Table of Contents
Why do Americans read so few books in translation?
That publishers in the US resist works in translation because it takes time, money, and connections far more complex than publishing local writers, or because American editors are monolingual, unlike editors in other countries.
Is it OK to read translated books?
When you are reading a translation, the connection is between you and the way the translator saw the words. It’s not bad by all means, it’s just different. Depending on your both levels of understanding the original language & its cultural contexts it may be close to the author’s intention — or farther.
Is it good to read a book in another language?
Basically, it can be beneficial to take a book you’ve already read (and enjoyed) in a language you know, and obtain a copy in the language you’re learning. At this point, you can do any number of things with it. Read through it from beginning to end and see how much you understand from previous knowledge and context.
Which language has the best literature?
That answer is English. English and French, hands down. After that German. Next would be ancient Greek and Latin.
Which countries read the most books?
Finland is the world’s most literate nation – if you look at this data from 2016 about literacy achievement tests and support. If you rank nations only on their reading assessment results, Singapore would come top, followed by South Korea, Japan and China.
Why do people translate books?
Convey ideas better ‘ Translating your book can actually help you better convey your ideas and the emotional connections behind them. In other languages like French, there are words which have no direct translation back into English. These words can work for you as a clear way of expressing your complex ideas.
Are translated books as good as original?
Translated books and original works are both incredibly valuable. Motivation is the most important thing when taking on any long-term project. So, read what you want! You can read the classics later, when you’re more comfortable with things.
What is the difficulty with reading translated works?
The tricky business of translation There are untranslatable words, differing grammatical structures, different syntactic possibilities, not to mention the cultural, historical and contextual weight behind certain words and phrases. And that’s even without taking into account slang and pop culture references!
How do you read foreign languages?
8 New Ways to Practice Reading in a Foreign Language
- You won’t understand everything. Just try and understand as much as you can from context, and look up any key words in a dictionary.
- Write down new words and phrases. If you look something up, write it down!
- Make notes.
- Enjoy it!
Which language has the richest vocabulary?
Counting the Words in the Dictionary
| Language | Words in the Dictionary |
|---|---|
| English | 171,476 |
| Russian | 150,000 |
| Spanish | 93,000 |
| Chinese | 85,568 |
How many people in Europe can read and write in foreign languages?
According to a recent survey co-ordinated by the European Commission, 80\% of European 15-to-30-year-olds can read and write in at least one foreign language. This number drops to only 32\% amongst British 15-to-30-year-olds.
Why do publishers in the US resist works in translation?
That publishers in the US resist works in translation because it takes time, money, and connections far more complex than publishing local writers, or because American editors are monolingual, unlike editors in other countries.
How many new books are translated each year?
Chad Post’s Three Percent Database reports only 633 newly translated works of fiction and poetry published in English in the US in 2016, less than 1 percent of the estimated 300,000 new books published per year per UNESCO. More than 40 percent of those books were from western Europe.