| Páginas sobre el tema: [1 2] > | Keeping up with spoken source language fluency Autor de la hebra: Ben_ (X)
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Ben_ (X) 
Reino Unido
Local time: 19:35
alemán al inglés
For those who don't live in their source-language country or who has more than one source language, how do you keep up the fluency in the spoken language? For example, I translate Spanish on a regular basis so obviously have contact with the written language, but especially considering I translate some quite specialised topics and live in an area with next to no Spanish speakers I find when I actually speak the language I sometimes end up stumbling over quite basic general vocabulary - which mak... See more For those who don't live in their source-language country or who has more than one source language, how do you keep up the fluency in the spoken language? For example, I translate Spanish on a regular basis so obviously have contact with the written language, but especially considering I translate some quite specialised topics and live in an area with next to no Spanish speakers I find when I actually speak the language I sometimes end up stumbling over quite basic general vocabulary - which makes it quite embarrassing considering I work with the language for a living and am supposed to be the expert!
I know we translators don't necessarily *need* to be proficient speakers of the source languages we use, but it seems a shame to let our hard-earned spoken fluency go to waste. How do other people deal with this problem? ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Multimedia resources | Oct 7, 2013 |
I suppose we have a fantastic array of resources at our disposal. Listen to radio programmes via Web; read the papers; socialise with local native speakers of the language in question; watch the news, go to the cinema if there is an arthouse cinema near you, rent a DVD... whatever takes your fancy. Travel as often as you can... My "weakness" is Fox Crime in the original English..
It is a problem though; I've been in I... See more I suppose we have a fantastic array of resources at our disposal. Listen to radio programmes via Web; read the papers; socialise with local native speakers of the language in question; watch the news, go to the cinema if there is an arthouse cinema near you, rent a DVD... whatever takes your fancy. Travel as often as you can... My "weakness" is Fox Crime in the original English..
It is a problem though; I've been in Italy for nearly 20 years now, and find myself struggling for the right English word at times. Whichever solution you go for - whether you decide to live in your source or target language country - the other language is always going to suffer.
[Edited at 2013-10-07 22:00 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Henry Hinds
Estados Unidos
Local time: 12:35
inglés al español
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In Memoriam | You know this? | Oct 7, 2013 |
You know we translators don't necessarily *need* to be proficient speakers of the source languages we use? How do you "know" this?
My opinion is that we must be thoroughly proficient in the languages we work with, source and target. What I see far too much of on this site are persons who flaunt a supposed fluency in multiple languages, including translating both out of and into languages that are not their native language. Some of them are apparently not even 30 years old. Just how ... See more You know we translators don't necessarily *need* to be proficient speakers of the source languages we use? How do you "know" this?
My opinion is that we must be thoroughly proficient in the languages we work with, source and target. What I see far too much of on this site are persons who flaunt a supposed fluency in multiple languages, including translating both out of and into languages that are not their native language. Some of them are apparently not even 30 years old. Just how much do they know if anything?
If you ask me, anyone who does not have the proficiency I have mentioned does not even belong here and brings down the prestige of our profession to the point that few, even those who are good, can make a decent living at it. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Phil Hand
China
Local time: 03:35
chino al inglés
| Sight interpretation | Oct 7, 2013 |
An exercise that I learned in interpreter training is sight interpreting: you take a text in English, and read it out in Spanish, trying to maintain a fairly normal reading speed. You can pre-read the text to make it easier.
It can be quite a tough exercise, but it's something you can do to get yourself speaking your source without feeling like a tit. I have the same problem as you when I'm not in my source language country, and I hate just chattering into thin air, though I know p... See more An exercise that I learned in interpreter training is sight interpreting: you take a text in English, and read it out in Spanish, trying to maintain a fairly normal reading speed. You can pre-read the text to make it easier.
It can be quite a tough exercise, but it's something you can do to get yourself speaking your source without feeling like a tit. I have the same problem as you when I'm not in my source language country, and I hate just chattering into thin air, though I know perfectly well that chattering without thinking about it is a good way to practice. Turning it into a technical exercise makes me feel less self conscious about it!
Otherwise, webcast. Do a podcast in Spanish, and make it not about languages but about another area of interest, so that you're not always thinking about the language and can relax into it. ▲ Collapse
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Nita Shah
Estados Unidos
Local time: 14:35
Miembro 2006
inglés al gujarati
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An unusual solution is amateur (ham) radio - you can connect with speakers of the language and sharpen your skills. Also try the country's consulate: they usually have cultural programs that you can attend to meet native speakers. Colleges and universities with foreign language programs are also good sources to mine. It is indeed difficult to keep your skills sharp unless you interact verbally with someone in the language.
| | | | Tom in London
Reino Unido
Local time: 19:35
Miembro 2008
italiano al inglés
Ben Harrison wrote:
.....how do you keep up the fluency in the spoken language?
I only translate from Italian into English, so I believe it's essential that my target language (English) stays current. Living in London I am of course completely up to date with a language that is continously renewing itself. I know that my clients/agencies notice the freshness.
I can't always be in Italy but I watch a lot of Italian TV on the Internet (especially live discussions) and speak often to Italian friends by phone/Skype. So I don't feel that I'm losing my grip of my source language (Italian).
[Edited at 2013-10-08 04:57 GMT]
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Like you, Ben, I worry that I'm losing the spoken fluency I used to have in my source languages (French and Spanish).
Luckily for me, a local couple (he British, she Italian) have recently set up an organisation called Polyglots which meets one evening a week in a local pub in this town. Anyone can come along, sit at the language table of their choice and chat in that language for as long as they like - not lessons, just mutual learning and practice. Considering that this is a smallish tow... See more Like you, Ben, I worry that I'm losing the spoken fluency I used to have in my source languages (French and Spanish).
Luckily for me, a local couple (he British, she Italian) have recently set up an organisation called Polyglots which meets one evening a week in a local pub in this town. Anyone can come along, sit at the language table of their choice and chat in that language for as long as they like - not lessons, just mutual learning and practice. Considering that this is a smallish town (Penzance, pop. approx. 25,000) far from any large city, the evenings are remarkably well attended and they really have helped improve my fluency. At the moment there are regular Spanish, French, Italian and German tables, and occasionally Portuguese. There's even a man who claims to speak Cornish, but as no-one else speaks it, he has to talk to himself.
I believe there are "Polyglots" in other towns in Britain. Perhaps there's one near you, or something similar?
Bonne chance,
Jenny ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
Reino Unido
Local time: 19:35
Miembro 2008
italiano al inglés
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| Your Italian is "fantastico" | Oct 8, 2013 |
Tom in London wrote:
So I don't feel that I'm losing my grip of my source language (Italian).
really
| | | | Tom in London
Reino Unido
Local time: 19:35
Miembro 2008
italiano al inglés
Angie Garbarino wrote:
Tom in London wrote:
So I don't feel that I'm losing my grip of my source language (Italian).
really
.........embarrassment........not as good as Peter Griffin's (see link above)
[Edited at 2013-10-08 07:15 GMT]
| | | | Ty Kendall
Reino Unido
Local time: 19:35
hebreo al inglés
| I feel your pain... | Oct 8, 2013 |
I live in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
Guess how many Hebrew speakers are here?
I'll give you a clue, it rhymes with "hero".
| | | | | You can probably get Spanish TV on the internet | Oct 8, 2013 |
If you go to say, www.lasexta.com or www.mitele.es you can watch programmes that have already run and you can even watch live TV. I watch "el intermedio" at 9:30 PM every night to keep up with current affairs and Spanish at the same time. I also sometimes watch the Spanish news or Spanish comedy programmes, both of which are good for ... See more If you go to say, www.lasexta.com or www.mitele.es you can watch programmes that have already run and you can even watch live TV. I watch "el intermedio" at 9:30 PM every night to keep up with current affairs and Spanish at the same time. I also sometimes watch the Spanish news or Spanish comedy programmes, both of which are good for keeping up with current affairs and the language.
There will be some programmes that you can't get. It will say that the programme is not available in your region. There are still sufficient programmes that you can see though to do 1-hour of practice every weekday. It's well worth it and fun too. ▲ Collapse
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Helen Hagon
Local time: 19:35
Miembro 2011
ruso al inglés
+ ...
I do find it a struggle, so it's comforting to know there are others who feel the same. Russia isn't the easiest place to just 'pop over to' in the holidays, especially with children in tow. I have done voluntary work there from time to time, which has been very helpful, and I keep my radar switched on at all times in case I come across any native speakers. Conferences and translator gatherings are good for this, but equally useful is being aware of what languages people are speaking on the tra... See more I do find it a struggle, so it's comforting to know there are others who feel the same. Russia isn't the easiest place to just 'pop over to' in the holidays, especially with children in tow. I have done voluntary work there from time to time, which has been very helpful, and I keep my radar switched on at all times in case I come across any native speakers. Conferences and translator gatherings are good for this, but equally useful is being aware of what languages people are speaking on the train, in the dentist's waiting room or in the supermarket. Skype is also great for chatting with friends and colleagues in the source language country. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | I'm the only Italian... | Oct 8, 2013 |
in my town... 2,500 inhabitants... But I do talk to myself a lot...
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I translate from English, French, Italian and Spanish into European Portuguese and in Belgium where I have been living for the last 27 years I’m spoiled for choice: in English: BBC (One, Two and World): in French: RTBF1, 2 and 3, RTL-TVI, TF1, France2, 3, 4 and 5, TV5; in Italian: RAI Uno; in Spanish: RTVE1 and in Portuguese: RTP Internacional.
I also listen to radio programmes via Web and read magazines and newspapers...
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