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In a lengthy and masterly post on the Language Log Mark Liberman talks about begging the question and sensibly concludes:
Never use the phrase yourself — use "assume the conclusion" or "raise the question", depending on what you mean — and cultivate an attitude of serene detachment in the face of its use by others.
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I occasionally do jobs for a translation agency in the Netherlands when they are asked for Spanish-English translations. Today I got this email from that agency:
Dear Translator,
On Friday the 30th of April and Thursday the 20th of May our office will be closed due to a National Holiday. You will be able to reach us again on Monday the 3th of May and Friday the 21th of May.
A little later I received this correction:
To all,
Instead of may 20th it is may the 13 th.
Would you send a text to them for translation into English? Apart from the eccentric date format of the 30th of April (and note the double space between 30th and of), whoever typed it obviously didn’t wonder why Word superscripted the th in 30th and 20th but not in 3th and 21th. Then there are the upper case initials for National Holiday, which is optional I admit but I wouldn’t do it. However, the lower case m for May in the correction is inexcusable, as is the inconsistent format.
I hope for their sake that they haven’t sent this to their own clients, though I fear that they will have done.
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As this story has reappeared, let me repeat that I am not a science teacher in Nottingham with aggressive tendencies when provoked beyond endurance.I am a language teacher in Barcelona. As a teacher I am pleased that he has been acquitted. But please do look around my blog while you're here.
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In Plaça Kennedy, at the top of Balmes in Barcelona, where the Tramvia Blau goes up to Tibidabo, there is a pleasant bar called Café & Té. It serves snacks but, unfortunately, its menu is a home-made translation. We have:
Boquerones – Anchovies kinds
Boquerones are a kind of anchovy, usually served in vinegar rather than oil, but this is not quite the way to say it.
Chips – Chips
Well yes, but these are what are known as crisps in British English.
Patatas bravas – Brave potatoes
A classic. Bravo is not an easy word to translate. Fierce or rough might be appropriate in many circumstances; the Costa Brava could be the Wild or Rugged Coast if names of the Spanish Costas were translated, which they are not. But in any case, what we have here is French fries (cubes of fried potato) with salsa brava, a spicy red sauce.
Almendras saladas – salad almonds
No! Salado means salted. Salad is ensalada.
Lomo – loin
This is pork loin. Unambiguously and obviously so in Spanish but it looks odd in English
Pan con Tomate – Tomato’s bread
Misuse of the genitive when a literal translation, Bread with tomato, would do fine.
This is a place that has a large tourist trade because of its position. They really could try harder.
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The Google Book Settlement sets out the way in which Google acquires and uses the rights to digitise books. It is a matter of concern to any writer publisher or reader as it affects not only the availability of books, which should increase, but also the rights over the content, which leads to considerations of censorship and rewriting of history.
It is a fiendishly complicated matter and I do not understand it fully at all. LanguageHat, however, refers to a helpful explanation on Annalee Newitz's "5 Ways The Google Book Settlement Will Change The Future of Reading." She sets out the background and describes the situation under these headings:
1. It may become harder to get information online about books from writers you love.
2. You will find yourself reading free books online, by authors who have disappeared. And Google will make money when you do.
3. Google will be competing with Apple and Amazon and everybody else to be your favorite online bookseller.
4. Libraries and bookstores will be the same thing.
5. Pulp science fiction will make a comeback in ways you might not expect.
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Madrid regional government had a bright idea to encourage people to learn English in its bilingual schools. The slogan is: “We want to learn another language”. But then they extended it with a short answer. Can they speak English? No they can’t!
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The BPI is the British Recorded Music Industry. It is opposed to copyright piracy. Adam Liversage is its Director of Communications. He has problems understanding copyright. He has been caught on Twitter apparently inciting illegal copying. Link to normal (non-Twitter) web page.
Hat-tip Tony Hatfield.
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SS Manxman in her (?) prime
At one time it was generally accepted that ships used feminine pronouns e.g. The Titanic sank on her maiden voyage. This convention seems to be going out of fashion, possibly because of feminism or perhaps because ships are less important a part of people’s lives and are certainly less romantic than they used to be. However, this gender confusion from the BBC seems a bit odd (my emphasis):
The SS Manxman was launched from Cammel [sic] Laird* in Birkenhead in 1955. It was used to ferry travellers from Liverpool to Douglas until 1982. She is now at the Pallion Shipyard in Sunderland [awaiting breaking up]. Enthusiasts are invited to buy some of the memorabilia on board, or part of the vessel itself.
*The Merseyside shipbuilding company’s name is Cammell Laird.
The question of gender seems particularly acute with this particular ship. Should the vessel have been renamed SS Manxperson? Presumably other ships with male names have been referred to with feminine pronouns.
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I’ve heard of shovelling shit but this in the Independent is a new one (my emphasis):
Mr Charon said the Elysée was determined to wage war on the spreaders of internet rumours. “We are saying we have had enough of the crap pedalled by these people. It goes beyond all reason.”
It does indeed!
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