I’ve written many times about breaking down language barriers and getting English speakers and non-English speakers to sit down and talk together.
I hope that non-English speakers, especially the shy ones, don’t give up trying to communicate.
I also hope that English-speaking users will be more considerate of users who are unfamiliar with or intimidated by English.
So I’d post some thoughts on how to use translations to make your writing more communicative.
- Original Article / 열쇠낱말: 언어 언어장벽 言語 소통 疏通
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Use short sentences.
Even if your entire post is a bit longer, it’s best to keep each sentence short.
Write common, plain and easy expressions.
Imagine you’re talking to a child or someone who hasn’t had the benefit of an education.
Avoid slang, abbreviations, and proverbs.
If you feel compelled to use an analogy to illustrate what you’re trying to say, be sure to explain what you mean for those who can understand it.
It may be better to use common words rather than idioms.
This is especially true for those who have learned a stereotypical foreign language. E.g. put one’s feet up → rest
Sometimes it’s better to be dull and dated expression than fresh and new expression.
This is especially true for people who have learned a foreign language in an unconventional way.
If you feel that it is particularly difficult to explain, one way is to explain it again, changing the expression.
If you’re having trouble explaining something, try using an example.
However, keep in mind that while examples can seem clear, they also run the risk of driving the point in one direction, and the wrong example can make the problem more complicated.
Sometimes, even emojis can be misleading.
On the one hand, facial expressions and gestures are clear, but on the other hand, they are rooted in culture and can be easily misunderstood. (Gestures are similar in speech).
On the flip side, if you see a phrase in the other person’s writing that doesn’t make sense, don’t assume it and ask for clarification.
Machine translation is machine translation, after all, and even with a human interpreter, it’s not easy to translate the essence of one culture into another. It’s always worth checking to make sure you’re not getting the wrong translation and misunderstanding the meaning.
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Ce sujet de discussion accompagne la publication sur https://community.openstreetmap.org/t/how-to-write-simply-and-easily-for-easy-translation/101131