tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74466688696953340432024-03-19T12:07:51.439+02:00Tip of the TongueStephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.comBlogger556125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-16303068369425490262024-03-18T07:39:00.001+02:002024-03-19T12:07:19.999+02:00The long trek up – second language mastery<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4BIEAWbSWsLu2ZMumfmr1iZ69O7gDMJpfs_RXZPBuy5PRoQx3Z8uiXBjveMeNI0mBNLZP9fwx25MUQ2_J4FCToxd6Ot3SHPQVeWigkTABXJAQgvIs7xYYautnv_kVKb8AxdDPQ5WTjPfNK7bQUBxQCI4fa1BT76FBu_oWRIPt0hyxhNyAf9MgSKidFwl/s640/mountain-landscape-2031539_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4BIEAWbSWsLu2ZMumfmr1iZ69O7gDMJpfs_RXZPBuy5PRoQx3Z8uiXBjveMeNI0mBNLZP9fwx25MUQ2_J4FCToxd6Ot3SHPQVeWigkTABXJAQgvIs7xYYautnv_kVKb8AxdDPQ5WTjPfNK7bQUBxQCI4fa1BT76FBu_oWRIPt0hyxhNyAf9MgSKidFwl/w200-h113/mountain-landscape-2031539_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[mountain path to snowy peak*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Many people are amazed by those that have learned a foreign language and
even more so by those that can speak more than two or more. Yet, the term
“learn” is subject to countless interpretations, ranging from being able to
function as a tourist to writing scholarly articles in the foreign language. As
a translator that makes a living by working with foreign languages and a person
that has conducted my daily routine in my<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>non-mother tongue for most of my life, I can say that learning a foreign
language is a journey with a goal that is essentially unattainable in terms of
structure, vocabulary and culture. Nonetheless, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the path <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to mastery of another tongue is a pleasure in
itself and merely ultimately depends on effort, not on innate ability.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Every language has its unique way of phrasing ideas. For example, some
languages, notably English, prefer direct active expressions while others,
especially Russian, often use passive or indirect forms. Compare the English <i>I
feel like</i> (<i>doing nothing)</i> as compared to the Russian </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><i><span color="windowtext" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">мне хочется</span></i></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> [</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">mne hotyetcya], literally <i>to
me is wanted</i>. Likewise, the use of delayed subject varies: compare <i>It is
raining</i></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">in </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">English
to </span><span dir="RTL" face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="HE" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;">יורד גשם</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> [yored geshem] in Hebrew, <i>rain is falling</i>, without the “it
is”. These variances create native language interference with the foreign
language. It may take years of practice and correction to stop the leakage, if
ever. Thus, foreigners, even when they speak fluently, struggle to speak like
the natives in terms of sentence structure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Total word
knowledge is essentially a mirage. No matter how long a person lives in the
country and uses the language, there remains a large quantity of unknown terms.
For example, despite some 35 years in Israel, I just learned that <i>gamalim</i>
means “camel drivers” as compared to <i>gmal-im</i>, which means “camels”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another interesting pair in Hebrew is <i>germanit</i>
with the accent on the third syllable means “German” as compared to “Germanic”
when the second syllable is stressed. On a more general level, some languages
prefer specific language while others tend to make the concrete abstract,
notably French. Despite all of one's efforts, it is impossible to know and
understand the entire lexicon of a second language.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Culture
is a multilayered factor. In most countries of the world, there are many
subcultures, each with their own list of preferred and disapproved expression.
One interesting example is the use of the word <i>cousin</i>. In most countries, the terms refers to a blood relative. However, many Irish indirectly
refer to the British as their cousins while Israeli Jews similarly refer to Israeli
Moslems (on the basis of the Biblical story of Hagar and Sarah) simirly. Generational differences also affect language use. For
example, Israelis over the age of 50 will easily understand quotes from the
legendary comedy trio <i>Hagashah Hahiver</i> while younger ones may have no
clue to what they mean. For English speaking audiences, imagine the difference
in saying “happy feet” to those over 50 as compared those in their 20’s. Of
course, religious references differ depending on the dominant faith in a given
culture. As we can only exist in one four-dimensional position at a time (as
far I know), it is impossible to master all cultural references.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It may
seem that I am implying that learning a foreign language is a waste of time if
we can never attain full mastery. On the contrary, being able to communicate in
a different language not only opens gates of understanding to so many people,
it also enriches the mind. In my experience, regardless of age, it is exciting
to learn something new. As the language learning experience is never-ending, it
provides a never-ending opportunity to discover the unknown. People always have
more to learn. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not
only is this potential not limited by financial or physical capacity, it also
does not require extraordinary intelligence. To learn a foreign language only
requires effort and practice as well as the willingness to make a fool of
yourself and learn from mistakes, just like a four-year old. Clearly, innate ability
and intelligence make the task easier but they do not determine success. The
worst language learners have become fluent when “forced” by circumstances to
function in that language. More importantly, reaching the peak of perfection in
a foreign language is ultimately irrelevant. It is important to remember that
even native speakers never master all aspects of their mother language. In
practice, the trek up that mountain of fluency is filled with amazing discoveries and
funny stories. For many people, especially translators and interpreters, it is
the intellectual journey of their lives. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*
Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/kinkate-4384506/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2031539">kinkate</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2031539">Pixabay</a>"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picturecredit</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-45280063588632251032024-03-11T07:37:00.002+02:002024-03-11T12:06:24.098+02:00Onions and teaching<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6_5d7iGEw1bM6ISbZNMxVcIAfqrYLZF4idtXJ4R0hdJKuN97iJW3RIMcX_wdnonQerGwV8lczmqgP19hCvdEZO5J6wTMYD2BfTfFUO5FspP5XT80fdDGtrau9wOtl2ZlIGk7twbcP389xjvLnsM3ay48V2bw4XWVRok78L2-7KcS-6g6ORDhdsUy9x-B/s640/bulb-1238341_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6_5d7iGEw1bM6ISbZNMxVcIAfqrYLZF4idtXJ4R0hdJKuN97iJW3RIMcX_wdnonQerGwV8lczmqgP19hCvdEZO5J6wTMYD2BfTfFUO5FspP5XT80fdDGtrau9wOtl2ZlIGk7twbcP389xjvLnsM3ay48V2bw4XWVRok78L2-7KcS-6g6ORDhdsUy9x-B/w200-h134/bulb-1238341_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[red onion cut open*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I suddenly realized that I am in the middle of my fourth decade of
teaching. Not only that, in some four years, I will retire (please note: not <i>get
to</i> or <i>will have to</i>) from teaching (but not translating). Clearly, I
am a much different teacher today than I was twenty years ago or even ten years
ago. As I thought about that evolution. I realized that I had
finally reached the third layer of teaching, the emotional connection, which only could follow after attaining thorough knowledge and skillful communication, at least in my case.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To explain, the first step in becoming an effective teacher is
exceptional knowledge of the subject matter, which creates both teacher
self-confidence and student belief in the teacher. It would seem obvious
that teachers master the subject matter but it actually takes years
to attain the complete control of all the details required to properly teach
the material. “Student” level is not enough to effectively teach anything. It
is necessary to know the material backwards and forwards, at 4:00 AM in the
morning. That assurance provides the teacher with the backbone to stand in
front of a sea of faces and explain a matter as “the expert”. Students quickly
identify any lack of certainty. They recognize on
whom they can depend for reliable information, which creates their trust in
the teacher.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Freed from the stress of subject matter management, teaching becomes the
art of classroom management and communication with students. Effective teachers
learn what techniques aid students in learning and which actually harm. For
example, if a teacher hands out written material that mirror the spoken words, the
students will probably not listen. In terms of preparing material, outstanding
teachers know now to break down complicated processes into short simple steps,
a vital skill for reaching those students that struggle with the material. On a
one-to-one basis, student-teacher communication involves openness and patience
mixed with wisdom in cultivating and maintaining the learning relationship even
when rejecting the substance of the student message. Clearly, teachers being
human beings, educators have their own individual style, which must be
authentic, as well as strengths and weaknesses. Fine-tuning the techniques
takes years and is always a work in progress.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span>In my opinion, the next, maybe last, stage goes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>beyond subject matter </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">teaching</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> and expands to educating, even mentoring in some cases, which involves significant
self-confidence and emotional intelligence on the part of the teacher. Students
of all ages are people that are developing, often without guidance. They are
searching for a way to cope with the challenges of the present and a direction
for the future. On the other hand, teachers are also human, also coping with
numerous demands not only from the students but also from their own situations,
including a decreasing amount of energy as they age. It is clearly impossible
for a teacher to take on students as their own children. That is not a practical
or even desirable role. Yet, a teacher can influence students by providing
words of encouragement and support, suggesting solutions and approaches and
merely just listening. For example, a teacher can go the extra mile if a
student is going through a crisis or requires extra help. Sometimes, a
teacher’s faith in the ability of the student to learn a given skill is far
more effective than a grade. Teachers can identify students lacking
self-confidence and encourage them. This task require significant time and
energy, which is generally only available once the teacher masters the other
aspects of the profession.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span>To avoid any misinterpretation, even with my long experience, my
teaching is far from perfect. Teaching is an art, not a science, and is never
fully mastered as each class and each day are unique. Moreover, experience and
skill do not necessarily have a causal relationship, i.e., there are amazing
newbie teachers and awful experienced teachers. Yet, while the material of
teaching any material is clearly finite, we teachers are dynamic, changing with
the circumstances and age. In the twilight of my teaching career, I am still
evolving and discovering new ways to help students, which helps me maintain my
enthusiasm for the actual teaching part of the profession. Teaching is truly a
bit like an onion not only it can be both taste sweet and cause tears but also because it demands time and effort to master its many layers
even if they are not obvious at the beginning.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/shutterbug75-2077322/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1238341">Robert Owen-Wahl</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1238341">Pixabay</a>"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture credit</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-61896367028304164472024-03-04T07:10:00.002+02:002024-03-04T07:10:32.577+02:00Bundling thoughts – addition by addition<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YrmU4qW1IqImur7syKhkPrJszQe6JlCx2SVEdXhhyOFfvsncIDs1Tr9YL2ky-tAAz-kFQ8z946h9-43XjBNGHRC8_sKwNqeeMJ1TN6LtmPo7VUkXbfEIwnBsynSWNacRU7S6gPVj10B5d8y5I8o1JsEQuovH9cY89oOzQptoXPzwXgLsrlHUH18nMi-9/s640/vegetables-5902904_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="640" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YrmU4qW1IqImur7syKhkPrJszQe6JlCx2SVEdXhhyOFfvsncIDs1Tr9YL2ky-tAAz-kFQ8z946h9-43XjBNGHRC8_sKwNqeeMJ1TN6LtmPo7VUkXbfEIwnBsynSWNacRU7S6gPVj10B5d8y5I8o1JsEQuovH9cY89oOzQptoXPzwXgLsrlHUH18nMi-9/w200-h105/vegetables-5902904_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[vegatables*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This last week, I experienced a classic business bundling sitaution. In
order to rent out a flat, it became necessary to make repairs and paint it.
Consequently, we met the contractor at the flat, who by chance invited his son,
a real estate agent, to arrange the matter. As the flat would need thorough cleaning,
the handyman mentioned that he could get a quote on that task from a company he
worked with. Voil</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">à</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> – one project will
provide work to three different companies, all because of the cooperation
between them. This almost magical creation let me to consider types of business
bunding and question how it works in the translation business.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">First, some professionals are by definition bundlers, more commonly
known as contractors. Building contractors may do some of the work themselves
but they openly subcontract a significant part of the work to specialists,
including plumbers, electricians and roofers. In fact, their intrinsic value is
that they find the required complimentary professionals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Other professions have links to complementary experts that are required
to complete certain projects but the customer retains the privilege to choose
the specific service provider. For example, insurance claims often involve
assessors and repair services but the customer has the right to select the
actual provider. Likewise, a real estate agent may have a preferred handyman
but the renter can limit the agent’s services to finding tenants only. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some companies bundle their own services. As the State Farm ad reminds
us, it is less expensive to bundle home and car insurance. A packing service
may also naturally provide storage and shipping. There generally is some
connection between the bundled services as the assumption is that the services
involves some common expertise or goal. It would be weird if a mortuary service
also provided refrigerator repair. To a certain degree, expanding the range of
potential services to a customer is an effective way to increase income.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As a translator, not a translation company, which is a contractor in
effect, I need to consider what type of bundling I can offer. I work from three
languages into English as well as do English editing. This package is a good
start but clearly limited in itself. In projects requiring multiple language
combinations beyond my expertise, I have occasionally arranged translators of
other language combinations for customers, who have appreciated the extra service.
As for complementary services that would benefit all parties, I have not
discovered any effective combination aside from translator/editor, which is
generally only requested in literary translation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Based on the real-life incident and the analysis of the bundling, all
businesses can benefit from partnership with complementary services. The challgenge can be identifying those services and service providers that would create
additional value.</span> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.</span></p><p><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/matthiasboeckel-3930681/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=5902904">Matthias Böckel</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=5902904">Pixabay</a>"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Picture credit</span></a></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-49029712652958730472024-02-26T07:37:00.000+02:002024-02-26T07:37:15.113+02:00When time does not equal money – expert services<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFI0cyqRVpJ68xnNLAd54b7QcUUYjCpJ-z0fA_YaS6a7PPoBg_xNrTH0FEgbiaqJ3H-C0w9YPveLtbpQGOepDdftOPfeoaG5VVtzJZOs-oAsh0IQbPH4e9toZ9y-rR8TPkt_5AWZ_4QUvf7m020-5BIDVWk4C2be-hQqAerfc5xPsox5SuSnhs9FygIZN-/s640/spine-957249_640.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="337" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFI0cyqRVpJ68xnNLAd54b7QcUUYjCpJ-z0fA_YaS6a7PPoBg_xNrTH0FEgbiaqJ3H-C0w9YPveLtbpQGOepDdftOPfeoaG5VVtzJZOs-oAsh0IQbPH4e9toZ9y-rR8TPkt_5AWZ_4QUvf7m020-5BIDVWk4C2be-hQqAerfc5xPsox5SuSnhs9FygIZN-/w106-h200/spine-957249_640.png" width="106" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[spine*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There is this moment of complete shock. A computer technician comes in
and solves a vexing problem in five minutes and then charges for a full hour.
There is something unjust and absurd, even criminal, about the lack of
proportionality between the time spent on the task and the amount you must pay. Yet,
if carefully considered, professionals earn their rates if one considers that
the years of education and experience it requires to efficiently solve a
problem the first time. This assessment impacts not only our reaction when
paying for services but, just as importantly, our conscience as professionals
when demanding such rates. A qualified service provider not only should demand
professional rates but do so with confidence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It used to bother me that my accountant charged me so much money for
preparing my simple tax return when I know that “all” he did was enter the
numbers of the various factors into a computer program, press calculate, save
the result and send me the bill. However, after considering how long it would
take me identify those factors, find and understand a relevant computer
application and enter the numbers, I realized that the accountant was saving
significant toil and suffering, not to mention further explanations to the IRS.
I was not paying for the hour or so of effort by the accountant but instead for the expertise and experience that allowed him to quickly complete the task. In one specific case, I did find the actual amount of the bill obscene and switch to less expensive
accountant but I am happy with my choice to pay a professional for the service.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To turn the coin over, if you are a professional with several years’
experience, you probably have all the tools and knowledge required to complete
most standard tasks in your field within a minimum time. In practice, the actual work
required is far less relevant than how long it would take the customer or an
untrained employee to complete the same task at the same level. If you are
significantly more efficient or, even better, acting as the client’s “savior” in a given
situation, your rate, even if it reflects work time far higher than actually
invested, saves the customer meaningful time and effort. Thus, you can justify a
respectable rate. So, ideally, service providers should consider the value of
the service received by the customer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As a legal translator, I provide many standard forms but charge by
certificate, not time. To illustrate, many authorities require proof of
address, generally a utility bill of some kind. With some 20 years’ experience
and a large database, this task is not time-consuming but merely requires great
attention to details, especially numbers. The customer is not paying for my
actual time but instead for my knowledge and skill. As much of my work involves
Hebrew texts, many of my customers could not do this themselves nor consider it
worthwhile to keep an expert on the payroll. So, like the computer technician
in the introduction, they pay for my expertise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thus, when considering whether the price of a professional is justified,
consider the years it requires to reach that level of expertise and how much
time/effort it takes an unskilled person to attain a similar result. Likewise,
when setting professional rates, freelancers should also consider the value they are
creating as perceived by the customer. Of
course, the exact rate depends on the context and is far from exact. Still, the
knowledge that a various task requires expertise attained over years should
help provide some backbone to accepting and demanding proper professional
rates.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/jochenpippir-392262/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=957249">Jochen Pippir</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=957249">Pixabay</a>"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture credit</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-63405367075824505592024-02-19T07:39:00.001+02:002024-02-19T14:41:56.147+02:00Synergy – on the advantages of being a freelancing couple<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAArRFmm-eB-kzZe6yVI6DJitCPi5DqnmxMr0VfForMPqboZA8Gps8eWi6fu6rgf3fCLz37KtshSrR1-gl-YPPcImpyKJCcDsubbfpmVga3V9SvmMmXSQdoUYVZ_0XS4cH2aWOMtQFgK9Bq1vtZBaCLGwgLa7mt8dHFq_c7ROHeW_fdNrA4UqS3RCojuL/s2016/10th%20Anniiversay.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAArRFmm-eB-kzZe6yVI6DJitCPi5DqnmxMr0VfForMPqboZA8Gps8eWi6fu6rgf3fCLz37KtshSrR1-gl-YPPcImpyKJCcDsubbfpmVga3V9SvmMmXSQdoUYVZ_0XS4cH2aWOMtQFgK9Bq1vtZBaCLGwgLa7mt8dHFq_c7ROHeW_fdNrA4UqS3RCojuL/w150-h200/10th%20Anniiversay.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[A rainy tinny celebration]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There is a power in being a couple not just in dealing with life’s
crises but also as working as a freelancer. My wife and I just celebrated our
10<sup>th </sup>wedding anniversary. We are both freelance translators, even having met at a translator conference, albeit in different but complementary
language combinations (Hebrew – English for me; the opposite for her, in
different specialization areas). We can both see how much our individual
business have benefited by sharing a profession. These advantages are reflected
in the technical, emotional and financial stability.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Giving that not only is no man (or woman) is an island but also no
person can be proficient in all areas of business, partners can complement each
other’s skills. My wife enjoys technology (and house repairs) and views<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>any hardware or software problem that arises
as <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>an interesting challenge. She eagerly
checks out the new features of any new program or upgrade. I, on the other
hand, prefer the language aspect of this business. Finding the ideal phrasing
for a delicate email<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in English to a project
manager is a fascinating intellectual exercise for which my American background
has prepared me. Furthermore, as we work from opposite source languages, we
help each other hone the exact meaning of any word in question and discuss
which word or phrase in the target language would best express that sense.
Occasionally, we agree to disagree. Having an in-office expert is a great
asset.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Clearly, no less important is the emotional support we provide for each
other. Freelancing, especially translating sometimes is a lonely, frustrating
and unpredictable life style. The nature of the job is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to spend many hours sitting in front of a
computer interacting with text whether in the form of a document or email.
While written words are far less annoying than most people, it is also far less
human by definition. The actual business aspect can be frustrating as, despite
our best efforts to avoid them, misunderstandings occur with clients. Even
worse, quite often <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a job that the
translator perceived as a short easy task turns into a translation from hell
due to a technical issue or simple misjudgment. Of course, unnecessary and
sometimes even incorrect feedback from editors is the bane of all translators.
All this friction creates a tension, even anger. In terms of work pace,
freelancing in general tends to be feast or famine, i.e., not enough or too
much work, with occasional an unpleasant surprise on Friday night or other
inconvenient time. Sometimes, there is no choice but to work too many hours, which is ultimately beneficial for the bank account but not
enjoyable at the moment. As a couple, we can empathize with these feelings and
provide the human element, understanding and logistical support (cups of tea
and making dinner) required to ride through these crises. In simple words, you
are not alone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As for income, two freelance incomes are more stable and higher than
one. Translator monthly income tends to vary significantly by field and month.
For example, financial translators tend to have very busy first quarters of the
year due to tax reporting requirements while certain offices push projects in
November and December to take advantage of remaining budget to avoid future
cuts. Moreover, technical changes, notably neural machine translation and
ChatGPT, as well as new laws, such as in regards to translation or
certification requirements, have varying effects of the landscape of the
language industry. Spreading our income over a wider area helps protects us
from “slings and arrows of outragious fortune”. On a more spiritual level, the
technical and emotional support we get for each other creates positive vibes,
which leads to better productivity and clearer thinking about all aspect of our
business. This synergy leads to more business.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Admittedly, working with a spouse requires certain ground rules. First,
what happens outside the office does not enter the office. Secondly, it is
acceptable to discuss but each person reserves the right to make the final
decision for his/her task. Finally, it is necessary to accept that each person
approaches business differently, not better or worse. We do the best with what
we have at any given moment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There is a song in Hebrew “yoter tov</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">beshnayim”, or,
loosely translated, <i>two are better than one</i>. As we celebrate our tin
anniversary (tinny does not ring very pleasant to my ears), we are aware that
we have profted not only in our private but also in our business lives. I am
looking forward to many such years. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-52047791809575240872024-02-12T07:38:00.000+02:002024-02-12T07:38:26.919+02:00Looking sideways – what being a freelance translator has taught me about selecting other service providers<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQR4XSxLOf2tTZY6H65AyzLNRxP_Ao9CFQk1C3uJCopzeb5GcIug1dyENtSHgFua1PA2EXXquV6wwdmWzEexV70N6mFbjkthvybaM_vbsEjGWEQMiV21sIvFEtlDgg2tSlSnr_4KngS4wGoWGmDO_kak30nbYJdrm5O1Wgkkgw6kYFFUBRpwa1VisQTVqn/s640/towers-1399149_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="640" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQR4XSxLOf2tTZY6H65AyzLNRxP_Ao9CFQk1C3uJCopzeb5GcIug1dyENtSHgFua1PA2EXXquV6wwdmWzEexV70N6mFbjkthvybaM_vbsEjGWEQMiV21sIvFEtlDgg2tSlSnr_4KngS4wGoWGmDO_kak30nbYJdrm5O1Wgkkgw6kYFFUBRpwa1VisQTVqn/s320/towers-1399149_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[two towers wtih bridge*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As a freelance translator for some 20 years now, I have succeeded in
retaining numerous customers over the years as well as losing a few. I began knowing
almost nothing how to run a small business, even in basic matters such as
pricing. Over the years, through the heuristic process, an elegant word for
trial and error, I have acquired a solid if not complete picture of how to
differentiate myself from others. Since I am also a purchaser of services, I
now pay attention to those traits that distinguish the better providers. I seek
providers that ask questions, strive for perfection, price their service with
self-respect, are honest about time and quality and treat me as important. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Asking</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> – Translators, even those with the narrowest of the niches, cannot know
everything. Furthermore, customers do not pay us to be 90% sure. Thus,
translation by definition involves questioning and confirming our knowledge if
there is the slightest doubt. When I hire any service, such as moving or
packing, I prefer those providers that ask me questions to confirm details in
order to eliminate any confusion or errors. I do not view this “doubt” as
weakness but as a marker of professionalism.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Search for perfection</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> – As a specialist, it is natural to fuss over small
details that no customer would notice. Translators can spend an hour considering which word is the best choice knowing full well that this
insistence is for their conscience, not the customer’s satisfaction in most cases.
Most service providers can reach a satisfactory level of achievement. However, only
those that insist on considering all potential issues are outstanding. In
short, I seek service providers that strive for the best even at the cost of
extra time instead of merely <i>good enough</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Price</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> – The connection between work and money is rather direct. When I
perceive myself as being well paid, I am more motivated to go the extra mile
when I know that the customer is properly compensating me. While low price does
not necessarily mean low quality, high price is far more effective in aligning the quality expectations of the service buyer and provider. If quality is important
and the budget is sufficient, I feel more confident confiding the task to a
freelancer with a higher bid.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Time/price relationship</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> – High quality results take time. If necessary, it is
possible to produce a satisfactory translation in a rush most of the time (but
not always). However, producing a seamless translation, one that does not
sound like a translation, requires rigorous QA and time between drafts in order
to clear the mind and see the actual copy. Likewise, in most tasks, hurrying
leads to sloppiness and errors. It is often unfair to ask someone to be fast
and accurate. As customers, we need to recognize this fact (as inconvenient as
it may be) and decide which is more important. If we require a top-notch job,
the service provider must demand and receive sufficient time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Personal treatment</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> – I work with numerous translation buyers. My customers know
it but they still wish to be treated as my most important client regardless
of the actual invoice amount. I view these relationships as long-term with my
emphasis being increasing the number of steady customers, ones that I do not
need to sell myself. While the current project may be small, I do not know when
a large project from the same customer may arrive in my inbox. Thus, I communicate
with all customers in the same way. Likewise, most service jobs I hire are
rather small by nature but I still insist on being treated as important. My value
is not the amount of my current order but instead potentially much <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>higher in the future whether through my orders
or through the recommendations I give. I desire respect and choose service
providers that respect me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Running a service business has honed my sense of identifying appropriate
service providers. I seek those that ask questions, strive for perfection,
respect themselves in their price, are realistic about time and make me feel
like a valuable customer. That is what I attempt to do with my own customers
and expect from those providers whose services I hire. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/mysticsartdesign-322497/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1399149">Mystic Art Design</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1399149">Pixabay</a>"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture credit</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-43635014844254905402024-02-05T07:48:00.000+02:002024-02-05T07:48:14.813+02:00Choosing the right translator – the source issue<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAfQ3ly8LbQ1h54OpW8TovaFBRPOpDNnqOa3Yv2DHSBjfSTlUA5qg30_UPssfu5HL-XNHoWAPAPQwB_i_M2-K5AoEF7y-LSPdbwIIemc-cDhLv6BbgY-wJowllq_IjuACjNvDqRWa0r009U0JNhyp7dkncjfdfbvSf31hEezdPcz75mhrgn_6kSw71a_d/s640/hands-4903050_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAfQ3ly8LbQ1h54OpW8TovaFBRPOpDNnqOa3Yv2DHSBjfSTlUA5qg30_UPssfu5HL-XNHoWAPAPQwB_i_M2-K5AoEF7y-LSPdbwIIemc-cDhLv6BbgY-wJowllq_IjuACjNvDqRWa0r009U0JNhyp7dkncjfdfbvSf31hEezdPcz75mhrgn_6kSw71a_d/w200-h133/hands-4903050_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[water flowing through hand*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When choosing the most appropriate translator, customers often focus on
price and knowledge of the target language, the language into which the text
must be translated. One factor that is no less important is the capacity of the
translator to understand the source text. Specifically, in order to grasp the
essence and intricacies of any document, the translator must have thorough
linguistic and subject matter knowledge as well as experience in the field.
Only then are linguists capable of ascertaining the full meaning of the text to
be translated. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Clearly, formal knowledge of language is a requirement for any
translator. This background goes beyond a basic knowledge of tenses and syntax.
It involves the understanding nuances differentiating similar structures and
words with non-identical meanings. For example, in English, <i>may </i>and <i>can </i>often do not express
the same idea. Likewise, <i>I have lived in England for 5 years</i> does
not mean the same as <i>I lived in England for five years</i> or <i>I had lived
in England for 5 years</i>. It takes extensive education to grasp what the
writer meant to said, far more than three years of high school classes. The
appropriate translator should have studied the language of the document to be
translated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span>However, knowledge of the actual subject matter in that language is no
less important. A linguist may have a rich general vocabulary but lack
knowledge in whole series of fields, notably medicine, law and engineering.
This ignorance leads to guessing, lack of confidence, overly literal
translation and, far too often, serious errors. For example, a</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> <i>march</i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">é</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> in the government realm is often a <i>contact</i>, not a <i>market</i>. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">The required background goes
beyond vocabulary but how experts in that field express themselves in order to
catch the nuances of the expressed and unexpressed text. The translation buyer
should confirm that the translator has some formal background in the specific
subject area in order to ensure a viable product.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That formal knowledge is not enough in many cases as there is no
replacement for experience. A translator that has translated tens of thousands
of words in a given subject area is far more proficient than one testing the
waters for the first time. That person has already worked out many of the
translation issues that appear in such texts, particularly how to deal with
problematic terms without direct parallels in the target language and the
sentence structure transformation often required in translation. For example, experienced translators from Russian understand that is necessary to remove the common Russian phrase "the activity of " and use a verb instead of a gerund. By<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>contrast, linguists inexperienced in the
given field often produce awkward language as they “learn”. If you wish to have
a specialized document translated, it is far more effective to let a seasoned
expert do it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thus, translation buyers need to select their linguist carefully not
only on the basis of knowledge of the target language and the price but also
taking into account the knowledge of the translator of the language and
vocabulary of the source document. Careful consideration of this factor will
help eliminate the source of one problem in translation buying.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/drfuenteshernandez-7757554/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4903050">Manuel Darío Fuentes Hernández</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4903050">Pixabay</a>"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture credit</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-45236851922711018792024-01-29T07:20:00.000+02:002024-01-29T07:20:11.241+02:00Taking matters on the fly – the trials and tribulations of an incidental traveler<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRqXZpI29a1e9zDpVyvN7qePs4UlS20okG5hHDndklXrC0GVs0RIFuSbC_f3mnkmCqynwNJSVb0P_pPOJpWDVbQEyYllCxhaXbpMNmJoLAlfRX2-XqdD8enXp94u1zvVHQ8F-qmTrkNp-D2nYi3VxqeiINh8KWT-Nv_3N9acRij8zZlhMAML3fSeP5ysZ/s640/airport-1515448_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRqXZpI29a1e9zDpVyvN7qePs4UlS20okG5hHDndklXrC0GVs0RIFuSbC_f3mnkmCqynwNJSVb0P_pPOJpWDVbQEyYllCxhaXbpMNmJoLAlfRX2-XqdD8enXp94u1zvVHQ8F-qmTrkNp-D2nYi3VxqeiINh8KWT-Nv_3N9acRij8zZlhMAML3fSeP5ysZ/w200-h134/airport-1515448_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[airport hall*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Due to a personal situation, I had to fly to the United States from
Israel on a moment’s notice, not an easy matter during the current war. Small courtesies
and inconveniences make a great impression on a traveler especially for those
occupied by difficult thoughts. In particular, I saw how differences in flight
class, airline sites/applications and airports can affect the whole travel
experience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">First, the luxury of business class goes well beyond the actual seats.
Of course, it is wonderful to sleep properly on cross-Atlantic flights, allowing
the traveler to arrive fresh and alert, just like in those old Pan Am commercials, not to mention to reduce the probablity of getting Covid.
However, beyond the immediate comfort is the peace of mind that from arrival at
the airport of departure to retrieval of the luggage at the airport of
destination, the service staff is friendly and helpful. I do not have figure
out those self-check-in machines; I can wait in a lounge that is quiet, has
clean bathrooms, serves good coffee and meals and even has quiet rooms and
showers in some cases. These relative peace and quiet calms the nerves
significantly. Of course, business and first class get on and off the plane
first, reducing the stress of crowding. For me, not having to worry about
overhead space is an additional relief as I am worrier when I travel. For me,
travelling business class on cross Atlantic flights , depending on the price, almost
makes flying pleasurable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">However, to get a flight, it is necessary to order a ticket. That
process has become quite complex due to the lack of complete information on any
given route and the presentation of the existing information. People forget
that some airlines have a policy not to list their flights with the certain
sites, notably PSA in the United States, meaning that these sites do not show
more convenient or less expensive options that may exist. Sometimes, it may be
possible to find less expensive rates on another application or the actual
airline site. Knowing that no site is totally comprehensive, I know to search
widely for travel solutions. However, it is very distressing to discover that many
airlines post one-way prices only, creating the impression that the flight is
inexpensive. It is only several clicks later that one discovers that the
desired route is no less expensive, if not more expensive, than the
alternatives. This is annoying at minimum and, in my opinion, deceptive
advertising at maximum. As one agent said, if seems too good to be true, it
probably is. Booking tickets online can be a confusing and trying experience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">As I flew through three different airports, I could directly compare their
user friendliness. I discovered that, regardless of size, the factors that
influenced my impression of their design were access, signing, layouts and
bathrooms To be specific, certain airports require long hikes to even get to
the check-in point (LAX) while others are a hop, skip and jump (Athens). I
really don’t want to get tired before I even get through security. I discovered
the importance of signing as deplaning in an unknown airport is very confusing.
I learned to appreciate omnipresent gate displays and arrows indicating the
direction of distant gates. This element is related to the general layout of
the airport. I felt at ease in the “market” atmosphere of Athens as compared to
the open industrial clamor of Amersterdam. I have to mention that I regretted
having a full breakfast when I saw that Greek fluffy pastry by the gate in Eleftherios
Venizelos Airport. Still, bathrooms are the one single factor that make
airport layovers easier. Plentiful and clean bathrooms are vital for mental
health. Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport is a disaster. Reaching them requires
going down stairs, not exactly a pleasure when carrying bags. Upon entering
them, there were flooded or dirty. Given the longer and longer time between
connecting flights, the airport experience has a great impact on the flying experience.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Alas, it is not always possible to afford business, easily identify the
best flight and choose airports. Travel will always remain an adventure for
better or worse. I do my best to roll with the situation and cope. Still, not
all flights are created equally pleasant, alas.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions allow the blind to fully access the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/652234-652234/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1515448">652234</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1515448">Pixabay</a>">Picture credit</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-69323792073429175212024-01-23T08:17:00.000+02:002024-01-23T08:17:45.890+02:00Shooting the moon – My mother’s life<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzSkNr1KiHNYpORrociMRMkkgQPBlyK4VOdlcw4bdloXQkAm1GUDwFwq6lvpgw_L2DZAe769wbNEtKydBQLM7IYtIRCmc8sBRPMAhogIz6TRIwW26ErJo8orEMho-2NHH7MBbtJlnVRBgrTyzlvpZunuAK1cbHWlaSgpT3OB4LXVKQ8sHVtHYcPVNe_p6/s601/GabyFrenchIDcard%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="574" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzSkNr1KiHNYpORrociMRMkkgQPBlyK4VOdlcw4bdloXQkAm1GUDwFwq6lvpgw_L2DZAe769wbNEtKydBQLM7IYtIRCmc8sBRPMAhogIz6TRIwW26ErJo8orEMho-2NHH7MBbtJlnVRBgrTyzlvpZunuAK1cbHWlaSgpT3OB4LXVKQ8sHVtHYcPVNe_p6/w191-h200/GabyFrenchIDcard%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My mother, who just died peacefully at the age of 96, would quote her
grandmother, who said that a person needed luck in birth and death. It could be
understood that, in between, a person made his/her own life. My mother
succeeded in playing her cards and living a full, rich life all the way to the
end (and even was lucky in death). More than that, she influenced not her only family but inspired friends of
all ages and even their children by the force of her character and personality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Born in 1928 to an immigrant Jewish family in Paris, her childhood was
rich in family warmth but poor in financial and social stability. The Great
Depression left a mark on all those that endured it, making them appreciative
of money and food. World War II saw her lose her father to the Germans, have
her mother’s health deteriorate and have to take on the responsibility of
raising her younger sister, all at the age of 14. The cancellation of her
engagement by her fiancé’s family right after the war was the final blow. She
was without hope, education or future in France.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Her reaction exemplifies her approach to life. In the early 1950’s, she
immigrated to the United States, alone and without knowing a word of English. From then
on, she made her life. She became a top perfume seller in New York (helped by
her French accent), met my father there and got married. They moved to
California, began a family at the age of 27, raised two boys, bought and
created an elegant house, traveled the world and even owned at various times a house in Brittany and an apartment in Paris. She even survived cancer in both breasts. She
even was far better read than most of her supposedly educated contemporaries. As
she would say, not bad for a poor girl from the <i>shetl </i>[the Yiddish term
for the Marais, the then poor Jewish area of Paris].<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If I try to understand how she did it, I see three characteristics. First, she knew what she wanted. As most
women of her generation, she wanted to raise a family, keep an elegant and
orderly house (be a proper <i>balabusta</i>), eat well, travel the world, but
she also dreamed of having <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>an apartment in
France and eating strawberries in winter. She succeeded in all of them, working
with my father to gradually attain her goals. If the conditions were not right,
she waited for <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a better moment. It took
a least a decade to fully furnish her house but she bought items piece by piece
as the budget allowed until she built the elegant home that my parents loved to
their last day, all without getting into debt. The apartment in Paris was only a
dream until relatively late in life when the stars lined up and allowed it to
come true, giving them 10 years of great pleasure. Having a clear vision of
what she wanted, she eventually lived her life as she wanted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This determination was properly tempered by logic and reason. She freely
expressed all emotions from joy to anger. Yet, she quickly analyzed and
understood the reality of any situation, came to terms with a situation and
sought a pratical solution. She was quick to forgive and admit her own error while
adjusting her approach to the reality. This flexibility served her well both in
her youth and old age, when she had to cope with ever growing limitations. She
did not waste her energy on <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>getting
angry at her difficulties but instead worked with them and was a proud,
independent woman, even driving, till her last days.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Her most important strength was optimism. She believed that she would
survive and succeed. She knew that she would not be picked up by the Germans,
would survive the war, learn English, raise successful children, learn tennis
and golf (despite derogatory comments from her teachers), playing to the age of
89, overcome cancer, live a long life and
have a quick death. She was right. Not only that, she shared her optimism with
others, including her nieces and nephews, the children of her friends and even
inspired my childhood friend to become an artist. She not only sought the
positive in her life but also in others. For that reason, I had the pleasure of
speaking to so many people, old and young, after she died who remember what an
inspiration she was for them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My mother once asked my dad why he married such an uneducated girl. His
answer, jokingly if you will, was that he saw that she had potential. There is
a saying that God does not judge you for what you do but for what you do with
the cards you have. If life was a round of hearts (a card game), my mother shot
the moon and won the game. She lived with style and elegance. I hope that she has rejoined my father
somewhere up there and they they are drinking the best champaign with their French
bread and brie. My mother knew how to live. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-23041356784119757442024-01-01T08:01:00.005+02:002024-01-01T08:01:52.371+02:00Chutes and ladders -Thoughts about 2023 <p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTh1XK-TA7evDz-plmYmWprteZr76PS2sokftnvTMvpgSBKjTRGbJTXHYvNJPBI43jMxEgQfEXb0pFLktNx6imqXGpPuuW6Y-rXxq0hxWfSrNnHWso8htqggnKEI0ULVygbZioWqx9bipJxHEhkuWK136LKPkTE1uHerJSbgrFtoBmck0fSsA_UieUp4e7/s640/tree-832079_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTh1XK-TA7evDz-plmYmWprteZr76PS2sokftnvTMvpgSBKjTRGbJTXHYvNJPBI43jMxEgQfEXb0pFLktNx6imqXGpPuuW6Y-rXxq0hxWfSrNnHWso8htqggnKEI0ULVygbZioWqx9bipJxHEhkuWK136LKPkTE1uHerJSbgrFtoBmck0fSsA_UieUp4e7/s320/tree-832079_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[tree with clouds in background*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2023 has not been a simple year, including for the residents of the
Middle East and translators. To be blunt, it has been a year of earthquakes of
the existential type. Collecting my thoughts, the two must powerful forces have
been artificial intelligence and, for too many of us, the Gaza War. They have
tested the faith in the future but I have also seen a much quieter but no less
powerful force: the ability of the human mind to focus on a problem and improve
reality. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">ChatGPT in its many forms has hit the world like a sledgehammer. I will
not even claim that I fully understand the techniques and manner of using it
but I do have some, if limited, comprehension of the effect. The capacity to
allow an algorithm to create a reality according to custom-made requirements is
an amazing tool. Millions of people, including professionals, use it as an
active tool. However, as a translator, I do not feel threatened because, while it
creates a virtual reality, a verisimilitude, its outcomes may have
nothing to do with reality. I suggest asking an IA engine of your choice to
provide details of your life. You will discover some amazing facts. To be fair,
fantasy is a powerful engine for creating reality. Think about how many gadgets
on the Star Trek series have become everyday products, including cell phones
and universal translators. However, this year too many people forgot how it is not human. Think about how often people accept doctored pictures as proof. In
the courts, almost amusingly, <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/michael-cohen-used-artificial-intelligence-183118004.html">Michael Cohen invented some legal cases</a>
sympathetic to his case using AI and sent them to his lawyer, who cited them.
The judge was not amused. Even in translations, it is sad to say that a few
so-called translators believe that unedited machine translation is actually how
people write. My wife just spent seven hours rewriting a Google-translate text
that should have required some 2 hours to edit if the translator had actually
done the work. Children understand that Wile E. Coyote cannot actually survive
having a rock fall on him. Their parents should be aware that artificial
intelligence is just that, artificial.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On a more tragic note, the Gaza War, or whatever name it will receive in
the history books, has created an enormous human tragedy and still is at the
time of writing. The number of dead, wounded and traumatized<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>victims in Israel and, yes, Gaza, Syria and
Lebanon is heartbreaking. The economic damage will have an impact for a decade.
On an even sadder note for me, the intensity of pure, unbridled hatred that the
war has unleased has shaken the belief in the essential goodness of human
beings. It is, again, okay to wish the death of anybody that disagrees with
you. This wave of hate goes far beyond the borders of the Middle East and is
impacting most of the world. It makes it appear that human beings have made no
progress and maybe regressed over the centuries. I find that destructive urge,
whether in words or acts, extremely distressing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On the other side, through conferences I have attended, I have
encountered, physically and virtually, so many people that dedicate their lives
to solving small problems and find beautiful solutions. There are countless
academics delving in the intricacies of fascinating processes not because of
the money but because they want to enrich their mind and the world, although
they do not reject money, of course. I have seen the work of so many translators
who invest disproportional time to find the absolute translation not because it
matters to the customer but because they believe that translation is an art
and, thus, is worthy of the effort to reach people and perfection. It is this ability to
ignore the macro and focus on the micro that gives me hope for a better world
as complicated situations are solved one step at a time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With a bit of a heavy heart, I try to look optimistically to the future.
Artificial intelligence will not disappear but people hopefully will learn how
to apply its usefulness and recognize its limitations. The Gaza war will
end at some time, one way or another. People will rebuild their lives, albeit
as different people than they were before the war. What will not change is that
the silent majority will continue to find solutions to small problems and,
knowingly or unknowingly, make the world a better place. In short, let’s hope
for a gentler 2024. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/bessi-909086/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=832079">bess.hamiti@gmail.com</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=832079">Pixabay</a>"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture credit</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-75882890172123436752023-12-27T07:25:00.000+02:002023-12-27T07:25:27.463+02:00The peaks and valleys of translation quotes – what does it all mean for translation buyers?<p> </p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEBzEUSzV1GF4q4kCrsBd1wpwsc2xj4F5qn2uB8Zgbe_OwubvkhMdpMg7A5E8X1pJxslz0G9oVkV9lO0SZfnVuBHkVcF6o_wiTRBDKRlvNmm_vjQ7OHD_wZp6apbswYhxHAXXkbX74gw8btYgIxN1C0y_Zqz0U_ddD0tvuW2KAs6QOYKwLniF3HQRqW4f/s640/mountains-7538471_640.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEBzEUSzV1GF4q4kCrsBd1wpwsc2xj4F5qn2uB8Zgbe_OwubvkhMdpMg7A5E8X1pJxslz0G9oVkV9lO0SZfnVuBHkVcF6o_wiTRBDKRlvNmm_vjQ7OHD_wZp6apbswYhxHAXXkbX74gw8btYgIxN1C0y_Zqz0U_ddD0tvuW2KAs6QOYKwLniF3HQRqW4f/w200-h134/mountains-7538471_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: x-small;">[Mountain and foggy valley*]</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anybody that has ever asked for a quote for translation of documents
probably was rather surprised by the price range. The highest proposal can
easily be two times or more than the lowest one. The reasons for this high
variance include both personal situations and market conditions. For the
translation buyers, I present some ways to process and interpret the rates in
order to identify the most appropriate translator.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Both individual considerations and market realities affect specific
proposals. Since translators operate on the Internet, including email and
professional sites, geography does not play a major role in limiting potential
customers. Translators in Germany and India compete for the same buyers.
However, the local standard of living creates a minimum level of effective
income. In simple terms, translators have to know how many hours at a certain
rate they have to work to pay the rent and buy groceries. In that sense, <i>low</i>
and <i>high</i> are also relative terms in relation to the local standard of
living. Of course, many freelance translators choose low rates as the consider
it as a side-occupation, closer to a hobby than an occupation. On the other
spectrum, other linguists need to make a living from their work and demand commensurate
rates as they wish to live at a certain standard of living. On a more conscious
level, many translators deliberately choose a strategy, including low- or
high-end pricing. To explain, if income is defined volume multiplied by rate, some
prefer to increase volume by opting for lower rates while others opt for rate
by seeking deep-pocketed buyers. Experience level<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>often influences this choice. With experience,
it is natural and healthy to demand higher rates while new translators are
hesitant or nervous about demanding upmarket rates. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">All these issues are overshadowed by a major market force in
translation: nobody knows what the market rate is (see <a href="https://tip-o-tongue.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-myth-of-market-price-in-translation.html">post</a>). Freelancers and even some agencies rarely post translation rates. National laws may even
prevent it as some countries consider rate discussion as price fixing. Even
among colleagues, most translators considerate it “indelicate” to ask how much
the other is charging. This fog leaves everybody in the dark. Even with years
of experience, it is often unclear whether a given rate for a given job in a
given year is high or low. Thus, aside from individual choices, translation
quotes can vary greatly simply because nobody knows what the market rate is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The issue is how should a translation buyer process the proposals and
identify the most appropriate. The usual policy of automatically eliminating
the highest and lowest is not relevant as the price does not necessarily
reflect quality or base cost for the service provider. It is important to keep in mind that agency quotes generally do not specify the actual cost of the translator. This rate, especially for the some of the larger agencies, can be rather low. The ideal buying process
is to first identify the level of specialized knowledge required for the
translation, the level of quality required for the actual use of the translated
material and the budget. For example, if an attorney needs translation of a
foreign court decision to submit to a local court, such a translation requires
thorough understanding of the concepts, must be completely accurate in terms of
content and should be stylistically appropriate for court use. Otherwise, the
translation is defective or useless. By contrast, staying in the legal field,
the translation of a series of legal documents for purposes of firm-level
identification of issues requires far less expertise and polishing. The message
must be clear. In the first case, it may be worthwhile choosing the high bid as
the resulting translation will be “less expensive” than that produced a translator
with less expertise. In the second case, even a translator with little
experience at a commensurate price but sufficient knowledge may be able to
provide a “good enough” result at a lower price. The key is to identify (as
much as possible) the most appropriate translators for a specific job and then
take the budget into account. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Like a statistician facing too much outlier data, translation buyers are
sometimes confused by the lack of any industry standard rate range. The key to
dealing with this variance is to focus on the solution, i.e., an appropriately
knowledgeable translator as demonstrated by previous exposure to the genre, formal or informal, regardless of the level of experience, for the
quality required of the job and then compare prices, obviously taking into
account budget limits. It is important to remember that, in translation, to a
certain degree, but only for a certain degree, you get what you pay for. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind full access the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/kanenori-4749850/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=7538471">Kanenori</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=7538471">Pixabay</a>">Picture credit</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-66316427336316126692023-12-18T07:59:00.003+02:002023-12-18T07:59:34.869+02:00These are a few of my favorite things - The Braude College of Engineering 16th Research Conference <p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0TyX7I4nu5AbTTSjVno1Ewm5bltSNJjRqgDW6B6FicXOwFggkKM9l91AOCORGmVHrb6gSiJSjTBt8xDQVCYuEAI04lGAQZhNVGO_d642QYXqAeLr_JWr8xWyTx7MNd8MsA41W6b3DbYXzyREfeXst11McN5G7e58XV7KtsdlXWRypSRHvhtFXe1JVkzs/s640/candies-7036390_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0TyX7I4nu5AbTTSjVno1Ewm5bltSNJjRqgDW6B6FicXOwFggkKM9l91AOCORGmVHrb6gSiJSjTBt8xDQVCYuEAI04lGAQZhNVGO_d642QYXqAeLr_JWr8xWyTx7MNd8MsA41W6b3DbYXzyREfeXst11McN5G7e58XV7KtsdlXWRypSRHvhtFXe1JVkzs/w200-h134/candies-7036390_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[candies*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Multi-disciplinary research conferences create certain feelings - among them ignorance and wonder. Researchers in many different fields present
their ongoing projects to colleagues in non-related fields. The curious result
is most of the audience doesn’t fully understand some or all aspects of the
presentation. At the same time, the listeners, or at least I, gain an
appreciation of new topics and, no less important, the brilliant minds of their
colleagues. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As a mere English lecturer without a science background, all of the
topics were new to me with quite a few being quite incomprehensible except for
the main idea, partly because my knowledge of math is rather limited. Still, these
presentations opened previously unknown worlds and perspectives and gave me
hope for practical solutions for important current problems in the foreseeable
future. Among those presentations that I was able to follow, I wish to
highlight several that especially piqued my interest, notably those discussing
developments in health care and environmental solutions as well as a few that
related to more obscure but still potentially relevant issues. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the area of health, Dr. Iris Weitz discussed the use of copper oxide
nanoparticles as a tool in healing and preventive health. Similar to gold and
silver, she and her colleagues discovered that copper has certain properties
even in a nanoparticle form that can help the body fight illnesses. At the same particle level, Prof. Sarit Sivan presented research on how nanoparticles
containing pain killers can be used to ease eye pain and allow proper rest for
patients in the first 72 hours after laser surgery. In the both of
these lectures in TedTalk form, both the science and implications were quite
clear and thought-provoking<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In regards to environment issues, Associate Prof. Essam Sabah, in conjunction
with several European colleagues, presented research that shows how it may be
possible to use jelly fish mucus, which the animal uses to clean the water
around it, to capture and bind nanoparticles of plastic and improve water treatment
systems. In another lecture, Dr. Lilach Lasur Kruh explained how the search for the original DNA in
wild humus plants may help fight mushroom infections in cultured plants and the
challenges involved in implementing the solution. These lectures reinforced the
notion that science does not always have to reinvent the wheel, only find where
it is buried.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On a more esoteric but no less useful note, Dr. Anat Dahan presenting
findings on research demonstrating how cooperation synchronizes brains. The testing
involved monitoring brain activities when two individuals worked on the same
task together. The implications of such development could be far reaching. Dr.
Elad Denenberg discussed creating algorithms that would allow satellites to
automatically avoid the rapidly-increasing quantity of space garbage floating
around the earth. The major challenge is to make the calculation simple enough
that the satellite can make the calculations autonomously and minimize waste of
fuel in maneuvering. The need for research in these fields seem obvious now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The pleasure of college research conferences is the magnificent
combination of incredible knowledge with the ability and experience in
expressing this knowledge. All the presenters expanded and enlightened the
minds of the listeners. I merely presented a few of my favorite things. I wish
to thank the College and the conference organizers for the event. I am looking
forward to next year’s session.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/ylanite-2218222/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=7036390">Ylanite Koppens</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=7036390">Pixabay</a>"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture credit</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-18585317576864700612023-12-11T07:18:00.003+02:002023-12-11T14:48:48.861+02:00Linguistic false cousins or the danger of a little knowledge<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWcFIcJz0269NkJfPaRjq5H48DpO6aZ3HI1dAZP2kd_bwsDMVaMX4O6UDGitOS5NlOV0tYdCld5D2ojXu51cGhDew427HCKcjHUECZDJ8pbdwxN8MwxvHeTQ-oPd8BFwCe1qagz8tn6G5sRlzsIWalsKqpkMRrh5768FEiTCMn-mh8jOpNIkpCUK3ADzl/s640/cat-5690627_640.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="640" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWcFIcJz0269NkJfPaRjq5H48DpO6aZ3HI1dAZP2kd_bwsDMVaMX4O6UDGitOS5NlOV0tYdCld5D2ojXu51cGhDew427HCKcjHUECZDJ8pbdwxN8MwxvHeTQ-oPd8BFwCe1qagz8tn6G5sRlzsIWalsKqpkMRrh5768FEiTCMn-mh8jOpNIkpCUK3ADzl/w200-h124/cat-5690627_640.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[cat with lion in mirror*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Through historical events, languages encounter each other and leave
linguistic marks. Specifically, foreign roots enter a language, often providing
a term for a concept that needed a word. However, the meaning of foreign
words sometimes takes on a twist. This modification can confuse natives of the
original language, who think that they understand the meaning. I will give some
examples of this phenomenon, citing sentences in French-English and
Hebrew-English.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let’s start with a nice marketing sentence in French:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">J’ignore que vous</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></span></i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>réussirez</i></span><i><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> à
commercialiser et vulgariser le produit.</span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">An English speaker unfamiliar with business French would find this
sentence slightly confusing even though the words seem understandable. First of
all, why would someone ignore a future event? Second, it is not clear what the concept
of commercialization refers to. Is private usage the opposite status? Finally,
the purpose of marketing is to add status. Therefore, why would a company want
to make it seem vulgar, of low quality? For clarity’s sake, the proper
translation of this sentence to English is “I don’t know whether you will
succeed in marketing and popularizing the product”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Going the opposite direction, English to French, we have this fine
academic phrase: <i>evolution of a formidable society</i>. A French person with
minimal knowledge of English would be unsure of this context here and may
misunderstand it. First, evolution in French can also refer to conscious
development as compared to evolutionary probability. Second, <i>formidable</i>
in French generally means wonderful (see <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_xH7noaqTA">song</a>), which is not true in English
where it means <i>strong</i>. Finally, <i>society</i> in French can also refer to an
organized business unit, a corporation in English, creating an ambiguity.
Therefore, a French person could understand the phrase to indicate the plan to
create a wonderful company. The actual context could be the development of a
city state such as Sparta over time, which was a major power at its peak.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hebrew has also adopted English expressions quite freely over the last
100 years or so but not always retained their original meaning, thus creating a
bit of confusion to visitors with minimal Hebrew. Let’s consider this Corona
period statement:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span dir="RTL" face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="HE" style="mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">לבקש ללבוש פוטר בזמן הסטאז' הוא שאלת קיטבג.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>[levakesh lilbosh futer b’zman hastaj hu
sha’alat kitbag]<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Three words are of interest. What is <i>footer</i> (third word)? In
practice, it is a fabric but refers to sweat pants. The stage (fifth word) is
not a stage in the context of the theatre or planning but refers to an
<i>apprenticeship</i>, as in some parts of Europe. The last term is completely obscure
(and admittedly a bit slangy). It does mean a kit bag but refers to a stupid
question that one should not ask, as in “Sargeant, do we need to bring our kit
bag?”, which leads to all the soldiers having to carry one. So, the phrase
means it is not a good idea to ask to be allowed to wear pajamas when you are
an apprentice. Clear, right?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It is convenient to know some roots in a foreign language when you need
to decipher meanings. However, it is risky to assume that the resulting words
have the exact same meaning. A little knowledge can be very dangerous.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions allow the blind to fully access the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/mohamed_hassan-5229782/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=5690627">Mohamed Hassan</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=5690627">Pixabay</a>"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture credit</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-48576130140495756562023-12-04T07:32:00.001+02:002023-12-04T07:32:39.623+02:00The BP Winter Translation Forum – a feast for the mind<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-VfNEj6uJWgJ-xx4NSCeY5KB22icz19WJAdftJ6q5m-_CsG5Llhz2hYB4nEdAu_F0hJMWGAZ7WYzdJ3kg69jqLx4wD8yJmXQerkuJETFNHCM0fDfGDtvyK5X1P-ST1wssaxUABVuBXSfpIaQAt2zg-3x8XFQ27ouI9GK6PcROZKj-5dJ8IE45Ll56PJM/s640/salad-2756467_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-VfNEj6uJWgJ-xx4NSCeY5KB22icz19WJAdftJ6q5m-_CsG5Llhz2hYB4nEdAu_F0hJMWGAZ7WYzdJ3kg69jqLx4wD8yJmXQerkuJETFNHCM0fDfGDtvyK5X1P-ST1wssaxUABVuBXSfpIaQAt2zg-3x8XFQ27ouI9GK6PcROZKj-5dJ8IE45Ll56PJM/w200-h134/salad-2756467_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[salad ready for preparation*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This past week, I had the great pleasure of participating both as a
speaker and listener in the online BP Winter Translation Forum. With more than
50 lectures in several languages over three days, there was plenty of food for
thought for any translator. If one definition of success of a conference is that
the participant leaves with one new perspective and one concrete tehcnique to
apply, this event far exceeded expectations. Among the various themes, one of the most interesting ones was the active choice to follow
one’s passion and choose small niches. The speakers showed that it is possible
to combine work and pleasure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Examples of passion motivating translator choices were Gabriela Kouahla
and Jennifer Case. Ms. Kouahla identified and focuses on aspiring academics in
North Africa that require assistance in preparing articles for publication. Correspondingly,
she actively caters to their needs and payment conditions. She feels part of
their long-term success while ensuring her own long term financial stability. In
her case, social activism and making a living go hand in hand. Likewise, Ms.
Case, an Arabic to English translator, relishes to go where most translators
fear to tread, political and social causes. She attempts to fully express the idea,
no matter how uncomfortable it may be for some parties in the translation
cycle, while challenging public stereotypes. She does not fear criticism
and, thus, channels her personal passion into her professional work. For these
translators, their belief system fuels their work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Two of the speakers dissected two large markets and showed the various
submarkets that exist. Eman Abdu showed the fascinating and diverse world of
Arabic from Morocco to Iraq, highlighting the other languages that influence
its modern vocabulary, including Amazigh (Berber), French, English and Italian. She noted that, given the wide range of forms of spoken Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, a
constructed language, serves as a bridge between cultures, a bit like English
in India. Also breaking monolithic myths was Heddwan Newton, who illustrated
how many types of English exist. These forms include UK and US English but also
Australian aborigine and Italian, to name just a few. She highlighted the
importance of being aware of the local variances by noting several terms that
have rather different meanings depending on the culture, such <i>as tabling a
motion</i> and <i>root</i>. From these lecturers, it became clear that each of
these language subgroups are potential niches for qualified translators.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Of course, the conference treated many other translation-related topics,
including, but fortunately not focusing on, AI. The more “practical lectures”
included Chris Durbin’s advice to new translators (once in English and once in
French, WOW!), Uri Bruck’s explanation of TM matches and my lecture on email communication
when translators make errors. See <a href="https://bpconf.com/wtf23/">the program</a> for a complete list of all the lectures. To
those whose names I did not mention, it is because I was unable to either attend the presentation or ran out of room in this post. Please do not be offended. I
wish to thank Csaba B</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: #202122; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">á</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">n and his staff for
an amazingly smooth experience. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Overall, the BP Winter Translation Forum was well organized, informative
and wide-ranging. Almost without exception, the lecturers were organized and
knowledgeable (the first is not a given taking into the account the introverted
nature of many translators). There was a plenty of food for thought for one and
all. I look forward to attending more such conferences. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/silviarita-3142410/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2756467">Silvia</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2756467">Pixabay</a>"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture credit</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><p></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-77874526484084669642023-11-27T07:28:00.003+02:002023-11-27T07:28:21.504+02:00Housing foundations<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigw6jqpTRhfJIAIl9VRsQIMO29X4H1FJY4Xl_HCSyxoi5-Hknwo2i59WjKcgc3AqoSrpkj4zuz1IYUA6xBtRRbQhBCTOy9MThL_Posft_32vlONBgLcm4d5AM06TBe3sRBhVQz3XO7UZ5g_GWGWWp69aqXr7WVC5RKmqkDFN6rvU-ToPj9up1K3FSt-e9r/s640/ruins-5764889_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigw6jqpTRhfJIAIl9VRsQIMO29X4H1FJY4Xl_HCSyxoi5-Hknwo2i59WjKcgc3AqoSrpkj4zuz1IYUA6xBtRRbQhBCTOy9MThL_Posft_32vlONBgLcm4d5AM06TBe3sRBhVQz3XO7UZ5g_GWGWWp69aqXr7WVC5RKmqkDFN6rvU-ToPj9up1K3FSt-e9r/w200-h134/ruins-5764889_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Foundations of an old house*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">English is the ultimate collector of words, building on roots from any
language it encounters. Yet, sometimes, meanings get lost or significantly
changed in transition. To demonstrate, I present an interesting short survey of
various words in English for a dwelling.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAegWiRD39N9QNsjMKW8dzcOlhcGFiMEZl-y45IA0XBCmAZ-jJHU8WT_6uBW11D_bPieauJkKOV5QObN08mWCdTMIRdZdV4l4n9V08CJNv6LSvR7jKlfRcv9eVYV54LOzGA10Pk0a-uWwF7hNLeFWsEnM6xunnFleZjbkVWPx4S4bgNPi0aZfn30U8qfuV/s640/town-2430571_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAegWiRD39N9QNsjMKW8dzcOlhcGFiMEZl-y45IA0XBCmAZ-jJHU8WT_6uBW11D_bPieauJkKOV5QObN08mWCdTMIRdZdV4l4n9V08CJNv6LSvR7jKlfRcv9eVYV54LOzGA10Pk0a-uWwF7hNLeFWsEnM6xunnFleZjbkVWPx4S4bgNPi0aZfn30U8qfuV/w200-h133/town-2430571_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Colorful town houses]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Both </span><b>house</b><span> and </span><b>home</b><span> originated from the same proto-German
root </span><i>khusan</i><span> but went slightly different directions later on </span><i>haim</i><span>
keeping its original idea of a permanent residence and </span><i>hus</i><span>, derived from
hide, both the verb and noun, referring to a shelter.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_O52NZQdkopZF3bQAchHlXX9bUFuHbH_ZyQ2COh0mHiO1DiUZv3YYLfJHQL0ujKebAcQA7ySjcy2o87XwewY51LM4r1qqoOZ0Ohg8N8r5xULks3AO9bfIoKTDjdg9g80oKSTrBjCi1BcRMXjPwjvRS4Bzw4w_KXwGur-TsqE2t15flUdckp4EUjwn2vEX/s640/ireland-3597097_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_O52NZQdkopZF3bQAchHlXX9bUFuHbH_ZyQ2COh0mHiO1DiUZv3YYLfJHQL0ujKebAcQA7ySjcy2o87XwewY51LM4r1qqoOZ0Ohg8N8r5xULks3AO9bfIoKTDjdg9g80oKSTrBjCi1BcRMXjPwjvRS4Bzw4w_KXwGur-TsqE2t15flUdckp4EUjwn2vEX/w200-h134/ireland-3597097_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Irish manor]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Of course, not houses are created equal. For the rich and famous, their
abode may be a </span><b>mansion</b><span>, from the Latin root </span><i>manere</i><span>, to stay,
implying where the land owners actually spent lived most of the time. A slightly
more modest option is a </span><b>villa</b><span>, clearly a Latin/old Italian word, which
originally referred to a summer home, like a </span><b>dacha</b><span> in Russia, but now
implying a permanent detached residence. For the super-rich, they may even own
a </span><b>chateau</b><span>, literally </span><i>a castle</i><span>, although it has been quite few
centuries since its residents needed protection from attack aside from paparazzi.
On the other scale, in hot climates, a </span><b>bungalow</b><span> is a very reasonable
option, logical as it refers to a Bengalese traditional house. The old forest <b>cottage</b>, merely a hut, is now rather common in the cities and has grown in size. A temporary soldiers tent in Spanish, a</span><span> </span><i>barraca,</i><span> became a fixed residence for
soldiers, i.e., </span><b>barracks</b><span>. A a home away from home in the mountain for herders known as a </span><b>chalet</b><span> is
rather expensive now.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKIVxHyelLper5WIGtbPfg8jnse1RqdK6hMOL19ZSOZTLgAtoNXj8kfavAmRzbdnYDvtKena1QZAP9pC_Ka5m__9WT24ooYZQItbLJrwB1RUmLWpTFNt1NzJTo-FyCXZjLX2M6lGZgSqsVdjd4Zvz0eFnHFNg-8sVMjlPRdZURFGN2K3LIib5Y7Um5Oq4/s640/apartments-1845884_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="640" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKIVxHyelLper5WIGtbPfg8jnse1RqdK6hMOL19ZSOZTLgAtoNXj8kfavAmRzbdnYDvtKena1QZAP9pC_Ka5m__9WT24ooYZQItbLJrwB1RUmLWpTFNt1NzJTo-FyCXZjLX2M6lGZgSqsVdjd4Zvz0eFnHFNg-8sVMjlPRdZURFGN2K3LIib5Y7Um5Oq4/w200-h133/apartments-1845884_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Apartment building]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>For those of us that cannot afford or choose not to live a detached life
style, an </span><b>apartment</b><span> is the standard option. Curiously, the word
literally means as it sounds, </span><i>a separated place</i><span> in Italian. Somehow,
when I hear the neighbors moving furniture above me, I don’t feel so separated.
Its English cousin, a </span><b>flat</b><span>, also has a bit of twisted journey. It is
derived from an old French word for </span><i>flat</i><span>, the adjective. It is funny how
today many English housing units are on two if not more stories. In the US, an
apartment that is bought, not rented, is called a </span><b>condominium</b><span>, which
literally means </span><i>shared living</i><span>, which is at least honest. Its upscale
neighbor, the </span><b>penthouse</b><span>, was apparently an addition to the building as
originally referred to an </span><i>appendage</i><span>, an added building in old French,
apparently someone similar to the luxury suites that stadiums add to establish
stadiums to increase revenue.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDC9prh0jIKL5tDkKJZZc9fiCQHhu5Gq4XVzw55qjjevpqoYOpj1ZPpkMFpshZD_MHPXC1LLK58v0D_VjJySttUxv8eqDByINCNrVHyTkNv88hyphenhyphen9yLdHy6k4R4kAiLFtbSp6lDlI3kUUVWKixvrOhn9CKYcYYvIYbXBCfpmprx4UOHLtdf0HlkJ4-VSbMt/s640/poverty-216527_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDC9prh0jIKL5tDkKJZZc9fiCQHhu5Gq4XVzw55qjjevpqoYOpj1ZPpkMFpshZD_MHPXC1LLK58v0D_VjJySttUxv8eqDByINCNrVHyTkNv88hyphenhyphen9yLdHy6k4R4kAiLFtbSp6lDlI3kUUVWKixvrOhn9CKYcYYvIYbXBCfpmprx4UOHLtdf0HlkJ4-VSbMt/w200-h150/poverty-216527_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Shanty town]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Alas, not everybody is fortunate enough to enjoy reasonable quality
housing. Some people live in </span><b>tenements</b><span>, dilatated apartments, which originally implied actually owning the place, unlike today. In the country, many
poor families grow up in a </span><b>shack</b><span>, a Mexican-Spanish word for an</span><i> adobe
hut</i><span>, a structure that experienced a material switch to wood. A lumberjack’s temporary
home, a </span><b>shanty</b><span>, became a last resort of the unemployed and homless in some
countries. With a history that is no less sad, crowing up on a </span><b>croft</b><span> in
Scotland was no pleasure but it did have land and provide something to eat as it was a short land allotment until the English threw the residents off the land.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiX0Lax6bz3P_17JAANGaLQ0Mwbv6LaRejpE5sE00vreA5hzEkYx_fdCqqCfYaVPgR4OKWoe-sS7-lF6MBzvRRNqMYttnrEC5ejw9Nv9I-oXm4iCgN7Ao42Psb_kpvVWYqtGp4JJGkNwuXGwKsQG0xcxnyVMX2MwGQsmLEverECbBZx0r0N4c5eNaLdJ_/s640/yurt-4608536_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiX0Lax6bz3P_17JAANGaLQ0Mwbv6LaRejpE5sE00vreA5hzEkYx_fdCqqCfYaVPgR4OKWoe-sS7-lF6MBzvRRNqMYttnrEC5ejw9Nv9I-oXm4iCgN7Ao42Psb_kpvVWYqtGp4JJGkNwuXGwKsQG0xcxnyVMX2MwGQsmLEverECbBZx0r0N4c5eNaLdJ_/w200-h134/yurt-4608536_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Yurt]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Some housing is temporary by definition. The basic English word </span><b>tent</b><span>
is derived from the Latin verb </span><i>tendere</i><span>, </span><i>to stretch</i><span>, which makes
sense to any person that ever put one up. Other cultures considered home to be
where the hearth is regardless of its permenance. </span><span> </span><span>The Turkish root of tree lent its name to the </span><b>yurt</b><span>
as it provided a root to those tribes. Likewise, the </span><b>teepee</b><span> literally
means </span><i>they dwell</i><span>, technically the truth. The more northern </span><b>igloo</b><span>
is merely </span><i>a house</i><span>. Some homes are born to roam, as Bruce Springsteen would
say.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR_9IfTUTPkwu4aMlsQ-6NSBV87hX4h3lI4UMttJXfSsXawZJSrCbgobaSkbyOhAq3da-Tsz3pXqmINAsJYevVB9SizaZf_LkKATYtyF33Wk9sxzg_ldNZXbgrV9ERXqqBXMptefst22mzfs1ZsHlld60vIBUyabLVYzCLwyOEG8QgyD-vysfZ9CEiRtW/s640/house-1353389_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR_9IfTUTPkwu4aMlsQ-6NSBV87hX4h3lI4UMttJXfSsXawZJSrCbgobaSkbyOhAq3da-Tsz3pXqmINAsJYevVB9SizaZf_LkKATYtyF33Wk9sxzg_ldNZXbgrV9ERXqqBXMptefst22mzfs1ZsHlld60vIBUyabLVYzCLwyOEG8QgyD-vysfZ9CEiRtW/w200-h134/house-1353389_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Toy house on lawn]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>So, whatever your </span><b>pad</b><span>, technically </span><i>a bundle of straw</i><span>, is,
be thankful for a roof over your head and consider the magnificent collection
of words the English language has succeeded in hoarding over the centuries,
thus creating a fine foundation of words to describe your humble abode, often with changes to their original meanings.</span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture credits – Pixabay</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-26994916730390295672023-11-20T07:39:00.001+02:002023-11-20T07:39:53.844+02:00Ghosts of Thanksgiving past<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4gml5rdEFc3B9CKTPsj_HMCZCN3roX3GsC3xkn9hQMycLFy3hDQHgt8YSuT9Zm00PdGBclcu5ZKbcx9AImsaB0wY7tRNJQbEmyaiUrhIlKSHpm9FzzAIptdzTEZFpD09gVIf5vYHva5m3LoLDwMcVrYG4cP2pbUV-nTk74Byk3N3TGEuqF6MwW3wHv-M/s640/thanksgiving-4658407_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4gml5rdEFc3B9CKTPsj_HMCZCN3roX3GsC3xkn9hQMycLFy3hDQHgt8YSuT9Zm00PdGBclcu5ZKbcx9AImsaB0wY7tRNJQbEmyaiUrhIlKSHpm9FzzAIptdzTEZFpD09gVIf5vYHva5m3LoLDwMcVrYG4cP2pbUV-nTk74Byk3N3TGEuqF6MwW3wHv-M/w134-h200/thanksgiving-4658407_640.jpg" width="134" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Thanksgiving table*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Every country has at least one annual event that transcends differences in religion, generation, race and background. For the United States, in my opinion at least, that occasion is Thanksgiving, a time when extended families make great effort to get together and enjoy each other’s company.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">There is a universal element in Thanksgiving. People of all stripes and colors get together and eat the same menu, with small variations. Even when alternatives are far tastier (my brother persuaded my mother to make paella one year), it is somehow sacrilegious to not eat turkey this Thursday. Even more notable, three generations of a family strive to sit together and talk, not a common occurrence in the United States. The table is set for a royal feast, with all the finest pieces being used. For the children, it is a wonderful time to play with cousins without close parental supervision. Thanksgiving is above all a family occasion.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Of course, each family has its own traditions. In my family, there was a children’s table, with the symbolic presence of my great uncle who, due to a stroke, could barely speak. Various relatives brought their specialties, including my aunt who made the incredible apple and pumpkin pies. As we grew older, we children were allowed to have gin and topic as we munched on homemade guacamole. I would play hearts, the card game, with aunt and great aunt, who would curse to the great shame of her daughter and our amusement. My father would always read the Art <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1977/11/24/dont-forget-to-give-thanks-to-capitaine-kilometres-deboutish/ba2b0f01-d967-473a-adca-37ee9d3072eb/">Buchwald column</a> on explaining Thanksgiving to the French, still a classic. Whether we children were unaware or did not care, the adults would quietly criticize each other despite their best efforts to keep their mouths shut. I think we found their remarks irrelevant and amusing. Who cares if a certain aunt does not know how to dress properly? My cousin and I would play piano, she far better as she was much more serious than I and still is. It was a special day.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I wish I had a picture to show you of those occasions. However, this is a Thanksgiving past, before the time of cell phones and, more importantly, an awareness of the importance of taking pictures on such occasion. I believe there almost everybody there has a sense that this event was a given, an occasion that would happen every year, year in, year out, and somehow exempt from the effects of time.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Alas, nothing stops time, not even Thanksgiving. The generation of my grandparents has long gone to the grave. Of my parents’ generation, only my mother (96 years old) is alive but no longer capable of preparing a feast for 4 people, let along 20+. As for the children, alas, we have drifted, geographically and/or emotionally. Some of us belong to our adopted families. I have not lived in the US for some 35 years now nor celebrated Thanksgiving in that period.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Unlike in Dickens’ book, in my case, there is no ghost of Thanksgiving present. My brother will celebrate the holiday with this wife’s family. I am not sure that I will remember that Thanksgiving is Thursday at all as there is no hint of the holiday in Israel, especially with the war going on. My mother will be alone. I do share and concur with her comment: she can live without celebrating Thanksgiving because her Thanksgivings were so wonderful. So, ghosts of Thanksgiving past are loyal friends.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">To those celebrating the holiday Thursday , treasure the day even if the food is a bit heavy and the family is a bit annoying. The memories are priceless.
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/heartlandmom-7315202/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4658407">Julie Rothe</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4658407">Pixabay</a>">Picture credit</a></span></div>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-47086657618279678082023-11-14T07:59:00.000+02:002023-11-14T07:59:04.389+02:00Non-OEM language learning<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosw0SqNS2w8WZkq0Sy2NrTPU5Q6LR5kj2QvQwo0cnXkVl4ejhaS36J3D1Scq6_4kHGfsvSO5QZWQ_KOvWgZigAPd4Ohnr-kyf99oG8O41hcLU9C1Tfad5qUHZNSov0U8opdlQdW54FLUEqAT803ssdm74vS_Z0xfhJwWw8TvyKI30O0AaTCJH-Butaw6F/s640/brain-7118224_640.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosw0SqNS2w8WZkq0Sy2NrTPU5Q6LR5kj2QvQwo0cnXkVl4ejhaS36J3D1Scq6_4kHGfsvSO5QZWQ_KOvWgZigAPd4Ohnr-kyf99oG8O41hcLU9C1Tfad5qUHZNSov0U8opdlQdW54FLUEqAT803ssdm74vS_Z0xfhJwWw8TvyKI30O0AaTCJH-Butaw6F/w200-h150/brain-7118224_640.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[brain in four parts*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sammuel Beckett is the exception proving the rule. While he only learned
French at the university, he wrote many of his works in French, including <i>En
Attendant Godot</i>, <i>Waiting for Godot</i> for those that only read English.
Try to find another person, not even an author, that is equally fluent in a
language only learned as an adult. My personal experience with this challenge is
having lived in Israel for some 35 years in a Hebrew speaking house and having
a French mother that has lived in the United States for over 70 years. As
fluent as a second language can be, it is not native. An acquired language is different from a mother tongue in terms of crossover, vocabulary retention and
confidence. A second language learned as an adult is not the same as your
mother tongue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Most second-language speakers suffer from <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>having syntax and grammar elements from their
first language incorrectly entering their adopted language. My personal bugaboo
is common weather expressions in English, specifically “it is cold outside” (or hot) because I frequently forget
that Hebrew does not require the <i>it is</i>, i.e., the Hebrew expression translates as "cold outside". Another example is
many Israelis never switch the future to the present in future clauses, such as
“when I wake up, I will call you”, which comes out “when I will wake up” as in
Hebrew. Russian speakers have no intuitive understanding of which article (<i>the</i>
and <i>a</i>) to use in writing English and seemingly use the lottery system in English. Even after
years, language interference never completely disappears.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Over time, there is one struggle that only worsens, specifically the
ability to remember words at night or at times of stress. It is amazing how
difficult it is to speak a foreign language at 11:00 at night or when a customs
official is asking pointed questions. Suddenly, all of your vocabulary goes
into hiding, leaving you talking like an idiot (and being treated as one also).
Of course, it is a rare person that can do mental arithmetic in a foreign
language. Apparently, foreign languages don’t like clutch time very much<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Psychologically, the greatest difference between native and acquired
languages is assurance. I will dispute (and </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;">confidently</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"> do so with pedantic editors when
they mark up my translations) the correctness of my English, my native
language. On the other hand, it seems that the default mode with acquired
languages is that the native speaker is correct, which is not always true, even
when the foreigner actually studied and understands the formal rules. This
feeling of “what do I know” is generally stronger than the academic knowledge
of language rules. When it some to acquired languages, when in doubt, a person
doesn’t know. This lack of confidence does not disappear or even dissipate with
age.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Knowledge and study are two different matters, including in regard to foreign languages.
What people absorb in their early years is a certainty, even if incorrect,
while what they formally studied later on is a matter of doubt, even if exact. Please do not take me wrong. To acquire a language is a wonderful experience. Even if the native
languages contaminates it, words seems to run and hide and we lack trust in our
judgment, conversing with a person in their native language makes you a
superstar and a citizen of the world even if we don’t reach the level of
Sammuel Beckett.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/mohamed_hassan-5229782/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=7118224">Mohamed Hassan</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=7118224">Pixabay</a>">Picture credits</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-7954150997966872522023-11-06T04:58:00.000+02:002023-11-06T04:58:41.277+02:00Translator, forgive thyself<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-s9CzB3TuyJQd5EunRyxsoqFwF64Rr4Ue7mPVSCk49bmja1z12aQQa9eU0rLHxKFql6kfg8g4OmsWq7cjACJG4tgbIeCZPkdIP1FRPyiscDD8XgEqyB_8ljHBeLS3GVKGTnLckWLf6UT81rTnjbit4MMfT3WGD8VVq4coDnczWixJ1Jrng7lfXagxAY5/s4624/torah.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3472" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-s9CzB3TuyJQd5EunRyxsoqFwF64Rr4Ue7mPVSCk49bmja1z12aQQa9eU0rLHxKFql6kfg8g4OmsWq7cjACJG4tgbIeCZPkdIP1FRPyiscDD8XgEqyB_8ljHBeLS3GVKGTnLckWLf6UT81rTnjbit4MMfT3WGD8VVq4coDnczWixJ1Jrng7lfXagxAY5/w150-h200/torah.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[English version of the Torah*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I<span style="font-size: medium;">t is said that reading the Bible can be an inspiring experience even
for those who have no faith. I just had one such moment but not from the text you
might expect. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To explain, I recently discovered that I had made a serious terminology
translation error on a previously delivered document. Of course, I will correct
the error, inform the customer and provide a revised document. Still, the fact
that I had made that error upset me as I had spent considerable time trying to
find an appropriate English equivalent and thought I had succeeded. I must
admit that I felt disappointed in myself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then, this Shabbat, I happened to glance at my bookshelf and see the
English <i>Torah – the Five Books of Moses</i> that I had received on my bar
mitzvah some 50 years ago and have probably never opened since. It is the second edition of the version published by
the Jewish Publication Society of America. By chance, I began to read the text
on the flap, a seemingly irrelevant part of any book. However, in this case,
the words took on new meaning. I quote:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“The Jewish Publication Society of American first produced its first
translation of the Bible in 1917… The need for a new translation has been
obvious for years….For one thing, it was considered possible – and therefore <b>necessary
to improve substantially</b> on earlier versions in <b>rendering both the shades
of meaning of words and expressions</b> and force of grammatical forms and
constructions… The Trustees and Committees of Translators are grateful for the <b>hundreds
of suggestions and scores of reviews </b>that this translation of the Torah has
evoked… They incorporated those suggestive changes of whose need they had been
convinced. Consequently, this second edition, while adhering to the same
policies and principles of Bible translation that were followed in the first
edition, <b>occasionally differs from it in phrasing and sometimes in meaning</b>.”
[emphasis added]<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If a group of translators and editors working together and having a liberal
deadline, I assume, still produced substantial errors, is it reasonable to
expect freelancers, working by themselves under tight deadlines, to be always
perfect? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I forgive myself and will professionally deal with the issue. Of course,
I will strive to avoid such errors. I will also admit that God or, if
you prefer, fate does work in rather mysterious ways. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-26828509164698198682023-10-30T08:13:00.002+02:002023-10-30T21:55:06.236+02:00A LinkedIn call for human dialogue<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7lJBZdS-m4t5xxBc-G0D8S48zJn5coh5ZGmCWv_mecsxJypIGEi1lpxGIpZB8Qbr2lWWunVH8bny3TRywc8vH1jwERKL7yxpuqORMc4MW6afR78rLeZRkjWkJLepbvK0sV_Ak13JMcUxhX4mD9G5sgnuEXMn1JeFqgKfu1-H-T_XwLeDFehUFdPcoOxa/s640/conversation-3513843_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7lJBZdS-m4t5xxBc-G0D8S48zJn5coh5ZGmCWv_mecsxJypIGEi1lpxGIpZB8Qbr2lWWunVH8bny3TRywc8vH1jwERKL7yxpuqORMc4MW6afR78rLeZRkjWkJLepbvK0sV_Ak13JMcUxhX4mD9G5sgnuEXMn1JeFqgKfu1-H-T_XwLeDFehUFdPcoOxa/w200-h134/conversation-3513843_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Two birds talking at the same pool*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I wish to call on the LinkedIn community to contribute a better Middle
East in the future. The current situation is a human tragedy, a Greek one even.
Each of the parties knows what the consequences of its actions will be in
advance and cannot avoid them. However, through both starving the hatred and
feeding mutual tolerance, the ordinary, even extraordinary people on LinkedIn
may be able to make a small but important contribution.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">First of all, I will <u>not</u> discuss who is right or more right. Clearly,
that dialogue is fruitless and irrelevant. Each tribe and tribe supporter,
i.e., Israel and Palestinian, is absolutely convinced of the righteousness of
their cause. More importantly, as in most family fights, it is ultimately no
consolation that you feel that your cause is more just. The Middle East wars,
including its present form, is a human tragedy with hundreds of thousands of
grieving parents, siblings and friends. Any death is sad but one that is
“before his/her time” as they say in Hebrew, is a special tragedy regardless of
one’s religion or political views. Of course, people understandably grieve far
more for deaths in their tribe but that does not reduce the pain of the deaths
of the other side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a different level,
just imagine if all the money that has been invested in weapons and defense had
gone to enriching the country. Thus, I both respect everybody’s right to have a
point of view and thus have no intention of arguing its validity as such a
discussion serves no purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Instead, I call for two kinds of actions, passive and active.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At minimum, when posting about the current
situation on LinkedIn, this international bridge between business people,
please do not dehumanize the other side. Referring to the “enemy” as <i>lice</i>,
which the Arab Translation Association, a Palestinian organization shamelessly
does, or as any other animal is not only unacceptable but creates a mindset
that fosters cruelty. See Hannah Arendt’s <i>With Eichman in Jerusalem the
banality of evil</i> on this matter. Such name-calling also eliminates any
possibility of dialogue and feeds hate. If one side refers to the other as less
than human, such an attitude defines the relationship between the parties.
Thus, when expressing their opinion, I would hope that LinkedIn members would
remember that even the opposite side in a war are human beings and, in one way
or another, also victims.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On a more proactive note, LinkedIn member could have a role in building
a better future. Some 80 years of wars in the Middle East have proven quite
conclusively that neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians are going anywhere,
i.e., they are staying in that small crowded bit of land. Thus, in practice,
the only effective solution is some kind of co-existence. Finding a solution
requires a degree of trust and respect. Unfortunately, a new batch of flowers of hate have just released their seeds, which will find a fertile base
in the families of the thousands that have died or will die in this war. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To change this sad narrative, the world needs visionaries,
communicators, planners and leaders to provide and demonstrate a positive
alternative. LinkedIn is the perfect venue for that, containing thousands or
such people, who share common interests and communicate with each other despite
political differences. I would hope that when member discuss the Israel and Palestine,
they will do so not through justification of ghosts of Christmas past or
present but instead work for a better world in the future. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am realistic enough to know that the seeds of hate and distrust are deep and
may require generations to disappear. Yet, I believe it is possible to slowly
create tolerance and acceptance. It is a bit like learning to accept someone
from a different ethnic group as a neighbor if not as a son-in-law. If you are
completely skeptical, consider what has changed in the US since Martin Luther’s
King’s speech in 1968 or notice that the only reason Ireland gets into the news
is for its budget surplus. By having a civilized dialogue when relevant,
LinkedIn members can contribute to world peace, prosperity and, most
importantly, humanity.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/aitoff-388338/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3513843">Andrew Martin</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3513843">Pixabay</a>">Picture credit</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-31618276420296865212023-10-23T07:26:00.000+03:002023-10-23T07:26:03.350+03:00Audiblilizing translation – the art of legal (and other technical) translation<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuLM5XGqGlxby2_SdNZYd2aRTcggSEX2vvVD35WT4v_wJmqT3hu3g_QUpcBvRWMri39ar_kCdjrv9KmRgSFucBlIlltbXiAp5MXxz9AjR6PnisykecKKoNYxr5pzp1IM7jQxBGpdjuvdZNqmWwDBXLGrlIjD2Z0Fg2qSauXhg7A-8zHtI6-3xTCnzbgeE/s640/football-1476051_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuLM5XGqGlxby2_SdNZYd2aRTcggSEX2vvVD35WT4v_wJmqT3hu3g_QUpcBvRWMri39ar_kCdjrv9KmRgSFucBlIlltbXiAp5MXxz9AjR6PnisykecKKoNYxr5pzp1IM7jQxBGpdjuvdZNqmWwDBXLGrlIjD2Z0Fg2qSauXhg7A-8zHtI6-3xTCnzbgeE/w134-h200/football-1476051_640.jpg" width="134" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Quarterback before snap*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I<span style="font-size: medium;">n American football, one of the major differences between experienced
and inexperienced as well as effective<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and ineffective quarterbacks is the ability to audibilize, which means
to adjust the play called by the coach as they survey the defense right before
the snap. It takes knowledge, judgment and confidence to understand that the
given play call will not work and what to do about it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Likewise, effective technical translators, especially legal experts,
know how to correctly take a sentence in one language and render it in another
language and culture, making the necessary changes while neither subtracting or
adding content. Literal translation of the text can lead to awkward sentences
at minimum and fundamental miscommunications at worst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When translator works properly,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the resulting text may seem noticeably
different in terms of sentence structure and even vocabulary but is quite loyal in
terms of content. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Simply put, each language has its unique way of expressing itself and framing
sentences. Depending on the language combinations, word-for-word translation
can lead to simply awful results. The causes for this asymmetry between languages
are many and include:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Syntax</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> – Word order
varies from language to language in terms of placement of subordinate phrases,
time expressions, adjectives and even grammatical subjects.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Passive/Active</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> – While in certain
languages, the passive form is considered more academic and therefore higher
level, such as in Hebrew, in other languages it is considered confusing and
poor writing. Therefore, in many cases, the translator must change the whole
structure, including the form of verb.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Punctuation</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> – There are no universal
punctuation rules or even rules of what constitutes a sentence. Dostoevsky and
lawyers in many languages can get away with whole paragraphs linked with commas
and ending after in a period after a half of page (or more). Other languages,
notably English, have much more rigid sentence structure and/or stylistic norms,
requiring the chopping of sentences in multiple sentences<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vocabulary</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> – Languages and
cultures vary in terms of terminology development, meaning similar terms may
carry more limited or expanded meanings. Moreover, certain terms many not exist
in the target language, requiring more creative solutions. Legal, like all technical,
translators must understand the exact meaning of a term in both the source and
target language.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Legalese</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> – Some legal
cultures have instituted “plain language” rules intended to render the text
intelligible to a greater number of persons. Others view use of the highly specialized
phrases as a sign of an erudite writer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Poor source text</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> – The sad fact is
that many legal and other technical writers produce poorly written text. While
“garbage in, garbage out” may be easier, professional translators try to render
the text into proper language.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A truly proficient translator grasps the meaning of the source sentence
and creates a clear, well-written equivalent in the target language even if it
involves significant changes to the sentence structure and syntax. By contrast,
a poor translation may be loyal to the original structure but sounds like a
translation. If you wish to judge the result, audibilize it, i.e., read it out
loud. It should sound like a native writer wrote it. If so, the legal<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>translator has properly audiblized the text
and is worth hiring again.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/keithjj-2328014/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1476051">Keith Johnston</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1476051">Pixabay</a>"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture credit</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-22769276519106261952023-10-09T10:41:00.000+03:002023-10-09T10:41:35.269+03:00Taxing properties<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7ZHllyHMPdpn4BnAtP5Ie0l4WoRAzS1g244uwVMYQbcRjwWV6M42vFbhM7T0MO-1E3ohXOuRFynmol9o1WepDUipqgX4HdqOxZO6xJ93nLD69cehJaaWSL6-ls_FznhkBbUESYjgw6Q1GbFaaj885V9NnTUlAfQOFJSaU9j0-UyoZT3sD6xhmDebxdKB/s640/house-1836070_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7ZHllyHMPdpn4BnAtP5Ie0l4WoRAzS1g244uwVMYQbcRjwWV6M42vFbhM7T0MO-1E3ohXOuRFynmol9o1WepDUipqgX4HdqOxZO6xJ93nLD69cehJaaWSL6-ls_FznhkBbUESYjgw6Q1GbFaaj885V9NnTUlAfQOFJSaU9j0-UyoZT3sD6xhmDebxdKB/w200-h134/house-1836070_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[house*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As the old joke goes, the only certainties are death and taxes. Regarding
the first, none of us, as far as I know, have any personal experience to speak of but most
adults are quite familiar with the second. For example, property owners and
sometimes renters have to pay a property tax to their local authority to
finance its services. This tax exists almost worldwide but how this tax is
calculated varies from country to country. In theory the tax is the product of
the base amount and the tax rate. Each country defines the first variable
differently and has distinct mechanisms for setting the second as I will show
in by comparing the property tax calculation methods in the United States,
France and Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the United States, the base amount is highly variable while the rate
is relatively stable. The local authority, usually the city, establishes the
rate by vote with the increase in any given year limited by state law, thus
protecting the taxpayer from sudden jumps. The city can apply discounts and
exemptions for certain areas, building types and income levels at its discretion,
On the other hand, the value of a property is based on its current assessed
value, i.e., if former neighbors made a killing in selling their houses during
a given year, everybody still living in the neighborhood must pay higher taxes
as the value has risen according to the latest assessment. The constant
increase in property value in California forced people to sell their houses
because they could no longer afford the property taxes even if they had paid a
modest price for it several decades previously. As a reaction to that,
California voters in 1978 passed Proposition 13, which rolled back property
taxes, which predictably significantly reduced local services. Thus, US
property taxes vary greatly from place to place primarily due to property
values.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">By contrast, the French <i>taxe fonci</i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">é</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">re</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> is based on the rental value
multiplied by a value local authority. The base amount is 50% of the annual
rental value, an amount changing on a yearly basis. The tax rate increase is
set by the government but a city can vote a supplementary amount as Paris did
this year, raising the tax to 50%, yes fifty percent. Thus, not only do French landowners have to
keep on eye on rental values but they also must watch their local councils.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Israel has the <i>arnona</i>, which, typically in Israel, is named after
a special tax from centuries ago. The base value for this property tax is the
size of the property with the tax rate set by square meter. One would think
that the base amount would remain constant but the local authorities have a
nasty tendency to periodically remeasure houses and flats and discover
previously unknown meters, such as outside walls and covered garages, thus
adding sometimes 10% to the previous measurement. The local authority set the
rate with the government determining the minimum and maximum amount. As usual,
there is a catch in that a local authority may make an application to the
Interior Minister for an exception to these limits. As elsewhere, the local
authority can apply this rate uniformly or create partial or complete
exemptions, an important matter in a country with a large number of religious
institutions of various kinds. Israel property tax bills are relatively stable
aside from those re-assessments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It is almost certain that, if you are a property owner, you complain
about property tax bills regardless of which country you live. To be fair, most
people are not happy about the level of local services either but that is
human, right? Curiously, each country has chosen its particular manner of
calculating its pound (or dollar, shekel or euro) of flesh. Is one fairer than
the other? That issue taxes my understanding of property. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/pexels-2286921/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1836070">Pexels</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1836070">Pixabay</a>">Picture credit</a></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-9756997418235103702023-10-02T07:58:00.000+03:002023-10-02T07:58:08.126+03:00Why translate marketing materials – one language does not rule them all<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68VvGlNUZ_ccBL-LzAm4lBeOloPZ8f8I9pMn29LZa_Qk0IVuwPw3uGCZ0a6PalnDks13mS12bqf3XsZsP3IulNtEktow5Yo7MZPrf4aEPs_BQ8QJTzz3BKUvrSjkBYqzpW-pxXXPq1NB3By4fxuC1RG9uzwWentN-ViMYs4P4Yq4UX3Zx0jqxmC4bjc4F/s640/ring-2226177_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68VvGlNUZ_ccBL-LzAm4lBeOloPZ8f8I9pMn29LZa_Qk0IVuwPw3uGCZ0a6PalnDks13mS12bqf3XsZsP3IulNtEktow5Yo7MZPrf4aEPs_BQ8QJTzz3BKUvrSjkBYqzpW-pxXXPq1NB3By4fxuC1RG9uzwWentN-ViMYs4P4Yq4UX3Zx0jqxmC4bjc4F/w200-h113/ring-2226177_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[ring*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It seems so straightforward. Prepare top notch marketing material in
English. Given that English is spoken at one level or another by some 1.5
billion people worldwide and is effectively the lingua franca of the world at
this time, it should be cost-effective. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In practice, that approach is as relevant as
“one size fits all”. While it is true that much of the world can somehow
express themselves orally in English, far fewer can read effectively in
English. Many non-native readers even avoid reading complicated materials in
their second language as they find themselves spending more time and energy
with less effective results when trying to decipher them. Visual elements, such as
different letters and direction, significantly increase that difficulty. Thus,
if a person or company wishes to reach a target audience, it is significantly
more effective to prepare marketing material in the native language of their
customers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ranking languages by native language readers leads to rather different
result than that for speaking, native or non-native. The most dominant
languages, at least in terms of numbers, are limited to a few countries. For
example, Russian and Chinese are almost entirely spoken and read in the Russian
Federation and China, respectively, while English as a native language is
limited to a handful of countries, primarily the UK, the United States, South
Africa, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Even in those countries, a
meaningful part of the country does not read English fluently whether because
they are immigrants, children of immigrants or live in areas where another
language is dominant. This phenomenon is not limited to the English-speaking
countries as immigrants have reached every country on the globe, including Scandinavia
and Germany, or multiple local languages coexist, as in many parts of Africa
and India. Even the same language can have significant different local versions,
as it the case of Spanish and Arabic. Therefore, the number of native language
readers in English or any other language is significantly less than speakers,
first or second language.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This distinction is meaningful to businesses because non-native readers
are much less effective in grasping written text. First, they read slower to
one degree or another as even fluent speakers of foreign languages have
experienced. Second, scanning in a second language requires much more effort
with less success. Of great importance is the fact that Internet users scan
much more quickly in their native language than in their second language
regardless of their familiarity with the latter. A difference in letters and/or
direction(Hebrew/Arabic vs English/Spanish) further encumbers the scanning
process. Furthermore, non-native speakers often miss direct or indirect
messages due to a lack of familiarity with the nuances and cultural references.
Psychologically, it is often so much effort to read a (relatively) long text in
a foreign language that even high-level <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>foreign speakers prefer to avoid such texts. That
second-language learners may be able to read that language does not necessarily
mean that they can efficiently and effectively understand it or even choose to.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As a personal example, my native language is English but I am quite
fluent in both French and Hebrew. During my recent trip to France, I found
plowing through the French sites slower and “heavier” than if they had been
English. As for Hebrew, a language that I live in and use every day, including
translate from, I am quite slow in skimming websites,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not to mention longer texts, and dread
receiving long emails in Hebrew as I know that I will have truly concentrate. For
that reason, I don’t read Hebrew books for the pleasure before I go to bed,
preferring English or French. In practice, notwithstanding my oral ability, my
reading in my second languages is less effective and requires more effort.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For a business or individual desiring to reach a certain customer, it is
important for the written material to be in the most transparent form, one in
which the language of choice does not interfere with the message. If the
readers are expending significant energy on trying to decipher the language, it
is at the expense of considering the product or service. Yes, their English may
be sufficient to basically understand the content but they are probably not
going to act on it as there is little mental energy left for the effort even if they
read to the end. Thus, translation is not “extra” expense but an essential
marketing tool.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today, it is quite tempting to use machine translation, whether a
“Google Translate” tool of some kind or a ChatGPT result, to save money and
achieve a seemingly acceptable result. Some 20 years of machine translation
have left behind a long trail of failed and even embarrassing marketing
efforts, even by large companies, that tried to save money and made themselves
into a laughing stock, not the desired result. It is far more cost-effective to
pay a human being a proper amount to a proper job. The increased sales almost
always surpass the expense and create a positive company image, the purposes of
marketing. As my father said, anything worth doing is worth doing well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In summary, when conducting a marketing campaign, identity the native
reading language of your customer and have a human professional translate the
written texts. When it comes to making your written marketing material effective, no language,
not even English, comes close to ruling them all. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/la_caverne_du_vfx-2151735/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2226177">Anthony Gallon</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2226177">Pixabay</a>"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture credit</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-42460540722870912232023-09-25T20:37:00.003+03:002023-09-26T13:48:51.871+03:00Beware the Jabberwocky – avoiding translation scams<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3ttRkkHAJd_XwBI5mx9akOyGhLvHguiDriMJHhaDZuNnyYExgLqBmTMA7o6D_5AuurVW8wppuhoW71zvZbxsCyB7uKolCP6G_FNICL7iYL6GM-8kFmFtDjhs48x1vs4ZAJy7WZpAEwoiC-Lmfwx4jn0J3Eaq4U7cLumfmLa52xyLyWLPMTxa4TNT-5Li/s640/tenniel-5871111_640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="426" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3ttRkkHAJd_XwBI5mx9akOyGhLvHguiDriMJHhaDZuNnyYExgLqBmTMA7o6D_5AuurVW8wppuhoW71zvZbxsCyB7uKolCP6G_FNICL7iYL6GM-8kFmFtDjhs48x1vs4ZAJy7WZpAEwoiC-Lmfwx4jn0J3Eaq4U7cLumfmLa52xyLyWLPMTxa4TNT-5Li/w133-h200/tenniel-5871111_640.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[the Jabberwocky*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the wild, faceless world of the Internet, the natural home of
freelance translators, lurk monsters called scammers. They expertly solicit
work from translators and then seemingly disappear from view as they seek
another victim. Their actual financial damage is relatively limited in most
cases but they have a significant and negative impact on our trust in others
and ourselves. Plain and simple, it hurts to be scammed. Thus, I present some known
ways<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of identifying potential scam
attempts and how to confirm or disconfirm the legitimacy of a translation
request.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Indications</u></b>:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Email
address</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Always compare the email address appearing in the
email with the email address appearing when moving the curser over the email
title in the browser. They must be identical. The suffix .gmail as compared to .com is a sure sign that something is amiss.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> </b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span dir="LTR"></span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Language</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With the possible exception of few agencies in China
and Spain (in my experience), expect project managers to be able to write the basic sentences of
translation requests in proper English. Private clients may have a lower level.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> </b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span dir="LTR"></span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Communication</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If the customer is avoiding direct answer to specific
questions regarding payment, listen to the warning light in the brain.
Something may be far fishier than the reading comprehension ability of the
respondent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Actions to take to verify:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Google-search
the address:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Type the email address and the word <i>scam</i> in
Google. There are very few brand-new scammers in the sun. The vast majority
have been identified before. There are also specific scammer lists for those that have
access to them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Check
the official site:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For companies and institutions, it is easy to view the
official site and compare details with those in the email.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> </b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span dir="LTR"></span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Contact
the customer directly:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Write or call the customer using information on the
site and ask for confirmation of the job order. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">D.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Demand
prepayment:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you have doubts, insist on full prepayment before
starting work, explaining that advance payment is standard practice for new customers.
Private individuals are used to paying before receiving goods and services.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It is very important to have a proper perspective regarding scammers. In
almost 20 years, I have been scammed once but have identified numerous attempts
in time. It is safe to say that such bad apples do not represent the large
barrel of customers. So, if you do get burned, emotionally move on quickly as there
is basically no way to touch them, unfortunately. To make myself feel better, I
choose to believe that there is a special place in hell for those individuals
but I could be wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To end on an admittedly
irrelevant literary note and quote Lewis Carrol but in regards to avoiding them:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Come to my arms, my beamish boy!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> He chortled in his joy.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/emsquared-16521576/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=5871111">emsquared</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=5871111">Pixabay</a>"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture credit</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-17289968393512805242023-09-18T07:37:00.006+03:002023-09-19T16:36:21.506+03:00Paris walking – Rediscovery and discovery<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwh3kwNOs5_EfSoZtHDqsdMXnVpXhA0cTcWGnotB9LrYfCVldh9EsL3uqkxOxaXquuS8JsXH4RPwA6JvigbZtdYbgwhFwM0i_OIN5EtPh73LBDk6xSPFwaSKPptKAqDQe4OBVgZBwolXvou7i1iGnuT3IzfB3IdNJNtryavoIW_OYhWjLvtSd1xpu1k6Bl/s4624/IMG_20230830_100751.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3472" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwh3kwNOs5_EfSoZtHDqsdMXnVpXhA0cTcWGnotB9LrYfCVldh9EsL3uqkxOxaXquuS8JsXH4RPwA6JvigbZtdYbgwhFwM0i_OIN5EtPh73LBDk6xSPFwaSKPptKAqDQe4OBVgZBwolXvou7i1iGnuT3IzfB3IdNJNtryavoIW_OYhWjLvtSd1xpu1k6Bl/w150-h200/IMG_20230830_100751.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Sacre-Coeur - Paris*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A few weeks ago, I wrote <a href="https://tip-o-tongue.blogspot.com/2023/08/travel-jitters.html" target="_blank">a post </a>expressing my anxieties about revisiting
Paris after so many years. Well, having returning from there safe and sound
(and feeling younger), I can say that the city is as alive as ever, albeit with
changes, both positive and negative. On a personal note, Paris still retains
its magic touch of 40 years ago on me even if I have aged a little bit. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To be fair, Paris is not exactly the same city it was some 40 years ago
when I lived there. Bicycle lanes now occupy at least 1/3 of the road space,
which has significantly helped clean up the air (no more black residue in one’s
nose at the end of the day due to diesel emissions). The price has been to render
the act of crossing the street even more challenging but it is a good deal
overall. The faces have changed, with the city truly becoming rainbow of
colors. To be fair, Paris has always been a blend of locals and immigrants with
each party loving to complain about the other. Tellingly, I even found a long series of
streets mainly with stores specializing in skin and hair care for dark-skinned
people. The neighborhoods have evolved too. For example, the street on which my
apartment was located, Rue St. Denis, used to be known for its working ladies <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is now dominated by clothing stores (next to
my location) and restaurants, a few minutes away. I found most of the changes
natural but was saddened by the transformation of the Marais, the neighborhood where my mother and her family grew up and which I knew so well. It has become
a concentration of high-end brand stores and gay clubs with almost no Jewish identity
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>remaining aside from a few official signs.
That disappointment has more to due to my nostalgia than to its new character.
Thus, Paris has changed a lot in terms of specific details.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">However, its heart have remained the same. First, Paris is energy, a
fountain of youth for those that embrace the city. Regardless of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a person’s age, Paris is about living now and
enjoying life in all of its aspects. Maybe New York and a few other cities also
have the same aura. As a visitor, life is waiting just outside the door.
Despite its relatively small size, each neighborhood has its own unique mix of
buildings, stores and people. Ten minutes by foot in any direction take you
into another world. It turns detours into voyages of discovery. As for food,
Paris is having an endless choice of restaurants almost anywhere you walk, none
with the same menu or style. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>African or
Asian, American or French or anything else you may want, it is available and
close by. For example, I found a restaurant 20 meters from apartment that
featured food from five different African countries and three Caribbean
islands. Above all, Paris is sensatory heaven: architecture and art, open and
covered markets, perfume stores, cheese shops and bakeries, jazz, swing and rap
music in the street. One evening, I went out for a drink in the Louvre square
and ended up dancing a swing, something I hadn’t done in years. La vie est
belle </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">á</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Paris.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On a personal note, I experienced the trip bachelor-style, i.e., by
myself, due to an animal health crisis at home that prevented my wife from joining me as planned. I returned to my youth of 40 years ago when I lived there, walking the
streets as I did in my 20’s, some five to eight hours a day, and eating
anything I wanted, including lots of bread, pasty, chocolat and café Liegeois,
crepes, both sweet and savory, and even a Grand Marnier souffl</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">é</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, to name a just a few. I saw family that I hadn’t
seen in forty years. We even recognized each other as our faces had not changed
even if our bodies had, just a bit. My French immediately came back, granted
with some interference from Hebrew and too many grammar errors to suit me,
especially after a beer, but with a better vocabulary. I discovered that
neither my love of the city nor love the life style had changed. I immediately felt
at home in Paris. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Admittedly, I had aged somewhat as I admitted when I begrudgingly took
the metro back from the Champs d’Elysée back one evening instead of walking (50
minutes) because my legs were simply too tired. On a positive side, I found the
3+ hour lunches quite pleasant unlike in my younger days. Curiously, just as I
thought all those years ago, however much I love Paris and it is in my heart, I
could not live there. In short, now as it was then, in my opinion, it is
impossible to be too sad in Paris if you have money to spend and even if you
don’t have very much but I would not like to reside there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thus, to those who have nostalgia for the Paris of their youth or those
that have never been there before, I strongly recommend visiting the city and exhilarating
whatever senses you want with its magic. Paris d'antan est morte; vive la Paris d'aujourd'hui<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Picture captions help the blind fully access the Internet.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446668869695334043.post-67637591197072928382023-09-11T07:25:00.001+03:002023-09-11T18:10:00.531+03:00Lettre Israelienne – the SFT RTI2023 Congrés in Angers<p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4d8wgB9Dvm3EVAPPHJdL0XzPDZ_-Ha9n8w3oAKuYjwis9VMRLlgOwSEe8Ir6DQBKyuhsKhwnMxdT43GVv7fBopKefMlkUPMSBDPV6E6zMI9rs2qAa-9YBM7aymh5yaNH-VdEDDz1C4YSplV34Hd9MUI1a8rBLNJ4JS-b-mBa2M2cnO-RLc2sq7MNRDMY/s935/370247893_6575479785852006_7849905033215932315_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="526" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4d8wgB9Dvm3EVAPPHJdL0XzPDZ_-Ha9n8w3oAKuYjwis9VMRLlgOwSEe8Ir6DQBKyuhsKhwnMxdT43GVv7fBopKefMlkUPMSBDPV6E6zMI9rs2qAa-9YBM7aymh5yaNH-VdEDDz1C4YSplV34Hd9MUI1a8rBLNJ4JS-b-mBa2M2cnO-RLc2sq7MNRDMY/w113-h200/370247893_6575479785852006_7849905033215932315_n.jpg" width="113" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Chateau d'Angers*]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>I enjoy attending translator conferences abroad. They represent not only
an opportunity to learn, network and travel but also learn about other
cultures. By the nature of their participants and subject matter, they have
both an international and national character to one degree to another. The
RTI2023 Congress organized by la Société française des traducteurs (SFT) in
Angers, France at the end of the August was truly a French affair. Its content
illuminated and reflected the reality of translators in France, which is quite
different from those working in less structured countries. I came to understand
that this formalization comes at a price but clearly provides benefits for the
translators and interpreters working in France.<o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The nature of this <i>Congr</i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">é</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">s</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, with some 260 participants, was almost entirely French, not nearly as international as in most translation conferences. First, aside from a few
outliers, all of the participants were French or living in Europe working in
the French market. Correspondingly, all lectures were French without a single
presentation in English. The video presentation by the head of the Quebec
Translation Association, the OTTIAQ, was about as foreign as it got. The
audience was extremely polite, sitting through all the lectures even if they
contained <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>an entire alphabet soup of
acronyms, even applauding at the end. I did not hear a word of complaint about
any aspect of the conference, grantedly well organized. The participants were
well dressed, not a given at many translator conferences. The lectures began
and ended on time with proper breaks for elegant food and good coffee, also not
to be taken for granted. In terms of social interaction, the participants
networked in a more subtle way than in conferences in countries with more
direct cultures, such as the US or Israel. In short, this was a French
conference.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As such, the content discussed and exposed the reality of translator
living in France. Unlike more unregulated countries, translation, especially
legal and other specializations, is a liberal profession recognized by the
government. As such, certificates and official recognition of status are the
key for professional success. The government has statutes specifying the
requirements and obligations for attaining any status, including “expert”. As
an official liberal profession, the government supported translators during the
Covid period as it did many other independent business people. On the other
hand, the bureaucratic nature of the government creates long, complicated processes. For
example, opening a freelance business can take a week while an application to
become an “expert” in a given legal jurisdiction can take a year with the relevant
authority not having to explain a rejection. French translators seem to work
within in a relatively structured set of rules.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In my opinion, this framework both limits development and creates
security. On the one hand, the specialized sessions I attended, however well
organized,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>notably on quality control
and ChatGPT, were highly theoretical on the verge of ideological. I felt that a
newcomer to the field would not have gained much practical knowledge. Due to
their more immediate urgency in other countries, conferences in which I have
participated approached the matters more practically. On the other hand, the existence
of an established path to financial success as a translator seems to create
more emotional security. Translators and interpreters in France may have to
play by the rules but they seem to have confidence in their ability to make a
living. For purposes of comparison, the most common question in most
translator/interpreter conferences is “How can I make a living in this
profession” but not here. Thus, the structured nature of translation and
interpretation in France creates a comfortable but insular world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 1721, the French writer Montesquieu wrote <i>Lettres Persanes</i>, a
description of France at the time as if written by a Persian visitor, i.e.,
France as seen by a foreigner. Being only half French, I admit to experiencing
this conference as a foreigner. I enjoyed it very much in all its Frenchness.
It clearly expanded my horizons. I met many pleasant and interesting colleagues
with whom I hope to keep in contact. I consider the SFT RTI2023 conference a
success both in terms of organization and meeting its goals, i.e., knowledge
and networking. The French do have style.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Captions allow the blind to fully access the Internet</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKi4ZmP9wkeGbOzp1nqxVkdPnYm6x4PsCZ5IM8U56qdz9ZdwNp65dupeYWeQLsDayJk6Zs7hu2EEX7wAAIT9sdyfj_QU1BZun2tdbf_UtcxF-NrqAs7UQTXPNss1_fxKalM1BHnzFw6Z4lFwsmvU3wMDz2tQHuKMLiSp9EMYwncGvgYg4yJmbb_4IMltdc/s935/370247893_6575479785852006_7849905033215932315_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKi4ZmP9wkeGbOzp1nqxVkdPnYm6x4PsCZ5IM8U56qdz9ZdwNp65dupeYWeQLsDayJk6Zs7hu2EEX7wAAIT9sdyfj_QU1BZun2tdbf_UtcxF-NrqAs7UQTXPNss1_fxKalM1BHnzFw6Z4lFwsmvU3wMDz2tQHuKMLiSp9EMYwncGvgYg4yJmbb_4IMltdc/s320/370247893_6575479785852006_7849905033215932315_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />Stephen Rifkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14696090933913285413noreply@blogger.com0