Poll: Since you became a translator have you learned/studied a language just for fun/personal interest? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Since you became a translator have you learned/studied a language just for fun/personal interest?".
View the poll results »
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I studied Japanese because I had several trips scheduled in Japan. I thought it would come easily to me, but I was sorely mistaken.
Learning a new language is very important for broadening one's outlook on life.
| | | | Adnan Özdemir 
Türkiye
Local time: 21:13
Member (2007)
German to Turkish
+ ...
| Yes. Basque (Euskara), since 1993... | Mar 26, 2011 |
Yes. Basque (Euskara), since 1993...
Anadolu'dan selamlar
Saludos desde Anatolia
[Edited at 2011-03-26 17:20 GMT]
| | | | Anke Formann
Germany
Local time: 20:13
English to German
+ ...
| I would love to know Japanese | Mar 26, 2011 |
... but I fear I will not be able to dedicate enough time to the learning. I would also very much like to refresh my Russian. I still know the letters and some vocabulary and grammar, and it's a pity that I have not been persistent enough to keep it up back in my university days.
I guess now it's too late... or well... is it??
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| Braille and American Sign | Mar 26, 2011 |
At one point a few years ago, I studied Braille and did some transcription for relaxation from the pressures of work at the time. I decided after while that at some point I'd like to take some courses on it to offer services, too, but that point hasn't arrived so far.
At another time, I read a bit and worked on American sign and Signed English (in which one can express the written word better, for example). In both of these cases, I found that I was too self-concious to be express... See more At one point a few years ago, I studied Braille and did some transcription for relaxation from the pressures of work at the time. I decided after while that at some point I'd like to take some courses on it to offer services, too, but that point hasn't arrived so far.
At another time, I read a bit and worked on American sign and Signed English (in which one can express the written word better, for example). In both of these cases, I found that I was too self-concious to be expressive physically. I haven't gotten past that to renew my interest in the great interpretations and thought processes associated with this medium. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 20:13
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
| Three of them | Mar 26, 2011 |
I have started to study Lakhota, Tsi-tsa-la-gi and Tsėhesenėstsestotse (Sioux, Cherokee and Cheyenne), and am still at it. The learning never ends, especially since the opportunities to speak them are rare and far apart. Perhaps it's time to go back to the people.
| | | | Jeff Whittaker
United States
Local time: 14:13
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Studying languages | Mar 26, 2011 |
Yes, I am also studying Arabic, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Dutch and Navajo.
I even have a blog about languages just for fun:
www.polyglotproducts.blogspot.com
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Arabic for a year, Spanish sign language for two, and now I'm learning Welsh.
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German. I know it'll take centuries to be able to speak/write in decent german but after spending a couple of months there last summer I got really fluent, so I'm well chuffed. My main motives for doing so were purely recreational; I like cycling and watersports, so germany is perfect with its endless flat cycle-paths and lakes. Oh yeah, and the cakes!!
| | | | Yaotl Altan
Mexico
Local time: 12:13
Member (2006)
English to Spanish
+ ...
I am able now to identify Arabic letters and numbers.
| | | | | a bit of this and that | Mar 26, 2011 |
I picked up some German with a teach-yourself book, then improved it through family connections. Not as well as I would like, but it does help when I have to translate into English a text that someone has translated from German into Italian and the meaning is not very clear.
I tried Russian and more or less mastered the alphabet and some elementary sentences, but gave up when it got more complicated. I was again using a teach-yourself book and I really felt I needed someone I could ... See more I picked up some German with a teach-yourself book, then improved it through family connections. Not as well as I would like, but it does help when I have to translate into English a text that someone has translated from German into Italian and the meaning is not very clear.
I tried Russian and more or less mastered the alphabet and some elementary sentences, but gave up when it got more complicated. I was again using a teach-yourself book and I really felt I needed someone I could talk to.
If I'd stayed at home in Scotland, I would certainly have done something about learning Gaelic .... not much chance of that here in Italy.
Come to think of it, if I'd stayed at home I'd probably never have become a translator anyway ...
[Edited at 2011-03-27 00:10 GMT]
[Edited at 2011-03-27 00:10 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Jenn Mercer
United States
Local time: 14:13
Member (2009)
French to English
| Irish/Gaelic | Mar 26, 2011 |
Irish is a fascinating language and so different from both English and the Romance languages (French and Spanish) which I have studied. The differences make it an interesting challenge, but it is the similarities that send shivers up my spine. I wish I had more time to study, but I have hit that point right after you learn the basic vocabulary where it is hard to move on without using the language.
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Dave Bindon
Greece
Local time: 21:13
Greek to English
In memoriam
It's somewhat surprising that, after just 11 responses, 3 Celtic languages (Welsh, Irish, Scottish Gaelic) have been mentioned!
Welsh was the first foreign language I learned (my family moved to Wales when I was 7). It's so very different from non-Celtic European languages that every other language I've tried learning since then has seemed relatively easy!
Personally, I haven't learnt any new languages recently and I can't imagine myself starting to.
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I've studied Japanese 2 years long but gave up because of lack of time. I forgot everything!
There are numerous languages that I would like to learn, but I have found no time yet, and this experience with Japanese taught me that I shouldn't begin with it if I don't have enough time.
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