Reading in differente languages / myLot

June 13, 2016 3:01pm CST

In the different countries, we'll find professional writers who wrote excellent books and were translated into other languages. Even with well done translations, it is not the same than reading the original one. Besides, reading books in the original language helps to learn more about the culture of the country from where the writer is, as vocabulary, expressions, thoughts... we read more conscious, so we learn more and get more linguistic abilities. Do you like to read in different languages?

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11 responses

marcyaz

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

13 Jun 16

No because I don't know any language other than English.

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Margarita

@Meramar (2695)

•

13 Jun 16

English has so many writers and published books, that there exists a big offer of interesting books to read. So you won't miss a lot. Otherwise, if you learn a second language in the future, reading books in the new language will be a great exercise to bild up your skills.

Margarita

@Meramar (2695)

•

13 Jun 16

@enlightenedpsych2 Actually, I speak and read Czech, German, English, French and Spanish.

Koalemos

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

13 Jun 16

This is definitely true because in order to translate the overall text has to be restructured and reworded. This will immediately lose much of the colourful and descriptive terminology used by the author.

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Margarita

@Meramar (2695)

•

13 Jun 16

That's right, the translation has to be restructed and adapted to the community who is supposed to read it, otherwise they might not understand the context.

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topffer

@topffer (42156)

• France

13 Jun 16

Only a little number of books are translated and we have often no other choice than to read the original. It is what I prefer to do if I am fluent enough with a language.

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topffer

@topffer (42156)

• France

14 Jun 16

@Meramar There are a lot of Latin languages that I have never learned but that I can read, because I learned Latin and several Latin languages like Spanish and Occitan. French also is a Latin language. So I can read Catalan, Italian, Romanian... but I am really not fluent with them, and I am probably often mistranslating.

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Margarita

@Meramar (2695)

•

13 Jun 16

It is not necessary to wait until you get enough fluent to read a book in another language. There are books for learners in easy readers edition and reading in the foreign languages helps to add up your skills and improve in that lenguage. It is like a complementary exercise.

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Ricki Dillane

@ricki_911 (21625)

• Toronto, Ontario

13 Jun 16

In a way it is neat, but then usually it is hard to understand.

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Margarita

@Meramar (2695)

•

13 Jun 16

It is hard in the beginning, if you are not used to. As more you read, as easier it will get to be.

Ricki Dillane

@ricki_911 (21625)

• Toronto, Ontario

13 Jun 16

@Meramar Yes, I would imagine practice would help a lot.

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M.-L.

@MALUSE (69373)

• Germany

24 Jun 16

I'm German. I read mostly English literature. I can read newspapers in Italian, too.

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Margarita

@Meramar (2695)

•

24 Jun 16

Until now, I haven't read yet a complete book in English, but it is something I have on my list. I usually read in Spanish and German, too. I passed my childhood in Germany.

M.-L.

@MALUSE (69373)

• Germany

24 Jun 16

@Meramar Where did you live then?

Margarita

@Meramar (2695)

•

24 Jun 16

@MALUSE Now in Spain (Canarian Islands), in Germany I lived in NRW (Essen).

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Jen

@polyxena (2628)

• Sturgis, Michigan

13 Jun 16

I would love to read in other languages, but I don't know any languages fluently enough to read a book.

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Margarita

@Meramar (2695)

•

13 Jun 16

If you study another language, you may start reading articles on Internet, in newspapers and / or magazines. Than you could start with easy readers editions, that are original books converted in a basic vocabulary for students. Bit by bit, you will built up your habilities to read in the other language.

Jen

@polyxena (2628)

• Sturgis, Michigan

13 Jun 16

@Meramar Thanks for the suggestion.

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padu19

@padu19 (1441)

• India

13 Jun 16

As you said it is difficult to get the same experience in the translated version. Specially when it comes to epics certain mythological terms can not be translated properly

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Margarita

@Meramar (2695)

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13 Jun 16

That is the point which makes translations so difficult and they have to describe some points instead of translate it properly.

LegTech

@rina110383 (24492)

•

13 Jun 16

I have Spanish books at home. I bought it from the school where I took my Spanish Classes. I love reading them.

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Margarita

@Meramar (2695)

•

13 Jun 16

Spanish is a great language which has plenty of published books and great writers. I really love this language. And the books I am writing are in Spanish.

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