Re: Paying for stuff (kind of OT)

From: Ross Klatte (klatteross_at_aol.commmm)
Date: 07/10/04 

Date: 10 Jul 2004 18:35:30 GMT

>From: "Curt Fischer" crf3@po.cwru.edu
>Date: 2004-07-08 20:43 Eastern Daylight Time
>Message-id: <2l6812F8h319U1@uni-berlin.de>
>
>Pope Emperor FrogMaN wrote:
>> "Curt Fischer" <crf3@po.cwru.edu> wrote in message
>> news:2l605iF98193U1@uni-berlin.de...
>>> Pope Emperor FrogMaN wrote:
>>>> "Curt Fischer" <crf3@po.cwru.edu> wrote in message
>>>> news:2l53daF8rcjnU1@uni-berlin.de...
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> This seems like an easy way to deprive yourself of access to 90% of
>>>>> the world's literature.
>>>>
>>>> Not really. I'm proficient in 6 languages, and am working on my 7th
>>>> right now.
>>>
>>> Wow. You must be very proud. I stand by my statement.
>>
>> Oops.. I didn't finish my post. I was going to say that by being
>> able to understand so many languages, I can read a lot of the
>> literature in their original languages. Like French, or Spanish, or
>> Chinese, etc.
>
>I think it is fairly obvious that you are vastly underestimating the breadth
>and history of the world's literature. French, Spanish, Chinese, English,
>and Japanese do not a world make.

I think he is also underestimating the depth of any given language.
Although I have read a lot of stuff in English, there are still many
occasions when I am pleasantly surprised by the language and how
people use it. Recently, a former ariline stewardess wrote, "Because
of an extreme allergy to passengers, we don't serve peanuts." This is
subtle stuff which I would not expect a non-native speaker to pick
up on. I am always suspicious when a person says he prefers to
read "X" in its original language. The basic overall impact of a work
of literature can be felt best when it is translated into your own native
language. Reading the orginal can add to your enjoyment, of course.
In addition, there is an enjoyment present in simply being able to
read the original text which is not present when reading a translation;
you need to distinguish the pleasure provided by the work from the pleasure
provided by the knowledge of your ability.

I simply cannot believe that any student of a foreign language can ever acquire

such a feel for nuance that the original text is "better." For one thing,
that position fairly ridicules the translator's work. Unless you get
down to the molecular level--such as the correct English word for "sa"--then
a good translator can render almost everything correctly.

Some languages have only one or two literary works available. I cannot
think of any literary work in Old English of any consequence other than
Beowulf. No sane person would learn Old English for the purpose of
enjoying the literary excellence of Beowulf in its original language. Suppose
you sat down and studied Old English grammar and vocabulary for five
years until you had it mastered? Then, you sat down and opened the
pages of Beowulf and began reading--only to discover that you didn't like it?

Ross
Vontay, Virginia
http://community.webshots.com/user/ross_klatte
http://www.geocities.com/foundlingfather/

Quantcast