English translations

Indeed Gillian! There was the old dream of the "Esperanto" but why creating a new language when one is existing and spoken by so many people! I've been travelling a lot in many different parts of the world and English is undoubtedly useful. Sometimes not, you have then to improvise :-)

Dear Gillian(and Vincent),
I think you are right that English is indeed the most common second language,but I have to say that although I do not speak French, as far as equitation is concerned,I like to envision myself as THINKING French.Without this emotional ethnic concept there would be no equitation for me.You see I am always reminded of the comment made by Colonel Durand that equitation should be "a moderate Baucherism grafted on a Classical tree".I fear, that as was suggested by Jean-Claude Racinet,that the French may be forsakeing their heritage.I see one of my functions as a Scotsman !!!, of all things, to do my bit to restore that heritage.
Please keep speaking to me in English,however,while I continue to learn your riding.It is very important for me.
With kind regards,
Sandy.

Hi Sandy,

I think this is a very ineteresting point that i have discovered over my many years as a pprofessional translator, and is one of the main difficulties of translating.

A language is not a series of sterile words with equivalents in other languages. That is a very basic approximation.

No, each word in a language is "loaded". Loaded with culture, nuance and meaning. Of course there can be similarities and equivalences luckily, and normally, as long as the person doing it has sufficient knowledge of both cultures, not too much is lost in translation.

But without a doubt sometimes it is just impossible to convey all of the meaning behind sometimes simple words, without writing a book on it.

A few examples:

Mise en main, descente des aides, well the list could go on and on, and although there are good approximations for most, some are really difficult ("dans la main"...)

So I think that in all honesty it is difficult to ride French without thinking in French as well.

More than just words. Long live Google translations!!!

In fact this forum could be a great place to discuss each of the "tricky terms", what's behind them in every sense of the word!

Andy

Dear Andy, Sandy and Gillian,

I liked the remark "Long live Google translations" it made me think to a famous Rock and Roll song title from the band Rainbow (with Ritchie Blackmore, ex-Deep Purple). I am also doing some translations but rather from Dutch to French (my mother tongue is French) and I completely agree with you Andy. Sometimes you have to read the words, think to the cultural load and completely rephrase the concept in the other language, with other words, just to let understand the "message". Your idea of taking here the opportunity to try to develop what is behind "tricky terms" is just brilliant! Maybe could one of us begin a new thread in the "Matters of riders" section?