Poll: In general, what is your oral proficiency in your source language(s)? Autor de la hebra: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "In general, what is your oral proficiency in your source language(s)?".
This poll was originally submitted by ferreirac. View the poll results »
| | | | Linda Ildevert (X) 
Reino Unido
Local time: 08:09
francés al inglés
My source language is French. I married a Frenchman, lived in France for 17 years and still speak French at home even though we are now in the UK. I'm surprised that some people replied "intermediate". Even with advanced French, I still need help deciphering things sometimes!
| | | | Julian Holmes
Japón
Local time: 17:09
Miembro 2011
japonés al inglés
So 'advanced,' in fact, that I generally point out to clients the mistakes in the source text. So modest, I am. 
To be pedantic, I would never say 'Advanced.' I would opt for 'native or bilingual proficiency.' IMHO
| | | | | Advanced-plus | Feb 8, 2017 |
In Portuguese, many Brazilians take me for a native. But I get more work from Spanish, which I would say is somewhat more than advanced.
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I agree that there is an obvious option missing between "advanced" and "native".
| | | | | Other (depends on the source language) | Feb 8, 2017 |
My source languages are English (intermediate+), French (advanced+), Spanish (intermediate) and Italian (basic, still learning).
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Depends on the language. Ranges from advanced but a bit rusty (Swedish) to comic (Norwegian) and non-existent (Danish).
Thing is, I don't think anyone anywhere can speak all three, and why would you when you can get by perfectly well in Swedish or Norwegian (or indeed English) in all three countries?
(Spoken Danish, on the other hand, is so far disconnected from the written word, or human speech as we know it, Jim, that even Danes don't understand it. That's why there... See more Depends on the language. Ranges from advanced but a bit rusty (Swedish) to comic (Norwegian) and non-existent (Danish).
Thing is, I don't think anyone anywhere can speak all three, and why would you when you can get by perfectly well in Swedish or Norwegian (or indeed English) in all three countries?
(Spoken Danish, on the other hand, is so far disconnected from the written word, or human speech as we know it, Jim, that even Danes don't understand it. That's why there are so many pregnant pauses in The Killing. It's not a mood thing, they're just trying to work out what the other person just mumbled.)
Mine is a special case but does illustrate that oral proficiency is not actually a requirement for a translator. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ricki Farn
Alemania
Local time: 09:09
inglés al alemán
| Oral proficiency | Feb 8, 2017 |
I have no idea what my spoken English (source language) sounds like.
I'm not even sure how good my spoken German (target language) is - probably 30% IT slang, 30% the patois of my working-class neighborhood (with interlanguage elements from Turkish especially in the locative case), 30% the remains of a higher education that included Latin and Greek, and 10% FSM knows what (memes?). Going by the stares I get, that is.
Acoustic communication is just not one of my core qua... See more I have no idea what my spoken English (source language) sounds like.
I'm not even sure how good my spoken German (target language) is - probably 30% IT slang, 30% the patois of my working-class neighborhood (with interlanguage elements from Turkish especially in the locative case), 30% the remains of a higher education that included Latin and Greek, and 10% FSM knows what (memes?). Going by the stares I get, that is.
Acoustic communication is just not one of my core qualifications.
[Edited at 2017-02-08 09:48 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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neilmac
España
Local time: 09:09
español al inglés
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| (Very) advanced | Feb 8, 2017 |
(Almost) native. I've lived in Spain for almost 3 decades. I've been told my grasp of Spanish vocabulary and grammar is impressive and better than many actual native speakers. For example, just yesterday I was shouting the last 2 answers to the "reto" section of Saber y Ganar at my TV... which the Spanish native contestant failed to get. It may not mean much, but I felt chuffed anyway
Occasionally I'll have lapses, ... See more (Almost) native. I've lived in Spain for almost 3 decades. I've been told my grasp of Spanish vocabulary and grammar is impressive and better than many actual native speakers. For example, just yesterday I was shouting the last 2 answers to the "reto" section of Saber y Ganar at my TV... which the Spanish native contestant failed to get. It may not mean much, but I felt chuffed anyway
Occasionally I'll have lapses, and my accent can vary, for example when I come back from a trip to Scotland it is stronger, but in general I'd say I have near-native proficiency. ▲ Collapse
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In English I'm level B2, C1+ in French and Spanish, basic oral production in Italian .
| | | | EvaVer (X)
Local time: 09:09
checo al francés
+ ...
| Yes, it depends | Feb 8, 2017 |
Linda Miranda wrote:
In English I'm level B2, C1+ in French and Spanish, basic oral production in Italian .
Beside the fact that some of my source languages are also target, I am near-native in French, fluent with mistakes in English and Bulgarian (advanced, if you want to call it that), while my spoken Romanian is basic (but I am working on it). I never tried to speak Slovak - there is no point, as Czech and Slovak are mutually understandable. When Czech people do try, the sound is not pretty-:), so I don't.
| | | | Thayenga
Alemania
Local time: 09:09
inglés al alemán
+ ...
| (Almost) Native | Feb 8, 2017 |
Normally when people speak in a foreign language, reflecting their natural uncertainty, people say: Oh, you're speaking (language) quite well.
I once heard this comment/compliment from an Irish man and was pleased. However, the question he then asked did take me by surprise: Where did you learn to speak such good... German?
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| I answered 'other' | Feb 8, 2017 |
Michael Wetzel wrote:
I agree that there is an obvious option missing between "advanced" and "native".
neilmac wrote:
(Almost) native. I've lived in Spain for almost 3 decades. I've been told my grasp of Spanish vocabulary and grammar is impressive and better than many actual native speakers.
Occasionally I'll have lapses, and my accent can vary, but in general I'd say I have near-native proficiency.
I came to Spain on 15 March 1977 - practically 40 years ago!
| | | | Erzsébet Czopyk
Hungría
Local time: 09:09
Miembro 2006
ruso al húngaro
+ ...
LOCALIZADOR DEL SITIO
I would leave the evaluation of my Russian to my clients and colleagues (even here).
I would simply say it's not bad
I lived in Russia and Latvia almost 10 years. My Latvian is rusty. Other languages I use require improvement.
Actually, some of my Russian clients told me that I do have a 'charming Pribaltic' accent so Russians often think I am Latvian or Lithuanian native ... See more I would leave the evaluation of my Russian to my clients and colleagues (even here).
I would simply say it's not bad
I lived in Russia and Latvia almost 10 years. My Latvian is rusty. Other languages I use require improvement.
Actually, some of my Russian clients told me that I do have a 'charming Pribaltic' accent so Russians often think I am Latvian or Lithuanian native
[Edited at 2017-02-09 05:03 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mario Freitas
Brasil
Local time: 05:09
Miembro 2014
inglés al portugués
+ ...
I used to call myself "native" in both languages. About 10 years ago, I noted I'm only native in Portuguese, though I have deeply studied English all my life, and spent seven years in an American high-school, and been a translator and interpreter for over 30 years. And to be honest, I think very few people may call themselves native in two languages. I say in my CV's and profiles that I have proficiency or advanced level in English but not "native".
I also note that many Brazilian people ... See more I used to call myself "native" in both languages. About 10 years ago, I noted I'm only native in Portuguese, though I have deeply studied English all my life, and spent seven years in an American high-school, and been a translator and interpreter for over 30 years. And to be honest, I think very few people may call themselves native in two languages. I say in my CV's and profiles that I have proficiency or advanced level in English but not "native".
I also note that many Brazilian people who dare state they are native in English will show they are not if they write two lines and post them. It happened right here the other day, and the person got really mad when two people said "you are not native in English, my dear". ▲ Collapse
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