Originally written by Dodo Kaipdodo on July 3, 2009 3:15 PM Originally written by Nanna Mercer on July 2, 2009 4:45 PM There is also the Other Languages forum   Not much point in begging in the middle of the desert, eh?

Well, Dodo, not if you're looking for an oasis filled with water just for you...for your consumption only, but if it's sand you're looking for...

Wishing you a Happy Fourth of July long weekend celebration

Nanna

Originally written by Nanna Mercer on July 3, 2009 9:36 AM Wishing you a Happy Fourth of July long weekend celebration

It`s Sixth of July for us, but thanks anyway!

Only I do not celebrate this. Betray your people and get a crown... I can understand this kind of game, but I don`t find it fun.

Um... somehow, Spanish or French or German on the Default Language forums seems not to irritate anybody,

It does irritate me, despite the fact that I understand all three, because it is discourteous.  I don't think you will find anything that I have ever posted which includes another language, without at least a brief description.

Maxi

It`s Sixth of July for us, but thanks anyway!

What is your sixth, which you don't celebrate, Dodo?  We had Canada Day on July 1.  As I understand it, July 4th is an American holiday.  Does the date have significance elsewhere?

Maxi

Originally written by Maxi Schwarz-Bastami on July 3, 2009 12:35 PM What is your sixth

It is the date of coronation of Mindaugas, the first (and last) King of Lithuania. Before him and after him the rulers were just Great Dukes.

I think I'll join Nanna in wishing everyone a Happy 4th of July weekend - and then ask that we get back to discussing "Do you translate into a foreign language?" - and so there is no misunderstanding, here's a translation - "do you translate PROFESSIONALLY into a foreign language?

I think we need to establish first what a foreign language is, because it may mean different things.

I think the problem is a little bit more complex than that: I meet young people in court who came here at  the age of 10, or 8, and at the age of 16 they don't speak any language well. There is not only language acquisition, but also losing of certain linguistic abilities, especially for very young people, with each year spent abroad. Also the level of language proficiency for some native speakers is really blow any acceptable lines, in some places.

I don't quite get the question.  What does it matter what you call it?  If you are sufficiently proficient so that you can translate into that language to a professional level, then why not do so?  My mother tongue is German.  I was born in Germany and spoken only German until coming to Canada at age 5 1/2 and I continued speaking it at home as well as learning to read and write in that language at the usual age.  My degree includes German as one of my majors and I got top marks.  Nonetheless, I do not translate into German because I don't consider my proficiency to be at a level that I would consider professional.  Yet I would in no way consider German to be a "foreign" language because obviously my mother tongue cannot be such a thing.  And why the cut-off age of 16?