For the polyglotes of the board.
I'm currently reading Bobby Jordan's Wheel of Time. I've read the first 3 books in French(6 books in the translation) & I'm having the hardest of time finding Book 4 (7 & 8 in french). So, I'm considering switching to reading the English originals. It has the advantages of being much, much cheaper. Each French book retail for 15$, on Amazon.ca book 4-5-6 are 19$. However, I'm afraid I'll get lost in the level of english & sudden change of everything but the characters.
Would you do it? Would you switch from a translation to the original version?
I have been reading exclusively in english for the last 15 years or so.
In my mind most of the time can't remember in what language I read a book.
It have not helped with my writting, though.
If I could get a English translation of Davout le Terrible, I would. My French is horrible.
It never came up. Last time I read an English-language series in Swedish translation was 25 years ago (it was LOTR). A couple years later I re-read it in English but that's not the same.
The real answer don't ever read the Wheel of Time.
Ever.
Never ever.
Quote from: Zoupa on September 11, 2011, 09:07:48 PM
The real answer don't ever read the Wheel of Time.
Ever.
Never ever.
Timmay likes it. Enough said.
Not that I can read books in `foreign` (well... I read a Wallander book in Swedish. With a fair bit of dictionary checking) but I`d 100% say go for the original language.
When people say they`ve read a certain foreign book I am impressed, I didn`t know they were so good in that language...but then they say no, it was the English translation- then you didn`t read that book did you?
You read some English writer`s take on the story, not the actual original.
As for switching....hmm....can`t be so different surely?
Just get a good guide before hand translating character, place and concept names and you`re set.
I've switched once or twice (Danish to English). It's a bit weird at first, but I got over it (and didn't want to wait for the Danish translation to come out).
Quote from: Zoupa on September 11, 2011, 09:07:48 PM
The real answer don't ever read the Wheel of Time.
Ever.
Never ever.
Who knows, maybe it is like some French dubbing, and translation actually improves the series ;)
Quote from: Tyr on September 11, 2011, 09:18:35 PM
then you didn`t read that book did you?
:rolleyes:
Yes, they did.
Quote from: Zoupa on September 11, 2011, 09:07:48 PM
The real answer don't ever read the Wheel of Time.
Ever.
Never ever.
I avoided that one like the plague. From what I gather the series starts off briskly enough then just bogs down.
Quote from: Tyr on September 11, 2011, 09:18:35 PM
Not that I can read books in `foreign` (well... I read a Wallander book in Swedish. With a fair bit of dictionary checking) but I`d 100% say go for the original language.
When people say they`ve read a certain foreign book I am impressed, I didn`t know they were so good in that language...but then they say no, it was the English translation- then you didn`t read that book did you?
Interesting theory.
Quote from: Oexmelin on September 11, 2011, 11:00:12 PM
Quote from: Zoupa on September 11, 2011, 09:07:48 PM
The real answer don't ever read the Wheel of Time.
Ever.
Never ever.
Who knows, maybe it is like some French dubbing, and translation actually improves the series ;)
No, it's not really a good translation.
Quote from: Zoupa on September 11, 2011, 09:07:48 PM
The real answer don't ever read the Wheel of Time.
Ever.
Never ever.
Different strokes for different folks, let him make his own decision.
Don't think I would, but I've never had to. I've been reading mostly in English since one teacher lent me Dune almost 20 years ago. Only exceptions are books I've borrowed from someone.
Quote from: Grey Fox on September 11, 2011, 07:35:28 PM
For the polyglotes of the board.
I'm currently reading Bobby Jordan's Wheel of Time. I've read the first 3 books in French(6 books in the translation) & I'm having the hardest of time finding Book 4 (7 & 8 in french). So, I'm considering switching to reading the English originals. It has the advantages of being much, much cheaper. Each French book retail for 15$, on Amazon.ca book 4-5-6 are 19$. However, I'm afraid I'll get lost in the level of english & sudden change of everything but the characters.
Would you do it? Would you switch from a translation to the original version?
I've done so for ASOIAF, I read the first three books in Spanish and the last two in English, as the translation for the fourth took more than a year to get done and couldn't be arsed to wait.
If you read well in the original language, do it. No big deal.
Quote from: Iormlund on September 12, 2011, 07:01:05 AM
Don't think I would, but I've never had to. I've been reading mostly in English since one teacher lent me Dune almost 20 years ago. Only exceptions are books I've borrowed from someone.
:o You have betrayed España!
Quote from: jimmy olsen on September 12, 2011, 07:05:46 AM
Quote from: Iormlund on September 12, 2011, 07:01:05 AM
Don't think I would, but I've never had to. I've been reading mostly in English since one teacher lent me Dune almost 20 years ago. Only exceptions are books I've borrowed from someone.
:o You have betrayed España!
Now tell him that en espanol.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on September 12, 2011, 08:39:34 AM
¡Usted ha traicionado a España!
Almost. :P
I actually watch most films and shows in English as well. From time to time I'll watch a Spanish film, but I never watch Spanish TV shows.
Also, for some reason I dislike almost every song sung in Spanish.
I guess I'm not high on nationalism. Plenty of those who are around these parts anyway.
If that sentence had to be properly uttered the last word should be pronounced with a capital P. :lol:
I'd do it; it'd mostly come up for Spanish, though- I haven't run into that problem with German.
I've switched twice. Both times were a marked improvement. With WoT I read the first 6-7 (which means first 3, since they were split in the translation) in Swedish, and with Kerr's Silver Dagger series it was much the same. Translations simply didn't keep a brisk enough pace. Ever since LotR I've simply detested reading translated works (Ohlmarks botched the translation pretty badly) and I avoid it like the plague.
Quote from: Grey Fox on September 11, 2011, 07:35:28 PM
For the polyglotes of the board.
I'm currently reading Bobby Jordan's Wheel of Time. I've read the first 3 books in French(6 books in the translation) & I'm having the hardest of time finding Book 4 (7 & 8 in french). So, I'm considering switching to reading the English originals. It has the advantages of being much, much cheaper. Each French book retail for 15$, on Amazon.ca book 4-5-6 are 19$. However, I'm afraid I'll get lost in the level of english & sudden change of everything but the characters.
Would you do it? Would you switch from a translation to the original version?
Depends on the series.
I'd say try it. Worst case scenario, sell the book back for 12$ on Amazon Marketplace and wait for the French translation.
I usually prefer reading in english for most stuff, but then again, I don't read much fiction books, and everything published for finance and economy is usually done in english first.
Quote from: viper37 on September 12, 2011, 05:56:16 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on September 11, 2011, 07:35:28 PM
For the polyglotes of the board.
I'm currently reading Bobby Jordan's Wheel of Time. I've read the first 3 books in French(6 books in the translation) & I'm having the hardest of time finding Book 4 (7 & 8 in french). So, I'm considering switching to reading the English originals. It has the advantages of being much, much cheaper. Each French book retail for 15$, on Amazon.ca book 4-5-6 are 19$. However, I'm afraid I'll get lost in the level of english & sudden change of everything but the characters.
Would you do it? Would you switch from a translation to the original version?
Depends on the series.
I'd say try it. Worst case scenario, sell the book back for 12$ on Amazon Marketplace and wait for the French translation.
I usually prefer reading in english for most stuff, but then again, I don't read much fiction books, and everything published for finance and economy is usually done in english first.
The problem isn't that the French Translation isn't done yet but the fact that it isn't in print anymore for the early books.
Quote from: The Larch on September 13, 2011, 02:22:42 AM
Quote from: Siege on September 12, 2011, 06:52:11 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on September 12, 2011, 08:39:34 AM
Quote from: Iormlund on September 12, 2011, 08:12:26 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on September 12, 2011, 07:10:13 AM
Now tell him that en espanol.
:lol:
¡Usted ha traicionado España!
Retard, it is "¡Vos habeis traicionado España!"
Are you Argentinian or from the XVIth century?
This is Siege, isn't the answer obvious?
Quote from: The Larch on September 13, 2011, 02:22:42 AM
Quote from: Siege on September 12, 2011, 06:52:11 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on September 12, 2011, 08:39:34 AM
Quote from: Iormlund on September 12, 2011, 08:12:26 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on September 12, 2011, 07:10:13 AM
Now tell him that en espanol.
:lol:
¡Usted ha traicionado España!
Retard, it is "¡Vos habeis traicionado España!"
Are you Argentinian or from the XVIth century?
And you still missed the last "a" in "a España". :P
Moke like end of XV century I'd say ;)
Siege should perform an act of faith.
Quote from: Grey Fox on September 11, 2011, 07:35:28 PM
Would you do it? Would you switch from a translation to the original version?
The original is always preferrable to any translation, if you can read the language.
That said, I often change languages of the works I read, depending on the avaliability of the books in question. Some collections are in three different languages (and different book sizes, too, which means I don't put them in my shelves, as it makes them look too weird to visitors).
When changing languages, my only word of caution is: pay attention if the original was written in a formal or mostly informal language. Written French is, by nature, fairly formal in nature, while English as spoken today is extremely informal. That can result in a major change in the way the characters express themselves, altering the whole feel of the work.
As such, if you start reading the English versions, you'll probably find the characters as somewhat less serious/respectful than they appeared to be so far. But in this particular case you should do it anyway, as the original work is in English.