Do people get upset? - Foreign Languages Forum

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Polymorphic

Topic: Do people get upset?

I've noticed that people get upset or feel insulted if something is translated from english the wrong way. Is that common?

#1 Jun 26th 2007, 6:22am

yukki

Well, if you have no knowledge of the language whatsoever and just use an online translator, chances are the writing isn't going to make any sense whatsoever. Those translators are horrible.

#2 Jun 28th 2007, 12:28am

derisive snort

It certainly does not offend me. Being that I didn't event english i'm not sure how someone's use of it could insult me. However it really doesn't impress. If you are learning another language than more power to you. XD langauges rock.

However if you are just running a story through a translator and expecting it to comeout as literature then language is more complivated than you think. Stick to the one you know.

#3 Jun 30th 2007, 1:27pm

Serom Kim

Using foreign languages when you don't know it through an online translator? It doesn't really offend me, I've gotten used to people's ignorance and stuff. But I don't think that you should do it ... unless you're never going to publish it. I had used one of those things when I was younger. Now that I actually know some Spanish, I can safely say that you're going to make yourself look like an idiot if you publish something put through a translator ...

#4 Jul 15th 2007, 7:50pm

concerto49

Yeah, I'd agree that you shouldn't use it unless you know it. I've read that people writing mythology had to spend ages trying to learn it before they write it. It's like people using historical events - they won't get that wrong I hope or people were bound to complain. Same idea.

E.g. X Infinity I started (sorry, not advertising, just to make a point) - I took a long while to research about army ranks, because I was quite confused about them. I never knew about them. Research before you write sounds good.

#5 Jul 23rd 2007, 6:17am

HGiel

Using an online translator and thinking it'll come out even coherent is foolish. If you do know the language to a point though the translators can be of some use.

What annoys me is when people put characters in other countries and then make the culture the same as American culture. Whats the point of using a different country then?

#6 Aug 27th 2007, 11:26am

Fantasy China Story

I find it annoying when i read a word in a book that's another language if i have no idea how to speak that language and if it's ment to be understood. I also get annoyed when i watch movies with ppl speaking Chinese and they sound so great to ppl who don't know what they're saying or what they're ment to be saying,. but to me it just sounds plain WRONG. and it bugs me. also when ppl translate the other language's words into English letters so that readers will know how to read them. Because then they learn it all worng. like 'chow mein'. it's 'chao mIEn' ppl! Come on!

but then that's just me.

#7 Sep 19th 2007, 11:29pm

concerto49

It is true that a lot of the translators can't pronounce the language they are translating. I can recall a lot of those that are wrong.

But your suggestion doesn't either. Chao is a totally invalid translation (since most people will pronounce it (kay-os) due to chaos. And that's the idea - you have to know the language you are translating to well enough for it to work.

#8 Sep 19th 2007, 11:49pm

Fantasy China Story

I wasn't translating, I was spelling it in the correct pinyin. It's Chinese

#9 Sep 19th 2007, 11:51pm

concerto49

But, then why are you complaining? The 'chow mein' is for people using English to read it. English readers aren't going to read pinyin. And if English readers were made to read pinyin, then shouldn't it sound the way so it's how English readers pronounce it.

#10 Sep 19th 2007, 11:53pm

Fantasy China Story

that's the point. I don't like it when ppl do that, unless they explain how it's properly spelt. besides, 'mein' is not how it's said anyway

#11 Sep 19th 2007, 11:56pm

concerto49

Well I never said I agreed the translation was correct in the first place. As I said, that's because they get people that can't pronounce the language to translate it. Like they get someone that's probably really good in English, but aren't so good in Chinese to write those. It's the same in Chinese - a lot of those English-to-Chinese translations are rubbish as well. You feel that it sounds like weirdos that can't speak probably.

#12 Sep 19th 2007, 11:59pm

Fantasy China Story

Yeah I know. It just bugs me. Just like when a student tells my mum that what she's just taught them in English class is wrong, because the student's CHINESE English teacher said it differently, even though my mum is Aussie. It just gets on my nerves. that's all I was saying.

#13 Sep 20th 2007, 12:02am

HGiel

You do know though that people who dont know HOW to pronounce words properly wont care to learn either right? If you want to pronounce Chinese words correctly you are going to go to the trouble to learn pinyin... Most English speakers only come in contact with Chinese in Chinese restaurants and will make sure their films from China or Taiwan are dubbed. I suggest you watch movies with no subs if you don't like the translations. I think its funny myself...Its like watching 2 movies at once.

#14 Sep 20th 2007, 12:56am

Fantasy China Story

if it's a 'most' thing, I guess I'm just special then! although i guess I always knew deep down inside that I was special.....

Note: that is a joke. I am not that full of myself, I swear

I know ppl who don't know don't usually care... but I DO know and I DO care.

I was just answering Ploymorphic's question. I do get upset sometimes.

#15 Sep 20th 2007, 1:04am

derisive snort

I think that one must simply accpet that langauges wil barrow form eachother--and change what they barrow. For example if Japanese people cal a lighter a raitaa, that's not how I pronounce it but then I'm not speaking Japanese. Just consider Chow Mein to be the english word for chao mien ( . .right?)

#16 Sep 20th 2007, 1:14am

concerto49

To HGiel earlier, I don't watch movies with subs. Subs is give me a break. Needing subs means you don't understand the language, which is like a movie with no sound. Ain't happening in my world.

1. It's borrow. Get that right first.

2. Wrong is wrong. That's like if people failed, they we try consider the pass mark to be lower so that they passed? Then, what's the point. Why not just do that for everything?

#17 Sep 20th 2007, 2:07am

Fantasy China Story

well thank you for your positive out look on this "Derisive Snort". it's rather... refreshing. I'm just picky when it comes to the languages I speak. sorry everyone

#18 Sep 20th 2007, 3:52am

HGiel

concerto49: It really isnt like watching a movie without any sound. The sounds in the movie are much more important then just letting you hear dialog. There is the music, effects, tones to voices, emotional conveyance in general. You can watch movies with no dialog what so ever and understand so much more just because of the sounds.

#19 Sep 20th 2007, 11:48am

Mockingbirdflyaway

I use Russian a fair amount in my stories, and I've mostly been able to avoid errors (though a few have slipped through!) by hitting up some Russian penpals and friends and being like "How would you say _____" and transcribing their reply. I tend to only use languages that I have familiarity with at any rate (French, Chinese...), or I make myself familiar with a language before I use it. (Russian, Japanese).

If people know you're not a native, usually they're thrilled that you're trying to write a story set in their country and usually respect you quite a bit, so long as you're making a whole hearted attempt to research things. They really also like correcting you when you get stuff wrong. :P Thankfully, I've managed to avoid this pitfall for the most part, as I'm completely OCD about researching for my stories.

#20 Feb 11th, 7:26pm

Akhdar

I agree; only write in a language that you are familiar with. If you're not fluent in the language, ask a few native speakers (gotta love the internet) how they would say it and they'll tell you. No matter what, even if you think you can fake it, go with the native speaker. There's just no other substitute.

Also, in terms of writing about a different culture, it's more than just using different words. There are so many things that seperate our world from theirs and those things can make a great story. If you haven't been to the country in question (and even if you have), do research. I don't know why so many writers avoid this (maybe it's because I usually hang out in the fantasy forums where they usually just make stuff up and don't realize how ridiculous they sound), but research will make or break a story.

#21 Mar 31st, 8:32am

dragonflydreamer

I suppose I'm kind of in the middle of this debate. I hope to pursue a career involving linguistics, so I do use foreign languages in many of my stories, particularly dead ones. They are pretty common in fantasy stories, and they work well in them. Latin is fairly widespread, but languages such as Anglo-Saxon are difficult to find a good expert on.I think it's perfectly justifiable for a writer to rely on a somewhat credible internet source for them.

Languages such as Itlian, French, German, Spanish, etc., are not that hard to find a native speaker for, or at least someone who has taken a class in the language. A while ago, I wrote a story that was partially in French for a school assignment. I simply asked my school's French teacher to look it over for me. If it's that easy to get help, I really think that people should do so.

@Akhdar

Yes, I completely second the concept of research!

#22 May 22nd, 1:15pm

destinee's notebook

Well, I'm sort of just poking my nose in here a bit. Being Chinese myself but not being exactly bilingual (as in, technically, English is my first language and I cannot read Chinese), I don't get so annoyed at wrong "translations", though occasionally I will say that something is very off and should be done some other way. As for things like "chow mein", "wonton", and "dim sum", I have to admit I can't pronounce those right because the way people say it in English is not what I'm used to, so...

For the record, I prefer subbed movies to actual English dubs, which deviate a bit more than subs do.

#23 May 28th, 8:53pm

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