Small Talk - Seite 3

ACH · Anmeldungsdatum: 26.01.2006 Beiträge: 117

I have not heard anything about HP 7 yet, so I expect it will not be out for a while. You have to remember that JK Rowling has to finish the whole storyline off in one book, so it will have to be a massive book.... thus I would not expect it for a while.

Anyhow, I wholeheartedly agree: reading books in original just adds that little extra - though of course, if the translation is very good, it is a close call.

Though sometimes there are a few things that are better in translation (e.g. I prefer the word "Elb" as opposed to "elf" to describe the mythical creatures in "The Lord of The Rings" but then overall the English version is still better.)

So long,
ACH

MI · Administrator Anmeldungsdatum: 22.01.2005 Beiträge: 1140 Wohnort: München

Well, as not even the title is known, nor anything else - we will have to wait at least one year, I guess, but I hope, she won't let us wait too long...

I, too, like reading English books (except those in old English. I don't really like the Elizabethan English of Shakespeare), but I think, if you want to know what the author is really LIKE, you must read the book in its original language, because even if the translations are close to the text, the words are influenced by the translators style, because there usually are many possible translations possible.

Until soon,
MI

ale · Ehrenmoderator Anmeldungsdatum: 19.01.2005 Beiträge: 237 Wohnort: Hessen

I´ve read Othello of Shakespeare during my visit in the USA because the english class, where I was in, read this book during their lessons. It was pretty interesting but it wasn´t a really nice language. it´s really old and it sounds horrible. Big Laugh

Maybe I want to read "The da vinci code" in english. I´ve read it in German and I liked this book very much.Does anyone know how hard it is to read this book in english?Let me know it Augenzwinkern

have a nice day

ale

Yellow · Anmeldungsdatum: 05.10.2005 Beiträge: 27

Hi everyone!

@ale: I read the DaVinci Code in english and it's not very difficult. If you've read Harry Potter you should be able to understand Dan Brown's books without problems. (besides, they are really, really good)

I think reading english books in their original language is also more funny than reading the translations because you just can't translate some english jokes or the characters' way of talking properly, so some of the funny part is lost. I think one finds that often in the harry potter books.
So everyone, let's read in english!!

Greets Yellow

Jack · Ehrenmoderator Anmeldungsdatum: 09.04.2006 Beiträge: 549

ale · Ehrenmoderator Anmeldungsdatum: 19.01.2005 Beiträge: 237 Wohnort: Hessen

josi · Anmeldungsdatum: 02.04.2006 Beiträge: 31

Hey everyone,

does not belong to the whole "book-topic" just want to let you all know I am not dead (I have only been to new york and had the time of my life (uihh how cheesy!!!! and how true Big Laugh

))

However I am glad to be home again and it`s cool to see that nothing has changed here!!!! Big Laugh

Love,
Josi

MI · Administrator Anmeldungsdatum: 22.01.2005 Beiträge: 1140 Wohnort: München

How long have you been there? What have you done there?
I have only once been to New York (City) - only for three days. I guess you stayed there for a longer period?

Greetings
Martin

josi · Anmeldungsdatum: 02.04.2006 Beiträge: 31

Yes I´ve stayed there almost two months...

I´ve lived at my boyfriends house in Queens and also went to school there.

I had had a few problems here in germany I was really frustrated with my school and also had some family situations which I found really hard to handle, so me and my parents talked a lot and decided that I need a time out, to relax a bit and to get new power and so on...

That really helped me a lot all the people there were so friendly and were always there for me... and my boyfriends family was so nice (I´ve met them for the first time) that I didn´t want to leave Big Laugh

At first we had planed that I would stay there for a month but I liked it so much that we streched my stay ...

I don´t really think that I´ve improved my speaking or my style that much but I´m able to understand way more and I´ve learned thousands of new words... Big Laugh

What about you Martin, how do you liked New York?

I think it´s a cool place to live but it differs completely from what people call the "real america" like Texas or so on...

Greets
Josi

Shikyo · Anmeldungsdatum: 10.11.2006 Beiträge: 4

ACH · Anmeldungsdatum: 26.01.2006 Beiträge: 117

In all fairness to Yellow, I do not think he meant to imply that every book should be read in English no matter the original language. This IS the English board, so it is not too surprising that people tend to focus on English.

Anyhow, I certainly do agree that ideally one would read a book in the original language. However I would like to point out that there are examples of very good translations out there and we should be careful not to condemn reading in one's own language too strictly (for that is the feeling I get with some of the above posts).

Shikyo · Anmeldungsdatum: 10.11.2006 Beiträge: 4

englishgirly · Anmeldungsdatum: 13.11.2006 Beiträge: 1

I'm fine and you.
I hope anybody will answered to me.
bye

MI · Administrator Anmeldungsdatum: 22.01.2005 Beiträge: 1140 Wohnort: München

I'll answer to you! I'm fine, too.
I just had a really nice weekend with a lot of English Big Laugh

. And you?

chocolate4ever · Anmeldungsdatum: 09.04.2008 Beiträge: 180

oh why does nobody write anything here anymore??

well I was last weekend in London. Have you already been there? Do you like London?

Oh and I saw you were talking about Harry Potter 7.
Did you already read it?

MI · Administrator Anmeldungsdatum: 22.01.2005 Beiträge: 1140 Wohnort: München

You were in London last weekend? (place first Augenzwinkern

).
Yeah, I've been there I guess four times at least and I really like the city, I even prefer it to Paris, because the inner city of Paris is very much the same everywhere - London has a greater variety - and the outer city, well, it's a lot of satellite towns and new, high-rised buildings without heart...
And what do you say about the city?
Another very interesting city is Berlin, what do you say about that one?

@HP:
Of course I read it - as I also said, I've only read it in English so far and that'll suffice for me. For further reading about my opinion, you may also visit the web-z-forum, where you'll find a thread entirely about HP7 (but in German, of-course).

Greetings
MI

chocolate4ever · Anmeldungsdatum: 09.04.2008 Beiträge: 180

yeah I was with 3 friends 'cause 2 of them are going to move to the USA....

I like London. But I hate the tubes. They smelled so bad... so at the end I only went by bus to all places I wanted to go. And the tubes were very loud.

I was during my last summer holidays in Paris. I like it. the only problem was that I don't speak french. And because of the undergrounds I got many headaches.
But I liked most the LV-Shop in Paris. That was such a big shop!

Well I haven't been yet to Berlin. And it's not really a town were I really want to go to....

@HP: I read the 7th HP first in english...and than in german. but I didn't like the german translation. Don't ask me why!
oh and how long did you need to read it? I only read that you needed a day for the 6th HP.

abrazo,
chocolate

MI · Administrator Anmeldungsdatum: 22.01.2005 Beiträge: 1140 Wohnort: München

Well, a bit longer, I guess... two days? But if I had started in the morning, I could have finished in the evening.

chocolate4ever · Anmeldungsdatum: 09.04.2008 Beiträge: 180

oh okay.

MI · Administrator Anmeldungsdatum: 22.01.2005 Beiträge: 1140 Wohnort: München

I didn't like the German translation in the first place, so I didn't like HP at all until I read it during my stay in England in English.

Reading a book in its original language is always a lot different from reading a translation. Mostly, the translations are not nearly as good as the original text, however there are certain books, where the translation is better (although I couldn't name you one at the moment).

So I can understand why you don't like the German translation - I can tell you you are not the only one Augenzwinkern

.

Greetings
MI

chocolate4ever · Anmeldungsdatum: 09.04.2008 Beiträge: 180

I read a book which is a little bit like gossip Girl. I don't know whether you know it but this year it will be on TV at, I think it was Pro7.

First I read it in German. The girl was making some jokes but I didn't get them. Then, I was in the USA I read them in English. Now the jokes made sense.

Basically I ddon't like the translation because when they translate the jokes they are not nearly as funny as they were in english...

Oh and what sort of books do you read?

MI · Administrator Anmeldungsdatum: 22.01.2005 Beiträge: 1140 Wohnort: München

Oh, I know Gossip Girl (never read it though Augenzwinkern

). It's the favourite book of my cousine and about the only book she ever reads, so I've seen it there and read the covertexts.

What I like to read? Basically everything, but mostly only those books that teach me something. From historical novels (obviously I like history) to modern crime fiction and fantasy. At the moment, I read a lot of "old" stuff, like Camus, Goethe, etc. to broaden my horizon, but also because most of the older texts are deeper in thinking and have different approaches to a topic. Therefore, I especially like to read utopias and dystopias, as I like to gain ideas through books (I have also started to write a little bit, but I wouldn't publish Augenzwinkern

). I just like to think about the contents of a book, as I like thinking in itself.
Besides, I like to read books about history. I've got some books about Japanese, Indian and Chinese, as well as European history at home. And as my parents love to read, too, there are always enough books around...

And what do YOU like to read?

Greetings
MI

PS: You are quite right about the translations. Also plays on words often just don't make any sense, once they are translated.

chocolate4ever · Anmeldungsdatum: 09.04.2008 Beiträge: 180

oh and what do you think about gossip girl after reading the covertexts?

Mainly I read love storys. Maybe you know Nora Roberts. She's one of my favorite authors. I also read crimes especially from Agathe Christie.
At fantasy I only read the trilogies of Trudi Canavan.
The only 'old' books I read so far were, in german, Quo vadis? and Effi Briest.

If you read utopias and distopias, did you watch 'Equilibrium-Killer of Emotion' and 'Fahrenheit 451'?

I think the only history book I read was about Vietnam....and that was kind of boring...

greets chocolate

muetzli · Anmeldungsdatum: 15.02.2008 Beiträge: 39 Wohnort: Siegen

Well, I do like love stories, either.
But also some old stuff, like Jane Austen. In fact, she wrote love stories,too, but I like how she expressed herself. I do not like those 'worse-case' stuff, like "Der Schwarm" by Schätzing, but I admit, it's written very well!
And books, which teach me something, are my favourites. At the moment I just read english books, because they teach me expressing myself.
Well, thats all about my reading intentions Augenzwinkern

muetzli · Anmeldungsdatum: 15.02.2008 Beiträge: 39 Wohnort: Siegen

@MI:
Did you stay in England for a longer time? Or are you studying English? Dunno, just wanted to know smile

MI · Administrator Anmeldungsdatum: 22.01.2005 Beiträge: 1140 Wohnort: München

What I thought about Gossip Girl while Reading the cover? Well, I believed it to be a typical book for female youngsters. Relationship problems, money and a lot of "gossip" Augenzwinkern

. It might be interesting (it seems to have a story line) - but probably not for me Big Laugh

.

@muetzli:

No, I am not studying yet (obligatory social service...), but I'll start studying physics this year. I have been to England (Southend-on-Sea to be precise) for four months when I was in year 9.

chocolate4ever · Anmeldungsdatum: 09.04.2008 Beiträge: 180

well I like to read english books because the translations are mostly not as good as the original text and I read them because.... well I don't know. Maybe because I like the English language?

@ MI: what sort of physics?

MI · Administrator Anmeldungsdatum: 22.01.2005 Beiträge: 1140 Wohnort: München

Just physics. General physics. I will have to specialise during my studies, but there are many fields I would like to work in and many more I don't know anything about, yet.

chocolate4ever · Anmeldungsdatum: 09.04.2008 Beiträge: 180

Oh okay. Fine.
Then you've already finished school, nó?

Saliencia · Anmeldungsdatum: 18.05.2008 Beiträge: 10

I'm new here and i just wanted to jump in the talk you got here.

I also don't like the German translations. I experienced that while reading the Dan Brown books, like Angels & Demons or The DaVinci Code. I read them first in German and about a half year later in English. The Original Text was written alot better and some actions i could understand better than in the german translation.
My mates normally say im stupid 'cause i read all books in English.

Right now im reading The Lord of the Rings and it's way better than the German Translation. You get deeper into the story and everything is better.

And about HP7 and the other HP books. Actually for me they werent that hard to understand. In my opinion also a 5th grader could read them.

Greetz

ps: yes i hate to set commas

Jack · Ehrenmoderator Anmeldungsdatum: 09.04.2006 Beiträge: 549

Of course the translation of a novel can hardly ever be as good as the original novel, that is a known fact. Yet, do not criticize professional literary translators too much since their job can be very tough. Studying translation myself (not literary translation though), I know it is anything but child's play. smile

MI · Administrator Anmeldungsdatum: 22.01.2005 Beiträge: 1140 Wohnort: München

I never had the intention to critizise the translators smile

. We must not forget how important their job is to give us the opportunity of reading a different culture's literature, when we don't understand their language.
I mean, I myself profit a lot from their work. There is so much interesting literature written in languages I don't understand that it would be a shame if I had no access to these authors via translation.

Perhaps I should emphazise the fact that most translations are not bad, mostly they are very good - but the original is even better. And - as you also say - that is only natural.

By the way, if you allow me a question: What sort of translation are you studying if not literary translation? Simultaneous translation or translation between parties at international meetings, etc.?

Jack · Ehrenmoderator Anmeldungsdatum: 09.04.2006 Beiträge: 549

@MI: I guess what you meant is interpreting (or "Dolmetschen" in German), but what I meant by translation was translating written material. So far I've only done general translations, but I will have to deal with technical translations next semester as well.

chocolate4ever · Anmeldungsdatum: 09.04.2008 Beiträge: 180

Jack · Ehrenmoderator Anmeldungsdatum: 09.04.2006 Beiträge: 549

Well, I wouldn't say it's crazy to read books in foreign languages. It really helps you to learn specific idioms and to improve your own style. So it's not crazy to read English books, but it's lazy not to do so. smile

chocolate4ever · Anmeldungsdatum: 09.04.2008 Beiträge: 180

Saliencia · Anmeldungsdatum: 18.05.2008 Beiträge: 10

MI · Administrator Anmeldungsdatum: 22.01.2005 Beiträge: 1140 Wohnort: München

chocolate4ever · Anmeldungsdatum: 09.04.2008 Beiträge: 180

@ Saliencia: I read the first 5 books in english when I was 12, too.
I read them in english 'cause I was in the USA when I was 12 over the summer holidays and it was quite boring over there at the house of my aunt.
and for me they weren't hard to understand. but well... I was already in the 8th grade and not in the 5th or in the 7th like your cousin, I guess.

muetzli · Anmeldungsdatum: 15.02.2008 Beiträge: 39 Wohnort: Siegen

Well, I read HP1-5 in english, too. And I think it was quite easy, the vocabulary isn't that hard and the structure as well.
In my opinion it's really important to read books in foreign languages, because you improve not only your vocabulary, but sentence structures and phrases, too. And I think it's really more fun to read them, because you are more concentrated on what you're reading and what are the characters or the narrator's telling you. It's even more intensive!