| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: How important is it that a translator live in a country in which his/her target language is spoken? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How important is it that a translator live in a country in which his/her target language is spoken?".
View the poll results »
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 20:19
Spanish to English
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I translate into English but I live in Spain. I don't think living back in Blighty would do anything other than depress me, so in my own case, I don't think it's necessary. Anyway, it is now possible to keep up with the latest language changes through new technologies so I really don't see it as an issue.
However, people translating INTO a foreign language are "backing a deuce" IMHO, so that's a different can of worms...
[Edited at 2012-08-09 09:04 GMT]
NB: For... See more I translate into English but I live in Spain. I don't think living back in Blighty would do anything other than depress me, so in my own case, I don't think it's necessary. Anyway, it is now possible to keep up with the latest language changes through new technologies so I really don't see it as an issue.
However, people translating INTO a foreign language are "backing a deuce" IMHO, so that's a different can of worms...
[Edited at 2012-08-09 09:04 GMT]
NB: For the uninitiated, to "back a deuce" is the same as to "be on a hiding to nothing":
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/on-a-hiding-to-nothing.html
[Edited at 2012-08-09 09:14 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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But you must have a perfect knowledge of your native language before moving and keep in touch with your own culture (TV, newspapers, books, regular visits, etc.). I translate into Portuguese and I have been living in Belgium for the last 25 years.
PS As I translate exclusively into my native language, I'm not considering those who translate into a foreign language.
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I freelanced for two years while living in a Spanish-speaking country (Mexico), and I began to feel that I was losing touch with the US culture in unexpected ways.
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I know similar questions come up from time to time, but we had this one quite recently.
| | | | Julian Holmes 
Japan
Local time: 03:19
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
| In a not too distant past... | Aug 9, 2012 |
...we had a similar poll on June 26th
"Would you prefer to live in your source language or target language country?"
And this topic was discussed thoroughly and in a lively manner with lots of valuable input from 43 pollsters and extensively voted on (1608 votes) -- a decent turnout as far as Proz polls are concerned. Thanks for your great suggestion, Ty 
I'm sure that there are lots... See more ...we had a similar poll on June 26th
"Would you prefer to live in your source language or target language country?"
And this topic was discussed thoroughly and in a lively manner with lots of valuable input from 43 pollsters and extensively voted on (1608 votes) -- a decent turnout as far as Proz polls are concerned. Thanks for your great suggestion, Ty
I'm sure that there are lots of fresh ideas in the poll backlog. It would be nice to see them get the light of day. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:19
Hebrew to English
thought I was having deja vu....
There's arguments for living in both, source and target countries. I do still wonder about people living in neither though (a German>English translator living in Thailand, or a Spanish>Portuguese translator living in China etc).
| | | | | Must have done at some stage in life | Aug 9, 2012 |
I think living in the country for a prolonged period at some stage in life is necessary... Otherwise it is probably not your native language.
But living in the country of the source language has many advantages too, and I would say that is almost as necessary. You do need regular visits and chances to observe all those little things you never find in dictionaries.
As neilmac says, with communications technology it is quite possible to keep up with the latest developmen... See more I think living in the country for a prolonged period at some stage in life is necessary... Otherwise it is probably not your native language.
But living in the country of the source language has many advantages too, and I would say that is almost as necessary. You do need regular visits and chances to observe all those little things you never find in dictionaries.
As neilmac says, with communications technology it is quite possible to keep up with the latest developments from almost anywhere. ▲ Collapse
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I live in Belgium, I translate into Portuguese and my main source language is now English, but of course I know that Belgium is not as exotic as Thailand, Japan or China (even the idea of referring to Belgium as exotic makes me smile...). Good translating to you all!
| | | | | What I find more interesting | Aug 9, 2012 |
is exactly what translators living outside their native country find are the most effective ways to keep up with their native language (and culture).
Of course, one can read newspapers, magazines, language and culture blogs and websites, listen to internet radio (especially current affairs and comedy), watch TV, go back to visit regularly, keep in touch with friends and family, etc.
But which specific activities do you find give you the best results in terms of the time... See more is exactly what translators living outside their native country find are the most effective ways to keep up with their native language (and culture).
Of course, one can read newspapers, magazines, language and culture blogs and websites, listen to internet radio (especially current affairs and comedy), watch TV, go back to visit regularly, keep in touch with friends and family, etc.
But which specific activities do you find give you the best results in terms of the time invested?
I also think that, until you've lived in your source-language country for a few years, you can't appreciate just how beneficial that is. ▲ Collapse
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In my case, the best results in terms of the time invested would be: newspapers, magazines and books.
| | | | | Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule |
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Chun Un
Macau
Member (2007)
English to Chinese
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| Not important at all | Aug 9, 2012 |
if you are an avid reader in both your source and target languages. What a difference would it make where you live? Standard written languages don't change over time as much as the vernacular might do.
| | | | Steve Derry
Spain
Local time: 20:19
German to English
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[quote]neilmac wrote:
I translate into English but I live in Spain. I don't think living back in Blighty would do anything other than depress me, so in my own case, I don't think it's necessary. Anyway, it is now possible to keep up with the latest language changes through new technologies so I really don't see it as an issue.
Particularly about being back in Blighty depressing me.
In addition, having seen a good friend's post on Facebook (she moved to Canada from Nottingham) talking about "eating candy in her condo", I think my native language would be more in danger if I moved "across the pond". No offence meant to our friends across the Atlantic, it's just strange seeing such utterances from someone from that part of the world!
I also translate from Spanish to English, and I find it more use being in Spain as I have ready access to Spanish lawyers and notaries who can assist me with some of the more difficult wording of legal texts.
| | | | Mark Hamlen
France
Local time: 20:19
French to English
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| Depends what you translate | Aug 9, 2012 |
I haven't lived in an English-speaking country for 20 years, but in the modern age I listen to spoken English all the time: BBC radio and news, films, tv series. And I read all the time in English. My sense of good English is not threatened. But I translate legal documents and formal texts.
If you translate modern fiction, you might need to have a better handle on things that are changing in US or British English, and for that you might need to live there. I was surprised on a... See more I haven't lived in an English-speaking country for 20 years, but in the modern age I listen to spoken English all the time: BBC radio and news, films, tv series. And I read all the time in English. My sense of good English is not threatened. But I translate legal documents and formal texts.
If you translate modern fiction, you might need to have a better handle on things that are changing in US or British English, and for that you might need to live there. I was surprised on a trip to the US after 12 years that in Boston the standard greeting (even between strangers) seems to be "Howyadoin". That took some getting used to. ▲ Collapse
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