RE: Language expertise needed (Full Version)

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mark indigo -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 26 2020 17:11:31)

quote:

they don't want Shakespeare;


[:D]

that tickled me - very, very few people in England would understand something written in the style of Shakespeare!




kitarist -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 2:29:32)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ruphus

Interesting how non natives, in contrast to you, always tend to judge most snappy.

Aware of my skills having degraded since the times when I learned English business correspondence, and during a lengthy stay in the US [...]

As I said, I know to have quite degraded in this realm; but would it be like ‘total crap’ in the way a Kitarist files it?


Man, you are one weird dude. In your original post you were very careful to ask the question in the abstract; no personal connection or any context. This impulse of yours was good - presumably you did it this way because you wanted opinions uncoloured by personal considerations.

But then, having receivied some unfavourable reviews, you decide to come out as the author of the text and also 'tsk-tsk' the "non-natives" for honest replies. Bad Ruphus.

As I indicated already in my initial reply, context matters (BTW I never said 'total crap'). If I had asked you to review here the Surface Book 3 for the benefit of foro members, I'd be very happy with your review. No problem understanding 100% of the language and 95+% of the ideas.

Piwin already covered the most important points for you; hope you take note.

Here's something interesting:

You:
"Gaming Performance
The processing of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q in the Surface Book 3 13.5 suffices to conduct games of the late years, partly even on high graphical resolution. Albeit, with very demanding new versions of games a scaling down of graphical detail will be due. With the 3:2 format of the display, “The Witchers 3” for instance emerged in a distorted full screen mode. In such a case gamers have to deal with limitations, respectively with tweaking for adaptation. Games seamlessly compatible with the built-in graphic card have been listed in our GPU games list. "

From https://www.notebookcheck.net/Surface-Book-3-13-5-review-Microsoft-convertible-is-slowly-getting-old.477543.0.html :
"Gaming Performance
The performance of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q in the Surface Book 3 13.5 is sufficient to be able to run games from recent years smoothly even at high graphics levels. With very demanding and current titles, however, a reduction in the details setting is necessary. The 3:2 format of the screen, for example in The Witcher 3, resulted in a distorted display of the image format in full-screen mode. Here, players have to reckon with restrictions or an increased need for adjustment."

You:
"Noise emission
The fans of the Surface Book 3 13.5 are relatively quiet at 33,6 dB(A). Furthermore, will these only start with greater strain of the system, audible through an evenly swishing sound. During Office application fans will stay idle nearly throughout, making the Microsoft-Convertible suitable for noise sensible surrounding."

From https://www.notebookcheck.net/Surface-Book-3-13-5-review-Microsoft-convertible-is-slowly-getting-old.477543.0.html :
"Noise emissions
The fans of the Surface Book 3 13.5 are relatively quiet with a maximum noise level of 33.6 dB (A). In addition, these only activate when the system is exposed to a greater load and then run with a steadily whirring noise. The fans are almost completely deactivated in office use, which makes the Microsoft convertible well suited for use in noise-sensitive environments. "

You:
"Speakers
The loudspeakers in the Surface Book 3 won´t deliver much of volume, will however produce a considerably broad spectrum of sound. Thus, in quiet environment the Windows-Convertible will pretty much fit with playing back medial contents. Yet, regarding long-term use engagement of external speakers or headphones could be preferable, which for instance be connected through the available 3,5 mm jack port."

From https://www.notebookcheck.net/Surface-Book-3-13-5-review-Microsoft-convertible-is-slowly-getting-old.477543.0.html :
"Speakers
The speakers in the Surface Book 3 don't play very loudly, but they do offer a wide range of sounds. This makes the Windows convertible perfectly suitable for playing media content in quiet environments. In the long run, however, users should rely on external speakers or headphones, which can be connected to the tablet part, for example, via the existing 3.5 mm jack connection."

You:
"Energy consumption
Especially under increased load the Surface Book 3 13.5 shows a lower demand than the Surface Book 2. Also compared to other devices in our database that feature the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q the Microsoft-Convertible comes off significantly less consuming. Within our test field, only devices without dedicated graphic card pass at a lower power draw. The included charging unit provides an output of 95 watts. Enough to reliably deliver what the Microsoft-Convertible needs."

From https://www.notebookcheck.net/Surface-Book-3-13-5-review-Microsoft-convertible-is-slowly-getting-old.477543.0.html :
"Power consumption
The Surface Book 3 13.5 shows a lower energy requirement than the Surface Book 2, especially under load. Compared to other devices from our database that use an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, the Microsoft convertible is also significantly more economical. Only devices without a dedicated graphics card show lower power consumption in our test field. The included charger has an output power of 95 watts and is therefore sufficiently large enough to reliably supply the Microsoft convertible with energy.

Etc. etc.

Read the review at https://www.notebookcheck.net/Surface-Book-3-13-5-review-Microsoft-convertible-is-slowly-getting-old.477543.0.html - it is as if someone took your version and rewrote it into normal English for computer nerds. The translator/editor is even German. It is you lucky day. Study it; no need to ask here for people to rewrite paragraphs as all has been done already.

BTW, there is no such thing as 'Windows convertible'. It is Microsoft convertible, or perhaps tablet convertible or similar. Windows is software; whereas 'convertible' is a reference to a hardware feature. The article at https://www.notebookcheck.net/Surface-Book-3-13-5-review-Microsoft-convertible-is-slowly-getting-old.477543.0.html generally knows this, but in a few paragraphs is referring to 'Windows convertible' - apparently missed by the proofreader. You make the same mistake as far as I can see.




Ruphus -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 8:56:59)

To your information:
I had planned to unveal my authorship from the beginning.
Covering it at first had indeed to do with experiences of bias. Namely from politically conservatives and non natives.

quote:

Windows is software; whereas 'convertible' is a reference to a hardware feature. The article at https://www.notebookcheck.net/Surface-Book-3-13-5-review-Microsoft-convertible-is-slowly-getting-old.477543.0.html generally knows this, but …


What makes you think that I did not, but the other guy did?
I suppose we adopted from the author, for translating is not supposed to alter content.

You see? That is why I can do without estimation from non-natives who for some reason tend to shoot ahead most boldly, while not being as qualified like native speakers, who again show not only more competent but much more forgiving or understanding.

quote:

The performance of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q in the Surface Book 3 13.5 is sufficient to be able to run games …


This may appear like good style to you, but I doubt it.
It looks like German phrasing though, as much as it gets.

quote:

With very demanding and current titles, however, a reduction in the details setting is necessary.


The poor device has only one setting for details.

quote:

The 3:2 format of the screen, for example in The Witcher 3, resulted in a distorted display of the image format in full-screen mode.


We were taught to use commas as scarcely as possible. For correct application in English language being hairy, and that comma insertion in average text would be coming about rather redundant than not. This example of syntax also doesn´t appear all too fluent to me either.

Lastly “… in a distorted display of the image format in full-screen mode” semantically quite looks like a tautology.

quote:

Here, players have to reckon with restrictions or an increased need for adjustment.


I guess same fault like mine. Shouldn´t it be “gamers” instead of “players”?

The “increased need” strictly semantically implies that adjustment whether more or less was to be generally obligatory, which it is not. In German language such a content incongruence would be understood for phrase sake, but I am not sure whether this would be common figure of speech in English too.

And so forth.

I can accept that the translation that you present might be better absorbable for some, but likely not for good style and accuracy.

Now that Piwin has made clear his relating to tailored styles, and basically joined natives´pointing out:

I wonder what makes out of all you feel so challenged to lecturing?
I can´t remember to have seen all too honed writings from you. Rather avoidance of demanding structure and grammar by Liliputian sentences, in ways I recall from 8th class exercisings.




Escribano -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 10:17:26)

quote:

We were taught to use commas as scarcely as possible.


Native English writers don't use commas enough, in my opinion and then they are often in the wrong place.




Piwin -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 10:26:50)

quote:

translating is not supposed to alter content


Meh. I suppose you can still find some (many?) professionals who think along those lines. In my opinion people who work that way pretty much all suck. [8D] Alter away. If people don't want their content altered, they shouldn't submit it for translation. Like objectivity in journalism, it's an impossible ideal. So might as well just accept that, and lean in to it. But that's just me.

I don't know about this convertible business, but if it is a mistake in the original, usually you would still correct it in the translation. The cases where you don't (well, where I wouldn't), like the "sh1t in sh1t out" I mentioned at the beginning, is when the text is so bad that making all the required corrections would go far beyond what you're being paid to do.

IMHO it's good policy to correct the obvious mistakes. At the end of the day you're doing this for money. Correcting the original (for instance on small but obvious mistakes like "The Witchers") prevents the author from looking bad; it makes you look like an ally who has his back and increases the likelihood that he'll hire you again. On the other hand, if you tell your client "I saw an obvious mistake but didn't correct it because I believe translation should not alter the original", the chances that you'll get hired again will drop significantly. But that's a business decision, and not everyone will agree on that. I'll just say that it has worked pretty well for me.




kitarist -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 12:39:31)

You are welcome.




Ruphus -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 12:45:39)

The way I learned it, you will alter syntax, metaphor, phrases … whatever works best or be common in the other language. But never basic meaning. That is not one´s job.
For an author to be looking good, it should be cared for in the original.

Besides, maybe the “Windows” notebook was an intended choice of the author, for possibly architecture of CPU and environment having been laid out to especially functioning best with that OS and its features. I doubt that an editorial would expect translators to know about latest specifics of devices, nor to engage themselves as correctors.




BarkellWH -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 13:57:07)

quote:

Native English writers don't use commas enough, in my opinion and then they are often in the wrong place.


Expanding the discussion from commas to punctuation in general, I am always amused by those who dismiss proper punctuation by blithely stating that it doesn't matter as long as the meaning is understood. I like to point out the following example of how important punctuation is in establishing meaning.

Take the following sentence.

"Woman without her man is nothing."

Straightforward and unambiguous, right?

But add punctuation as follows.

"Woman: without her, man is nothing."

Changes the meaning 180 degrees.

Bill




mark indigo -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 14:01:23)

quote:

Native English writers don't use commas enough, in my opinion and then they are often in the wrong place.


I think you missed a comma after "opinion"![8D]

Also I want "commas" and "place" to agree.

I think it would be better worded like this:

Native English writers don't use comas enough, in my opinion, and when they do they often put them in the wrong places.




kitarist -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 14:05:04)

quote:

Native English writers don't use comas enough, in my opinion, and when they do they often put them in the wrong places.


You missed a comma after "when they do" [8D]

Just kidding. English is weird with commas in that it seems it is down to style in a lot of cases.

I think properly it should be "...and, when they do, they often ..." but I don't think this is a popular style [anymore; if ever was].




mark indigo -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 14:06:14)

quote:

Expanding the discussion from commas to punctuation in general, I am always amused by those who dismiss proper punctuation by blithely stating that it doesn't matter as long as the meaning is understood. I like to point out the following example of how important punctuation is in establishing meaning.


The classic example is "Eats shoots and leaves" or "Eats, shoots and leaves".


"Eats, shoots and leaves" is also the name of a book on punctuation by Lynne Truss, with this joke on the back cover:

A panda walks into a café. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air.

"Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.

"I'm a panda," he says at the door. "Look it up."

The waiter turns to the relevant entry in the manual and, sure enough, finds an explanation.

"Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves."

for anyone who doesn't get the joke, wikipedia explains: "The joke turns on the ambiguity of the final sentence fragment. As intended by the author, "eats" is a verb, while "shoots" and "leaves" are the verb's objects: a panda's diet comprises shoots and leaves. However, the erroneous introduction of the comma gives the mistaken impression that the sentence fragment comprises three verbs listing in sequence the panda's characteristic conduct: it eats, then it shoots, and finally it leaves."




mark indigo -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 14:07:45)

quote:


Native English writers don't use comas enough, in my opinion, and when they do they often put them in the wrong places.


You missed a comma after "when they do"


I don't think it needs one there.

We might pause there for dramatic effect in speech, and that pause might be transcribed with a comma, but I believe that would be incorrect in written English.




kitarist -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 14:09:42)

quote:

I don't think it needs one there.


I was still writing and editing! :-) take a look now.




mark indigo -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 14:12:28)

so was I!




kitarist -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 14:14:06)

quote:

so was I!


[:D], [:D], [:D]




Piwin -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 14:20:15)

quote:

That is not one's job. For an author to be looking good, it should be cared for in the original


In an ideal world, sure. In the real world, you're working as part of a larger team with the sole purpose of ensuring the best possible degree of communication across language barriers. Whatever you can do to ensure that quality of communication will be appreciated and will ensure that you get the contract the next time around. But as I said, that's a business decision. It's always a balancing act between not being taken advantage of and not being so anal on the scope of your job that it impedes the ultimate goal of quality communication. Particularly for those working from English, it is extremely common to work with non-native texts, the quality of which would seem rather questionable to a native English speaker. The translator who doesn't correct that and produce a quality text in the target language will not be able to hide behind theoretical claims of what the job should or shouldn't be. He just won't be hired the next time around, and that's pretty much it.

Dunno man, when I became an interpreter I was never told that one of the functions that I would hold would be not as a intercultural "bridge" but rather as "buffer". Theoretically that's not what the job is about, but in reality it is an important part of the job. Namely, you're the fall guy for when the speaker f$cks up. Quite a few diplomatic incidents (at least minor ones) are avoided that way, by blaming the interpreter for the breakdown in communication (sometimes it is the interpreter's fault. More often than not, it's not his fault and he's just used as an excuse). If secrecy wasn't such an important aspect of that job, I could give you plenty of examples from my own former career. People who can't accept that interpreting also entails that rather disagreeable social role just don't last long on the job. Likewise with the blending in of editorial reworking of the original in translation work. Theoretically it's not part of your job. But people who can't accept that it sometimes will be just don't last long on the job.

The translation industry (at least outside of literary translation) has been hit hard over the last few decades. There's just no room for idealism anymore. You're already lucky that your employer apparently didn't notice that this review had already been translated elsewhere. Otherwise they would just run it through a CAT tool and you would be paid squat compared to whatever it is they're paying you now. Not that long ago, the fact that you accepted a job in a language that is not your A language would have significantly tarnished your reputation and probably got you blacklisted by some other colleagues, because it would have be seen as stealing a perfectly good job from your English A colleagues. All of that is changing rapidly. None of this matters if you're just on the fringe of the industry doing a translation job every now and then. But if it's your bread and butter, at least as a freelance those considerations become very important, much more so than abstract ideas of what translation should or shouldn't be. Anyway, that's just what my own experience has been. To each his own.




mark indigo -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 14:30:09)

quote:

That is why I can do without estimation from non-natives who for some reason tend to shoot ahead most boldly, while not being as qualified like native speakers, who again show not only more competent but much more forgiving or understanding.


While I am on this thread (which I have been trying to avoid) I might as well add that it is in the cultural nature of native English English speakers to be somewhat reticent with direct criticism. ([:D])

I am aware that many fellow members of the foro here are communicating in a second or third (etc.) language, and I hesitate to admit my respect for them, and for that, for fear of appearing patronising.

I have to say Ruphus, that although I have become somewhat fond of your presence through long familiarity with you here, your English is frankly terrible, to the extent that I frequently find your posts utterly unreadable. In some cases I am able, with extreme effort, to extract what I think you might be intending to say - the quote at the top of this post is one example of this.

All too often I am unable to decipher any meaning at all, as in this example:

quote:

For correct application in English language being hairy, and that comma insertion in average text would be coming about rather redundant than not. This example of syntax also doesn´t appear all too fluent to me either.


If you would like the opinion of a native speaker I would say that although I have no idea what the text you have been trying to translate is about (something to do with computer games - I don't play any, and know even less about computer games than I do about computers, which is not much), I can tell that of the comparison paragraphs Konstantin/Kitarist posted, the "from postbookcheck.net" versions are written in vastly superior English.




JasonM -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 14:56:55)

quote:

Here's something interesting:


[:-]

If it’s out there you can be sure Konstantin will find it! [:D]




RobF -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 14:59:28)

Unfortunately, the one person truly capable of bringing some clarity and a measure of balance into this discussion, Karnak, has been banned. I did ask him if he would be willing to weigh in on the affair from afar, and this was his reply:

“May the orations of 1000 limpid linguists infest your dreams with observations of obscurity.”

So, I guess that means no. I don’t know why he’s taking it out on me, though.




RobF -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 15:26:07)

I should point out that I referred to the little rewrite example I presented earlier on in this thread as ‘proofing’, which I believe may be incorrect.

I actually did have a summer job working as a proofreader when I was younger. My duty was to flag errors, such as missing paragraphs, misspellings, bad grammar, and so on, using proofreading symbols to mark up the text. The proofed text was then returned for correction/rewriting. No suggestions were made concerning contextual revisions, indeed the speed that I was expected to work disallowed any discussions whatsoever. I would go through enormous amounts of text during the course of one day. Recommending textual modifications was the job of the editor and would be done in consultation with the author.

Somehow, the discussion on this thread has expanded to include translation, but I think the original request was for proofing and, perhaps, editorial suggestions.




Piwin -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 15:51:23)

This got me reminiscing. For the anecdote (nothing to do at all with this thread), I remember interpreting English-French for this large Japanese company (which shall remain unnamed) that was starting up business in France. Things were already well underway and this was an event where the top brass flew in to "motivate" the French hires.

Don't ask me why the hell they chose English instead of Japanese. In any event, the Japanese CEO spoke in English. Rather, like Viktor Frankl put it: I speak "a German accent with a bit of English". Same thing, but with Japanese. At one point, he says: "Japan, numba wan, eh-shin people". There was no useful context, nothing to grab on to. Usually when that happens you just wait a while, and hopefully the next thing he says will provide the context you need to understand what he's trying to say. But here, it was followed by a long pause. And then he just repeated: "Japan, numba wan, eh-shin people". Followed by a long pause again.

Damn it, I have to say something... "Japan, number one, Asian people"? Is this a declaration of nippon supremacy over other Asian ethnicities? No, that can't be right. Come on man...at least give me a verb or something...ffs... Good grief this pause just goes on and on...

I ended up just taking a wild guess and mumbling some generic sentence about how, in this line of business, Japan was an industry leader in all of Asia. Something like that. I took a shot. My colleague sitting next to me in the booth starts giggling. She quickly writes down on a sheet of paper: AGEING!

Lol. Right. So, he apparently meant to say that Japan has the highest proportion of elderly citizens of any country in the world. **** me. "Japan, numba wa, eh-shin people".... I drank an unreasonable amount of beers after that workday. [8D]




Escribano -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 15:57:19)

quote:

I think you missed a comma after "opinion"


Yes, you are right, it should be used before "and", so I fell foul of my own point. See how many commas there are in that statement :-)




RobF -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 16:01:46)

Your post reminded me of this:





Piwin -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 16:07:03)

Depends on the setting. The main clients I have tend to work with what they call a "query" system. It's really just a shared file to put down questions or suggestions on the original. Responsibility for these "queries" is shared between the translator, proofreader and editor. As a translator, I won't necessarily pick up on minor issues. I might flag them without any comment just as an assist to the proofreader, like "hey, I think there's something wrong here." But, if the problem is something that makes it impossible for me to translate (dunno, for instance if the author copy-pasted bits and pieces of his sentence to rework it and it somehow ended without a verb, so I can't really tell what it's supposed to mean), in those cases, I have to be able to consult the author long before the editor is involved, otherwise I just can't translate. There's often a bit of overlap between translator/proofreader/editor because of things like that.

edit: [:D] No Asians. lol




Ruphus -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 16:19:19)

quote:

ORIGINAL: JasonM

quote:

Here's something interesting:


[:-]

If it’s out there you can be sure Konstantin will find it! [:D]



You think the people at that magazine to be so dumb and offer for trial work to an applicant what they had already released as translation?

Makes you as smart like Kitarist.

They gave me a link to articles in German language, for me to chose from.
Articles that had not been translated at that time. Naturally.




Piwin -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 16:25:01)

quote:

offer for trial work to an applicant what they had already released as translation?


That has actually happened to me before. At the time I wondered whether they were just testing my research skills (or perhaps my honesty ^^). Turns out, it was just a mistake on their part.




Ruphus -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 16:36:06)

As fellow members seem to agree with what Mark Indigo attests, I suppose that you won´t really mind if I step out of this forum.

I would not want to be harassing people with unbearably faulty language, superseded by vastly superior, crappy translation.

All the best to the community!




Ricardo -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 16:44:21)

quote:

What makes you think that I did not, but the other guy did?


Now that’s funny!

Look, language is meant for communication. As far as English goes once you learn the rules some British guy with a stick up his butt designed a long time ago, you are free to do what you want to get the point across. Example:

He eats shoots and leaves.
He eats, shoots and leaves.

When it comes to internet writing, extra clarity is ideal. if you meant The first one I would say “he eats shoots, then leaves.” If you mean the second then I’d say “he eats, shoots, AND leaves”.... emphasizing the fact it’s additive. I could give a rats ass about rules when trying to communicate online. It’s hard enough as it is. So getting used to various personal writing styles is a necessity. Ruphus was a good example how over time the abrasiveness wore off as we got used to it and his meaning started to emerge through the translations.




Piwin -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 16:53:44)

I would mind. Haven't seen you around much these past few months, but I enjoy our little exchanges, even if they are sometimes heated.

I think you were one of the first people who talked to me on the forum. We had a long conversation with you and Bill, initially about art and the "it was better before" trope, before moving on to linguistics IIRC.

I'm used to your style on here so it's not really a problem for me. From time to time I don't understand something and just skip it. But I certainly don't feel "harassed" or whatever. My opinions on how that translation would be received in a professional setting are quite separate from that.




Paul Magnussen -> RE: Language expertise needed (Jul. 29 2020 17:07:32)

For what it’s worth, for the last few years I’ve been proof-reading translations of a Russian archæological journal. I’m very fortunate in my editor, and whenever I’m in doubt as to whether it’s OK to rewrite something I ask her, and if she’s in doubt she asks the author.

The biggest problem I have is whether to hyphenate things. The target language is American English, and Americans hate and fear hyphens; but if I leave them out, sentences often become incomprehensible or ambiguous.




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