HT Localization Presents Language Translations for Real Life: 10 Problems of a Language Lover

Segment 39 – 10 Problems of a Language Lover

A few weeks ago, I ran across a blog discussing issues of polyglots and language lovers. Can you relate?

While I can’t claim to be a polyglot, I could relate to a few of the issues discussed including the struggles and triumphs of people like us.  I've decided to compile a few of my own top ten...

1. When you encounter people having a conversation in a foreign language, you stalk them… or eaves drop discreetly, until you can figure out what language they are speaking, hoping not to get caught.

2. When people discover you speak another language, they ask you to “say something”.  Love it or hate it, you better think of something clever say, or just make something up….I do this in German all the time… “Gesundheit”.

3. When you've spent so long speaking in another language that you can no longer recall a particular word...in your native language. Pretty bad when you have to ask your daughter how to say something in your own language by asking her the term in Spanish. Better start carrying around a pocket dictionary… in your native language.

4. When someone uses the “everyone speaks English” argument as a con against foreign languages. Yeah right, come to Spain! Or even Miami...

5. When people talk about you in a foreign language assuming you don’t speak it… but you do. You know what they say about people who assume… be warned, just because people don’t speak a certain language doesn't mean they don’t understand it.

6. When you begin parler en multiple idiomas at the same tiempo. Just come over to one of my dinner parties and try to keep up…

7. When you don’t know the exact word in a particular language... just say it in English with a foreign accent.  This works virtually every time. Many English words get borrowed in other languages, just look out for those false friends…mi amigo.

8. When you speak the language just enough to ask for directions… and they blurt out the answer super-fast.  How many times do you have to ask them to repeat it slowly, just to hear them repeat it louder…?

9. When you notice yourself swearing more effectively or more often in a foreign language... than in your native language.  As they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans...

10. When you get invited to parties so that you can entertain or translate for your friend’s foreign friend…even though you've just met that new person.  People assume that because you can speak the same language as another person that you’ll both become best friends. Hey, she’s American too, you must be friends...

Well, there you go! How many of these can you relate too?

 … Stay tuned for the next Segment of HT Localization Presents Language Translations for Real Life Series, where we’ll continue … with more stuff.

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This article was written by Rachanee Thevenet, Co-Founder of HT Localization.  Rachanee is an Asian-American expat living in Spain with her family.  She loves all things international including food, art, literature, culture, languages and people.  She has years of professional product marketing expertise and global expansion experience.

HT Localization, LLC. is a worldwide translation & localization agency providing a full range of professional language translation services, including social media localization, marketing translations, website translations, software localization, eLearning materials, documentation translations, etc.  With locations in the US, Spain, France, Zambia & Thailand, and coverage across all languages and most industries, HT Localization is well positioned to provide around the globe services for all translation needs.  

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