If the only difference between languages was the words we use then there would be no need for translators. It would only be a matter of switching from one language to another in the same way that we convert from the metric system to the English system of weights and measures. Software programs designed to convert documents into different languages would be cheap and 100% accurate. Unfortunately it’s not what we say but how we say it that makes each language unique. The difference between the Spanish verbs “ser” and “estar” are lost when translating to English. The double negative, commonly used in Spanish, sounds terrible in English. The verb “to look” means “mirar” but be careful with look out, look into, look over, look after, look for, look up, and look up to. “Esta noche” could be last night or tonight depending on how and when you use it.
Gordon
http://www.myprofe.com/tandem
Teaching without translating
Moderator: Joe
Words & Languages
"Unfortunately it’s not what we say but how we say it that makes each language unique."
Why "unfortunately" ? If the grammar between languages was identical, most language teachers would be out of a job...
Why "unfortunately" ? If the grammar between languages was identical, most language teachers would be out of a job...
anonymous people
Please, don't take this personal. I don't get any pleasure out of corresponding with people who don't bother to register or even identify themselves. I don't understand why forums permit anonymous contributions. :?
http://www.myprofe.com/tandem
http://www.myprofe.com/tandem
Words and languages
You say you don't understand why we permit anonymous contributions.
We're happy to hear anything that people in the EFL community have to say about language or any other topic. I think everybody and anybody can make a worthwhile contribution.
Some people don't register due to time constraints or because they don't intend using the site regularly. The opinions of these people still count.
Susan
We're happy to hear anything that people in the EFL community have to say about language or any other topic. I think everybody and anybody can make a worthwhile contribution.
Some people don't register due to time constraints or because they don't intend using the site regularly. The opinions of these people still count.
Susan
Re: Words and languages
People don't register because they don't want to be held responsible for what they do or write. It's very dangerous to let unregistered members write whatever they want and spam the registered members. Apparently you've been lucky up to now. :roll:Susan wrote:Some people don't register due to time constraints or because they don't intend using the site regularly.
Re: Words and languages
We're English teachers in foreign countries!! What kind of banter is this?! If we cannot support or flat out don't WANT to support each other, no matter Guest or what, then how the HECK can we support our students?!Guest wrote:People don't register because they don't want to be held responsible for what they do or write. It's very dangerous to let unregistered members write whatever they want and spam the registered members. Apparently you've been lucky up to now. :roll:Susan wrote:Some people don't register due to time constraints or because they don't intend using the site regularly.
Personally, this website has been of great help to me in the past 1.6 years, and many of the Guests/Anonymous writers have helped me in my teaching. I don't care if they are registered or not. Thank you for all your comments/suggestions/help.
Sincerely,
Ajarn Cole at Naresuan University, Phitsanulok Thailand
The door to the human heart can only be opened from the inside.