Found in Translation: How Language Shapes Our Live
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Translation. It’s everywhere we look, but seldom seen—until now. Found in Translation reveals the surprising and complex ways that translation shapes the world. Covering everything from holy books to hurricane warnings and poetry to peace treaties, Nataly Kelly and Jost Zetzsche offer language lovers and pop culture fans alike an insider’s view of the ways in which translation spreads culture, fuels the global economy, prevents wars, and stops the outbreak of disease. Examples include how translation plays a key role at Google, Facebook, NASA, the United Nations, the Olympics, and more.
ASIN : B008EXK7X0
Publisher : TarcherPerigee; 1st edition (October 2, 2012)
Publication date : October 2, 2012
Language : English
File size : 1.1 MB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Not Enabled
Word Wise : Not Enabled
Print length : 288 pages
Page numbers source ISBN : B00CY4ZAV4
12 reviews for Found in Translation: How Language Shapes Our Live
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Original price was: $34.95.$15.39Current price is: $15.39.
Tess Whitty –
A book about the biggest industry that you never knew existed
I am so glad that someone finally writes an informative, yet entertaining book about the translation and interpretation industry. This book is a must read if you work with languages and a highly recommended read for everyone, since everyone are infact affected by translation in their daily lives. The authors will not bore you with dry statistics, yet these statistics are there, just presented in a very entertaining format. It is a page turner from cover to cover, containing everything from life saving situations, Nurenmberg trials, advertising, peace talks, sports, technology etc. As a translator I highly recommend this book to everyone who reads and I will give it as a christmas present to clients and friends, and I cannot wait for the Swedish translation so I can give it to my family too.
Christina Hirtzel –
Amazing and Inspirational
An excellent resource for teachers of language, best employed for those times when an uninspired student expresses his or her belief that bilingualism is unimportant in the age of electronic translation. Filled with example after example of real-life application via the anecdotes of translators and interpreters in the field, including but not limited to: international incidents that hinge on a single word, the mistranslations of video games that became Internet phenomena, dream jobs of sports interpreters, hilarious marketing disasters (and triumphs), and nail-biting moments on the front line of foreign wars. A compelling, quick read.
Gregory –
Enjoyable especially for the ‘non-linguist’
While this book has received a great deal of (warranted) praise from language professionals and lingaphiles, I believe what is important is that Ms Kelly and Mr Zetzsche bring the true power and importance of language transfer to the rest of us. The anecdotes in this book are in turns inspirational, funny, heartbreaking – and always informative. The book is a great one to read front to back or to flip through as you like and read in small bites.I really enjoyed reading it.
M. T. D. C. M. –
Light, passionate and sound
Have you ever watched a foreign movie with subtitles and, while watching a scene, you were a bit puzzled because there was some sort of disconnection between the action and the subtitles?Found in Translation is a a very entertaining unpretentious light-hearted book written by a professional translator and a professional interpreter. The authors are passionate about what they do, and are good at what they do, and their enthusiasm and expertise shows in the book.The book is a well-structured collection of stories that revolve about translation and interpretation coming from professionals all over the world not just the authors. We see the role of translation in wars, politics, diplomacy, the health system, newspapers and magazines, media analysis, online network sites (Facebook, Google, Twitter, Wikipedia), History, business, multinational companies and brands, the Justice system and international courts of Justice, marketing, rescue missions overseas, International Courts and multinational institutions, sports events, stock market, Literature, the Bible and other religious texts, beauty pageants, dating sites, porn, wines descriptions. TED talks, and much more! There are many delightful bloopers and anecdotes that show the impact that a bad translation can have in our daily life and the world. Why we need translation or translators in the age of globalisation? Why is important having good translators? Are machines ever going to replace translators? What about Google Translate and Translating programs? Which fields require of translation and interpretation? Wouldn’t it be nice if everybody spoke English so we do not need to translate? What does translators do? How do you translate Creole languages or words that do not exist in your language? Or vice versa? Does a good translator finds easy to translate everything in his language/s of expertise? The authors reply to these and other pertinent questions and offer an overall view of where translation is, whether you notice it or not, see it or not, or you think you need it or not.The target of the book is the general public, so the language used and the approach to the subject is light and easy to understand. No jargon. Beyond the interesting anecdotes, there is the realisation that translation and interpretation are something more that a conversion of language X into language Y, and that translation pervades the world we live in. This is NOT a manual on translation or a book on translation theories, methodologies or techniques, or on the History of translation. No boring stuff!I missed more focus on areas as translation of historical and anthropological texts, which provide the modern translator with some specific challenges. but this is just me. Yet, one of my favourite episodes, the one of the Treaty of Waitangi, which I have had the pleasure of seeing in person, is in the book.
Sheldon –
Perhaps some of the most important unsung heroes in History, translators/interpreters !
No, it’s not just because I am one ! I love my job as interpreter, imagine being paid to talk …. In two languages or more ! I consider a translator more of a writer of two languages or more but please read the book and find out ! A lot of very important things have been accomplished for mankind, thanks to multi linguistic communicators, my phrase ! It’s a very nice book to read on vacation, as well as a home. You might even want to study a foreign language after reading this book. I would encourage you, wholeheartedly, we always need good people in the world to help us communicate better ! Respectfully submitted, Skip Wieland as su servicio, at your service !
Ana –
True stories
What I liked most about this book was the fact that they tell true stories and point out their practical side. The authors don’t just talk about a distant fact that had no relation to our lives. No! Instead, they always relate the stories to ordinary, everyday people. It’s funny because when you’re about to ask yourself “What has this got to do with me anyway??”, then the answer comes up naturally. It is fantastic for those willing to read about translating in the real world and it is also a moment of reflexion on the impact of your job as a translator on people’s lives. I totally recommend it.
K. Tkaczyk –
Surprisingly gripping
We are not meant to notice the translators and interpreters around us: if they do their job well they should be invisible. Usually we only hear about them when they do their job badly: for instance through translation bloopers or diplomatic interpreting mistakes. Found in Translation explains this professional world and how it relates so profoundly to how we communicate today. The short pieces that make up the book are vivid and delightful. It’s well written and flows smoothly. I have already bought copies to give as gifts; that’s my highest recommendation.
AlissaN –
Acheté pour la fac mais le livre m’a beaucoup plu!
Brian Maitland –
Being tangentially in this field dealing with translated texts, I loved this. Offered very up to date insight into the various translation (and interpretation) worlds. Found the stuff on Japanese, which is the second language I deal with most, very accurate and topical so would have to say the rest most likely was as well researched. Definitely a keeper for anyone involved with another language or two. Loads of humor as well as pathos in many of these true tales from an underappreciated world.
Creidhe –
I’m a translator and I honestly enjoyed reading this book. There are so many experiences I can relate to and many others I’ve not yet been confronted to, I feel like I’ve learned a lot from these well-written pages. It truly was a great reading. The best way to show the world how much translators and interpreters are essentials!
Amazon カスタマー –
まだ読み終わっていませんが、よくリサーチしていると思います。世界の翻訳市場の今を垣間見ることのできる本です。
SARA DÍAZ –
It was very interesting from the beginning as you can find many examples of any situation where you need to take into consideration translations and how they are very important in our world. I studied a Master’s Degree in Translation and it is true that when communication fails or is misundertood everything changes. Great book!