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Everyone's a critic...
It would seem logical that the best sources for terminology would be subject-matter experts who are native speakers. And if you bet this way often, you would end up backing a losing proposition, on the whole.
That's because native subject-matter experts are not necessarily paying attention to how they use language.
Case in point: Two days ago, I was assigned to translate some warning signs into French.
One of them read:
My translations of the other signs required two minor tweaks, and the item I just did required a half a tweak before it was good to go.
Apropos of which, Pierre-Louis, one of the French security guys (the one reading about Cathar history on the gage car the other day) asked me during a pause in the fit check if I had studied French at the university. I paused for a second, wondering if this was perhaps a setup for a zinger along the lines of "Well, you wasted your money!" in the event of an affirmative response, but managed to get my paranoia under control before answering. The man was genuinely trying to compliment me.
I have less than an hour left in today's scheduled work. It's been quiet.
Cheers...
That's because native subject-matter experts are not necessarily paying attention to how they use language.
Case in point: Two days ago, I was assigned to translate some warning signs into French.
One of them read:
Spacecraft power is onMy first cut in French was
Le satellite est alluméNot feeling all that comfortable with "allumé" (even though it's a perfectly serviceable word, meaning "switched on"), I decided to check with my wording with one of the French team members. The result of that consultation was
Le satellite est sous tensionHere, "sous tension" has the meaning of voltage having been applied. I thought it sounded better than my try, but at about that time, another French participant came by and, eventually, it was agreed that the following was unequivocally the best:
Le satellite est "on"I was somewhat surprised, but not very.
My translations of the other signs required two minor tweaks, and the item I just did required a half a tweak before it was good to go.
Apropos of which, Pierre-Louis, one of the French security guys (the one reading about Cathar history on the gage car the other day) asked me during a pause in the fit check if I had studied French at the university. I paused for a second, wondering if this was perhaps a setup for a zinger along the lines of "Well, you wasted your money!" in the event of an affirmative response, but managed to get my paranoia under control before answering. The man was genuinely trying to compliment me.
I have less than an hour left in today's scheduled work. It's been quiet.
Cheers...
no subject
JOO MA PELL NATALIE. ZE CROSSAINT IS BOO TAR AY.
My plan is 100%, nobody will think your French sucks after hearing me.
Oh, and I didn't study at OO NEE VAIR SEET AY.
no subject
(Hey! Who you callin' "old man"?! :^)
Cheers...