Comments on: Translating into non-standardized languages http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2008/07/08/translating-into-non-standardized-languages/ ...the translation industry and becoming a translator Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:30:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: MT http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2008/07/08/translating-into-non-standardized-languages/#comment-461 MT Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:52:22 +0000 http://corinnemckay.wordpress.com/?p=110#comment-461 Two points. First, I personally think that language evolution is natural and that people should avoid "language rage" (a topic much discussed on Language Log http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/). To me, e-mail is not a formal mode of communication and one cannot expect the same care or attention to go into the language used in an e-mail as in a paper-printed letter or report, etc. To become upset about this reality is not productive. Instead, perhaps it is time to accept that different language conventions apply to e-mail than to other modes of communication, and these conventions will not perturb the younger generation--and in 50 years our old-person's perspective will seem unfathomable. The English language hasn't died out yet, and it won't because of e-mail conventions. So I shrug at this issue. (As a linguist, I actually find e-mail writing to be fascinating on a variety of levels.) Second, the translation of any large work but especially the Bible into an otherwise noncodified or standardized language is per se an exercise in standardization. After the Bible comes out in Jamaican patois, suddenly that speech will have a standard that any future writing in that speech can fall back on. My hope then is that the translators who undertake such projects really devote themselves to understanding the phonology and syntax of the target language so that they come up with a practical, usable standardization that will serve the people who speak it well for eons to come. Two points. First, I personally think that language evolution is natural and that people should avoid “language rage” (a topic much discussed on Language Log http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/). To me, e-mail is not a formal mode of communication and one cannot expect the same care or attention to go into the language used in an e-mail as in a paper-printed letter or report, etc. To become upset about this reality is not productive. Instead, perhaps it is time to accept that different language conventions apply to e-mail than to other modes of communication, and these conventions will not perturb the younger generation–and in 50 years our old-person’s perspective will seem unfathomable. The English language hasn’t died out yet, and it won’t because of e-mail conventions. So I shrug at this issue. (As a linguist, I actually find e-mail writing to be fascinating on a variety of levels.)

Second, the translation of any large work but especially the Bible into an otherwise noncodified or standardized language is per se an exercise in standardization. After the Bible comes out in Jamaican patois, suddenly that speech will have a standard that any future writing in that speech can fall back on. My hope then is that the translators who undertake such projects really devote themselves to understanding the phonology and syntax of the target language so that they come up with a practical, usable standardization that will serve the people who speak it well for eons to come.

]]> By: Corinne McKay http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2008/07/08/translating-into-non-standardized-languages/#comment-451 Corinne McKay Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:28:53 +0000 http://corinnemckay.wordpress.com/?p=110#comment-451 @Jill, so did you go "That's not proper English"?! I agree, I'm 36 and I despise receiving poorly written e-mails from the younger generation! But a graduate student writing "She would go 'Fantastic, I love it!'" in a paper? Inexcusable!! @Jill, so did you go “That’s not proper English”?! I agree, I’m 36 and I despise receiving poorly written e-mails from the younger generation! But a graduate student writing “She would go ‘Fantastic, I love it!’” in a paper? Inexcusable!!

]]> By: jillsommer http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2008/07/08/translating-into-non-standardized-languages/#comment-450 jillsommer Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:11:27 +0000 http://corinnemckay.wordpress.com/?p=110#comment-450 Yes, I'm only 38 and have already become a curmudgeon ;-) Yes, I’m only 38 and have already become a curmudgeon ;-)

]]> By: jillsommer http://thoughtsontranslation.com/2008/07/08/translating-into-non-standardized-languages/#comment-449 jillsommer Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:09:24 +0000 http://corinnemckay.wordpress.com/?p=110#comment-449 One of my students a few years ago used the verb "go" (as in "said") in her final paper. Now mind you, this was at the graduate level!!! I commented "Where did she go?" and gave her a lower grade. One of my biggest pet peeves... the decline of writing skills of our nation's youth. One of my students a few years ago used the verb “go” (as in “said”) in her final paper. Now mind you, this was at the graduate level!!! I commented “Where did she go?” and gave her a lower grade. One of my biggest pet peeves… the decline of writing skills of our nation’s youth.

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