style guide won't help to understand that!

> 
> Suggestions were requested, suggestions were provided.
> 

Yup.  But they were suggestions appropriate to translating *into* 
English, which the OP is not going to be doing.

> I also admit to a certain... terseness in my written English (it's a
> known fault, but one difficult for me to fix, it being a personality
> trait), but--especially as a non-native English speaker--I take care to
> write at least clear English (not that I always succeed), and I am
> doubly aware of grammatical errors since they jump at me from any given
> text. I blame the endless drills in school on false friends.
> 

:)

> However, I'm also cringing when I catch myself making a typo. I'm
> hypercritical, not hypocritical. ;)

Best,
--
Marnen Laibow-Koser
http://www.marnen.org
marnen@marnen.org
-- 
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.