Language Problem in Reviews

^^

I believe what you're reffering to is international members using Translators.

The problem is with these is that they are literal, which is often the problem.

Heres a perfect example:

English - John Petrucci is an amazingly skilled guitarist.

Into Spanish - John Petrucci es un guitarrista asombroso cualificados.

Back into english - John Petrucci is an amazing guitarist qualified.


As you can see, these translations are literal, and this is where alot of the sense is lost - In the translation.

Of course, some members may just be quite poor at english, or may only be learners in the language, but it is none the less frustrating for both the reader and the writer, to learn all this work has ended up in massive confusion.

PA says this before you submit a review:

1 - Write in ENGLISH, we regret that we cannot accept reviews in other languages. Avoid the use of on-line translators wherever possible, they will not do justice to your efforts. Do not use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS in your reviews, standard sentence case should be used at all times. Do not use abbreviations or “texting” language. Remember to check your review for spelling, grammar and punctuation. A poorly presented review can distract the reader from the well written content. Reviews accepted should be a MINIMUM 100 words preferably substantially more, no maximum.

About the online translators, they couldn't be more right.

I hope that helps clafiry,
-Joel

p0mt3 wrote: I think everybody should be allowed to contribute, and if their English isn't that good, who cares? At least they are voicing their opinion, and they should be allowed to do that.

I'm in no way against those with not so good english, but, I think it is quite dissapointing for them, as, just like the PA warning says, it does not do their work justice.

Hahhaha, also about me! 

Sorry for saying 'bout me, my language Japanese and lots of "Eastern" languages have quite different structure from English or "Western" ones.
Impossible for me to use an online translator for writing reviews in English because it's USELESS, as Joel has said above.
For most of Japanese it's so hard to say what they wanna say owing to their national character.
Here are very few Japanese including me hahhaha...

I'm now immersed into this forum...discussing a lot with my "no-good" English.

I've had another look at some of the more puzzling reviews and it seems to me that Translators aren't the underlying problem. It might help if simpler sentence structures and vocabulary is used.

I wonder if some mistakes in English don't also reveal some mistakes in the reviewers' own languages. I often saw French language dismembered on the forums I'm surfing on. I shiver just thinking what these people could write in other languages.

By the way, is it "language" or "linguage"? Or should I stick to "tongue"???

@Slarti: Good idea. I'd offer to do some of that provided I'm not swamped. How would we go about arranging it?

DamoXt7942 wrote: Hahhaha, also about me!  Sorry for saying 'bout me, my language Japanese and lots of "Eastern" languages have quite different structure from English or "Western" ones. Impossible for me to use an online translator for writing reviews in English because it's USELESS, as Joel has said above. For most of Japanese it's so hard to say what they wanna say owing to their national character. Here are very few Japanese including me hahhaha... I'm now immersed into this forum...discussing a lot with my "no-good" English.

But Japanese is still a beautiful language! I studied it briefly in my High School days, and even lived in Japan for a time! I love the way the language flows from the mouth so naturally and smoothly.

But you are right; sentence structure is nothing alike between the two. The subject almost always comes first in eastern languages, while in the west, it tends to come last. Very strange.