Lost in translation

[jadesfire]

This is why you should be very careful when emailing in another language:

"...also confidently hoping that our business relationship may become more tense in future"
(emphasis mine)

I'm intrigued. I notice common phrases in people whose first language is French (where the construction is generally much more elaborate than average), German (usually very direct and with better grammar than mine) and Polish (where articles tend to get left off). I'm sure English people do it in other languages - probably word-order-issues, but there'll be others as well (apart from general inability to speak them...)

So what German phrase could have resulted in this? German speakers?

BTW, I'm interested not mocking - I'm immensely grateful that all our suppliers email me in English or I'd never be able to sort anything out...

Comments

[seraphina_snape]

I did French and Latin in grammar school. I always thought the main difficulty with Latin wasn't the grammar; it was getting through yet another really boring translation. Honestly, I don't think you can fully enjoy Latin if you aren't at least marginally interested in history.

I can't really remember if we ever had pure grammar lessons like we did in French or English, but we certainly learned a few grammar rules in German. I can remember that I had this list of important grammar rules and different types of subordinate clauses. Stuff like that.

I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but I've discovered that some non-native speakers of English often have a better grasp of English grammar than native speakers. I think it's because we consciously learn the language, including grammar rules, in a school setting. I'm a beta for several native speakers of English and you wouldn't believe how often I've heard: Huh? There is a rule for this?

~ sera

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Taken as meant! I don't know if things have changed (the curriculum seems to change about every 6 months at the moment) but when I was at school, there was very little 'pure grammar' taught, and I find that English people generally don't know the names of things in their own language.

I'm a grammar geek, and am lucky enough to have a beta who is too - so much bouncing went on when we discovered that we both knew what a gerund was :)

[seraphina_snape]

so much bouncing went on when we discovered that we both knew what a gerund was :)

I hear you. It's nice to find out you're not the only geek around.

~ sera