focus for this week: Why don't birds fly backwards ?
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Before you read this, keep in mind, that I speak the German language better, because I grew up with it.

I try to give you as reader articles which are as good as possible (of course considering cost and value). Lately I have started to translate my English articles into German (reason here). While doing this, I recognized, that I could have written some articles better.

So, if you think you have nothing to add anymore (well, there is always a better version possible) to an article or you do not want to continue or other reasons, then translate it into another language.

This is my first article which I wrote multilangual on the same day:

1. first in English and
2. then translated into German
3. while doing step 2, I had some new ideas on the result of step 1

I think this will help you to think again more on some words. Because while translating, you are forced to think more on the meaning of one word.
Sometimes I see, that I use English words by instinct – perhaps because I read them a lot and I am used to them (you see the vicious circle?). But when I try to translate them, I sometimes stop, because I do not immediately find the pendant in German. I know what it means, but the German translation hangs on my lips. Somehow it does not find the way out :-(
Then I use a tool – e.g. I use an online translation service (LEO). I am offered several translations. And since German is a language where you can express with different meanings, this gets interesting. With this I get other associations activated in my brain.

You could say, it costs time – this is true. But try it and tell me, if you and your article profit from it or not.

comments

• kirstin (4/6/2008)

Hi there,

I am a german native and I have been living in the US for about 14 years. I am a freelance translator and the first thing I noticed about your english translation is that you use way too many commas! Very german. Anyway - if you ever need any translation help - contact me!

reply by me:

Hello Kirstin,

thank you for the feedback. I will try to use less comma from now on. See you,

Erkan

Author: Erkan Yilmaz (2007-03-30)